I’m an Alumnus

Starting with 23rd of November 2007 I am an official AIESEC alumnus.

In a small ceremony organized by AIESEC Bucuresti I was offered a diploma that has a huge symbolic value to me. After exactly 6 years I finished my AIESEC experience with high hopes to be more and contribute more. For the past 6 years, my life was strongly related to AIESEC: member in AIESEC Bucuresti, Regional Coach and MC member for AIESEC Romania, MC Member for AIESEC Norway and part of AIESEC International. I’m grateful for all the moments of joy and sadness, for all people that influenced my life until now, for all the friendships that are enriching my life every day, for all the deep conversations that reshaped my perspective on world and the list can continue.

These years were so intense that after this continuous running game I felt the need to stay still and get some answers. The months that I took off after the AI term brought several truths about what I need and want. As a results I chose not to continue my AIESEC XP with an internship but instead accept a permanent contract abroad. There are maybe not so many differences between the job roles that I could have but for sure lots of differences in regards of the life style and the way I want to live my life. For the last 2 years I’ve been a typical expat that barely speaks the language of that country, has a limited interest in contributing to the local community and is immersing into his/her job.

Now I want a different perspectives. I want to have the option to stay to a place more then a year, I want to understand what people say on the street and I want to get involved in the local community. I’m exploring different ideas from human rights NGOs to volunteer work at the embassy and consulate to involvement with some social enterprises. I haven’t decided but I know that something additional to my job is required. Cause otherwise, what is the difference between me and any other career focused person at my age? I don’t find sufficient 8-10 hours at work being enough to make a true contribution. At least not after 6 years of believing that we can change the way things are.

But then again, everyone has to find his/her own balance. I know that mine has to be beyond my job.

Tai Yin as a form of expression

One of the nicest things that happened to me since I arrived to Bucharest was a 3 days introduction course into Tai Yin. This is partially coming from an aspect of traditional Chinese medicine called Qigong that is involving the coordination of different breathing patterns with various physical postures and motions of the body.

The Tai Yin type that is practiced here was brought from Wudang Temple, Hubei province in China and it is addressed only to women. There is a belief that there are 3 women typologies: the "precious woman" often met into the most Asian countries, the "white woman" that is typical for South Asia and Arab countries and the "mysterious woman" that is found in the African countries. Each of us can identify one of these typologies as a dominant with it's own characteristics. The ultimate purpose is to become the "complete" woman which takes all the qualities from that typologies that are not dominant and allows you to correct some of the short falls that are associated with your dominant. The practiced is performed while listening to 3 types of music associated to each of the typology: Chinese (for 1), Arab/Indian (2) or tribal African music (3).

And everything for spiritual cultivation and mental and physical health...

I'm surprised every time by the power that these practice has on me. At the end of each practice I feel that I need to challenge more the type of woman that I become as a result of all the societal norms and rules. I get more and more comfortable in expressing my emotions as they trully are.