You're most likely reading this post right now because 1) You're in AIESEC; 2) You're connected with @ El Salvador; 3) You're lost on nomadlife. All of which are beautiful answers, and I think we're going to get along great. My name is Katy, and I'm from @ Madison, in the beautiful state of Wisconsin, in the good 'ol US of A. I have a few stories for you, if you're willing to read on; about my incredible experience in AIESEC, Central America, and my brief yet meaningful time in El Salvador. Labels: I am an AIESECer, ICX
I found AIESEC by chance, three years ago, in my first few months at the University. I randomly heard about the info session that was going to be held later that day, showed up, and thought I'd give it a chance. Little did I know that my life for the rest of my University career was going to be defined by AIESEC. It would be defined by incredible people from around the world and by experiences that I probably would have laughed in your face in disbelief if you would have told me about way back then.
AIESEC life was easy to get used to that first year: new friends, lots of meetings, crazy dances, outragous conferences, new challenges, being called newbie a lot, hearing about wild traineeships, it all was so exciting!! Before I knew it I was applying for a VP role, and by my second year I had a team of crazy aiesecers all working with me to put on events on our college campus. Yea It was hard. Yea, I wanted to pull out my hair more than once. Yea I wanted to quit. Yea I learned a lot, Yea, I started to realize this whole 'building leaders' thing that we talk ab
out oh so much. and Yea I had a blast working with the other VPs, and yea we had some fun parties in there as well.
So naturally I took a week off of school and jumped on a plane and headed to Mexico for AXLDS 2007. SSGN-GN I like it. I thought it would be a perfect first time-out-of-the-country experience. And ooh, how it was. You haven't experienced all that AIESEC has to offer if you have yet to attend an International Conference. Being in a room with passionate, motivated, talented, and inspiring people from all over the globe is an experience unlike any other. Have you discussed global issues effecting countries around the world, WITH people from around the world? If you haven't, figure out how you're going to do that.
A few tequila shots later, I found myself back in Wisconsin, remember- that fabulous city of Madison i mentioned before? There we are, now bring it in close everyone. It was during this magical month I searched my heart out for an AIESEC traineeship. This is another one of those Experiences that AIESEC has to offer, that should not, i repeat, should not be passed up. So 10000 emails, 399 MSN chats, and 2 skypes later......
I was in Guatemala. Three months was in front of me, in this unknown place and 
I was ready for the challenge but pretty much scared out of my mind. So day by day I got into it, I got into the food, the culture, the city, my job, i got into my life. And it was awesome. I was learning how to live on my own, how to depend on myself, how to survive in my skin in a completely foreign atmosphere. So a couple of months in, I find myself in a car with some crazy aieseco....
Crossing the Guatemala/El Salvador frontera and trying to convert my Quetzales por dolares. Oh, border crossings. CLARO was so nice as to send me a text message letting me know I was now in El Salvador, and i think my rates went up a bit..suckas. And for the moment of the story, you've all been waiting for; when we were driving in circles trying to find an icecream shop by the name..blue pop? Low and behold, 
who did we find? AIESEC El Salvador.
Before I knew it we were doing Tunak Tunak and were sweating up a storm..Man, it's hot in El Salvador! We spent the day talking AIESEC, writing up flip charts, talking, laughing, eating papusas, and enjoying each others company. I felt right at home.
Well of course it didn't stop there. Pictures will have to tell the rest of the story, but just remember, @ El Salvador is pure a.m.o.r.
Hope you've enjoyed my story... You're all welcome to @ Madison at any time, I'd love to hear your story. So let's start talking.
Until then,
Katy
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Thursday, April 17, 2008
Around the world, and back again
By Katy
Thursday, April 10, 2008
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By AIESEC El Salvador (member)
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AIESEC El Salvador (member) at
11:11 PM
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