AIESEC - Hull To Slovakia, making that change. By Mike Kemp

People who have attended University know how daunting it can be. I was one of them and still am in some cases. I can remember my first day clearly. I was terrified that I would not fit in and the work would be to difficult. Yea, the work is difficult but what do you expect? It is University but fitting in was not a problem thanks to an organisation called AIESEC. AIESEC aims to develop socially responsible leaders with global perspective and ability to create positive change in the society.

This is a picture of Ina, Maciek, Santiago and Petronela at Inas welcome party.

This is Scott, me, Maciek and Dillion in the Dutch ambassador`s pool.

AIESEC facilitates the development of young individuals through learning experiences based around international traineeship exchange. These learning experiences develop skills and perspectives necessary to understand and interact with people, business and communities from around the world. AIESEC 's global network of university students covers more than 80 countries and more than 800 university campuses providing the most extensive network for a youth organisation in the world.

AIESEC really has changed my life in more ways than one. It has given me a greater insight into different cultures and people. This is why I want to give it back in a positive way, and help people in Hull realise the same things as I have. I ran for president of AIESEC in Hull in March and was succesfully elected and since then have attended an international conference in Latvia, visted HSBC headquaters and am currently working in Slovakia for two months as well as attending conferences all across the UK. These are things that your degree can not give you.

View of Petrzalka

Trainees from Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, USA, Germany, Netherlands, UK.

I am working in Bratislava, Slovakia on the CEED programme (Cultural Envoy for Exchange Development). It gives the chance for AIESEC members to go on an exchange within the organisation itself and go to, in the majority of cases, a developing country and work within AIESEC there. I have been here for 6 weeks now, and I must say that it is the best and most important thing I have ever done in my life. It really has opened my eyes even more.

I am working for AIESEC Bratislava, who have been operating here for over 40 years. Currently they have 6 trainees working here which means that they are the best in the country in AIESEC activities. They have events such as a national careers day, IT seminar and are currently planning reception activities for the trainees which I have been co-ordinating.

So what where my first days here like? Interesting. My apartment is next to Slovnaft which is the oil refinery and is 9km square, so you can imagine my shock but I have really become fond of this and will miss this when I leave. Random, I know. My apartment is a double room which I share with Santiago who is a trainee from Columbia, and it has been great having conversations with him about how people outside of Columbia percieve it.

AIESEC Bratislava, who I am staying with whilst in Slovakia.

I must admit I was one of them but once again an AIESEC experience has changed my views.

UK Delegation at the International Conference in Latvia.

Slovakia is a place filled with culture, every Slovak you meet will tell you a different story about an historical monument or place. The most common place to visit is the Bratislava castle because of its views across the whole of Bratislava and if you time it right you can see the sun setting across Petrzalka which is the biggest estate here in Slovakia where nearly 200,000 people live.

With Slovakia joining the EU on 1st May, there have been major developments here. New companies are setting up business, shops are becoming more westernised and Slovaks are travelling more and more. Throughout my stay here I have seen these changes, there is building works everywere you look. Slovakia is a country that is moving in the right direction and has put the communist era in the past.

Throughout my stay here I have been overwelmed by the Slovak people. They know you are from a different country and speak very little Slovak, so they make you as comfortable as possible through speaking as much English as they know and you reply with speaking as much Slovak as you know, which is really reassuring for all the trainees who come here. I have recieved culture shock here but not as much as I thought. The language is the main difficulty but like I said before they try and make you as comfortable as possible.

Dan, Jess, flic and Me dancing on chairs in Latvia to a cultural dance.

The international environment here is by the far the best I have ever seen. Just imagine a place where people from Brazil, Taiwan, Columbia, Germany, Russia, Ireland, Poland and the UK can all live and work togeather without polictial and racist problems. Well AIESEC gives that opportunity to you. For more information you can visit www.aiesec.co.uk or contact mike.kemp@uk.aiesec.org

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