WENALICIOUS!

You know since IC I have been enjoying a daily read of Erica Berica’s blog. Firstly because she is new enough to blogging to be still doing on such a regular basis but more importantly because it is positively a ray of sunshine! Typically I wait until I hit the proverbial wall, have a tough spot where concentration lags and well it is either go for a caffeine hit or go here

Once there I am generally treated to the most wonderful celebration of all things good in her life! It is so refreshing to read somebody so publicly rejoicing in the positive influences in their life and so I thought I would do the same tonight…for a very special group of people, of which the afrorementioned Erica Berica is a central figure, this is a group of people that have already had a huge impact on this year of my life and who will hopefully figure as part of my life long after my AIESEC XP they are of course … my WENA MCPs






These are the people who in moments of frustration, tiredness or down and out MCP madness, I can rely on to put a smile on my face. Be it a well timed email, a skype call or an msn chat I know I can count on them to listen to me, to understand and send virtual hugs ;) Coz damn it…We’ve got spirit (yeah yeah)

Hugs xxxxxxxxxx

Ode to Mairi :)

This week Chez l'Irish MC had yet another guest to add to our ever growing collection of nationalities, adding Estonia/Planet AI to the already substantially long roll of honour countrywise was the wonderful Ms Mairi Juriska:)

And what a fantabulous week we ahve had! Covering everything from a Board of Directors meeting, our ambition as an MC team, the AIESEC in Ireland BSC, our CSR initiative, recruitment, induction and who or what we call a member as well as individual meetings, a team meeting or two ;) and a final reflection exercise! So much work done and what an incredible platform for us to build the rest of our year on!

Of course there was also the social agenda with highlights such as "Inside I'm Dancing", The Brazen Head, a lunchtime stroll around Dublin - taking in Trinity, Merrion Square and the 1000 Families exhibition there and of course a night in Temple Bar :)

Hurry back Mairi ;) xxxx

A craaazy few days! I was kinda looking forward to having this time at home...mix business with pleasure etc but well it never quite worked out that way! I arrived Friday night at well past midnight so there wasn't much fun to be had except diving into my own loverly bed :) Saturday IC tiredness caught up with me and I slept and slept a little more before heading to my cousin's 21st birthday party! It was great to see most of the family...God only knows when I'll see everybody again, I know I am only in Dublin but once that part time job gig kicks in well who knows when I'll make it home on a weekend again, especially considering my Christmas plans!!


Aoife and Koala....my uncle was left perplexed as to which was which :)


Sunday arrived and I realised that considering the fact that I was taking Monday off I should probably do a wee bit-o-work and so I did, only really taking a break to watch the Grand Prix which I combined with lunch just to be efficient ;) Robbie your Swissness must be contagious! :p Following the heartbreaking news in Monza - no I am not refering to Schumacher's "shock" news but rather to the fact that Alonso's engine blew up at precisely a moment when he needed Renault reliability :( He now leads the championship by just 2 points! Altogether now....the stewards are biased! Anywho, Monday dawned and it bucketed down up until the moment we arrived in the vicinity of UCC :) I always knew that bubble existed! I collected my cap and gown and suited up...see below for evidence of Brian and I as Harry Potter extras ;)

Tuesday was a whirlwind of meetings in the Commerce Faculty :) super enthusiastic people I must say...things could be bright in Cork this year! I also got to meet Genevievie baby! Which was abfab coz I don't think I have seen her since before my bday :( how sad is that?!!

And now it is onwards and upwards...much done, more to do (to steal a certain well known person's motto)

Although I must say...working at my dining room table, looking right out the mouth of Cork Harbour is a far more pleasant environment that Gardiner St with the soundtrack of ambulances ;) Anyone for moving the MC office to Cobh?!!

I do miss my roomies though...strange to have so much time to myself to myself (even if I am working)

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw look at our boy! we love him dearly we do! Aisling too of course :)

Franky

Franky
Originally uploaded by aineoconnell.

96 sleeps to Venezuela! oooh the excitement :)

WENA newies

WENA newies
Originally uploaded by aineoconnell.

This is how they dress in Ireland

This is how they dress in Ireland
Originally uploaded by aineoconnell.

zogabongs are sexy

zogabongs are sexy
Originally uploaded by aineoconnell.

Isnt he cute?!!

Isnt he cute
Originally uploaded by aineoconnell.

I could be Irish?!

I could be Irish
Originally uploaded by aineoconnell.

IC 2006! (although not quite live!)

I know I have been absolutely terrible for the last two weeks! I had intended on writing at least some what regularly but oh well! most people that read my blog were at IC anyway :P

It was so incredibly great to see some old faces again! There was such a huge group there from WENA Newies in 2005 - 3 MCPs from the delegates (and of course Navarette :) ), so many MC and NST members and we were even represented on the CC! So that was really great!

Also fantastic to see all those people that had made IPM so special! Of course my generation of MCP; those that I had laughed (and cried) with, played the samurai game with and those that I will continue to find my way with! Make lemonade when things get tough ;) and share the elation with when I get something not just right but SPOT on! But also it was great to catch up with the those that were at IPM to both guide us through and try figure out their next steps! And to see so many of them doing such different things was great too!

I'm not sure I can put into words what the last few weeks have meant to me?! But perhaps a few moments can sum it up?

- Being told that I had a difficult team to manage and realising that was precisely the reason I selected them all, because they are not to be managed...Ireland cannot afford that this year. We need a team of leaders. And yet a team we are! and I love them for it.

- Following Romania winning the Global UBS award, Prue asked me "How long will it take us?" and for the first time I properly realised that they care as much as I do :)

There are more for sure, much much more but these two are those that will resonate the longest with me. Why? because these are the ones that give me hope for our year. These are the ones that will motivate and inspire me to push harder, work longer and dream higher!







A sexy bunch we are! MC 06/07 plus Aisling ;)







Colleagues? Flatmates? Teammates?! or family?

This year will either bring us together like no team ever before or... no there is no or! This year will be our year! The year of the Irish...the fighting Irish at that!

This is our time.

Other than my epiphanies about the Irish MC o6/07 there are of course a few other moments that stand out!

- Branding people with SHAMROCK loving
- FRANKY :)
- David and his never ending enthusiasm!
- Opening ceremony giggling with Rob
- WENA spirit ;) yeah yeah!
- Global legislation until 03.15!
- Polish night - just the queue ;)
- Chicken in the vegetarian food
- Being oh so proud of the best CC member EVER! (that's you Bruna wapa!)
- Mini "I'm so excited" as an energiser during sessions
- The mountains of chocolate I couldn't eat!
- Finally meeting the PIMP PAD girls!
- Two spangly new AIESEC extension countries!! Welcome Bahrain and Qatar!
- My purtiful Swede as honey sweater :) thank you Anni!
- Wishing I was sitting next to Rob for the interpretive dance at the UBS awards ;)
- Attempting and failing at the speeded up version of Cotton Eye Joe
- Late night whispering with Robbie
- PIZZA :)
- Tearful goodbyes in the train station :(
- Arriving at what appeared to be an empty airport only to be assured that it was "open open" by our otherwise not so chatty taxi driver!
- AIESEC dances in the departures lounge! fun fun fun!

Photos to follow :) mwah mwah mwah!