" Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain. "

- Unknown

After spending a few weeks with Centre for Sustainability, I knew that my internship wasn't suited for me, and me being there for 10 weeks, I had to find another internship that I would learn as much as possible and would be best suited for me. When talking to Julia, LCP of UPD, about possible new internships, she presented to me about a CEEDership in their local chapter.

I knew at that very point it was a #JFDI moment and that I just had to go for it. And after going through a long process that took several weeks and lots of waiting....

On Sunday, I received the offer to become a CEEDer under oGIP with AIESEC UPD!

My eyes lit up with joy, I did a little AIESEC dance, I was just happy that I got it! Reason being that I really wanted to see how the operations are run in a different LC, not only for OGX, but also under portfolios. In that I hope to see differences/similarities to which I can hope to contribute while also learn to bring back as a different perspective to my LC.

Goals as a CEEDer:

- To not only complete the Job Description but to push myself to excel them and leave a footprint, a lasting legacy

- Learn about OGX and different portfolios with a deeper understanding
- Take on any challenges

Goals for myself:

- Keep rolling with the #JFDI motto. Take on every opportunity. In that try to never be afraid of trying new things and worrying about failure. Because the worse regret is when you look back, to not take on the opportunity to do something. And if it's regret of embarrassment or humiliation, well that's just all for stories and fun!

- Learn enough tagalog to have a basic conversation
- Remain open minded

I really wanted to pursue a more diverse and a more global cultural understanding, and AIESEC gave me that opportunity. Never would I have thought the idea of working in India, travelling through Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam and now living in Philippines would come up, especially to do it all alone. This summer has already been one experience that I will never forget, and who knows, the adventure may never end.

My new boss! Trish VP oGIP on the left, and the boss' boss, TJ MC VP OGX

" Embrace failure. Never never quit. Get very comfortable with that uneasy feeling of going against the grain and trying something new. It will constantly take you places you never thought you could go." 

- Terry Crews

Hello! It's been quite a while since I've wrote my last post, but I am here, alive and loving the Philippines!

The reason I came to Philippines was my second AIESEC internship where I was working for Center for Sustainability in Palawan, Philippines! Having never gone to Philippines before, I had to quickly see what it is like, and so I googled "Palawan". And what comes up? WHITE SAND, CLEAR BEACHES. This got me very excited to go to Palawan.

When I arrived, I found out that I will be working/living in the jungles an hour away from Puerto Princesa City.

On the left is my hut that I live in, which is always a 10min journey with a flashlight a night to discover. Inside has a mattress with a mosquito net. There are two rooms in the hut, and each room has 2 beds.




Each night, you never know what you'll see. A spider decided to hangout on my mosquito netbut being deathly afraid of spiders, I had to at least put my pillow on the other side and not stare at it. There's been other critters like scorpions and snakes, but that's outside of the hut! And cows.

Center for Sustainability is a marine hatchery in which they group groupers, algae and other marine species, while doing it all in a sustainable matter

It was my job to create and improve the existing protocols for the different species of algae.

This picture isn't actually of the Center for Sustainability, but of another fish hatchery found near Manila, Philippines.





After spending a few weeks doing the internship, I began to realize that the internship wasn't suited for me and I began to look for another internship while I still had time.

This is where I flew to Manila, Philippines, to meet with AIESEC UPD (University of Philippines Diliman) and see what AIESEC is like there. I was very much excited about this, to meet everybody and to see the AIESEC passion and enthusiasm.

My oh my was my expectations blew out of the water. The first day I arrived, it happened to be the day they had a Global Village event on the campus. There was a booth for India, Vietnam and China! Each serving their own national dish and telling their AIESEC stories and about their culture to UPD students!

Such enthusiastic, happy, friendly AIESECers everywhere! It didn't take long for me to fit in and to feel welcomed! <- Might've helped since everyone told me I like Filipino!

<- WOOT GO VIETNAM!

Here's a picture right before I went back to Palawan

Left is TJ who is the MC VP OGX and also someone who has been to Canada and studied before!

Right is Julia (LCP of UPD), someone who is constantly smiling and always brings lots of energy wherever she goes!

" A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are made for. "

- William Shedd

After settling in Singapore quickly, I decided it was time to head off to THAILAND, where I was going to meet up with fellow AIESECers Maggie from Canada and Vivian from Brazil that I met in India!

Right after I bought the plane ticket, I knew that there was one thing, and one thing only and nothing was going to stop me: to pet some bengal tigers. After some quick searches and reading up alot that tigers are drugged so that tourists can come and take pictures with them, I was able to find Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai that took good care of their tigers. So to Chiang Mai I go!

I quickly showered, got dressed and instantly went off to TIGER KINGDOM!

Oh. My. Goodness.

There were 4 different sizes: Big, Medium, Small and Smallest and you get about 15mins to play with them for ranging from $10-15USD, $15 for the smaller ones because of how cute they are.

I obviously had to pick the smallest (2months old) and it was a #JFDI moment for the biggest (~2years old)

I have achieved one of my life goals! It was the best feeling in the world!

The little guys are pretty much like kittens running around and playing. But after about 30 mins, he got a little tyetye and decided to take a nap. Not a problem because it was time for me to visit the big cats!

At first I was super nervous entering the cave, seeing as there were about 4 of them around. But after realizing that there are other tourists around and that I wasn't going to be the only one eaten, I relaxed a bit. They seemed to be a bit more relaxed than I thought, but that wasn't a problem because I didn't feel like being a tiger's lunch for the day =)

Bangkok, more specifically Khao San Road, was the most I have ever seen foreigners in one area. Everywhere I turned, it was either a tourist or ladyboys... It was just a hectic and crazy area that was somehow relaxing for some and fun for others. It wasn't quite for me. But still Bangkok being Bangkok, I still had to explore!

This was very much another #JFDI moment and I just had to try it.

As I was walking, I just so happened to see a man with a cart selling all sorts of deep fried little critters!

 There were water bugs, worms, cockroaches, grasshoppers and many others!

So I grabbed one (he gave me like 10), and with a Sprite in my other hand, I gave it a go!

It was... crunchy. There's a video of me eating taking by Maggie's iPhone in which you can apparently hear the initial crunch!

Another thing off the bucket list!

Little critters aside, I also did a 2 day, 1 night trek while in Chiang Mai !

But before trekking, we visited an Orchid Flower Farm, Snake Farm and  Longneck Tribal Village!

 Ah this is enough writing for one night. I'll finish up with trekking in Thailand on another night!
But soon after that, PHILIPPINES! 

" One of the great things about travelling is that you find out how many good and kind people there are. "

- Edith Wharton

" I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I ended up where I needed to be. "

- Douglas Adams

After a feasting in Vietnam (even though it wasn't enough time, but I am happy), I decided to move along and travel to Singapore and Thailand and see what they have to offer!

Good : My brother has an apartment there! I can just crash there when I go!

Bad : Getting there - It was so simple yet so difficult

Singapore has a lot of colorful buildings and a lot of apartments that have giant #s on them (strange, I know). Let's just say that I ended up on the wrong side of the MRT and was 4 hours late when I actually arrived early as well...

This is what he sends me:

" 842 Sims Avenue

Apartment 14 - 764"

After seeing buildings with numbers, does it not sound like Apartment #14, Room #764??? NOPE

It was Apartment: Floor #14, Room #764. Whaaaaaaaat?

Anyway, after that mix-up, Singapore is very simple with their transportation. MRTs are one of the most efficient and simple ways of getting around.
Most attractions are built around MRT stations so you don't even have to go outside!

Singapore has alot of rich buildings, rich cars, rich people.It's home of the Marina Bay Sands Resort, which pretty much has a cruise ship on top of 3 resort hotels and the largest outdoor pool.

Overall Singapore is an amazing, beautiful, clean, high standard and quiet country. It was definitely a nice change after a hectic adventure in India and Vietnam! My next journey is in Thailand, top of the list in one of the craziest countries around the world. Let's goo!

Here's a picture of me and my brother eating a lamb leg.
My brother was unbelievably excited for this thing, as you can tell.
As for I, I had a smirk on my face with this beautiful piece of meat, "this is nothing!" I thought .... We didn't finish it.

" It is difficult to argue with the belly since it has no ears."

- Cato the Elder

After living in India for a couple of weeks, I was literally 'dying' to eat some different and more of a comfort foods, and no, KFC and Pizza Hut doesn't cut it. Which is exactly why I went to Vietnam, TO EAT. I traveled to Saigon (aka Ho Chi Minh City) for 4 days, and I believe I ate more in those 4 days then I did in the 4 weeks living in India.

Of course, it doesn't help when you stay with family and they feed you until your stomach pops, for EVERY meal. But that's the beauty of going back to Vietnam, to be fed! Aahhh all of my mom's homecooked meals just went through my mind during the whole 2hr plane ride! What to eat, where to eat, I really didn't care, just give me fooooood!

Here are some things that I ate:

 

I can't quite exactly tell you what this is, as it will gross you out, as it did with me, but I wanted to try it... If you REALLY wanna know what it is, I'll tell you

OMG I found dinosaur eggs! Actually not really. Just normal eggs. Actually not really. Just Balut eggs, mini version. Wanna see the difference? Continue down. [Warning: it's a tad gross]

Can't go to Vietnam and not enjoy a nice warm bowl of PHO!

Here they mainly eat it as a breakfast dish, perfectly served with Iced Coffee with Condensed Milk! Best way to start off the day!

Next Blog: Living the Rich Life in Singapore!

Expectations/Thoughts of Singapore before going:

- Rich and expensive country

- Clean and very structured

- Strict law/rules

- High Standards

#JFDI Goals

- Find the Hugging Coke Machine! (Implemented in National University of Singapore a coke machine that if you hug it, you get a free coke)

I am NOT crazy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A-7H4aOhq0

Curious huh?

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 Told Ya.