IC 2006 - the story so far!

We arrived safe and sound! Even got the boy back yesterday! Exciting times for the Irish MC :) exciting times!

It was so great getting to see everybody! So many familiar faces and of course a great many new ones to add to the experience! So far all has gone pretty well..The WENA Pre-meeting was actually pretty awesome! I think for us MCPs it was nice to see a connection being made by the rest of our teams too! I love my WENA MCPs! They really are making this whole experience for me! The support, the genuine care for each other :)

But WENA time ended today and we had the Opening Ceremony! And what a mixture that was ;) At one point in time there were Irish dancers on stage...not quite Riverdance but still...Aisling and I were hugely entertained, I think it was lost on everyone else! Still I had good company for the evening ;) so all was good and right in the world!

IC proper starts tomorrow! Opening Plenary in the morning....Aisling and I must pool our resources and think of a roll call for then! Then Global Village - I pray our stuff has arrived!And then sessions proper start...so psyched!

The MCPs had a meeting with Dey last night and some of the stuff he was telling us about sounds abfab! The best has got to be AIESEC University Live! Which will allow all members direct access to the sessions as they happen!

But more to follow on all that malarky once we get into the sessions!

Oh of course...excitement of excitement! I get to see Franky for two whole weeks!!! The only bad thing about Poland right now...the fricking mosquitos! I have been eaten alive!!!!

Just for you Dhruv ;)

According to one Senor Chitgopekar I do not blog enough...so here is my weekend update!

We had a friend of a friend, namely Tim staying with us this weekend! He came to us from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada via his travels in Europe. Lucky sod is spending 5 and a half months travelling around Europe!

So Saturday we acted like tourists...but very a specific kind of tourist...one that you might say had a problem! (the problem to which I allude will become apparent)The day started off well enough - despite the moment when the skies momentarily opened on us, resulting in the shocking cold which I now take to IC with me...but I digress! First off we saw Dublinia aka the museum about medieval Dublin and the Viking age. Then we headed on down to the Temple Bar market where we purchased a yummy lunch of duck pie (me) and salmon quiche (Tim)...well it was by now well past noon (a bit past noon) and we decided it was probably about time we quenched our thirst...so we did! and Tim had his first pint of Dublin Guinness (apparently it tastes better here!)

Then it was onwards in our quest to be the perfect tourists! Next stop, and this is where the problem will begin to show itself, next stop was the Jameson Distillery! Where we purchased tickets for our tour, perused the gift shop, salivated over 2000euro bottles of Jameson and then still had 17 minutes before our tour began...so we decided to opt for an Irish coffee! No sooner had the tour began than they asked for volunteers for the arduous task of whiskey tasting...we promptly sacrificed our livers for the sake of the rest of the group! Come the end of the tour we were sat at a table with two other volunteers and had three shots of whiskey placed in front of us..basically we were meant to sip the whiskeys (3 Irish, a scotch and an American bourbon) and decide that our fave was the Jameson. According to their plan....we both failed, Tim chose the scotch and I chose Paddys :) following the tasting we were free to finish our tasters and we of course did as we were told!! From Jameson it was on to the Guinness Storehouse (are we seeing a trend yet?!) Although I must say I am not a fan, neither was Tim...he still drank our 2 free pints!

Saturday night...BOAT RACE PRACTICE! we imported an elite squad of ex-AIESECers to help us train, well, we got Paddy to come around! and boatrace ahoy! Followed by a lively ASSHOLE tournament...apparently beginners luck does work :P (not for me...but others in the group)

Sunday morning we picked up where we had left off...playing ASSHOLE! Then it was scenic route to the office, introduce Tim to the wonders of Supermacs (Irish version of MackyDs..just coz he has sworn off the original for the duration of his European expedition. Following that it was back to the tourist trail.....National history museum to see the bogmen among other things! Plus pushy mothers and men with STRANGE hairstyles! Sooo not my team!

We called into the Porterhouse for a swift pint and to catch the second half of the Football semi final, a proper sprort if there was ever one!...had to leave before the end though because of the abuse being heaped on my beloved Cork by a man that knows nothing about the game! Oh boy! I hope the Edmonton Oilers suck big time next year! There will be no Stanley Cup for your Hawckey team!

Then home for a scrummy dinner (the visitor made up for his jibes at the rebels!), more ASSHOLE and then a trip to the Brazen Head - Ireland's oldest pub! A few hot toddies later we almost fell asleep to Revolver and so decided to call it a night!

Woke up this morning with a cold of epic proportions! Brought Tim to the LUAS, actually rather sorry to see him leave...oh the fun to be had when you have a drinking partner...a sarcastic whiskey drinking one at thatr ;) Got to the office to the joyful sight of Calgary (with prawn crackers!!!!!), we said our goodbyes...Best of luck in NYC :) :) and then it was last pre-IC lunch with Paddy before heading off on the DORSH to meet Rod who was taking me on a magical tour of Industrial estates to visit our Global Village sponsors! Legend! Coz there is no way on God's green earth I would have made it there on my own! Thankies ;) xx

And now I am off out the door; to go home, finish packing, tidy the flat a bit and hit the sack for an hour before heading to the airport! Awoohooo! Off to Poland we go!!! To quote my dearest McNulty...I am so incredibly PSYCHED! IC 2006! Chaired by the most enthusiastic, David Pollay...Possibly the nicest man I have ever met! Am soooooo excited about seeing people! too many to mention, but I am sure they all know who I mean :)

Slan go foil!

I've been tagged!

Tagged by Dhruv <3


I am thinking about...
Everything and evreybody at IC ;)

I said...
Ni neart go cur le cheile


I want to...
Know who I am so I can share it with others


I wish...
To be this happy all my life

I miss...
Physically too many people to mention, psychologically the comfort of uni


I hear...
Another bloody siren

I wonder...
When will I know?


I regret...
Nothing.


I am...
A global citizen (in my heart anyway)

I dance...
to the beat of my own drum

I sing...
like nobody is listening

I cry...
seldom

I am not always...
what I should be/want to be

I write...
the things that burn within me

I confuse...
the people around me

I need...
hugs <3

I should try...
to let others in

I finish...
what i start

I tag...

Prue, Colleen, Annika, Frank, Thordis, Aisling, Nico, Maeve

and following on from the previous post.....

Your Inner European is Irish!

Sprited and boisterous! You drink everyone under the table.

Who's Your Inner European?

A survey that actually got it right for once! ;)

Damn you Nico....

Doing the rounds of my friends'blogs and came across this on Nico's blog....what kind of colour is Maroon?! No smart answers here people, I know what colour it is...but blah! as a "power" colour?! I say grr!

Your Birthdate: June 7

You are an island. You don't need anyone else to make you happy. And though you see yourself as a loner, people are drawn to you. Deep and sensitive, you tend to impress others with your insights. You also tend to be psychic - so listen to that inner voice! Your strength: Your self sufficiency Your weakness: You despise authority Your power color: Maroon Your power symbol: Hammer Your power month: July

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

I had a great big long post written yesterday, one in which I had learned to do the super cool links thing and everything and then to my shock and dismay it just suddenly disappeared :O so here I go again.....

Looking at Brian's photos yesterday on bebo I began to realise just how very different this year is going to be! IC Poland will for example be the first international conference that I attend without a rebel (WNC - Cliona and Aislinn, IC India - Brian and Dominique, IPM - Dominique)! Granted I will have my supremely amazing team with me as well as the incredibly hyperactive Aisling nevertheless it will be strange!

Then talking to Franky about Venezuela is just making me beyond excited! Venezuela awaits:Maracaibo, Merida, Trujillo and of course Caracas!!!! Almost an entire month hablando espanol...no lo puedo esperar! Chairing a conference in Spanish even ;)

This weekend promises to be lively!! Lynn is coming up this afternoon and it is All Ireland Quarter Final weekend! Woot! Whats more the rebels are competing in both hurling and football :) The football is ours today! (hopefully) plus if we beat Waterford tomorrow then we will have beaten every team in the Munster championship ;) Did I hear somebody say 3 in a row?!!!! Will see what I can do about going to tomorrow's match with the auntie and uncle ;)

Party tonight at chez MC..beer pong ahoy! and I suppose the semi obligatory game of DRENGA! ;) funfunfun!!!

We have lost our boy for a fortnight though :( Jochen went home this morning to take an exam and we won't see him until the WENA pre-meeting!! all together....****sigh**** GOOD LUCK LIAM!!!

All in all a good week though! Went to see Cars this week...beyond cuteness ;) There was of course the hilarious moment on the way into Miami Vice when Prue asked a bemused usher "are we expecting Colin this evening" as though they were the best of buddies and she just wasn't sure if he was going to make it!! Reeeeeeeeally want to see the Bogman exhibition at the National Museum this weekend!

un beso!!

Googlism for AIESEC

aiesec is basicaiesec is a valuable learning experience
aiesec is all about international opportunities
aiesec is the best
aiesec is definitely a can
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aiesec is an internationalaiesec is an acronym for l'association internationale des étudiant
aiesec is a globalaiesec is the world's largest international
aiesec is one of the most effective institutions that exists in this regard
aiesec is active ranges from argentina to zimbabweaiesec is a global organisation operating in over 90 countries all over the world
aiesec is an educational charity founded in 1948 by a handful of european business students
aiesec is still founded on youth wanting to take a proactive role in developing a better society through innovativeaiesec is largely responsible for the search for suitable trainees for an enterprise
aiesec is found in over 800 universities
aiesec is an international organization of students devoted to promoting international understanding
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aiesec is the world's largest studentaiesec is the world´s largest student organisation
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aiesec is founded on international experienceaiesec is able to provide the resumes of job candidates to your company
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aiesec is a great way to try what it is like to live in a different country for a while and see the reality and regular life
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aiesec is a not for profit organisation that facilitates the international exchange of thousands of students and recent graduates each year
aiesec is such a uniquely rich reservoir of human experiences that you unmistakably fail to realise its full impact while you are still active or just have



could you disagree with any one?!

Caracas here I come...........

After months of dithering I finally did it! I booked flights to the land of Cacique.....I mean Venezuela!! and now it is just 129 days before I touch down in Caracas to spend almost a month with my favourite MCP! what larks?! oooh think of the sun tan I will get in the middle of crappy Irish winter! and of course the awesomeness that will be chairing a conference in my second fave GN! and oh! I am just too excited to say any more! there is so much to look forward to! So much to plan and read and get excited about! woooooot!!

happiness is having tickets to Caracas in your possession!!! :) :)

YUMMY!

Colin and tickets
Originally uploaded by aineoconnell.

Just felt like treating my MC girlies today so Colleen and I went to Marks and Spencers and after much deliberation decided to bring back some profiteroles :)

yumminess in a box :) well done M&S you were the cause of much happiness in this MC office today :)

Colin and tickets

Colin and tickets
Originally uploaded by aineoconnell.

Tonight off we go to see the pre-preview of Miami Vice! Today Colleen and I received our funky free merchandise too! We have been happy little girls in the office today...it is the promise of Colin Farrell :) happiness!