NLDS 2007. . . oops. . '08! Whoooh?

Hmmm. . . people say that life comes a full circle and everything's changed by then.
It's been one year in AIESEC. . . and I'm looking back at the person I was. Seems like a blur at the moment but those few days at Sawai Madhopur- Jaipur. . phew! Crazy, wild, awe-inspiring, amazing, motivating and jam packed with sessions and fun! So many moments flash by. . jives, tent-burning, insects (ewww!), the OC (from Chandi!), the train ride, the starry sky on the first night, open bus drive at midnight in a jungle, forgetting names, applying for flcp, shifting venues in the dead of the night, talent night, sleeping through the stock market session (oops!), the FLCs, the people from all cities, prom night, chilling with my LC after prom night (at 4 am! on kiddie swings! in a dress!), roll calls, del meetings, dinner (more than lunch, dunno why!), the paintings in those rooms, not having place to sleep, 'I' session, maaza overdose, chocolates by a secret friend, my secret friend, shouting anything and everything, moments of the day, wrap ups, skolling, gosh, the memories are just coming more than ever before! And of course, the closing plen where I actually cried. The bus ride to the station and the train to sawai madhopur (and someone saying 'kya raat thi yaar!' for prom night!) and sleeping at the insect infested station of Sawai Madhopur for 3 hours. And then on someone's shoulder. . Coming back home. . . so many moments! [by the way, guess which song's playing right now! Summer of 69! And now the times are changing. . . look at everything that's come and gone. . .]

Yeah, I had a life changing experience. And here I am, the year 2008, now a VP, with 52 new recruits in the LC, and a delegation of 40 going to NLDS. A dream we had dreamt a year ago at NLDS. And now that it's happening, I'm not there! :S A huge, great, motivated, amazing delegation on it's way to Silvassa right this very minute. And I would give anything to be there! Anything! NLDS is not something that happens everyday! Just once a year and even then, it's always different, you know why? Coz it's all about people. And they're all new people. Always. A bunch of crazy, and helluva lot more capable than my batch, new recs!

I still can't believe that they're gone and I'm still here. It's been an AIESEC dream to go to NLDS as a Faci. Well, next year I guess. At least it's gonna keep me motivated to have amazinggg recruitments at that time as well and take yet another insane delegation to the conference!

I can't really believe that it's been just one year. Just one year since I rushed into the plen to the song 'I'm shipping up to Boston' praying I wasn't too late! ;) Just one year. . . seems like a lifetime ago. Especially since I'm not the same person that joined in September 2007. I've achieved, and I've failed. I've lived in intensity and in periods of utter indifference. I've loved and I've lost. I've followed others and led some as well. I've met people from all over the world. I know my way around the city now. I've lost myself so many times, re-found myself. And then lost myself again, rebuilding and breaking each moment.

So here I am, sitting in front of my laptop (which, by the way, I wouldn't have known how to use a year ago) and writing it all out. Wishing I was on a train. Second class sleeper train even if it was without a ticket.

I saw the new recs today. 40 people with a gleam in their eyes for the coming ten days. 40 people awaiting a life-changing experience. People going out of their comfort zone to another city with a group of students. I wonder if they know that they are the future of AIESEC Chandigarh. I wonder if they feel the responsibility yet, I wonder if they know how much they will change. I wonder if they know how desperately I want to be there with them. NOW. And through the whole conference. And go through the rush of the next 10 days. Sway to 'leaving on a jet plane' sing wonderwall, write sugar cubes, cry when you know you gotta go back.

I wanna break out of everything that happened in this whole year. .. I want to be a new recruit who everyone is trying to motivate, inspire and give a good experience. I want to be an empty cup overflowing with happiness. Don't get me wrong, I've absolutely loved this year, but just once, just for those 10 days, I want to go back. Even if as a Faci, I want to go see the new recs that mean so much to me already, change. I want to BE THERE and live AIESEC like never before.

Someday, I know it'll happen. It's destiny. And if it isn't, then I'll just make it into my destiny anyway. Someday, I'll be there, with new recs and see them living and loving AIESEC, just as I have been!

P.S. the pic is from JNC, but just thought it goes with the NLDS mood right now!