'Tis the season of... ELECTIONS!!!

As I found out, it is not only the season of conferences. It is also the season of elections!?

Almost everywhere you turn, you hear some "election" related stories. For example, the South African Local Government Elections, although only to take place in March 2006, there are already lots of hypes around it. The recent Kenyan constitution referendum - victory by the "No" camp. The newly elected German Chancellor - Angela Merkel (got to give it to her, the first female chancellor of Germany). The recent Liberian Presidential Election, won by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (she will become Africa's first elected female president, if the election probe results in her favour). The City & County Mayors Election in Taiwan, due to take place in 10 days time, which is becoming white-heated with all kinds of candidate scandals.

See election is everywhere. So, it is with no exception (once again) that AIESEC South Africa is also on this bandwagon. As we will be having the election of our national leadership for the year 2006/2007. Now how exciting is that?! I can still remember just about 12 months ago, I was also in the same position - contemplating the next stage of my AIESEC career, taking the bold step of standing for MC, standing in front of the whole plenary making my speeches, being selected for MC... Oh, the joy when I was selected!!

Anyways, I just want to say that I know the emotions one goes through in this situation, or aka Election syndrome, be it for the candidates or for the supporters. Ah, how we get so worked up in elections... Well, but this time things are a little different. As I'll be responsible for the "Nominations Sub-committee" (ask a @er, he/she will know what I'm talking about). Basically, I'm in charge of the election process. Meaning (for non-AIESEC people) I'm kinda like the Independent Electoral Commission.

Well, all I can say about elections is... I love & hate them!!! Why? Just look at all the good, the bad, the beauty, and the ugly that elections bring out of ordinary people. "Election" is the oldest form of demonstration of democracy, and look at what people would do or say in the name of democracy, freedom & liberty. Yeah, I admit I'm sounding a little pessimistic. But nontheless, it is still the "better" way of society. Ok, let me not go into this topic, otherwise this is gonna become a political blog rather than a personal reflection blog.

Right, let me sign off, before I go ramble on further...

P.S. Happy elections! Please keep your INTEGRITY in whatever election you are participating in.

P.P.S. Good luck to all the AIESEC SA MC candidates! Good luck to AIESEC SA in the quest of deciding its future leadership.

jule

'Tis the season of conferences

It is once again the season of conferences. With no exception, AISEC South Africa is also having its National Conference, aka Annual General Meeting in a week's time.

Currently, we are undergoing hectic preparation and we will be leaving for Stellenbosch for the conference on the 25th. Meaning: sleepless nights and last minute preparations!!!

Wish me luck people

jule

Home coming... jule

Ok, so I'm not yet a queen, and I don't think I'll ever be (luckily). But still, I'm coming home. This may be a little exaggeration, since home, i.e. my parents' house - the trouble of living in 2 places, is only 45 minutes away. So, why all the excitement? Because I'll be going home to a home cooked meal... by my mom! Yes, like I said in my previous posting, mommy is back, and that was 2 weeks ago. I think I saw her about twice during this 2 weeks, and both had been: "Hi mom, bye mom!". Today, I'm really going home - spending the weekend and perhaps even the week. Just to be pampered. :-D

Now, I know I'm a big baby. And I should be use to not seeing family by now, since we've lived apart half of the time for the past nine years. But it still doesn't change the fact that family is family, and the love and longing for each other will never fade.

This brings me to my next point (right, I know I'm taking this "point" thing way too far), this is not the first time that I'm away from home. But the longing for family is far stronger than before, why?! I live with people that are away and will be away from family for at least 1 year, and they don't even have the luxury of seeing their family when they choose to. And it is such a norm for many AIESECers around the world to be far from home. So what am I & who am I to complain about away from family!?

Good questions, now I have a few hypotheses. 1. I'm a big baby living away from home the first time, and it scares me. 2. I genuinely miss my family. 3. Life & work in the AIESEC house has gotten so hectic that I need a breather. 4. The dishes in the AIESEC house has piled up to 1 floor high, and I ain't gonna be the one doing it, so it is good time to duck. 5. I'm not living far enough from home, maybe if I live far far away & don't have the means of going home whenever I want, I'll just learn to live with it. 6. The Taiwanese culture of a close-knitt family.

So, which of the hypothesis above is true? Beats me, maybe all of the above, maybe none is valid. But, who cares!? Point is: I AM GOING HOME!!!

jule

Culture Shock...

I've never thought of myself experiencing culture shock, but apparently I did.

I was doing the preparation for the Culture Preparation Seminar, the agenda & sessions development with Morten (an AIESECer studying in KZN), as we went through the flow of the seminar and discussing what needs to be included in the seminar, what will be relevant, etc. It dawned on me that I've also experienced culture shock!? I guess it is not something one consciously think of, but looking back in time, I start to recognise the "symptoms" (for the lack of a better word) that I had when I first moved to South Africa.

I immigrated to South Africa in '96. The first month in SA went past without much drama, we stayed with relatives. So in a way, I was living in a cocoon that I was well protected from the realities. It was an adventure for me, living in a foreign country. Everything were new and interesting. I then studied in Grahamstown, which is a little town in the Eastern Cape. Although there were needs for adjustment in the new environment, i.e. living in an unknown town alone with my dad, but there was no big issues. I didn't feel home-sick, sad or anything - I guess I was young and naive :-). Besides, there were new friends to meet and new things to explore. I then spent 3 months in the boarding school. That was the most difficult time of my life. I was depressed, home sick, sad... (the list goes on). I never could understand why I acted the way that I did, because I loved the environment, I loved the friends that I had, I was really enjoying myself. But the depression and home-sickness just wouldn't go away. I eventually moved back to Pretoria with my family.

Today, I realised that was my "culture shock". BTW, I don't really like the term, as I've always believed that I'm open-minded about different cultures, and this term doesn't apply to me. In the material that Morten prepared, it mentioned 3 types of reactions to culture shock. One of which is "Assimilation", which has 3 sub-types. Of which, I'm glad that I fall under the category of dual-culturalism (I think that's what it is called). My times living in both Taiwan & South Africa have taught me so much - about myself, my relations with people around me, which makes me not only tolerate different cultures, but also have the deep appreciations of the differences. I've always believed that God had intended to make the world this way - differences.

My point? Look around you and spot the differences between you and others, your culture and other cultures, your ideal and others' ideals, your beliefs and others' beliefs. Once you've see the differences, try to understand the reason behind it. Once you have done that, you will become more appreciative of differences.

Just a profound thought: Imagine if God had intended for everything to be the same, so there wouldn't be conflicts. Then you will have only male/female, and not male & female; you will all look the same, speak the same language, wake up everyday and do exactly the same things. If that is the case, then where is the excitement of life?

jule

Christmas has come early this year!!!

For ordinary people, Christmas is almost around the corner. But for me, it has come early this year! :-) Why?! Because mommy has finally come home, after a 3 months long absence. And obviously she brought a whole lots of goodies with her. That is why, Christmas has come early for me, because she brought me new clothes! Love her when she does that.

I think it's rather different for me then other people to have family on 2 opposite ends of the world. There is always a lots of missing one another. But life is full of surprises when they come back. News of the family from the other end of the world, new toys for daddy, new clothes for kids (of course that's me), delicious food from home (yeah, Taiwan is still home!). Most of all, seeing each other after a long time. The happiness and joy of seeing the person always overcomes the fight in the telephone a week ago.

Oh, this also means picking mommy up from the airport. You know, I love the airport. Because, whenever I'm there it is either going on an adventure, going home, or meeting someone important in my life. I don't know who said this, but it is really true. The airport is like a timeless place, it doesn't matter if it is day or night outside, the airport is always the same. It's like time just stops when you are in the airport. I know, it's not true when you are picking someone up, and is late for a meeting.

Something that I noticed today too, is people's reactions when they come out of the terminals. They look like actors/actresses walking onto the stage. Some don't quite know what they have to do, some walk out with confidence, some run away... the list goes on. But it is such a beautiful moment when they find their loved ones in the crowd, the run towards each other, the hug, the kiss, the tears. It's like watching a real-life mini drama unfolding right in front of you. Not to mention, you also have your time on stage.

jule