Incredible India

Experiencing India with AIESEC definitely changed my perception of the world. Whereas we live in a very secure and regular world, India is a colorful chaos of suffering and joy, noise and peace, rich and poor. Where all these contradictions clash in wildest ecstasy I have never felt more alive. Like the day when I first went to work alone with my scooter in the crazy Indian traffic: Rickshaws, cars, cows, camels, elephants – on Indian roads you better get mentally prepared on any situation before heading round the corner. Or as the Indians put it so nicely: Expect the unexpected.

Living among young students from all over the world, leaving our comfort zone together, sharing the best moments of our lifetime with one other – this truly was a unforgettable experience too. I have made so many good friends from all over the globe in such a short time and authentically met the Indian culture too. Like the night when 8 of us crawled in this little nutshell of a rickshaw singing “Ai se tu pego” with my Brazilian room mates. By the third time the Indian driver started to sing along with us. Music simply is the universal language.

Or the other day when this poor street merchant spontaneously invited me to his home to have lunch with his whole family. Sitting on the floor eating delicious curry and rice with my hands from a banana leaf instead of a dish was an impressive and authentic way of getting to know the day-to-day reality of India’s lesser privileged people.

Or the weekend that we spent in Goa… Or… Or… Or…

To cut a long story short: Going abroad with AIESEC probably was the best decision of my life.Period. 

So what are you waiting for? Namasté!

U.S.A.!

Travelling is about discovering new places, other cultures and different traditions. Therefore I was more than happy to have the opportunity to experience Thanksgiving during my stay in Connecticut, US. I have never seen a table loaded so full with a huge variety of pies, cookies, dips and cakes! We cooked for family and friends and we spent a very merry night together. This was only the day before Thanksgiving and I already felt like I wouldn’t be able to get any more food down ever again. But I was mistaken as the next evening, the traditional turkey and mashed potatoes were served. Who would say no to such a feast?

In the end, feeling warm and fuzzy, all I could do was roll into bed. I was stuffed like a turkey myself but I wouldn’t have missed this opportunity in any case. Whenever you get the chance to go and explore the world, do it! It will be worth it.

Winter in beautiful Paris

Winter in Paris is grey and cold and at first sight not the best season of the year. During the summer months the whole city is decorated by plants and flowers, the famous French Gardens full of life and peopled by sun-lovers, fashion addicts and gossiping elderly ladies or pensioners playing “Boules”. During the months of November to February however, the Parisian tend to stay inside as much as possible and enjoy the vast cultural and artistic possibilities the city has to offer.

However, if you dare to go outside anyway, winter has its own high-”lights” too:

On visiting Paris’ most famous street, you can see Christmas lights adorning the trees along the Champs-Elysées from the Arc of Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde. I always felt as if I could see the fairytale-like feeling reflecting in the faces of the window shoppers walking up and down the street. It is a wonderful experience! Next to that, the city organises a large and diverse Christmas market with little chalets bordering the Champs-Elysées. So whether you would like to enjoy the festive season or go on a spending-spree, Paris has it all!

Anja from AIESEC Fribourg

Wow, so interesting! Australia

Last year I went on exchange to Sydney. It was the most amazing 6 months one can imagine. Here are e few things I experienced over there, that I want to share with you.

The 3 Best Things about Australia

-          Diversity 1: metropolises, beaches, rain forests, deserts, mountains, reefs…you can have everything in the same country.

-          Diversity 2: You can find so many different cultures, skin colours, languages living with and next to each other. For example were 30 % of Sydney’s inhabitants born outside Australia. And even those who were born there usually have at least one parent coming from another country.

-          TimTams: The most delicious chocolate cookies! J

The 3 Worst Things about Australia

-          Vegemite: it’s a spread that Aussies eat for breakfast. It’s extremely salty and most foreigners would describe it as disgusting. But Aussies seem to love it!

-          They drive on the wrong side of the street: the first time I was sitting in the drivers seat, I was really nervous about confusing the sides. But luckily you get used to it quite fast. And then it was actually even a bit weird to drive on the right side back home J

-          The can absolutely NOT rely on the weather forecast: I am still not sure if the meteorologists in Australia are so incompetent or if the weather in Australia is simply too unpredictable. Anyway while I was there I realized quickly there is no point in checking the forecast – it was just hardly ever true.

The 3 Things you may not have known about Australia

-          the Capital City of Australia is Canberra (not Sydney!): It has purposely been built to be the capital because they couldn’t decide whether Sydney or Melbourne could be the capital. So none of them could and a new town was designed instead.

-          The Aborigines, the native people of Australia, have already been living there for about 50’000 years. The Europeans only arrived in the late 18^th century.

-          Camels are feral pests in Australia: they were brought to the island in the 19^th century for transport and construction use. But they have expanded and are now becoming increasingly dangerous for native animals.  

Peru, Peru,...

Bewitched by the charm of the Vietnamese people, I have come back from a trip that certainly has changed my way of seeing our little big world. So good impressions and experiences accompany my memories in the suitcase on the way home. I'm shocked of the harmony of its people and the respect for their culture and traditions. I have walked through their parks and lakes without getting bored for not even a minute. The positive energy that one breaths there is incredible. Definitely a beautiful experience I will never forget.

 

Beatriz from Peru

Another story from China

"China is much more than the country of the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, or the world famous Chinese food. There are many things to know and curiosities that made my trip an extraordinary experience. The Chinese are very reserved people, so that sometimes they appear to be angry, but at the same time, they are extremely polite and helpful people, who like to offer visitors a warm welcome.The Chinese people are full of superstitions and traditions, and it is very interesting to discover them while you are there. China brings a range of new features to a culture so different from the west. It´s a very special trip for those who are looking for a gateaway to learn new costums. If you have the possibility to go, don´t miss it."

Carlos was in China

Norwegian fjords

In summer 2010 I found myself in middle of the famous Norwegian fjords. During two months this beautiful skandinavian country was my home. By living and working in a hotel I had the chance to dive into the culture, explore Norway and work in an international team.  I gained not only precious experience but also lifelong friends. 

Ursina Roffler, Stranda 2010 (Norway)