Blogging backlog: The June National conference experience
Gosh, so much to write I don't know how to start. I feel like the days when i had to cram for my exams in 3 days after skipping classes to chill in the cafe outside school. (My parents are reading this so now they will know why I failed Math and Physics in Junior College. Bleghs)I attended my first ever international AIESEC conference. Siliguri...a wonderful hill station. After enduring the 3 day train journey...we stumbled out of the train and took a 20 minute bus ride to the conference location.
The venue is not too exciting, and due to many screw ups...we are shuffling between rooms and have to sleep on the floor. I'm too tired to care, and by now, I've learnt to lower my standards when it comes to living in india. Im on a budget afterall.
There were many good memories with regard to the conference.
1. Discharge speech
This session lasted for almost 6 hours and ended only at 5am in the morning. It was painful to sit through, and I really passed out a few times from sheer tiredness. But I did get up at 5am to listen to the speech by the ex MCP of India. Now, I can't emphasize enough how many girls are crazy over him.... I remember Rickesh saying something about how power attracts people. Guess it must be true. Point aside, the ex-MCP's speech was a lesson in courage for me. What does leadership really mean? And being willing to make mistakes and admit to them? Asking the questions and being able to state ones opinions instead of talking behind the back?
2. Telling people to stop littering and cutting lines.
OOh! You know when a person cuts the line before you? How many of us will actually speak up and say something about it? Or when someone litters...will you tell them to pick it up and stop doing it? I guess this is something I am quite proud of...because in the past, I wouldn't have said anything....but I learnt something from a friend Victor who actually had the courage to speak up. So thank you Victor for the valuable lesson in life, and teaching me how important it is to use my voice.
3. Visiting Darjeeling!
Oy oy! Darjeeling is AMAZING! EVERYONE NEEDS TO VISIT DARJEELING!
Gosh, I dreamt of this place as a young kid though i had hoped we would get there in a more fashionable manner. In true lonely Planet style, we actually hired a sumo (like a 7 seater van) and packed 14 people into the vehicle. LOL!
People were sitting on laps and everyone was singing songs all the way up to the hills. The driver had an assistant who came along with us, riding outside the vehicle. He basically hung himself from the roof of the van the entire 3 hours that we were going up the mountains. In the middle of the night, we were dropped off at a 2 star hotel...it was freezing and I felt really stupid wearing my skirt and tshirt. Coming from MI, you think I would know better. :P
Nothing like some hot chai to warm ourselves up! we ventured out to Tiger Hills at 5am in the morning to watch the sunrise, and see the most amazing views of the mountains in the Himalayas! It was breath-taking...and clouds were rolling down the hills as the temperatures rose.
I've never seen so many Chinese people in my life outside of China...in fact, I felt so at home in Darjeeling...my Indian friends looked like foreigners in the place. Of course, most of them have lived in the hills for generations. And come from Nepal or Bhutan. They speak Hindi perfectly too....
I ended my trip by buying packets of tea leaves! I can't wait to get back to UK or US and prepare this famous drink for everyone! Woohoo!
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