Discovery

I am on my way from Global Leaders Summit 2010 in Tunisia.

It was one of the best AIESEC conferences in my life, and I am extremely grateful to AIESEC that made it possible for me to attend this conference. I also feel big responsibility for bringing the knowledge and experience back to AIESEC in Oman, my members, my parents, friends, and my life as a whole.

For those who are not familiar with AIESEC conferences, you may visit www.gls-2010.org

In brief: over 200 participants from more than 100 countries around the world, all - leaders of AIESEC chapters in their countries, all - excited about leadership, personal development, and positive change.

One of the most life-changing experiences at this conference was the exercise of the world map.

All participants were asked to form the map of the world in the room. Soon, all 110 countries appeared on the human made map in the conference hall. How amazing is that! Totally overwhelming feeling of unity with the whole world. After breathtaking discovery, we were asked to think of a country each of us wants to visit, then go to this country and talk to the person representing it.

Here the real experience started. A few highlights…

*Traveling accross borders is easy?

It’s so easy to ‘travel’ to the country when I am in the room with all of them.

In that room, Indians could travel to Pakistan, and Pakistanis - to India, everyone could experience the Gulf, and non-EU citizens could discover European cultures.
In reality, various visa barriers do their best to stop people from discovering different places. Sitting in that room I realized that AIESEC does not accept any barriers, and will always serve for the peace and unity in the world.

* Small countries have their voice.

My friend Aparajita lives in Mauritius. Mauritius is a tiny island between Subcontinent and Africa. Despite of being small in size, Mauritus had a strong presence at the conference thanks to Aparajita who often shared her opinion on topics we discussed and represented her country confidently and proudly.

*Country is the people

When I traveled across the room, I didn’t see any war or violence in the world.

There were smiling people, passionate about where they belong and eager to share their culture. A country stops being just a territory and becomes people.

* How do I choose where to travel?

We were asked to choose one country where each of us would want to travel. First thought - how do I choose?

Country where you have never been before? Country where you have been, but want to visit again? Country where you are scared to go? Country that is good for strategic partnership for your AIESEC chapter?

When I heard the task to travel to any country I want, my first reaction was - Zimbabwe, perhaps due to the reason that I read about it and really want to visit. However, having thought more about it, Anjali and I decided that I would go to Tanzania. Why? Tanzania (Zanzibar) and Oman were parts of the same sultanate in the past (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_oman), so ‘traveling’ to Tanzania was a perfect opportunity to discover and connect to the history of Oman as well.

It was definitely the right thing to do. Could not imagine that I would find so many similarities with Omani culture! Hospitality, peace, treating a neighbor as a family member, greeting everyone in a bus (except the fact that there are no busses in Oman, but it can be applied to other occasions), and many more! At the same time, Amos (representative of AIESEC Tanzania) mentioned some things that I found completely special for Tanzania.

When there was a time to make a second choice, Anjali and I agreed that Anjali would go to Colombia, as many AIESEC students in Oman are interested in going there for internship, so we should know what the country is like. That moment, I felt a real responsibility for my choices, as I was representing an organization and wanted to think strategically and base my decision on what is important for AIESEC in Oman.

* Russia on the map: being big vs having identity

Victor (President of AIESEC in Russia) had almost half the upper part of the hall for himself on the world map. He could do whatever he likes: jump, run, lay down, invite friends. Does Russia know how to use the space it got? Does Russia have its own voice, its own - how we like to stay in AIESEC - stand?
Being the biggest doesn’t really mean the most influence. Influence comes with actions and reaching out to other countries. When will my country learn it?

* I am my country. I am the world.

The next exercise we did was about imagining yourself as your country.

What do you have to say? What is your story? What do you want to ask?
What if you are not just the country, but the whole world?

A girl from Brazil commented that imagining being the world she could feel that if there is anything wrong with one part of the body (e.g. a leg), then the whole body is in pain. Interesting thought. We should all care about each other. Too far from the current reality, but that’s why we are in AIESEC to make it happen.

* The Gulf is in the middle of the world:)

I realized how exciting it to be in the Gulf at this point of time, both AIESEC and non-AIESEC-wise.Really looking forward for the rest of my experience over here!

~~

One thing that I am certain after this exercise and the overall conference is that I will not let myself do ordinary things in life, but will choose the path that will allow me to make a difference, no matter how difficult it might seem now or on on the way.

I am going to write more about the Summit during the next days, stay tuned. Hugs to everyone!

Global Leaders Summit 2010