Felicity & me, in transition, preparing for 05-06 
posted by Pierre at
4:09 AM
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02 April 2005
01 April 2005
Powerful Moments
How do you begin to write about an experience that has changed your life? I was recently at a conference in Bangladesh when I went through many powerful moments. The most powerful one happened to be a moment that lasted all of two seconds!
Only a week ago, I knew where my life was going. I knew how I wanted to get there and that there was nothing else for me. Today my goals remain the same. When you spend 7 intense days of sharing ideas experiences and learnings with 150 people from 20 different countries, the perspectives you gain are too many to put down. The ambitions, hopes and dreams of 150 individuals make you wonder about the possibilities that exist beyond the ones you dreamt about. One of the most powerful lessons I learned while I spent this week, in Bangladesh, at the conference, was this: The world has so many opportunities to explore, that it is impossible to know which one is best for you - unless you actually experience them - or learned from people who have. Something like this happened to me at this conference. One of the delegates hailing from Norway said something that made me sit up and take notice. By itself, it was a statement that at best, sounded unique. However, the way it reached down inside me rose from the fact that the statement was about something so close to my heart.
Anna, a girl from Norway, who was working in Bangladesh, shared her perspectives on living and working in a foreign culture: "Travelling around the world is harmful to narrowmindedness, bigotry and mindsets".
I immediately began to personally identify with that statement. I view my own purpose for living as being able to travel far and wide, so that I can bring to people who are unable to do so, the opportunities to learn and possibly act upon situations and events that are crucial to tomorrow's world. That I may be able to tell the stories that matter, that compell the individuals who have the power to drive change. In that light, Anna's short quote became more than just a catchphrase for me. It became the engine I needed to drive my own learning - it was just what I needed to believe in my own dream. So often, the moments that create the most impact on you are the ones that are the simplest and shortest. Anna showed me the profound power of a single moment when she opened up her learnings for me to share. Thank you Anna.
Only a week ago, I knew where my life was going. I knew how I wanted to get there and that there was nothing else for me. Today my goals remain the same. When you spend 7 intense days of sharing ideas experiences and learnings with 150 people from 20 different countries, the perspectives you gain are too many to put down. The ambitions, hopes and dreams of 150 individuals make you wonder about the possibilities that exist beyond the ones you dreamt about. One of the most powerful lessons I learned while I spent this week, in Bangladesh, at the conference, was this: The world has so many opportunities to explore, that it is impossible to know which one is best for you - unless you actually experience them - or learned from people who have. Something like this happened to me at this conference. One of the delegates hailing from Norway said something that made me sit up and take notice. By itself, it was a statement that at best, sounded unique. However, the way it reached down inside me rose from the fact that the statement was about something so close to my heart.
Anna, a girl from Norway, who was working in Bangladesh, shared her perspectives on living and working in a foreign culture: "Travelling around the world is harmful to narrowmindedness, bigotry and mindsets".
I immediately began to personally identify with that statement. I view my own purpose for living as being able to travel far and wide, so that I can bring to people who are unable to do so, the opportunities to learn and possibly act upon situations and events that are crucial to tomorrow's world. That I may be able to tell the stories that matter, that compell the individuals who have the power to drive change. In that light, Anna's short quote became more than just a catchphrase for me. It became the engine I needed to drive my own learning - it was just what I needed to believe in my own dream. So often, the moments that create the most impact on you are the ones that are the simplest and shortest. Anna showed me the profound power of a single moment when she opened up her learnings for me to share. Thank you Anna.
posted by Pierre at
9:24 AM
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27 March 2005
Bangladesh!
It's day 4 for me in Bangladesh and every minute i spend here at the conference is just a bigger and bigger reminder of the possibilities that exist for me in AIESEC! (www.aiesec.org). I was eating lunch with an aussie, had a discussion about energy with a dutch girl, spoke about educational possibilities with someone from China and last night talked about Kashmir with a Paksitani (who else?!) who currently resides in the UAE!
Incase you ever plan a visit to Bangladesh, consider the following - the people love to smile, they're mostly polite and love to take time out for you - in short - you won't go away disappointed. Something else i've realised over here - the people of the subcontinent are all almost exactly the same. The languages they speak are similar, they love the same music, watch the same movies, play the same sports and dance to the same songs.
Cool quote:
"Travelling around the world is harmful to bigotry, narrow mindedness and mindsets!"
- Anna,
Norwegian Trainee in Bangladesh
posted by Pierre at
12:11 AM
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