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Once
again this week has passed without me even realising it - the time
is flying by! I am being more productive with my work as I have
really got the hang of using the Czech version of Windows and started
to get some results form my projects.
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| Orsi,
Sangharsh & Jess |
Three
new people have arrived: Cigdem from Turkey, Mircea from Romania
and Nune from Armenia. Nune is working for AIESEC with me whilst
the other two are working for external companies. Unfortunately
we had some departures this week too and had to say goodbye to Alena
from Germany and Nick from the Ukraine. Sangharsh has been educating
us in Indian cuisine with a variety of traditional dishes-quite
different from what I am used to in Birmingham!
Archery
& team spirit
This
weekend I spent some time in Krakow, Poland. AIESEC in Krakow was
hosting the International Meeting of AIESEC Trainees 2004 (IMAT
2004) and so I decided to go along. There were about 60 AIESEC trainees
from all over the world, and we all met in the famous Krakow Market
Square to start a weekend of fun!
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| Jess
tries archery |
It
was an excellent weekend. I made some friends who I intend to meet
up with again and also met up with some friends from the UK. We
tasted Polish food, had a glimpse of Polish culture and visited
some really interesting places, all in beautiful sunshine.
We
started with some sightseeing, visiting the Mariacki Church and
the National Museum. We spent the rest of the afternoon getting
to know the historic city centre and visiting different sights around
the area. The day was of course finished off with a party!
The
second day was spent out of the city doing outdoor games and a little
more sightseeing. We took a guided tour round Szczawnica a small
spa town situated in the mountains before travelling to Sromowce
Nine where we tried a bit of archery and some team games before
rafting on the Dunajec River.
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| The
team poses for a photo |
None
of us really knew what to expect when it came to the rafting but
we all gave it a go. Rafting turned out to be really hard work but
we eventually got the hang of how to go in a straight line and made
it back.
When
we got back to shore there was a bonfire waiting for us so we could
dry off and eat some food. After we got back to the hostel in Krakow,
we all went out into the city centre for more partying.
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| At
Wawel Hill |
On
the third day, we went to Wawel Hill. This is the site of the royal
castle and cathedral, not to mention home to the legendary Wawel
Dragon's Lair. We climbed to the top of the cathedral tower and
took in the view of Krakow and followed in the tradition of touching
the bell for good luck.
I decided
to stay one more day in Krakow to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau site
and museum along with Laura from the UK and Olga from Germany. I
didn't really know what to expect at the museum and had heard mixed
opinions of other trainees who had been before.
The
exhibitions were very interesting and gave a good historical background
of the camps. There was a lot to see, from the SS Buildings, barracks
where the prisoners lived and their possessions, to the gas chambers,
crematoria and gallows.
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| At
the Dragon's Lair |
The
trip proved to be both moving and educational and although I can't
say I enjoyed it, I am glad that I went.
I am
having a fantastic time here and I can't believe I am halfway through
my stay! Its clichéd but true-its been an emotional roller
coaster, I have gone from feeling alone and unsettled to being surrounded
by friends and feeling completely at home!
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Written
by Jess Rudkin
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