SELAMAT HARI RAYA!

My experience in Malaysia was reflective of the culture: diverse and full (of food! :)) Not sure how much of it I'll be able to capture, but so I’ll start out slow and just blog my first XP here/there, and definitely one of the most unforgettable...

I was EXTREMELY lucky to arrive in Malaysia just at the beginning of Eid. I arrived on Friday afternoon, and all the festivities were kicking off on Saturday. I managed to weasel my way into joining Csilli in full day excursion to visit Fadli and his family. And when I say family, I MEAN FAMILY! WOWWWWW! In about 1/2 a day I met more of his family (must have been over 80 people) than I have met of my family in MY ENTIRE LIFE.

Really beautiful. We literally just drove to another family's home, shook hands with every one at the home, were fed amazing food, and then were off to the next home! And at one home we had EGYPTIAN DATES! (They are great, and now I understand your explanation, Tamer. :)) We were ESPECIALLY lucky to end off the day at Fadli's home. (See picture below!!) His mother is pretty much KNOWN to be the best cook in the area... enough said. :) And we ended off this day of generosity and love, with his family giving my and Csilli gifts! We were shocked!!! Words can't describe how special the entire day is... and, mind you, HOW EXHAUSTING. Wow. Hahahahaha... when Csilli and I got home her roommates asked about our day, and we described how amazing and tiring it was. They were like, "wow, yeah, you ate all day. Tough day you had..." But seriously, everyone who has "survived" a Raya celebration has agreed, its HARD WORK!!!! :D

I guess I'll also add, as a belated "blogging Ramadan" post, but... not on that blog... but here... or something: I'm really grateful to be experiencing Islam first hand here in Malaysia and also in the Netherlands. As a non-practicing Catholic, religion is.... scary. In the context of the Catholics in my city when I grew up I always felt like there are so many rights and wrongs that I get nervous when I'm around religion firsthand. I always felt like I sneezed at the wrong time I would go to hell. Yeah. I was so nervous for my first sahur with Tamer, Sami, Anisha, and Ahmet... my foggy Catholic mind was like... urm... shall I drink the soup first... does someone drink it first... does it matter if I finish it first... ahhhhh! Yes, its true, I'm a boob. WOOOOOP. Live and learn...

"Just an American Girl in a Tokyo Scene..."

Yes I am so Gwen. ;p J/j...

I'm back on the road! After my year as MCP of Canada, its been a long time since I was out traveling long distances going from meeting to meeting, city to city. For sure before packing my [20kg limit!] bag in Rotterdam, I was definitely nervous about how I would manage, how adaptable I would be, my health, etc. One week into my travels, I'm definitely feeling much better!! :)

TRANSIT. It all started last Friday, when I gave hugs around the AI office and jumped in a cab to the train station at noon. Then train to Amsterdam. Then flight to London. Then flight to Hong Kong. Then one night stopover in Hong Kong! :) Then my flight to Tokyo, with 2hr stopover in Taipei… so SUNDAY NIGHT I finally arrived in Tokyo. As you can imagine, when I arrived my body was so tired from the transit and my jet leg did not wear off until Thursday! Aiyo.

ONE NIGHT IN HK. Good times! Oh the small AIESEC world… Beatrice and Ken came to pick me up at the airport, then brought me to the MC flat where I met up with Stefan (former MCP Denmark), Francois (former MCP France in my term), and went out with Stefan, Thomson (LC Michigan VP Sales 2 generations later) and Martin (former MC CAS and Southern Cone). None of them knew each other, but it was great to see old friends in this quick stop in Hong Kong and FIRST TIME IN HONG KONG!! :)



Fitnass on the road? The first night I stayed with Miwako, an MC member, who picked me up at the airport. I found out soon after meeting Miwako that she does HOT YOGA! YAY! After my 2 years in Canada working 5 floors above a hot yoga studio, it was SO fun to go do hot yoga Monday night, almost exactly the same but… with all instructions in Japanese… J

LIVING IN TOKYO. Most of my time in Tokyo I stayed a Sayako, and LCP’s house. It is such a pleasure. Every morning her mother and I enjoy a healthy breakfast, and sometimes lunch, depending my schedule for the day. Her mother takes such great care of me, and its really a treat after living away from home for the third year!



TOURING. On my first free day during my travels, I woke up rather sick, and worried I would not have the energy to go explore Japan by myself, luckily Sayako’s father came to my rescue! Before having a delish Udon lunch together, he introduced me to his father. We walked out the front door of her house and went to the back, where there was a whole other house, and I felt like I had gone back in time, as the décor was much more traditional Japanese. It was SUCH a pleasure, as this dear grandfather jumped around grabbing snacks and tea to follow me, jumping from sitting on the floor over the kitchen back, back down on the floor, then back up. Incredible. Sitting together with Sayako’s father and grandfather enjoying tea and slowly chatting was easily the BEST PART of my trip so far.

Then Sayako’s father and I head off to take a ship cruise in Tokyo Bay before he left me at the Odaiba spa and to enjoy some hours of pampering alone. The spa was perfect. Wow. Best massage of my life. I’m someone who loves just walking around barefoot and in a robe, so just imagine the whole facilities everyone was walking around in robes and barefoot, eating yummy food, getting massage or sand bath, shopping… welcome to paradise.

NAGOYA HOSPITALITY. After Tokyo I head to Nagoya. GREAT TIMES. I spent one full day there, much slower pace, mostly with all the same people, really making me feel comfortable and meet some friends and connect! We had a great hot pot dinner, then I went to go stay with a 1st year member, Haruka and her friend Yuki: they went out to the convenience store and bought tons of junk food for us – such a fun chill night!



So now I am in chilling in an LC office here in Kyoto. Like almost every LC office I have visited, they have the typical AIESEC cabinets adorned with tons of AIESEC stickers! Eheheh. :) Yup, so that's my first week… looking forward to more fun, friends, and learning.