Homesick and not even there yet...

I haven't left yet but I am already homesick. Is that possible?

I booked my ticket today. I will be leaving on the 13th. I guess I got what I wished for. Words really are powerful. I remember when Kiel, the MC VP OGX, asked me when do I want to leave. I said maybe mid October, a few days after my birthday.

I never realized that God was really listening intently. God, You're so funny.

Anyway, yeah... in less than 20 days I have to temporarily say goodbye to the things I am used to and embrace a life of unknown together with my dirty laundry and unironed clothes.

I hope that whatever it is I am doing now will all be worth it in the end. Maybe this will be my last hurrah before I finally settle down and really have a definite career. We'll see.

Visa!!!

After several trips to the Turkish embassy, it's official! I am really going to Turkey.

With my passport holder I got from Dumaguete... Isn't is to Filipino? :)

365 days... Turkey here I come...

Now I just have to purchase that plane ticket and soon Turkey we will meet.

P.S.
The Consul and the Vice-Consul were ultra nice, funny and accomodating. If this is a preview of my Turkish life, then I can hardly wait. :)

AIESEC Farewell Dinner

Exchange participants leaving this September and October were given a farewell dinner by AIESEC UP Diliman. Everybody met around 6:30 PM at Shakey's, Katipunan.

I got to meet some trainees from other countries who are doing their internship in Gawad Kalinga. They were mainly Germans and Japanese.

(from l-r) Zim, Patrick Draegart, me, Cielo, Daichi, Tiff and Mutsumi 

(from l-r) Chikako, Yuko and me

Mutsumi and me

Cielo and the Germans

And of course, I also got to meet my fellow trainees and learned about the countries they were matched to. Cielo is going to Hungary, Tiff to Japan, Marielle to Australia and I to Turkey! Yipee to us.

AIESEC Trainees
 

Matched trainees were seated. (from l-r) Cielo to Hungary, Marielle to Australia, Tiff to Japan and me to Turkey!

AIESECers also gave us a nice presentation about the country we will visit and a touching gift to help us get through on our first few days in the country.

My guidebook! Thanks AIESEC!

A peek on what's inside.

Thanks AIESEC UPD! I enjoyed it so much and I am looking forward to more fun times like this. :)

Backtrack: The Fast and the Furious

AIESEC Trainees ready to match!

July 27 - Out of nowhere, I suddenly remembered Misty and her AIESEC experience. I searched for AIESEC Philippines, found the first person with an email address posted and typed away asking for information on how I can join.

August 2 - I got my first reply from the group. The person advised me that I am fit for their  traineeship program and if interested would please contact the MC VP for the Outgoing Exchange. I emailed the VP for Outgoing Exchange.

August 3 - I got a reply from the VP for the Outgoing Exchange and was referred to my LC, UP Diliman. The VP for Operations scheduled an orientation for me on August 4.

August 4 - My orientation was cancelled and was instead informed that the last day of application for the traineeship will be on August 5. If I still want to apply for the traineeship, I have to go to an interview the following day at the AIESEC office in Katipunan and accomplish the forms that they sent me over the mail. I said I am interested. They scheduled my interview at 4 PM.

August 5 - I was at the AIESEC office at Katipunan by 3:30 PM. My interview was over in less than 30 minutes. I GOT IN. I received my official emailed letter from the VP for Outgoing Exchange of my LC, UP Diliman, confirming that I was accepted. I have to attend the Ambassador's Day this Saturday.

August 7 - I was at Provident Village, Makati by 1 PM and was attending the Ambassador's Day with the other interns. I paid for my Application and Raising Fee.

AIESEC UPD and the trainees

August  11 - I attended my Matching Training at the cafe near College of Music.

August 16 - My form was officially raised in My.AIESEC.net and I am now free to match.

August 17-18 - I started applying. I got immediate replies from China, Japan, Cambodia, and Russia.

August 19 - I got an email from Turkey asking if I am interested to their TN. I said yes. I got a schedule for a Skype interview with them the following day.

August 20 - AIESEC Turkey was nowhere near the web.

August 22 - I got an email from the VP for Outgoing Exchange of Turkey apologizing and asking if we can reset the interview. I said fine. The interview was set the following day.

August 23 - The interview was at 2 PM. It went well. They want my AN.

August 24-25 - I was thinking and researching if I really want to go to Turkey.

August 26 - I sent them my AN. I got MATCHED!

August 27 - The VP for Incoming Exchange of Turkey got in touch with me.

August 28 - They sent me their AN and invitation letter.

September 3 - I went to the embassy to get visa requirements.

September 7 - I submitted my documents to the embassy.

A Leap of Faith

I call this a leap of faith.

I don't remember when or how it happened. I just suddenly had this firm resolve.

I am not sure where this courage is coming from. Could it be from my desire to run from everything and start all over again? From my constant hunger for history and culture? Or from my lifelong dream to visit Jerusalem? This is definetely not Jerusalem, but very very close to it.

Whatever it is, I am jumping in. I heeded the call of the voice within. I will leave all my apprehensions and what-ifs behind. I will turn my back for now to the responsible and sensible life that I should be living (but is nowhere near what I have now). I will just go ahead and soak myself in culture. I will throw caution to the wind.

I only live this life once and I'd better take my fill as much as I can.

I know this is what God wants me to do in His wonderful world.

With that....

Let's go TURKEY!