The Induction Update

Everybody seems to be writing about the induction now, pointing out what we did and who attended, etc. But "everybody" consists of oldie goldies - it's time for some newie perspective.

*ahem ahem*

Ladies and gents, allow me to present:

The Induction Update.

Till now, we have had two sessions of varying degrees of boredom, euphoria, excitement and finesse. The oldie goldies may be old, but they have a lotta experience in dealing with large audience so hats off to them for not allowing us to sleep!

14 Days: Work-Two-Two-Three
From what I have inferred, we're in for a lot of work! Only two weeks have gone by and the newies have met two int`l interns (Germany & Kenya/Uganda), had two sheesha sessions (Mr. M. Nawab's favorite AIESEC activity), and personally I've met three really interesting people (which I'll talk about in a separate post). Also, the OCVP applications are out and we're only hours away from being told that it's time to choose our portfolios.

Aaah, portfolios, now that's something I've really been wanting to talk about!

Portfolios: Hounding-Options-OCVP
Inititally when I was subtly hounded by our existing OCP for NLC '07 about joining AIESEC, I thought the organization is about "human resource exchange" and I wasn't so keen on that. But I'm glad I joined AIESEC and found out that there's more to it than just exchange (insert respectful gesture here for Sharmeen & Sara and Haris, Hussein & Rahim - you guys totally blew me away with your presentations!). So my initial list for preferred portfolios has changed totally, and of course the OCP for NLC' 07's presentation about the OC wasn't half bad; good enough to get me to download the form and be the first candidate for OCVP.

So it's 3.04am PST - nearly 9.5 hours to the second GBM (I hope there aren't any icebreakers!), where we'll be told further about portfolios and other things which have yet to make sense to me.

But in the words of someone famous from some famous scene/movie/song:

Let the games begin...!

Dusty essays and old thoughts

I came across some old essays and articles I wrote; the ones that never got published, or read. So the next few posts (or maybe just this one) will be me re-penning my thoughts on issues that I felt strongly about. And it's really strange; I think I wrote better when I was in high school. :$

20th December, 2003

"America"

I’m waiting at a junction after returning from my extra tuition classes. It’s probably the most unsuitable place, but my mind still wanders, thinking about where I will go for college, now that I’m engaged in my A Levels. The first and obvious choice is America, where education is of a standard that the world conforms to. The obvious is also that I don’t have much of a chance getting there, primarily because of the visa restrictions and complexities. If I were not a Muslim and not a Pakistani, then I would have easily gotten there. Sadly, I realize that America is no more the “Land of Opportunity” & the “Land of The Free” - it is the “Land of Hustlers & Opportunists”.

If I were in America, I would be much worse. Ever day, more and more young Muslim students are harassed and made to feel unwanted.

I flip through the pages of Newsweek and read about “Muslims in America”, stating how happy and comfortable they are. People can be bought, so can advertising agencies. Bush is fighting his war against terror, so where do the millions of innocent Iraqis fit in? It’s quite incredulous to think that these poor souls, who have been surviving the last decade of the 20th century under sanctioned conditions, have funded the extremist movement against America. I don’t believe that it’s the Jews-Against-Muslims war, for Bush isn’t a Jew, neither is the Secretary of Defense.

The word “hustle” means to make energetic and hurried movements to make money or solicit business. America has done the same. It has solicited the business of murder and capturing oil fields and made large amounts of money. And it has certainly made all these moves energetically and hurriedly. We were not on a black list 5 years ago.

The word “opportunist” describes a person who is quick to recognize and use positions or situations which provide a profit and advancement for him. America has certainly seized the opportunity, or oil fields of Afghanistan to be exact, and made advancements.

I know that these thoughts would not be welcomed, and that I would be shunned as an extremist myself, a person who doesn’t have the facts and figures, let alone proof. But at least I can sleep soundly at night, knowing that I have the guts to speak openly about whatever is happening around the world.

Another segment of people would approach me, trying to explain to me that there is no use of speaking my mind about America. “You are not the only one who feels this way” they would say. But is it wrong to feel strongly when you are made to feel useless and unwanted?

We as human beings are very sensitive creatures, yet we can bear and tolerate huge amounts of insults and humiliations. But everything has a limit. You can only tolerate and bear so much. Millions of people across the world lie in fear at night, wondering in which direction America looks.

It’s like having a silent invasion...

Remembering 8th October, 2005

One year.
The ashes have settled and are being built upon, the survivors have moved on. The tragedy is over, it is time to rebuild. For many, it means a totally new page in life. The grim irony is that many have been given a 'clean slate'. Will what has this past year taken away be fulfilled by the year to come? Only time has the answer. Tomorrow will be a clearer day.

Twelve months.
Each month brought a new challenge; a new pain to deal with. Suppression of pain and anguish has become a commonplace thing for everyone. Each passing of thirty days brings hope for the next set. Tomorrow will be a happier day.

Fifty-two weeks.
Each week is a building step for what once was life. The echoes of the devastation fade with each passing week and there is hope for. Tomorrow will be a brighter day.

Three hundred and sixty-five days.
The sun is witness to everything that has happened. Three hundred and sixty-five sunrises signify that life moves on. Three hundred and sixty five sunsets signify the ending of an ordeal, a challenge, an obstacle. Tomorrow will be a better day.

This write-up also appears on www.dobaraawazdo.com