My Grandparents...

I haven't seen them for about 13 years so meeting them was almost like meeting them for the first time. Of course you remember what they were like, vaguely...but I was never that close to my Grandpa, he worked a lot to support the family. They came all the way from Canada to visit us this year.

It was great fun spending time with them - we took soooo many photos. I need to put them up somewhere, maybe Picasso. I learned that they love taking photos and not the ones where people are standing in a line, interesting ones! Candid ones! Will link some more up when I get the chance. The one up there is boring but I like the green background.

The other thing that struck me the most was my Grandma's outlook on her children and their needs. She has 7 daughters from the ages of 50 to 27... that's about two generations. So she's had to learn to be the mother of both "sets". Dealing with my youngest aunts who are generation Y and want to be independent women with no attachments was tough for her but she's discovered that they'd fine and know how to take of themselves. She's very attentive to each of their personalities. Mum is slowly getting used to the idea that I'm not around any more.

They both have different opinions on how I should develop my career - get a steady job (Mum), or jet set around the world (Grandma)? But one thing that Grandma and Mum will always have in common... they both want us (my bro, me and my aunts) to get married :S some things never change between generations. I'm not getting married any time soon!!

Amazing burst of energy...

I know, I really should be posting up photos from my trips over the new year etc.

But right now, I'm feeling an amazing burst of energy and enthusiasm. I've been inspired by our members at January Forum and I feel this incredible connection with them again... It's something that is easy to lose when you're on the MC - that feeling that members know who you are and appreciate what you do.

When I was LCP, that feeling came easily because I was there with them, all the time. This January Forum was small but there was an environment where more people could connect... and I was able to have some fun conversations with our members, getting to know who they are. Our alumni really helped... thank you Alan, Sharon and Liam, especially, for being there the entire time! They made it possible for us to take valuable time to get to talk and interact with members.

For once, I really felt that AIESEC in New Zealand had common understanding. Our new members are so outstanding that at the "age" of 3 months, they could understand all our strategies! Recruitment, Induction, Leadership, Case studies of the LC - everything. They contributed so much to the forum and they've already participated in so many task forces.

I'm really proud to be a part of AIESEC in New Zealand right now and I'm happy to be working til 11pm drawing up NBOA papers, launching second round of MCP applications and chatting with members... and of course remembering our alumni function which was such a success!

One step forward, one step ahead.

Things that happen to you...

Many things have happened since 2 January 2007. Mt Cook, announcement that my grandparents will be coming early, MC applications closing...

I was going to say that I would love to blog about these moments and attach lots of colourful pictures but I'm feeling a little tired right now.

Recently, in Pierre's blog, he made a note: "Things that happen to you are events. It's what you do with them that determine whether they're going to be problems or solutions."

Mm. Makes you think.

Now I'll say, updates later. Still alive and healthy :)

South Island Roadtrip Day 2...

Blog from the road...

Jan 1: Picton. Boat ride around the Marlborough Sound. Very beautiful but I'm still waiting for that fantastic South Island scenary. Then drove to Nelson and got lost in the city centre.

Jan 2: Woke up at 5am to go kayaking near Nelson. Golden Bay is very beautiful. Tropical sand dune beaches... 4 hours to Kaikoura. Kinda tired =P