Yara Mostafa Kamal in Szczecin, Poland

I've been on a GCDP internship in Szczecin, Poland from 10th of July to 31st of August where I worked in 3 kindergartens (Promyk, Fantazja, and Nutka) and two Foundations (one for poor children, and an orphanage -or a student house as they call it). 

 In general, I would teach the children basic English; using songs, flash cards, games including team work and challenges, and I would share the Egyptian culture and traditions. They all expressed quite a big interest in the "Egyptian" way of life and history. I showed them a brief presentation on the era of the pharaohs which surprisingly they knew much about it –even though they are 5 years old- I later learned that Egypt is very popular in Poland and that it is one of the easiest and favorite places for a polish person to travel to.

The program I joined was successful in ways and unsuccessful in others: since this is a "global development program" I didn’t notice much development working in kindergartens because they were all rich and the children there did not need anyone new or from another country, however, in the foundations for children with certain conditions like being poor or autistic or having ADHD or with parents who abandoned them, it was a whole different thing. 

It is such an amazing feeling to know that just being there with the children, playing and showing them new stuff that they didn’t know of before. I had the best time of my life staying with the kids at the orphanage; I felt I was doing some change.

Besides the volunteer work, all the fun and parties start in the afternoons and weekends. Although I'm not much of a party person and haven’t attended that much parties, I had a blast enjoying the music, listening to the impossibly hard language without understanding a thing, and just communicating with all the different people -AIESECers of SZCZECIN- who had a party almost every day and a monthly party playing bowling and billiard. I've also met amazing Polish people who were working in the kindergartens and foundations. I got invited to their homes, shared their food, traditions, and their experiences. Every weekend, I would travel to a different city in Poland, visiting museums and famous landmarks, going into forests, swimming in lakes or to just chilling on the shore of the Baltic sea. I've been to Międzyzdroje, Sopot, Gdańsk, and Poznan.

What is more special in this internship for me is that it was a first for me, everything I did was new, and fresh. So with happy memories, crazy moments, and an awesome Ukrainian friend, who I'm still in touch with, I'm SO willing to go through the AIESEC experience all over again in a new place with new people to build an empire of international friendships and experiences. 

Ahmed Zaid in Novosibirsk, Russia

Russia! Woooow....Moscow or Saint Petersburg?

Novosibirsk, Siberia 

Siberia!!!! Are you crazy?!!!

Yes!! 

This was my conversation with my friends after I decided to go to Novosibirsk.

To be honest it was not that easy for me, going to another part of the world where all I know about is the stereotypes of the fields of snow, alcohol, the famous and scary Siberian prisons and nothing interesting at all. But for me that was the real experience and I didn’t regret it. 

When I arrived in Novosibirsk, I saw how beautiful this city is! The streets , the landscapes , the buildings and of course the beautiful people specially the Russian ladies with their beautiful dresses, all of that makes you feel like you are walking in a piece of the heaven. 

I had a chance to be within an amazing team which consists of my amazing colleagues from different nationalities. Whatever I say about them, would not be enough. We benefited from each other’s experience and everyone was helping one another to develop and to get as much as they can from this amazing experience.

My project was to set a development program to the children who need special care in order to increase their awareness and knowledge about life and what is going around them in the world, also to be introduced to new people and cultures. And I was really excited about it as I had the chance to work with children for the first time and to be a part of their simple and beautiful life.

THANK YOU AIESEC for giving me the chance to live this unique experience of my life <3 <3

Mariem Ibrahim in Vizag, India

Travelling abroad alone for the first time was an impossible idea but with AIESECI DID it. It was the greatest experience ever, even it had lots of ups and downs but still I got the chance to travel to India (bollywood) the country that I am in love with. First thing I faced was missing my domestic flight which was super funny for me :D:D Once I stepped into India, I found myself in Egypt but with the Indian touch!!!! I'm in a dreaaaam :D There is something in common when it comes to the way they talk and move, but with some differences in the facial expressions.. just like the movies.

Suddenly, I realized that I am really facing the greatest thing ever; The true meaning of friendship, love and family. I had families from all over the world, not only from Egypt and India.

My first hours in Vizag, after staying nearly 12 days in Hyderabad, was the most pleasant experience ever, as I got to be friends with everyone only in few hours..the sweetest friends I have met and will ever meet in my entire life. The interns from different countries, whom I was with, became like my real brothers and sisters thatI will never forget.

The rumor about indian food being the spiciest is true, especially in “Vizag” , the city I was in ;) I am not used to eating spicy food, but What can I do? I just had to !

The idea of being independent helped me understand the world around me and traveling with AIESEC is a chance which everyone has to seize. You will have the chance to develop yourself, your mentality, your friendship, and you will get to know new cultures and finally find out about the real reason of your existence.

Even if I went to india on my own in the future, it won’t be like my experience with AIESEC because AIESEC helped me fulfill my need of self recognition.

Thank you AIESEC for everything <3