Our AIESEC Experiences Abroad: SIGPE DACIM

14/3

We got up at 8 and arrived at the conference site on time. I listened to another AIESECer, Turdean, who was the OCP of I.T. challenge 3.0. She shared her story in Austria as she was working for Nokia as TT. It was just a cool experience. After that, Olesya presented Ukraine to us and even sang the national anthem. We just could not forget her lovely, amazing voice.

In the afternoon, Raluca, who was the OC OGX responsible, took both of us to have a city tour. Cluj was the forth largest city in Romania, but the main attractions were just located around the historical centre. We went to nearly all of the place on foot. St. Micheal's Church and the Orthodox cathedral were just stunning with paintings, mosaic and golden decoration. We also went up to a small hill, so that we could have a whole view of the city. It resembled to Brasov, but with its own character. (more Hungarian architecture)

We went back to conference site and there was a workshop conducting there. I shared the movie introducing Hong Kong to both Olesya and Raluca. They just loved the firework and the harbour view. And Raluca in return, taught me the LC values "SIGPE DACIM", in which I had remembered them in 15 minutes. They were really meaningful and all members did share the values. This was another good case practice that can be brought back to our LC!

We went back to the office around 6pm. I talked with Olesya when she didn't have anything to do. She shared the life as an Ukrainian and I started to realize the difference background we had. The upbringing really determined lots of things in one's life. People in Ukraine will get married around 25 or even earlier. She was one of the exceptions with her classmate. Yet, she had great passion in teaching children English, French and Spanish. The education system in Ukraine was poor, but she wanted to change about it. If a person doesn't have so much choices as we do like Hong Kong, life will be just simplier and more focused.

It was so sad that she needed to go back to her city in the evening. Although we just met for a short time, I would not forget her words and smile. Sometimes, I think that you don't need a lot of time to know a person, but do treasure every single moment with a friend who you may not meet again in life. Luckily, we have exchanged the contact and also facebook. =)

I was going to move out of Anca's place because her flatmate had came back. I packed my luggage and went to a hostel called Retro Hostel with my trainee buddy, Stefan. We ate a kebab on the way to the hostel. The condition of the hostel was quite good, which was also cheap. I went to sleep immediately because it was just exhausting to me.