I should have posted this the moment Amy rang to tell me that I got in to the MC!I was so stoked that I got in! I had this funny feeling that Amy would say, "Nikita, I have decided not to select you." But she said the otherwise, which was a great news. I am so looking forward to working with her and Ying.. and another 3 lucky individuals who will spend a year with us! Yes, AIESEC NZ MC Application 2nd round is open now! *I really should make this blog as AIESEC-free as I could - but I can't help it, sorry - shame on me!* Thanks people for the encouragement and the congratulatory emails/ text.

Now, I was in a chat with Alan. Apparently the last time Canty send a rep to the MC level (excluding Ryan, of course because he's technically from everywhere) was back in 1999, incidentally that is the year when AIESEC Canterbury got disbanded for not having an LCP. That's creepy, considering I am in the similar situation. Ever heard "History repeats itself" ? I hope it doesn't repeat this one. The least thing I want to see when I'm in the MC is AIESEC Canty to be the weakest LC or even worse is non-existant.

*sigh*

I'll be 'right.

Finally, the LCP of Canterbury from 4 generations were together at the same place, at the same time. We're missing Jolly Joel though. Maybe at MS...



MC ratification was the interesting one - including everything leading up to and after. If you read my last post, it was said that I didn't have a speech then. Well, I didn't have one until dinner on the day. The reason was not because I wasn't prepared , but more like I couldn't due to a milion other things to do before forum. Forgetting that I left my draft speech in the plenary room a night before the night, didn't help either. I know, I know, what a womble! :p At least I managed to pull it off three drafts later and had the final speech written in my cue card around 10 minutes before I had to deliver it. I even came up with an analogy as well! Ha-ha!

The ratification was not as dreadful as I thought it would be, although I still gulped 3 big glass of water throughout the night to calm my nerves. No dodgy question asked , although people could ask you some random as question (which supposedly tricky) such as, "What is your favourite product? Why and explain its strength compared to other products." That was tricky because I don't have favourite product. D'uh! Kristal and I prepared as well as we could! We even went hard-core by reading the Steering Team Meeting output and the APGN 6 Months Report. Last minute cramming - just like studying for exams. The thing is, no matter how much you read, almost all of the questions are not from the book!

After the whole speech and Q&A, the alumni whisk us away to "take the edge off" by providing a little alcohol. Being a good alumni, seeing a tiny wee bit alcohol leftover from yesterday, they decided to buy some more for us. Bless 'em. Everything that happened from the moment me, Ying and Kristal practicing our "performance" through to going to Paulie's car was a bit of a blur. According to sources, I made a fool of myself by saying I could handle my alcohol when I couldn't even stand up without falling. I hope there is no evidence on that night. What happen after the ratification was the more interesting one to tell. We supposedly go to Syn Bar to celebrate. Paulie did a detour to Kristal's and Alan's so that he knows where to go if any of us need a ride home later the night. In short, we reached Alan's when other candidate who had too much to drink vomitted. I won't go into details but if there were the Mexicana Award at Forum - this person would have won it! (Note for non-NZ @er : The Mexicana Award is an award given at Conferences for those who did the most outrageous vomit based on style, velocity, consistency and foreign objects. Gross, aye?)

The guys got changed at Alan's while I was sitting there sleeping/resting. After what I thought a long while, I began to be impatient. Paulie finally ready to go, so I jumped back up in excitement try to catch up with him. What I didn't realise was that I still very much under the influence of the liquid when I landed on the wrong foot. Soon enough, all the excitement of celebration was gone out the window. For the rest of the night all I could say was, "Ooh, it hurts." and "It's cold!" when they put the frozen peas on my swollen foot. Poor Shaz and Alan had to take care of us all night.

The next morning was spent in a Medical Center to get my foot X-Ray-ed. The doctor gave me a pair of crutches, told me to rest at home, elevate my leg and put frozen peas on my foot to relieve the swell. I did none of those. ;) Instead I was coming for the last part of Forum and wandering Cuba Street all night with Yingy, Sofie and Benji.

Well, I am glad that I came to Forum for the last half a day. The plenary had a surprise celebration for my birthday! Oh, I felt so loved! I got a huge as birthday card, a birthday cake and friends sang me Happy Birthday. This is the first time that my EB actually remember my birthday! :")

At night, Yingy, Sofie, Benji and I went to Fidel's - which located only a block away from where we stayed. The walk was like doing the Mission Impossible if you were on crutches. After 5 steps out the apartment we realised that it is impossible to get there in 15 minutes. It is impossible to walk there on crutches at all!


After Fidel's we all were feeling tired due to the lack of sleep from the past few days. (I was anyway) But Yingy insisted to go to Matterhorn afterwards. If I were in my able body, I would have said YES straight away. But considering that I have to walk on that thing, I didn't think I could physically do it! Ying, Sofie and Benji ended up carrying me all the way to the lower Cuba St. It was way faster (still it was like half an hour or so just to walk down) than having to wait for me walking (more like hopping). It was quite a sight, we had people turned their head around and smiled. It was very embarassing. Thank goodness I don't live in Wellington!

Nigel and Paul (Nalder) came to join us at Matterhorn later that night. The first question asked when he saw my crutches was, "What's with the crutches, Nikita?" Believe me, I got a few similar questions afterwards from randoms.


All in all, the weekend has been an experience in itself.. and it was very interesting. The good, the bad and the ugly. Lesson learnt- I should consume my drink while standing as it gives the best indicator if I'm drunk. To these people, I'd like to say thank you.

Shaz and Alan - I don't know what would I do without you guys!! I might cried my eyes out all night in pain!

Yingy, Sofie, Benji - For insited to carry me all the way to Matterhorn. You guys were really doing the impossible. And yes Ying, it was far more fun than catching a cab! ;)

Benji - For carrying my bags all over Wellington, finding food for lunch when we both were starving and for helping me climbing up the 100 steps to the MC flat! Hahaha...

Aditi Rasquinha - thanks for ringing to give moral support before the ratification! It meant a lot to me. =)

My dear Executive Board - thanks for coming up with a creative roll call -NOT! and managing yourselves without me and for not coming late to the plenary. Most of all, cheers for remembering my birthday! :D

Ryan - for "covering up" for me (although I still believe I was sobering up then ;p) and to help me up the stairs to the MC flat (although at that time I was a bit skeptical if you were fit enough :p)

I misread the weather report last night. The 23 degrees Celcius was yesterday. Today, it was wet, cold with gusty wind on 13 degrees. So much for a Summer, aye? Tomorrow ain't looking pretty either. I was envisaging walking down Courtney Place with jandals, enjoying sunshine, Wellington and coffee before Forum starts. I guess I have to kiss that goodbye seeing the weather forecast.

I have no clothes to pack to Wellington tomorrow as my clothes aren't dry yet . I lost the plaque card - the legacy from my predecessor (it is a now flimsy black-and-red crayoned manila paper to be flicked to second motion in a legislation session.) And the worst of the worst, I have no speech to deliver on Saturday. I would be the most unprepared MC candidates ever. I hope none of the AIESECers read this before the ratification and selection completed.

Stress level has been on high in the past three days. Bad news always comes in 3. Yes that's absolutely right. Don't get me started, I won't go into details as I will confuse people. Let say that I am not the happiest LCP anymore.

However, seeing the bright side, my parents finally accept that I am running for the MC. Wongo was right (see the comment on my second to last post). Alan was right when he said they won't not love me for long. And seeing the effort that my Dad - a computer illiterate - put into trying to use the computer so that he can have an MSN chat and write emails to me, makes me slightly happier.

I need *more* time. I need focus. I need a muse. Come and inspire me!

Five minutes ago I put an end of this long decision-making process. Now I feel nervous, scared, freaked out and all the not-so-nice things that you can think of. But I also feel relieved, challenged and felt that I have not made the wrong decision (which means, I don't know if this is the RIGHT decision but certainly is not the the wrong one.) =)

The whole month was spent on convincing myself, finding out my motivation, writing up a kick ass application, hesitated, and making the final decision. I was real close not to submitting my application because I was asked to reconsider.

I know that I won't make certain people happy about the decision that I have taken. I will always be the stubborn, selfish and ungrateful spoiled brat. However, as Mr. Bon Jovi said :

It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive

It's my life.

Since my last post, I have spent many days writing up my application form. It is still has to be grilled into perfection. Have sent the draft version to a few people to be reviewed and to get feedback on. I'm pretty much done with that application.. and I have a week to spare! What an improvement! I normally leave things until the last minute - haha!

So, this plan is 95% certain, right? I just need to do a final touch ups and it's ready to be sent away. I guess being me I can't live in a life full of decision. I have the plan, the will, the motivation and everything else that you can think of to make the decision of running for MC. Along with that I also have doubts! I now feel like a bride who's having second thought before walking down the aisle. I am doubting whether I can pull this off. I am doubting whether all of these are worthwhile. I am doubting whether I am being selfish and if I shouldn't be one. Help!

It all came crashing down on me after my weekly phonecall with my parents. I can't believe they're still TRYING to make me back out. (Although I told them that the election is only two weeks away. ) Unlike other parents who would wish their daughter good luck. Instead of send me best wishes with all the love and support, my dad went, "Well, there is a possibility that you might not get in and come back home, right?" Good grief!

The pressure is now on. I told my parents that I can live totally independent , without any adult supervision and be very responsible for whatever I'm doing. That sounds like a challenge to me. I have to make whatever I'm doing this year worthwhile to my life - that is an extra motivation to do the best I could, isn't it? Hmmm... It will be interesting to see where I am 17 months from now.

I hate people who keeps on changing their minds - but now I am turning into one. What a hyprocrite I am!

First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR, dear readers! I'm sorry I lied and I didn't make my final posting before year 2005 ends. Just like every other year, the year ended (and started again) with a celebration. What's new?

I always make a New Year Resolution that I never kept. Come on, you don't expect me to remember a list that's 365 days old, do you? What went wrong I wonder. A-ha! Maybe because I never actually start to change. Start exercise, getting better grade, be good to parents, losing weight, eat healthy etc etc. D'uh. Does everything listed relevant to me? No doubt that they are good decision to be followed - but are they relevant to my priority list? No.

So this year, I want to start something new. To make not a resolution but to make a revolution. The year 2005 had taught me a great deal - now it is time not to make the same mistake and start the journey to be a better person (Cheesy, I know! ;p)

res·o·lu·tion (rz-lshn)
n.
3. A course of action determined or decided on.

rev·o·lu·tion (rv-lshn)
n.
3. A sudden or momentous change in a situation

1. Improve relationship - with family, old friends, new friends, uni friends, workmates,boss etc Pretty much all human beings that relates to me in one way or another.

In 2005 I learnt that my friends and family are the ones who's going to stood by me through Hurricanes and Tsunamis. I learnt that you can be all lonely in a room full of people who likes you, I learnt that when I thought,"Oh maybe s/he have forgotten about me." that person thought the same way about me too.

2. Healthy lifestyle - say no to KFC (this would be a big challenge as KFC is the P's favourite functional time hangout place!) , no more messy desk/room/kitchen/bed, enjoying the New Zealand great outdoor more.

In 2005 I realise how unfit I am - I can't even swim one lap without being puffed! I realise if I can't be a little bit more tidier I couldn't find a good husband! (Seriously, this is what my cousin said. And, he's a guy for chrissake!). I don't want to die young - I'm not rich enough hahaha =) Just kidding!

3. Excercising firmness - I found that this is an important element to be a good leader. Firm, but not tough. Give some time for personality shock for some people, they might not used to this.

In 2005, I realised how frustrated I was having to put up with things when they turned messy. It won't be the case anymore, I will be holding everyone accountable for what they have done (or more like for what they haven't done) and communicated it to them so that they will understand that I'm not tolerating under-performers! YEE-AAH!!!

4. Try new things - endless list will go here; skydiving, snorkelling, dance, learn Mandarin, travel to different places... (running for MC?).

I always wanted to do these, but time and money resrict me from doing so. It is time for a change!!

5. Knowing what I really really really want (*yes you can sing Spice Girls here*)

2005 saw me changing my minds as often as I change my underpants! I think the only thing that I was able to decide was the decision to run for the MC. In other department, I was hopeless. Absolutely hopeless. It gets me into trouble every now and then.. for not being able to decide. D'uh.