After the conference II

The conference was great. I spent most of the time with Marťa and Janča – naturally, we came by one car and shared the room. We had a good laugh on imperfections of the OC work. We saw the initial and final speeches of the MCP candidates, skipped the middle part and got drunk instead. I met a lot of old friends and had some very inspirational discussions – more details later, maybe. Our session was fun (or at least people laughed) and we chose the right mix of truth and motivation. I drank a lot of beer and danced several AIESEC dances. I WENT TO THE MORNING PLENARY ON SUNDAY AFTER PARTYING TILL 6:30. I saw the Seč Lake frozen. Overall evaluation - I did everything I planned and something more. Yeah, I even got a one-night-stand offer. It seems I am still “fuckable”. LOL.

After the conference

Never expect gratitude or appreciation in AIESEC. One of the lessons I’ve learned during the years. Therefore I was more than surprised when I received several „thank you’s“ during the national conference.

At the position of VP for incoming exchange I helped trainees with various problems and I often worked as the trouble-shooter, together with VP for reception. Now I can admit that we often referred to trainees as to “those arrogant bastards”... and they really deserved it. They perceived us their secretaries and regularly blamed us for anything going wrong. Though the most difficult was to hide this from members and act in the way that trainees are cool and members should be friends with them.
What a difference it was this weekend when our two new Canadian friends were calling us great, awesome, helpful etc. And we even didn’t do anything big for them. Just forwarded contact info of the right person and took them by car to the site, because we had enough space there.

Another surprising case: Plzeň finally grew from Initiative group to Local committee. Guess what ... they didn’t forget who established them. They even invited me to their private room party. When I remember that in April nobody bothered to introduce me to new Plzeň members... I really didn’t have any expectations towards my darlings appreciating all those kilometers traveled and hours spent with them.

Uff. Too much happiness. This is dangerous. I might get used to it.

Last Pendolino train in CZE breaks down

One of the most discussed topics in the Czech Republic now ... The last of five Pendolino Italian tilting trains used by Czech Railway for regular passenger transport followed the others to the railway yard after a software defect stopped it during the route. The same defect disabled four Pendolino trains at the beginning of the month. Great source of new jokes :))) My favourite one goes like this...
Italy - Czech Republic 5:0

Nation of saboteurs

Yes, I mean Czechs. I am not gonna speak about intercultural management, though it was the first time I ever heard we are sometimes regarded this way. This post will be about typical Czech humour.
If you ever come to the Czech Republic, you will for sure hear about Jára Cimrman.
Jára Cimrman is known to many in this country as the greatest Czech inventor, artist, explorer and musician of all time. In addition to all this Jára Cimrman's many other achievements include proposing the construction of the Panama Canal to the Americans, inventing the light bulb and then getting to the patent office five minutes too late to register it, and even making it to within seven metres of the North Pole before being chased away at the last minute by a starving tribe of Native Americans. As you've probably already guessed, Jára Cimrman is actually a fictional character.
The affection which the Czech nation has for Jára Cimrman is so strong that he was voted the unofficial winner of a poll conducted by Czech television to find out who was the greatest ever Czech.
Unfortunately, Jára Cimrman could not be officially named as the greatest ever Czech, because the organisers stipulated that the poll was only open to real people. The argument of the TV station was that there was no proof that Jára Cimrman ever lived. On that account wide public counterstriked that there was no proof that he never lived either. Thousands of people signed a petition demanding that the national television station reverse its decision to exclude him from this poll. It was not succesful but it turned the whole TV show into mock.
Now you see what is meant by nation of saboteurs?
To read more about Jára Cimrman being the Greatest Czech ever read here

Polish priests lose motivation in Czech Republic

Polish priests are losing motivation to work in the Czech Republic as the number of believers in the country is declining. The Czech Republic is considered one of the most atheist countries in the world, and so Polish priests prefer to go to France, Russia, Ukraine, Argentina or Alaska. According to the 2001 census almost 60 percent of Czechs said they are non-believers and slightly over 30 percent said they believe in God, but their number is decreasing.
Thank God. Please, Poles, go home and let us live our atheist lives :)
Read more

What does soccer has to do with politics?

Armenia and Azerbaijan were set to square off today for a semifinal soccer match in the Commonwealth Cup being played in Moscow. But the Armenians refused to play, claiming Russia had failed to give them proper security guarantees. The Russian Football Union, however, says the team's withdrawal may have more to do with politics than with security.
Read more

Why?

Well, I was looking forward to the beginning of semester, but after today, I am truly disgusted. During the reforms currently running at our university they merged two difficult subjects into one ... not doing things easier, of course. So instead of Micro and Macroeconomics we will have just Economics. Why not, we need to learn it anyway. But I don’t see the reason why they had to put the lectures right after each other with only 15 minutes break. It is hard to pay attention for 90 minutes of these theories and now they ask us to sit there for 3 hours? I cannot even imagine the hell that is coming.
Why I am so mad is the last detail I found out today: they offer this course only on Monday at 7:30 a.m. with no other option. I have no words for that. Oh, wait, I have one: bastards.

Munich, Germany

27th August 2005
on the way from central Asia back home to central Europe

Different cultures

Stupidity x Innocence

Last post made me think for some time and naturally it reminded me other cases of being stupid. Well, in the following case I prefer to call it innocence. This story is my friends’ favourite. It happened in December 2001, when I was already 9 months at the LCVP position and the time of all different kind of elections, selections and others was coming soon.
Somehow it occured that I had to stay overnight at the MC flat after an AIESEC party. We came there at midnight, watched some movie (sexual comedy) and around 3 a.m. decided to go to bed. I had to share not only the sofa but also the blanket with one more guy (known for his easy-going approach to “matching”). Imagine us, lying there in the darkness and whispering...
He: I am not sleepy yet.
Solnitchka: Me neither.
He: So what shall we do?
Solnitchka: OK, let’s talk for a while. (The sad thing is that I really didn’t get his point). He continued the game.
He: What do you want to talk about?
Solnitchka: Well, I had some questions about your application.
This is what AIESEC does to people. I was 21 years old at that time.

I got another opportunity

to feel EXTREMELY STUPID. Following story happened on Tuesday but I was too embarrassed to blog about it that day. I was supposed to attend a training on some new SW that we use at work.
When: Tuesday afternoon and whole Wednesday
Where: village near Prague
Meeting point: very easy to find
First symptoms of being stupid:
not being sure when the meeting time is (1:00 or 1:30 pm?)
I don’t have phone number to anyone in my office
So, the office assistant told to wait near the parking where the bus would come and take us to the village. I came there (at 12:55). I saw nobody who might be going to the training as well. There was just a bunch of “Ukrainians” that seemed to know each other (No offense: I mean anyone from former USSR by this. I have nothing against – mostly illegal – Russian speaking workers. I was dating one.)
Whatever, I stood nearby but not together with the crowd. I assumed that the correct meeting time was 1:30. I did not pay much attention when a microbus came in 20 minutes. The Ukrainians obviously knew it and got on immediately. Before I decided to approach and check if I was not supposed to take it as well, the bus left. And at this moment I saw the name of the village on the bus. So I was standing there and watching my bus leaving. Stupid, right? Anyway I waited for 20 minutes more with the hope that some of my colleagues appear. No-one of course. Well, I went home, found a telephone number, called to our office assistant and explained her why I missed the training. She suggested that I would claim being ill. Great idea. I did not really feel like sharing this story with my boss. Still I felt like a major asshole for the rest of the day. OMG, to miss the bus like this!
On Wednesday I had a day off but the end of the story was on Thursday. I came to the office (trying to be invisible), switched on the computer, opened the mailbox and saw a message from the training coordinator (sent on Monday, 6:15p.m): the transport to the training site is not arranged. In case of not having a business car, please take a taxi. So at the end, I was not that stupid. The coordinator just didn’t let me know on time. Just wondering ... what would happen if I got on that bus?

I am rich

In absolute numbers, you would find some 100 USD at my account. BUT I paid the last tuition fees and now I will have no more for at least two years. All my debts are paid. No loans, credits etc. I am financially 100% free. + My current employer pays well. Envy me :)

My colleagues must hate me

My employer moved to a new building in mid December. We have the open space working environment now. Everybody is slightly annoyed by the new situation and we are trying to get used to new working style, conditions, people, lack of privacy...We used to have small cozy offices, separated by departments before so this is an abrupt change.
In the name of efficiency we have two printers for the whole floor (60-80 people). They are really smart machines (probably smarter than me). They can print, copy, scan, fax... The problem occurs when one of them is out of order, like today. And imagine that on this day Solnitchka needs to print 700+ pages in her 5 hour working hours. Sorry, I could really not wait till tomorrow.

Summer

Current situation:
a) I am here already for too long. I want need another nomad adventure.
b) I have too much time to think lately.
What does that mean? Sure you can guess. I was “planning” where to spend next summer.
Last two seasons I was in destinations that sound too ... well, I don’t know ... maybe ... Soviet. People react like: oh, why did you go there? This time I want to spend my time somewhere more like: wow, I wish I could go there as well.
Today (while, ehm, sitting in the library) I thought about criteria that I should focus on before I make the final decision.
$ I want to see the sea. I really really miss it. I don’t need to swim or sunbathe or live by the seaside. Sitting and watching is enough.
$ Transport costs and living expenses should not be too high. I don’t want to count every cent while being there. OK, if I get a great salary I don’t mind the high costs :)
$ No hot weather. I promised this to myself in Tajikistan. 40-45°C are not acceptable this year.
$ I want to have a real hot shower every day. No more heating water in the bucket please. And the water in the flat should be non stop! (Snobbish, I know.)
$ I love summer storms and I haven’t seen them for two years. So this time, hopefully...

Well, I can dream on. With my lifestyle I will end up in the most forgotten part of the world anyway (and I will not complain about it). But this planning is nice :) Any suggestions where to go?

For Marťa: yeah, I am still ready for our Transsib trip. These thoughts are just for the case you decide to go to Greece or Romania instead :)

No title today

Milý deníčku,
dneska jsem v práci dodrbala tři sešívačky.
Tvoje Solnitchka

Please note: this post is not worth translating

No stress, no adrenalin

This is my first stress-free January in many years. I have no exams in the exam period. Sounds cool? It’s not. I hate it already. All my friends are studying and I have no-one to waste my time with.
I am so desperate that I even went to the university library with Marťa and practised my Russian writing skills there. OK, I admit that I like going there and watch people studying when I don’t have to. My friend told me that it is very cruel, but I don’t think so. I mean I don’t tell people that I don’t need to be there so it doesn’t do them any harm.
Anyway, I am quite bored with the current situation. Actually I am officially not allowed to take any exams till 13th Feb. I cannot even submit for some intensive 3-4 days long courses. And I cannot buy a flight ticket, leave till mid February and do something exciting because I have a job here.

Merry Christmas !!!

С Рождеством Xристовым !!!

to all those who celebrate Christmas now.

FYI

I am too drunk to blog tonight. This happens when you don't eat the whole day long and you start drinking intensively at 6 p.m. Just wondering ... do the parents notice when you come "from work" completely wasted? LOL! It was a good friday evening :)

JNC - JNC - JNC

Yaaaaaaaaay! It seems that I and Marťa will have session at the January National Conference. We should speak about some of the opportunities in AIESEC, more specifically about our experience with the extensions in Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. The question is: should we motivate the members or tell them the truth? :)))
I am really looking forward another great weekend at Seč. I wonder who else is coming. Let me know guys!

English knowledge - basic

I've noticed that I use only basic English on this blog. Let me explain it. As some of you might know, I work part-time in a sales department of a cosmetic company. This itself is a proof that God is a joker because my attitude towards make-up is rather cold-hearted. My highlight in using make-up products is when I use eye shadow AND a mascara.
Usually my work consists primary of sales data analysis but now we do the preparation of new products launch. My current responsibility is translation of all the training documents for the sales people. So I spend my days with technical language of beauty, chemistry and biology. I am trying to explain how the high-tech creams work, how the perfumes smell, how the make-up will make you even more attractive. No surprise that I am capable of using only the most elementary words after my office hours.
I learn something new every day. For example I found out that in the age of 25 I should start thinking about my skin luminosity and later around 40 I should be highly concerned about my skin clarity. Yeah, BTW can you explain me the difference between skin luminosity, luminous glow, radiance and clarity?
The problem is not only to understand the English version but also to build the Czech sentence in a way that it doesn’t sound like an absolute nonsense and at the same time to be brief in the ppt. Here are some examples. If you have any suggestion for Czech translation, please let me know.
- to re-weave the fibers of the skin’s support network
- skin density
- absolute replenishing cream cleanser
Good side of this job is that I dramatically extend my vocabulary. My favorite new words are indelible, to avert, reverie, to adorn, to deteriorate and especially innocuousness.
At the end of this post, I want to mention my absolute number 1 sentence that I was supposed to translate some 2 months ago. Its meaning has unfortunately remained secret for me. It is about some perfume ingredient - white flowers. White flowers are fresh, green and transparent. WTF?

Trying

Great! It is already 2nd January and I still obey my new year’s resolution: It is better to fail than to never try. I already failed twice. Good score, huh? One of the failures doesn’t matter at all, but the other is rather annoying. It diminishes my chances to be selected for the Study abroad program to some 5% (from initial 20%). And the only reason is some administrative obstruction at the university.
This ECTS transition at our faculty really sucks. I know that changes are necessary but they spoiled all my study plans in 2005 and it successfully continues in 2006. Hopefully I will be transferred on 13th February and I will live happily ever after.

2005 summary

The year is finally over so it is time to sum up, reflect, evaluate, comment, wrap up and create a follow up for next OCP. Oh no, I forgot this was not an AIESEC project. No follow up writing this time. Well, let’s see how I used my time 2005 and compare plans x reality:

- I will finish my Bachelor degree.
Yes. But I finished it in December instead of February, so I practically lost one year.

- I will have a boyfriend.
Yes, I had one and he was a complete asshole. Usually I don’t say this about my ex, but guys trust me, this one really was. Good that I found out quite fast.
The success for me is that I didn’t have any romantic affair in Tajikistan, because I am a real expert in falling in love with someone unattainable.
In autumn I realized that I hate dating anyone new. These first, second, third dates suck and no matter whom I meet. Just the whole concept of getting to know someone who is searching for partner and already plans romantic future horrifies me.

- I will spend another summer in Yerevan.
No, I went to Tajikistan instead. I saw another part of the world. New adventures, new experience. I do not regret, but I still miss my Armenian friends and I have to see them in 2006.

- I will find some interesting part-time job.
Yes. My job in spring was something that I don’t even mention in my CV, but since September, I could not be luckier.

Naturally a lot of unexpected events occurred.
- I saw my father 5times during the year (while normally it is just once - on 24th Dec = my birthday + x-mas). Not sure how to describe my feelings about it. It was OK. I don’t mind meeting him but also if I see him just once (or never) in 2006 I will be fine with it.
- Spring 2005 was crazy. I met some new people and we spent wonderful time together - partying for 14 hours, getting completely wasted every week, going to concerts and having fun in fancy clubs in VIP part (one of them worked as a manager in show business). As many intensive things, it didn’t last long. After three months everything was over. To tell the truth, good for my liver ;)
- In the winter semester, I met my Armenian friends (those living in Prague) more often than ever before. They also introduced me to other Russian students at our university. From random talks at the campus we made a step to going out in the evenings. It seems I am the only Czech invited to join them. Being with them and chatting in Russian means a lot to me. I guess this says something about my reintegration ;)

Overall, my year 2005 was neither good nor bad. I avoided major failures but also missed some opportunities to succeed. How was yours?