Exports, crazy train, AIESEC relapse & prom

Hello everyone out there!

I am sorry for not updating you in a while; I have been out traveling!

Two weeks ago I went to a training in LED lights at our manufacturing plant outside Delhi. I got to know about it the same day as I was going, which was stressful since I was in urgent need of getting the laundry done since I was about to leave for a one week's conference! And my sister usually complains that I don't plan far enough ahead, so I guess I am starting to understand how she feels with me now!

I have started to get the feeling that Indian people expect foreigners to have very high requirements. My "guide" for the training day thought it was near to impossible to find an OK hotel for my budget, and the place he found was 10 times as good as what I could have asked for. When I ask people about restaurants they start to talk about 5 star ones, etc. I wish people didn't feel like they have to get out of their ways to make me comfortable, even though I appreciate the effort. I have no problem sleeping in a sitting position amongst the bags in a train.

Good thing with work now is that it is more clear what I have to do. I will start to research the Swedish market so we can start looking at exports.

Last week I went to an AIESEC conference. The train ride there was just crazy! We were 25 people or so crammed into a few seats playing a lot of different games. There were no AC so it was extremely hot. Sleeping on hard plastic bunks in that temperature made me just as wet as a swim would have!

The conference in itself was nothing but amazing. Now I have to new families and one more country. LC Jaipur, my Fictious LC (Home group), and India. Compared to Swedish AIESEC conferences this one was so much more focused on having fun and bonding the members. There was a Talent Night where the LCs could show off their non-AIESEC related talents, long plenary sessions with fun and interactive content, and finally a prom the last night. Everyone was so excited about the prom that it kind of became the focus of the conference.

My fictious LC

Me and Saloni on the prom

I had the experience of getting auctioned away for the prom, but it was fine since I ended up with the girl I was going to ask anyway! It could have had something to do with me asking the organizers to go and encourage her to participate specifically. ;-) Saloni is a fun and energized person who became the president of her fictious Local Committee, and was brave enough to also apply for president of all the delegates (FMCP)!

During the conference I managed to finally lose my self-image of not being that good at small talk or striking up random conversations. The result was that I probably ended up speaking with 200 people or so! I guess the releasing factor was all the friendly Indian people and the natural attention given by being a foreigner, but I also felt a change of mindset in myself.

Now I am back in Jaipur again and ready to work. This week we have two big fairs to attend that will go on for the rest of the week. I had planned to go to Agra with two guys from Norway and Denmark, but now I got to know the fair goes on even on Sunday...

See you soon!