Plan IT 2005
Venue of the conference was this campsite used by schools for organizing summer and winter camps. So it is evident that it had a lot of breakaways and swings, along with many cottages and a canteen. I had read in the reception package of this LC that guests are treated as Gods, just like INDIA. But the way me and Shantanu were treated was something spectacular. They arranged everything from mineral water, fruits (very very expensive here), milk, juices and of course vegetarian food.
I was taken to my room which I was sharing with 2 of my MC team mates, Ira and Sasha, they told me that i could sleep for about 2 hours or so as the plenary was at 9:00 (this was day 2 of the conference). After the last two days the only thing I had in my mind was some sleep so that i could stretch my legs and keep my whole body straight. I was woken up by a girl from the OC telling me that I should be in the plenary in 10 minutes. The plenary was a hall, were there were about 75 delegates. As soon as my name was announced, I walked in and people were standing for me. I don’t remember if music was playing in the background or not but I can still remember the sound of the claps. Meeting my MCP and seeing Shantanu after 11 months was so relieving. After the brief speech I was given some more time to go and refresh my self. That was the moment when the reality sank in of what responsibility I had taken up.
Everyday of the conference was full of strange realities and realizations, from food to sessions, from language to parties, everything was different and the biggest difference of them all - The People. But of course AIESEC was the same. Though some of them couldn’t speak English but still they wanted to talk to me. And the strangest thing was that sometime though they would speak Russian to me I would understand what they wanted to know. From questions whether I knew Yoga, to questions about Hindu religion, to answering their stereotypes, to an interesting questions whether it was possible for someone to become Rakshas (demon).
Heading a commission in itself was an amazing experience, meeting new people who were aged 20 on a average, full of ideas and enthusiasm to change the way they had been working was absolutely superb.
Another important thing that I noticed was that all the parties in the night were coordinated by the Alumni's of the hosting LC. They would arrange games, global village, performances everything very contrary to what I had seen in India in the last 4 years.
During the first facilitator's meet my MC team gave me a good welcome by doing a dance sequence on some Russian folk music.
After 5 days of working and partying the conference got over and it was time to bid adieu to the long list of friends, I made during the conference. The next time I would meet them would be in September. But everything that ends brings a new beginning, so it was time to check out the city (the third biggest in Russia). The city had almost the same features as Moscow (at least same as what I had seen of Moscow). We went to the Lenin Square, which was being prepared for the 9th of May celebrations (more about it later). So it was so good to see so many people on the streets, in the festive spirit. I went to a bookstore to find something to read during the train journey, but of course very limited books in English and the ones available were too expensive. Though my stay in the city was just 1.5 days but it is for sure that I am going there again.
I was taken to my room which I was sharing with 2 of my MC team mates, Ira and Sasha, they told me that i could sleep for about 2 hours or so as the plenary was at 9:00 (this was day 2 of the conference). After the last two days the only thing I had in my mind was some sleep so that i could stretch my legs and keep my whole body straight. I was woken up by a girl from the OC telling me that I should be in the plenary in 10 minutes. The plenary was a hall, were there were about 75 delegates. As soon as my name was announced, I walked in and people were standing for me. I don’t remember if music was playing in the background or not but I can still remember the sound of the claps. Meeting my MCP and seeing Shantanu after 11 months was so relieving. After the brief speech I was given some more time to go and refresh my self. That was the moment when the reality sank in of what responsibility I had taken up.
Everyday of the conference was full of strange realities and realizations, from food to sessions, from language to parties, everything was different and the biggest difference of them all - The People. But of course AIESEC was the same. Though some of them couldn’t speak English but still they wanted to talk to me. And the strangest thing was that sometime though they would speak Russian to me I would understand what they wanted to know. From questions whether I knew Yoga, to questions about Hindu religion, to answering their stereotypes, to an interesting questions whether it was possible for someone to become Rakshas (demon).
Heading a commission in itself was an amazing experience, meeting new people who were aged 20 on a average, full of ideas and enthusiasm to change the way they had been working was absolutely superb.
Another important thing that I noticed was that all the parties in the night were coordinated by the Alumni's of the hosting LC. They would arrange games, global village, performances everything very contrary to what I had seen in India in the last 4 years.
During the first facilitator's meet my MC team gave me a good welcome by doing a dance sequence on some Russian folk music.
After 5 days of working and partying the conference got over and it was time to bid adieu to the long list of friends, I made during the conference. The next time I would meet them would be in September. But everything that ends brings a new beginning, so it was time to check out the city (the third biggest in Russia). The city had almost the same features as Moscow (at least same as what I had seen of Moscow). We went to the Lenin Square, which was being prepared for the 9th of May celebrations (more about it later). So it was so good to see so many people on the streets, in the festive spirit. I went to a bookstore to find something to read during the train journey, but of course very limited books in English and the ones available were too expensive. Though my stay in the city was just 1.5 days but it is for sure that I am going there again.
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