Small notes

When I was crossing square this morning, right in the middle I noticed a small white kitten with red and grey spots. Three-colores cats are usually "girls". So I saw little girl-kitten in Rabat, a bit lost, but enjoying, jumping, exploring.
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After I changed my last 20 euro and was crossing street on the way to the bus stop, the first thing I saw was green advertisment on the building "kinesthetic therapy" (or smth similar), yeah, I should spend my 216 dihrams for it. I hope it is the place, where nice people hug you, "gladiat po golove i cheshut za ushkom".
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I have no idea how I look like - there is no lights in bathroom and the only mirror we have is there. So I check my makeup only looking in car mirrors on the street. And I dont know if I am already fat or still have chance:)
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I was flying from Germany with Ryanair, so had 15 kg limit for my luggage. You can guess, that I dont really have clothes here.
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Magic is all around! And here comes the note for "harry potter" fans: traditional morrocan clothes is smth like "robe" from HP - it is long, the same for men and women, you wear it on your clothes and it has "kapushon" (sorry for russian), so when its windy or cold, or raining half of the city looks like wizardz:)
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And the last note is for Sidorova
Yesterday, going by bus to the office I have noticed a white horse on the field. Today there were two "baby-horses" with her. So peacful and beautiful.

Small things

Enough AIESEC stuff. A bit about my life here.

I live in Hassan, which means quite close to downtown - just 5 minutes walk from central station, main street and 10 minutes from Hassan tower. But it is different than in Russia - the coolest and richest neighborhoods are FAR from medina (old city). In Russia it is opposite - closer to Kremlin you live, the better and more expensive. Definetely, "Rublevka" is a very special part of the city, but I am talking about appartements, not houses now. Most of the fancy cafes and other "going out" places are in Agdal, as I could notice (btw, taxi from Agdal to Hassan is about 5 dihrams, half a euro, so for me as former Moscow citizen it doesnt really matter).

It is not warm at all today. Comparing to summer. Comparing to Moscow in december, it is hot;) Because when it is raining for two days, but rain drops fall on palm-trees and other greenish-green flora, you cant complain:)

I am buying stuff by myself and cooking, so far using supermarkets mostly (my french didnt go farther than "cafe au lait", still afraid to start speaking). But Simo tells that I am answering "sava" in french way, so may be soon i will reach fluent french, ha-ha.

Actually, I am starting to love my new team (I was extremely jelaous, when my former MC-members were telling this about their previous and new teams, and now telling so by myself). They are nice people, all special. But, to tell the truth, even more disorganized than anything you could imagine (I am talking to Russians), CEE approach is REALLY something "3 concrete points" and DIFFERENT from other GNs I have been working or talking so far.

Back to life - every morning I start with home-made orange juice: buy 6 fresh oranges for 2,6 dihrams = 10 rubles, cut one, squeeze, enjoy.
Whats more - we have such a huge "salon" - living room in our flat, with 3 sofas, that It even looks like "have party here!" My life is not balanced yet, so I am mostly working for AIESEC, instead of hosting parties or studies. Sometimes I am scared of how little time I have and how many things want to do...

By the way, it seems that on Sunday I am going to Marrakech and Settat for LC visits. Wohooooo!
***

I am in Morocco.
Marjam in Malaysia.
Maso in Australia.
Janie in Pakistan.
Ivan in Belgium.
Ira in UK.
Jerry in Stockholm.

Who else from CEE Leadership team 07-08 is doing what?

Our todays future

So. I downloaded all Russian-MC applications and even read MCPs block.

Few general notes: finally we have guys applying to MC. How much time, efforts and luck it has taken from different generations: recruit them, provide opportunities for development on local level, bring role-models, raise-up successful LCPs and LC VPs, and now these amazing people are applying to MC. Rinat, Ruslan, Pavel (and Vic) I wish you all the best and consider you as strong candidates.

Dont be surprised that I am talking so much about gender balance - based on my personal experience, I see that men and women DO perceive things differently, think differently. It is not about the logic (here is the leader Masha Isaeva and noone can prove me the opposite), it is about the expectations that russian society has towards you. You are raised up with the inner feeling and it cant be changed even by few years of powerful leadership XP in AIESEC. Talking about expectations of society I link it with the line from AIESEC Way (positive impact on society), which means that girls and boys will be different leaders, different change agents for society. So far, AIESEC Russia succeeded in female leadership mostly.
So, if we are unconciously trying to fulfull expectations, it means we are disigning our AIESEC XP in a certain way and whats more, being MC we are moving whole organization based on our perception of ideal AIESEC XP.

Ok, more general notes: for the last three years that I am reading MC applications, there are two "things to improve" which I found in each and every application:
- AIESEC Russia brand in the network
- internal communication

And as nothing has changed since 2006 I came to conclusion that these points are bullshit.

About AIESEC Russia image I have mentioned already in previous post - untill it doesnt stop us from X growth, I dont care about the image. Look, if supply-demand are managed properly and X reflect external trends, there shouldnt be any problem with matching. There is only one reason for me to agree with this "aiesec russia brand" thing - if it allows our members to have better experiences. But looking at results of previous years, even now it is possible to become global coordinator, MCP or MC abroad, global teams etc.

About internal communication. Personal relations between members are much closer than I saw in many countries even though we see each other few times a year. In Russian reality it is simply impossible to gather people each weekend, like in Morocco (Rabat is 1 hour from Casablanca). As for virtual communication, reason of low activity is not the lack of infrastructure (vkontakte is updated veeery quickly), but low networking skills (when the goal of communication is not blah-blah, but mutual benefits) and low innovation around JD. It is not about joining "Pimp myaiesec.net" campaign, but coffees and lunches with IBLF, IAESTE and AEGEE, Rotaract and AYL members, about sending "thank you" letters to Business Battle and enjoying the process.

Remember, I am just old bithchy MCP, dont judge strictly:)

About the MCP candidates.
I am confused. All different, all equal. The main decision that AIESEC Russia should take is about the direction for next year, not the personality.
What do we need more? Inspiration? Value-based leadership and strong analysis? Immediate action? Pride and image-building?
I totally agree about "mind-shift" which happend in last year (starting from UBS award, Mauricio at NatCo and Big numbers, strong MC candidates, russians abroad and big number of raised in spring, Breakthrough attitude of MC team and Li Zhen at Plan-it, remarkable growth in Q3 and good representation at IC 08...), but what is next?
Sustainability and consistency is not easy decision, because you may not get results immediately. But what can be more exiting than dare to create future by ourselves, not just follow, than be consistent with AIESEC way in all our actions? And at the same time to be able think fast and create solutions wich will be bringing growth.

Lost. Episode 1.

In the office - wet shoose after walking in Medina, Sinatra in earphones (i was singing this "fly me to the moon" song all the morning).

Ira wrote that I feel insecure. I never do. No, I am not self-confident at all. I can fight FOR the things or people I love, but if you tell me to fight against someone just for myself, I would most probably loose. There are moments of happy enlightment when I feel that the purpose of life is just to live but they dont last long.

Another thing that came to my mind today, when I woke up after 9 hours of strange dreams caused by 2 anti-flu pills and two cups of strong tea with lemon and eukalypt honey (i am a bit sick after the conference - it was fucking cold at night), so the though was about relationships - more and more I feel like a "hunter" whose main driver is to run, shoot, catch. Hunter doesnt do it because of hunger. And less "tools" you use, the more interesting is the hunting.

When I say that I believe in people it has nothing to do with trust - I believe that everyone has talent, unique abilities and I feel rewarded when people realize their potential with a bit of my help or advice. But it doesnt mean that I easily make "life-time friendships" - and what is more painful is when you mix first with second. When you fall in love with idea of someones happiness and work towards it, but start thinking it is real friendship. It is not. And as soon as "project" is realize, you do not need each other any more.

Markelova is in Brazil, Marjam is in Malaysia, I am in Morocco.
Oh, people, I am so lost and need hugs so much! My kinesthetic nature is crying for physical contacts, but untill you know the meaning of it in the context, better not take risks.

Back to "me"

I am not a native English speaker and I love blogging. I live abroad, and have many friends who don’t speak Russian. I think Aigul can understand me better than others – you just love a taste of your mother language, but English allows you to “talk” to more people. So you write in both languages.

I am in Morocco for one week, but it feels like I am here for ages. Re-integration to AIESEC and adaptation to local culture is pretty intensive, but enjoyable so far.

Few things:
I just came back from the national conference – 250 delegates, ocean just 5 minutes walk away, EB track, My AIESEC story session. There was a moment when I felt like completely loosing the empathy, ability to feel the audience, kind of intuition “what will work”. But as I am staying quite cold-headed and don’t judge myself as strictly as last year, I enjoyed it. People are the same as in any country, their motives are different. If you can understand WHY they behave in certain manner, the dialogue becomes much more constructive. But my concern is that answering “WHY” question as an “absolutely objective” point of view we use ours. It shouldn’t work if I am right. But it is. Looking for the answer.

In general conference was good, messages delivered (so funny, there we two sessions on the last day – one mine, another done by Youssef. Whatever they were about, the main message and main question was “what you gonna do TOMORROW to write your AIESEC story and contribute to Growth?” It seems to me that AIESEC oldies have allergy to all these blah-blah “we are the family”. If you don’t do anything, AIESEC itself will not exist, so really care about the family means not to talk and send nice letters, but work for reason of existence), some of the delegates extremely brilliant and nice, people smiling and open, MANY can sing really well, I am starting to love my new MC team.

About “take it easy” stuff and my CEE soul: we didn’t have pre-meeting, I could never find OC, delegates were always late, at faci-meetings we could discuss sugar-cubes for 20 minutes in French (which made me mad), but didn’t say a word about the content of the session as well as about the level of preparation. They say, that European culture is much more “individualistic”, but I noticed that we use “collective intelligence” much more, giving inputs for each others sessions (content, delivery etc.) Another funny thing is in every country people prioritize things in a different way. For example, in Russia delegates would complain that there was not enough water, that parties were short, that there were not enough rooms for tracks and some were sitting outside in darkness. But here main complaints were: food and a big amount of information. By the way, food is just AWESOME. Can you imagine, having rice with seafood and fried small fishes, and vegetable soup for dinner? And huge plate of vegetables for lunch as a starter? Everything is served on big plates in the middle of the table and then everyone takes as much as he needs. Bread is delicious (French influence – croissants, pane chocolat are also good) and I am eating too much of it, so don’t be surprised to see more of “me” in some parts of my bodyJ

I have a lot of job here. I mean I can potentially have, because at the end of the day you can’t do everything. I need to solve it, otherwise will die for AIESEC Morocco and will need to take a rest again after the term.

Yesterday, after coming back from conference (LCP lost keys from the car, so we were first freezing outsides with Regula and Youssef, without food, late for the train. Then Regula and me moved inside and was watching Sex and the City episode while guys tried to solve car issue), so when we were finally back, changed clothes fast and were chilling in cafes for next 3 hours, trying to talk about whatever but aiesec. We failed few times (the longest “non-aiesec” part was when Regula was explaining me smth about Kerling which she was practicing for 9 years). And all these AIESEC discussions (for sure, we continued chatting with Regula at home), mainly about steering team, subcommittees, MCPs, AI, strategies, made me think if actually people are different? Or each MCP wants to lead “a country with name” and be recognized as really strong leader, strategist blah-blah by AI (even though if you ask, MCPs ALWAYS have a lot of complaints towards AI). What I mean by “different” – may be putting the interests of network, countries higher than personal ambitions in strategies implementation (because some of them are based on whatever analysis and don’t take into consideration REAL situation in some countries or areas). Yes, the “big boss” feeling is an amazing one, and I still think that each MCP has huuuge EGO and we (they) are comparing “who’s the coolest man in the network” – even if they (we) are women. Another funny thing is “and after his term everything crashed. So am starting from the beginning” – definitely we are better, that previous MCP and we (two of us, who are talking) much smarter than anyone in the network.

And that’s what surprises me about Russians (MCPs, MC etc.) – we don’t have a habit to show off. May be its in country’s culture (individuality was not appreciated in soviet period), but getting to know other countries I see more and more clearly, that there are a lot of things we do better. But where are GCPs from Russia? Search, you’ll not find many. May be we don’t like to share? Not really, otherwise so many cool people would not go abroad for MCs. How can you transmit your ideas and share experience with the network? Be in global teams. But if you haven’t traveled for the conferences/CEEDs a lot, people don’t know you (for us it’s quite expensive to travel a lot, takes much time and requires visa for almost any country). If you don’t have country brand, you’ll never be in global teams (don’t tell me about results – average Russian LC is doing quite well), so you’ll stay in your country with your perfect skills of virtual management and communication, experience of working in diverse and big teams and being really good in LC coaching (you don’t have choice to be bad, if you see the LC for 3 days two times a year). And you know what? Russia itself doesn’t really needs a brand as a country. We don’t have problems with making AIESEC happen in the country staying “big country with huge potential”, but AIESEC network could benefit much more from AIESEC Russia.

Last year I sometimes felt like “stop f***ing my brains” – all these Very Important Questions, which, to tell the truth, either pushed by AI and anyway will be accepted, or are so important that even don’t have follow-up after, or just lacking transparency and you know only the final outcome, not how and why decision has been made. No-no, I don’t want to discuss it, I am simply bithchingJ (to think what can be changed I should last year. But I was young and had too many important things to care about in my country). Just came to my mind - when you are MCP, you are on the one hand is trying to be “friends” with AI, on the other, have a long list of “things to change” but not so much time. As soon as you are inside AI, you have different role and again has too many things to find time for that “long list of complaints” and… why should you care?

Why am I thinking about it? Disappointed with AIESEC? Not really. Too much “in”? No. Most probably, my stupid habit to care about whatever I am doing. Just need to find a way to distinguish right things from random things.

P.S. Here they cut my name from Anastasia to Ana, which sounds exactly like “me” in Arabic.
P.P.S. Markelova is in Brazil. Cool. Three people from MC 0607 are in Latin America, two people from MC 0708 are in Africa.

Personal underground

I am back again. I cant type password from russian blog at this french keyboard, so it forces me to write in english again.
However, I checked the previous post qnd its quite logical to say that...

Nastya is in Morocco.

My plane landed on Sunday, 4 days ago. First thing that I saw getting off the Ryanair plane was a palm tree. Small airport of Fez, decorated with traditional mosaic and the sunset. Eventhough I didnt get any message from Youssef and didnt know if anyone gonna meet me, it was not important at all. I am here.
The inner solitude which I feel from Frankfurt is still disturbing me; making me do stupid stuff (you know that I was just downloading UNESCO Educational reports at my first day in the office? Thats it.), it sometimes feels like being soooo lonely. More than I could ever imagine.
No-no, I am not complaining at all, but this "silent" period which I always have in the beginning of something new THIS TIME is different. Because there are no usual things around, at least one, which could be my life vest before I learn how to breath again.

People speak french, fast, move around, loud, extremely familiar (here is the proof to my theory that I dont make difference between people, treat them equally, feel that we all are from one huge "human tribe").
I have AIESEC re-integration period, which means that I need new ends to tie with sensitive ones that I have still from my "old AIESEC life". Oh, God, I could not imagine that someone may change so much, may feel himself more mature and lost at the same time.

Take your time, babe, take one more moroccan mint tea, let the sun play on your face, wear sunglasses in order not to get early wrinkles.

Ah, people, before you go and try stuff, before you open your heart, before you stay still, look, listen, forgive, stop judging others and yourself you will never get an answer.
What is the answer?

The answer, asalways, is love. You know, when Super Hero saves the world, there is the moment when the world is just saved and right after, in few seconds, comes husge, screen-size love. I saved the world already. Dear viza God (we have strong relations with you), follow the logic, please.
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People are dark-heared, curly, girls are beautiful. I bought some food, feel better, dont miss the Love so much any more.