By: Kara Protomartir

Maybe it is in being lost that we truly find ourselves. Maybe it is the rush that you feel whenever you discover new places. Maybe it is the jitters and the heart pounding moments you get just before boarding the plane.  I cannot seem to point out what is it in traveling that makes me experience inexplicable emotions.

Traveling for me is a journey where I learn the practical things in life. It is an adventure that one immerses into for the benefit of himself and the people around him. It is finding similarity in this fast changing and continuously evolving world. It is discovering how each and every individual is uniquely special. It is patching up the differences one sees in others to be able to build a better community.

Being on exchange gave me the opportunity to travel not as a stranger wandering in a foreign country but as someone who is well engaged in their society. I got to see a new land in the perspective of a local. I guess it was a liberating experience because I was able to travel without time constraints. When I was there, I did not feel the urge to hurry up and hop in the bus to see the next destination. Similarly, it is perhaps not knowing where to go next that makes it extraordinary. Also, going on spontaneous adventures with people I barely know added up to the excitement I felt. Another factor that made it different from traveling on a normal vacation is being with foreigners who share the same vision as you do. I gained new friends that are spread across nations who lead me to believe that there is still hope in humanity and not all strangers are dangerous. During exchange, I did not only get to understand more about the individuals and the country I lived in but also learn about different cultures and people all around the world. I learned to be more independent. I learned to cooperate and adapt with different people more especially when I am working with them. I learned to be patient and understanding during my stay because of the language barrier and some other factors.   

By: Genry Criscel Consul

I was always the girl craving, searching, and chasing for adventures. I wasalways the type that wanted to experience the world first hand. Going on exchange has been my greatest adventure yet.

“Be a traveler, not a tourist.” This advice from a member of my project’s organizing committee would be my month-long Vietnam adventure’s six-word story. As a tourist, you see; as a traveler, you experience. As a traveler, I got to immerse myself in 9 other cultures completely foreign to me through 13 other interns and 10 members of the organizing committee. As a traveler, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting people- despite the distance- I know I could keep.

I met someone who ate the black, cookie part of my Oreo. I did not even have to offer, he took them himself. “You are such a racist,” he said as he took them away from me.

I met someone who complimented my sense of humor. I often hold back my witty comebacks and retorts uncertain people will actually get it but with this person, I did not feel the need to.

I met someone who patiently tried to teach me how to ride a bike. “Don’t let go,” I said as I pedaled as fast as I could. “I won’t,” he replied as he ran after me.

I met someone who had dance moves as rad as mine. We both had two left feet and a love for dancing. Needless to say, it was a dance battle worth watching.

I met someone who I sang off-tune, Portuguese duets with. It was just plain hilarious how we never really got the lyrics right.

I met someone who ate the leftovers off my plate just because “food should be eaten.”

I met someone who was so passionate about learning how to curse in Filipino. By the end of our internship, he was a full-pledged, foul-mouthed Filipino.

I met someone who was in love with coffee as much as I am. And together we conquered coffee heaven with a lot of palpitations along the way.

I met someone who (almost) hated Karl Marx. Long story short, it was a long conversation that ended with our mutual love for Cersei Lannister.

I met someone who thought I had an amazing laugh. I never knew my obnoxious laugh would make people happy.

I met four Brazilians who said I was the most Brazilian non-Brazilian they have ever met and who loved me like I was one of them.

I met two Malaysians who had the appetites of truck drivers.

I met an Indonesian who was jealous of me meeting bands we both loved. And another who was taking up law, the career path I was planning to take.

I met a Kiwi who I exchange Mean Girls references with every time I could.

I met a Thai who KNEW how to pick up girls.

I met a Chinese who loved taking my photos.

I met an Australian who sang off-tune Ed Sheeran songs, just like me.

I met an Italian who inspired me to achieve more.

I met a Vietnamese who motivates me to travel more.

I met people with different stories to share- that alone was an adventure.

I was always the girl craving, searching, and chasing for adventures. And I did. I still do. I was always the type that wanted to experience the world first hand. And I am. No one can stop me.

By: Celine Constantino

I was the girl who always stayed on the sidelines. I was the girl who was afraid of taking risks because I thought I will commit mistakes which I will surely regret in the end. I got so scared of breaking my walls that I chose to stay in my safety net. I was conventional, mediocre.

My reason for deciding to go on exchange was beyond travelling to another country and experiencing a different country’s culture first hand. I needed to do something for myself which I have never done my entire life. I came to a point where I got tired of just playing it safe. Everyone seemed to be living their lives to the fullest, and I felt like I was being left behind. That’s when I told myself, “It’s now or never. The opportunity is already there. Will I let it pass? What if it won’t come again?”

Going on exchange was probably one of the major decisions I made for myself. It was perhaps one of the greatest risks I ever took. And you know what? I am really proud that I did it. Because if I didn’t, I would still be in my comfort zone afraid of exploring what is out there. As they say, there is no harm in trying. What matters is that you try. So I say, don’t be afraid of taking risks. Don’t lock up yourself in the box you built. Even if you are unsure, just take the opportunity. Life can be full of uncertainties but I believe that life begins at the end of your comfort zone. Taking risks is not a sign of weakness. Not taking them is. If you’re scared but you do it anyway, that’s brave. And that is more than enough. Trust yourself and you will go far.

My exchange experience taught me so many things. Being independent, being good at directions and learning the cultures and life stories of the people I became friends with there are some of the lessons I brought home with me. My exchange experience was definitely not all good and enjoyable, but it was the not-so-good experiences that made my exchange experience a more fulfilling one. If you ask me if I will do it again, I would say absolutely yes.

When you go on exchange, you share a part of yourself with other people. You erase the “me, myself and I” mentality. You start to realize that it's not all about you. It's not just all about you travelling around and experiencing another country’s culture. It is about you making an impact to the people you interact with. It is about you leaving a lasting significance in their lives. When you’re there, you will realize that the world is much, much bigger as we see it in books, in films and in stories of other people. And that you’re only a small dot in the universe.  I may be a tiny dot in the world of the people I met in Vietnam but even if I am one, I am certain that I left a mark in their world.

It did not start in Vietnam. It started here in the Philippines. It began in an assimilation camp together with several other individuals who believed they did not have the potential to lead, to grow into more fulfilling persons. It was information overload for two straight days. I did not have the slightest idea about sales, finance and most especially exchange. The only thing I was sure that time was that I wanted to go on exchange. I wanted to see the world for myself. I wanted to accumulate new experiences. But as we went through the two-day camp and listened to the stories shared by AIESECers from UP Diliman, I realized that doing something should not only be for oneself. What I learned from that assimilation camp is you do something to help more people: to help them realize their untapped potential and see them develop into individuals they thought they would never become. There are so many reasons why I would want to quit but there is only one reason why I still stay. And until now, I am still as happy as I was last year when I chose the latter.

  xxx Take the great leap forward! 

On a summer avenue

By Zandy Tolentino 

Imagine yourself encapsulated in a thing called memory lane. Great experiences are blocking your way all around. You know there’s too much you can share but you don’t know how to put them in words. So here I am in this junction as I let you view a glimpse of my seven wonderful weeks of exchange. Just like other dreamers out there, I took the leap of faith and explored a summer to remember.  

Doubtful and scared at first, I was so anxious about pushing through the whole thing. It was my first time to travel alone, even more to a foreign land. But my aspiration and interest to make an impact in my generation helped me get to the way. I applied for different projects in countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam. As history went, I got accepted into a project in the economic capital of Viet Nam, the magnificent city of Ho Chi Minh, and started a life-changing journey.

  The Streets. What’s my first glance at the city? Well, imagine the number of vehicles in Taft Ave. converted into motorbikes, business of all kinds in the streets, and a dozen coffee shops in any point in the city. Traffic lights seem not to be working in the urban area because people are crossing the streets even if the light says red. And I got used to it as weeks passed in my stay. That is one thing I guess that’s really important when you’re travelling anywhere: knowing how the roads go and familiarizing with the streets. And because I went on exchange to work and go to places, I also needed to know the public transportation around. In HCMC, hundreds of buses are passing around and everyone has a distinct destination. So knowing where to catch the right bus, to stop and to go was an everyday adventure and getting lost became a habit. 

The People. The seven wonderful weeks of exchange wouldn’t be wonderful enough if not for the people I met. Working with my local committee taught me that surviving will be easier as they helped me find routes around the city and made me experience their own way of living. Another really wonderful thing is having a host family that immersed me deeper in their culture as I go through my exchange. Meeting interns like me coming from all over the world, surviving the cultural differences and managing to work over it was also really remarkable. The next time you’ll plan to travel, you just need to hit up someone from this certain country and you’ll have someone to tour you or maybe even host you.  Mind you, if you go on exchange all the people you’ll meet will strike you and mark your lives forever. Cheesy but definitely true. 

The Children. This is one of the most unforgettable parts of the whole experience. Getting close to the children who were strangers at first and who then became so close to your heart. I taught several classes but the children I met there became my inspiration for my responsibilities as a citizen of this planet (I wish I inspired them too!). The project I applied aimed for us to partake in the lives of underprivileged children and youth by providing English classes and outreach programs in the different centers and orphanages within the city. Walking for less than an hour under the sun to go to my class to teach was not a hassle knowing that they will shower us with smiles once we got into the class. The project allowed us to teach in different districts in HCMC including the remote areas and the least developed parts of it. This is where I got close to the realities of the ever changing world and discovered the parallels of it in my own country. 

The Culture. Going to places means learning some part of their culture as well. With the time I spent in my exchange, not only have I learned the culture of my host country but also the culture of my co-interns as well. Culture sharing is really inevitable at all aspects. When we are eating around or talking with other people, similarities and differences will be obvious but the best part is learning from it and respecting each and everyone’s way of life. Diversity can be a little harsh at first but time will make its way for it not to be.   

The Adventure. Adventure may be present everywhere but when the whole experience is such an adventure, it’s a totally different story. From the first time I said yes to the exchange program, from the interviews and paper works, from the bumpy plane rides alone, and to the each day I spent abroad, every little detail is a part of it. Just like the times of buying food or drink where the only thing you can do is just point and see because not all locals will understand you and vice versa. Using google maps to attend meetings in streets you cannot even pronounce properly. Staying up all night because you never knew how strong your local coffee can be. Travelling the provinces with your co-interns and walking the shores because you got off at the wrong stop. Having to try all the flavors of smoothie in one shop because you’re afraid no other place can beat their taste, and so much more. I may have gotten lost a dozen times and crossed streets like it is the most unsafe place on Earth, but still all the details, good or not so good is part of the great leap. I was definitely sad before going back to the Philippines. Walking back the memory lane is such a heart break. But remembering the smiles of the children and the people I met, I get to my feet once more and say to myself that great experiences like this will not end here. And I quote Dr. Seuss, “don’t cry because it‘s over, smile because it happened.”

“Green light; Go. Yellow; I can go. Red light; I still can go.” That’s actually the catchiest phrase I got to read in Vietnam. And maybe the one that I got to associate with the whole exchange experience. The green light says go; to new adventures and to trying out new things. Say yes to a challenge that will definitely push you to limits and will ask you to put your best foot forward. Do not be too paranoid and do not be too careless either on things that will make you grow. The yellow light says “I can go.” Be ready for anything that waits in life. Be at the edge of your comfort zone and jump past it. Risks will always be there but no one knows what’s in the finish line unless they run through it. Leave everything in your country behind and set yourself free to go out and make the most out of your journey. The red light is there and beams a warning. When some things tell you to stop, you still can go. It is on you how to manage the things that might stop you in whatever you are aiming for. Show the world you can, because you will.

By: Diane Nicole Sy

It was a few years ago when I decided wanted to go on exchange.

     Exchange was something I always wanted to do because I love traveling and exchange is a great way to combine traveling with a greater purpose – to develop a global mindset and to immerse myself in a leadership experience. Thanks to the sudden four-month summer vacation, I had the chance to participate in the program before med school hit me hard and tore my schedule to pieces.  

     To all the (hopeful) exchange participants (EPs), remain hopeful. Everyone needs to go through what AIESECers call the “matching process”, and it may seem daunting, but it’s actually not that difficult. The process is pretty straightforward: you look for a program you want, you apply, get interviewed, and wait for a reply. They just usually take less than a week to reply, so that’s not a lot of time to be nervous or worried, especially when you’re thinking about other things as well. The stress I got was more from my parents not agreeing with the internships I wanted to apply to, than the actual process itself.

     The straightforwardness of applying for an exchange program may give you rose-colored glasses though, and so I must also present the reality of exchange. No lie, but exchange costs money, a lot of money. Sure, there are countries that cost less to go to, but going on exhange still means shelling out money mostly for interest, rather than necessity. Nonetheless, no matter how cliché it may sound, it was all worth it. Aside from money, you will also need patience. There were a lot of times when I didn’t want to look for internships anymore because it was such a hassle. Good thing my EP manager was persevering so I was able to grab the opportunity. In the end, one must understand that nobody is going to hand you your exchange opportunity on a platter; making exchange possible means a lot of work. To be able to go on exchange, you have to want it enough to work for it.

. It was a few months ago when AIESEC made it possible for me to go on exchange.

     It was surreal because part of me couldn’t actually believe that I was really going on exchange. Of course there was a bit of nervousness, but the prevailing feelings were the realization that my parents were actually letting me go and the excitement that I was actually about to begin this great opportunity.

     I went to Brazil and actually lived with three different hosts, all of whom were really wonderful people. My last hosts were the only ones that were an actual family and although we were literally strangers when we first met, living with them for my last six weeks was one of the best things that ever happened to me. During my whole stay with them, they treated me as a member of their family. They provided not only lodging and a place to bathe, but also took care of me 24 hours a day, 7 times a week.

     My focus when I went to Brazil was education. I was supposed to teach environmental awareness to children. However, what happened was that the children were too young, so it turned out as if we were babysitting them, which was still okay for me. Also, the children only speak Portuguese, thus we had to study the language. Overall, it seemed like it became a cultural exchange, rather than my focus being on education, but then, you will realize that even if things don’t turn out the way you want them to, you’re still making a change one way or another. Those kids that we handled, they won’t have many opportunities to go out much and maybe they won’t see people from other countries in their whole lifetime if we hadn’t gone. Maybe years from now – when they’re all grown-ups – they’ll remember that there was once a Chinese-Filipino who visited them and inspired them.

.

It was just a few weeks ago when I returned from exchange.

     Going on exchange is probably one of the best decisions I ever made and definitely such a memorable experience. You see, when you go on exchange, you see the world first hand. Visit a country as a tourist and you’ll appreciate what they want you to appreciate by recommending the best food or the places to visit. On the other hand, go on exchange and you’ll experience things as the citizens would – no boundaries.

     In the end, my greatest takeaway from the experience is the simple realization that you can meet family in places you don’t expect. I hadn’t expected to go on Brazil, I hadn’t expected to learn Portuguese, and I hadn’t expected to live with complete strangers, but through all these events, I found family – brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, mothers and fathers bound to me not by blood, but by experience. I was never alone, and I never will be.

xxx

By: Bea Karamihan

This goes out to you, wandering soul, in search of new adventures; this goes out to you, timid soul, in search of boxes to break; this goes out to you, lost soul, in search of meaning and purpose; this goes out to you, wacky soul, in search of electrifying happiness; this goes out to you, broken soul, in search of answers. This goes out to every single young one, young blood, so read carefully:

The first is: you are a force. I speak of force not that of Physics, but a force greater than. You are an unstoppable force this world has been waiting for as you are born as an agent of change. You, alone, are a force, strong enough to create the change you want to see. You are a force this world shall not look down to because your hands shape tomorrow.

Second is: you are outer space. You are outer space for you are infinite. You are bathed with infinite chances, infinite opportunities, infinite decisions, infinite possibilities, singular being of infinite thoughts, infinite characteristics, infinite beauty. The challenge, however, is to gather infinite courage to shine just as the skies and heavens.

Third is: you are an ocean. You are an ocean, vast and deep. As much as there are parts of you unknown to the world, there are parts of you, yourself, have yet to discover. You have to take that plunge and dive into the unknown, because you are capable of things beyond your imagination, because you are limitless. You have to go against the currents of life, because it is there where growth is, because there is where you belong.

Fourth is: you are the world. The world is an organism wherein you exist. The world is what you bring to it. You are the world for the world is majestic and so are you. You are the world for you are an exploration unfolded slowly yet beautifully.

Because no matter who you are, no matter where you go, going on exchange will make you realize that you are that force, you are that outer space, you are that ocean, and you are that world. It all starts with taking the leap of faith to go on an adventure way beyond your comfort zone and, trust me, you will be left with nothing but your experiences and with that, gratitude.

xxx

By: Michelle Larin

Going on exchange was challenging but fulfilling. After all, if you’re not being challenged, you’re not learning anything new.

I once avoided MRT Ayala like the plague, fearing I’ll get lost in the crowded labyrinth it usually is during rush hour. I used to pester my friends with tons of questions on how to get to the meeting place, or just ask them to pick me up. Now, I sometimes even insist that they stop giving me directions to the place, telling them I’d find it myself somehow. Exchange gave me street smarts.

But it definitely wasn’t an easy ride. Organizing a conference? Not easy! Teaching kids? Not as easy as you think! Making siopao? Much, much more complicated than it looks! Of course I didn’t need to go to Malaysia to find out these things. I’m lucky to have participated in immersions and whatnots that school offered. But doing these things in another country where you know very little of their language (saya tau sedikit-sedikit bahasa) made things much harder. And I am glad that the students from University of Nottingham Malaysia helped me and my co-participants with the language and cultural barrier.

But it was worth it! I can't think of the adjectives to describe it, so I’ll just tell you one of the many memorable moments I had. The session was over, so the kids proceeded to play outside. Then later, they called me, offered me rambutan while telling me (in Bahasa) that they loved me. And since I’m kinda epic fail, I didn’t know how to open a rambutan. You know what they did? They opened it for me. And it erased all the stress I was feeling at that time.

xxx

6 Weeks By: Nikki O. Palisoc

6 weeks. . .

6 weeks was all it took for me to fall in love.

No, this is not a story about a boy and a girl falling in love.

This is a story of a girl, falling in love with places and strangers.

This is my story.

... 

It took months of thinking and dreading whether I should go through with it or not. And then I just woke up and made up my mind to go, as if on a whim. I applied, got interviewed, got matched, applied for a visa, bought tickets and got oriented in little over a week. I felt nervous and excited at the same time.

Before the plane took off, I was trying to ease my mind. I told myself, “You can do this. It’s going to be great.”

I was seriously trying to psyche myself out.

When I arrived at Soekerno Hatta Airport, I took a deep breath, taking the new air in. My host sister, Dinda, along with her friends and two of the OCs picked me up at 1 AM. And then we went straight to my host’s house.

First ever indescribable experience in Jakarta was when we had to stay at the yard for 3 whole hours. Dinda’s grandmother locked the house from the inside so the keys were pretty much useless at that point. Plus, her grandma was in deep sleep.

So there we were, WAITING… Oh my goodness, waiting is like a popular thing there… Everyone’s almost into it. We were there and since it was a garden, it was normal to have insects flying around. But man oh man, these mosquitoes were like Tracker Jackers from Hunger games. They were fat and just wouldn’t give up. I didn’t want to complain because that would be so rude of me. So while she kept apologizing for the situation, I just nodded and said it was alright, even though my exposed feet were pretty much swollen and red because these ‘tracker jackers’ were attacking it. It was seriously weird, awkward and funny.

Hours flew by with me settling in the new house. My host family was so kind to me, I consider myself lucky to have had them take me in.

Moving on to the welcoming dinner, we were asked to meet up in 7/11. I came first so I just sat there drinking a weird-tasting tea which I regretted buying, waiting for them. To be honest, I didn’t know who I was waiting for. In our little WhatsApp group, the other EPs were talking to each other like they already knew one another before. Since I was the last girl to arrive so far, I felt like an outcast.

Nobody noticed or knew me apart from Hani, the OC who interviewed me. I think I waited 25 minutes when this group of people arrived. They were all speaking English in different accents so it wasn’t hard to notice them. I don’t know how long they just sat there beside me talking while I was having my own mental argument whether I should talk to them or not ‘cause I wasn’t even sure if they were the people I was supposed to meet up with.

Another 15 minutes flew by, as they were about to leave, Hani came in and introduced me to them. Finally, I thought. They were all pretty nice and polite. We all went to Senayan City for the dinner. It was in a food court and I didn’t know what to order so I went for something familiar, Kung Pao chicken. It was alright, but halfway through the dinner, I choked on a chilli pepper. My eyes were tearing up and my throat hurt like hell. But I tried my best not to let them notice it. I couldn’t eat anymore after that and told them I was full. How embarrassing.

Days flew by like shopping money. We did talk shows, NGO and IGO visits, school visits and campaigning. I ate a lot of Indonesian or IndoChinese food. I’ve done a lot of new things that I would probably never ever do in my own country. Like riding an ojek --without a helmet at times, may I add. Or going around the city in the middle of the night by motorcycle (oh gosh, if mom could read this, she’d probably get an aneurism). Or sleeping over at a friend’s dorm, two nights in a row.

I have to say, being there was quite unreal. It’s a whole new environment, whole new people, whole new language, a whole new me.

And meeting the people I’ve met was just brilliant, pure perfection. I expected to make some friends, maybe 2 or 4. But never have I thought that I’d be close to every single person in my project. I mean, we’re practically family now.

It’s like every moment is not enough. We try to capture every single memory by pictures, ‘cause we have a LOT! But it’s just not enough.

You know how people usually ask you after a trip, “how was it? “, “was the place nice?”, “did the food taste good?”, and you answer with typical tourist stuff like, “yes, it was. And the temples were amazing," or “food in this restaurant was great”.

Well, I have far better things to say, and I think that’s what’s good about the exchange. You immerse yourself in the culture completely, not just see the good parts.

Each experience good and bad, from being congratulated and admired for our advocacies to having migraines and stomach problems, from visiting temples to waiting at 7/11 from 7 to 11, it’s all so unforgettable. 

And as this love story came to a close, I can’t help but wonder when I might come back there again, or when I will cross paths with the people I’ve met there.

It’s so tragic, not knowing. But absolutely romantic and exciting as well. And I just can’t wait for the sequel.

xxx

A Series of Unfortunate Events and Epiphanies in Indonesia

BY: Alexa Aguilar

 Right off the top of my head, Indonesia was the bad, the annoying, the unlucky, the unbelievable, and the awful, but most of all, Indonesia was the amazingly unforgettable. My trip to Indonesia started when I finally left the Philippines calm and collected. Given the opportunity to have money I can spend at will, and a place I can be my own woman without people deciding for me felt overwhelming. I thought, “Hey! I’m going out in the world by myself, I can do anything!” But in reality, the second we landed on Indonesian soil, all my bravado jumped out of the window, especially when I saw my name on a neon LED board held by the Vice Chairperson of the project I joined. Instead of embarrassing myself in front of the people who went all the way to the airport to fetch me by peeing because I was so nervous, I started to make jokes and supposedly funny comments (which I think was actually worse). Then again, they did laugh all the way to Cikarang. It was 2AM when we reached the place which became my hometown for six weeks; the dormitory was already close by that time so they deposited me and my luggage at a rent house that was luckily owned by another AIESECer. Before I went to sleep, I was informed that I needed to wake up early since our activity that morning will be at 7:30AM, so I set my alarm at 6:45AM…

I wake up 6:45AM to the sound of my roommate panicking; apparently we had to be there at 7:00AM sharp or else there would be a punishment. I sat there on the floor for about a minute thinking about all the padlocked luggage I had and where, among those four padlocked luggage, could my soap be in, and that’s when I started to panic too. In the end, we end up leaving the rent house at 7:00AM with me only being able to take out my shampoo, towel, and some clean underwear. Advice: place your soap on top of all your things –shampoo does not go well with skin. So we get to the meeting place late and apparently I was the last EP (Exchange Participant) to arrive so I had to introduce myself. The day went by with introductions, group activities (where mostly the group I was in won), a tour of the campus (which was ginormous), thousands of photo-ops, and my first taste of the fiery depths of Indonesian chili. I was happy as we all went back to the meeting place and said our “see-you-laters”. I was even happier when I got to gather my luggage and finally settle in my dorm room along with my new roommate from India. That night I went to take a bath, the smile from this morning still on my face. As I was bringing all my necessities and my pajamas to the public bathroom, lo and behold I was stopped by a sudden realization. I forgot my towel at the rent house. I went back to my dorm room, picked up a pack of tissues, and took my bath.

Long story short, throughout my six-week stay in an unfamiliar country, more mishaps, unfortunate events, and accidents happened to me than the fortunate and lucky ones. My friends and I missed our train to Jogjakarta, which led to us paying a huge amount to get a ticket on-the-spot, all the whiteboard markers in the classroom we were in all ran out of ink, we spilled the ink refilling one whiteboard marker, two of the shoes I brought broke, I had diarrhea on most days because of all the chili, I had one of the worse allergy attacks in my life on a day when I had to teach, we got lost, we had to walk a few kilometers in the city with our luggage to reach home, and the list goes on and on.

But then, these unfortunate memories are the ones I cherish most because they either led to lucky and unexpected events or lessons I never thought I would learn on my own. When my friends and I paid extra for those tickets, we got the best seats on the train. When the whiteboard markers ran out of ink, it led to a fundraising event to donate materials to the school. When two of my shoes broke, I had more room for the paintings I bought. When I had diarrhea, I learned to find a remedy of my own. When we didn’t give up even if all the odds were against us, we found that our perseverance gifted us amazing memories about a place we almost didn’t go to.All these events, all these memories were because I learned to be patient, to have faith in the people around me, to always find the bright side of things, and to persevere no matter what the circumstances are. Also, it never hurts to ready at least six alarms in case you snoozed five of those alarms.

But I feel that I changed and developed most as a person not because of these mishaps or amazing events, but rather because of epiphanies I had during two of the simplest moments in my trip. First was when I was teaching my usual class of 5th graders. It was our 3rd week together and so far it had been hard for me to make them respond to my efforts, although it was pretty obvious that these kids were fast-learners. And then it happened. I made an activity for them and they were all raising their hands trying their hardest to get picked without any incentive at all. That was when I realized that my trip to Indonesia was all about this: it was me being given a chance to make an impact and I was honestly surprised that at that moment I actually did.

Second was when my fellow EPs and I went to Jogjakarta with a close Indonesian friend. It was when we were all settling in for bed on our last night for the Jogjakarta trip that I realized that I have a family outside my own territory. I knew that even after we finish our projects and go back to our own countries, we would remain a family.

So after this long speech about values and epiphanies, what have I really learned in my trip that I could give as an advice?

Spend as much as you want and don’t regret it. I spent roughly around 35,000PHP excluding my air fare and I don’t feel bankrupt at all because you know what? Industries and businesses don’t know anything about putting the right price on experience. And you should be happy about that! Imagine if they figured out how priceless experiences should be, that trip to America would cost you more than 100,000PHP.

Say YES, YES, YES to everything. Say YES to good food, and say YES to bad food. Say YES to comfortable lodging, and say YES to primitive toilets. Say YES to everything because it’s what makes your trip all the more interesting and all the more worthwhile. I’m thankful for saying YES every day to the super spicy food that was offered to me even though it meant getting indigestion, because indigestion can be medicated, but a missed opportunity to try something new that might be awesome can never be remedied.

And lastly, don’t do what I did. Don’t do what travel bloggers tell you to do. Make your own plan, make your own discoveries, make your own mistakes, and make your own memories. Copying the things I did, how I did them, and why I did them would just be like reading about my journey in detail. It will be the same. So make your own unique experience to tell and make the most of every simple and complex moment.

In the end, the change that happens to you does not have to be something of a massive scale; you are not obliged nor expected to build your own orphanage or start a foundation when you come back. Instead, coming back changed even at a miniscule level, coming back inspired to continue what you’ve started, coming back feeling fulfilled, is absolutely enough.

xxx

Six Things I Learned on Exchange in Estonia By: Sara Eleazar

Forty-nine days in a foreign country. My first intercontinental trip alone – no, my first trip alone, period. Looking back on my amazing seven-week exchange in Tallinn still brings a huge goofy grin on my face. I can’t accurately recount all my experiences without dissolving in a puddle of tears, so allow me to be all Thought Catalog up in here and present to you a List (yes, with a capital L).

Everybody loves Choc-Nut. Seriously. Bring along a pack or two (or six), and watch how quickly these tiny candies disappear in a matter of minutes. Whether they are for breaking the ice, sharing with your roommate, or munching on the plane after a bout of homesickness, there is nothing but pure happiness in each magical peanuty-chocolaty bite.

If you feel like giving up, don’t. Lao Tzu was right: a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. There is nothing more difficult than ignoring the tiny voice whispering second thoughts from some distant corner of your brain and finally getting started on That Big Thing. Except, perhaps, keeping up the momentum to continue doing so. Signing up for an exchange orientation (and passing the nerve-wracking assessment and review board interview!!!) with AIESEC is one thing, but going through the looooong raising and matching process is a whole other story. I really wanted to go to Europe and do something related to public health (my major) or education. Wide-eyed and excited, I first logged on to MyAIESEC.net and found… almost zero internships that fit the criteria I wanted. I spent nights self-consciously fussing over my curriculum vitae and motivation letter, poring through each and every available internship on the AIESEC database, then going back to my CV and despairing at my lack of skills and experience. Skype interviews with half a dozen LCs came and went; an ungodly number of emails with my motivation letter remained unanswered. At some point, I began to ditch my criteria (“I know nothing about entrepreneurship but hey, it’s in Europe, so okay!” I tried to convince myself as May approached and my chances of getting a Schengen visa by June started to dwindle). Dejected, I even thought of quitting altogether. One day, the lovely EP Manager from AIESEC in Tallinn University responded and set an interview; the rest, as the say, is history. As for my visa, the Royal Norwegian Embassy miraculously approved my single-entry, 65-day Schengen tourist visa after just three days. Maybe it’s hard work paying off, maybe it’s sheer luck, or maybe it’s the universe conspiring in my favor. Whichever the reason, I’m just relieved I didn’t quit.

First things first… you’re there to work. Sorry to burst your bubble. Not that work is such a terrible thing, but it’s always important to remember what you are there for. My job description included helping out in kindergartens around Tallinn and teaching the kids there about tolerance, diversity and my own culture. Honestly, work didn’t feel much like work, since I enjoyed spending my days with the precious children. Though they barely spoke any English, I’m pretty sure they enjoyed playing and learning with me as well. I remember the first time I presented Filipino culture to the kids and teachers of one kindergarten; I wore my purple Barong Tagalog and passed around dried mango pieces for all of them to try. Public speaking was definitely not my forte, and I was wracked with nerves and anxiety. Did they enjoy my presentation? Did they even understand my rambling? So it was pretty heartwarming to see that kids and teachers alike were eager to ask questions about my culture and were clearly interested in what I had to say. At the same time, the kids also managed to teach me a few things about Estonian culture as well. Saying goodbye was such a heart-wrenching experience – I’ll never forget my days in the kindergartens with the kids I had grown seriously attached to, and I hope they remember me, even just a tiny bit, as well.

Just say yes (to most things). For example, why Estonia? To which I say, why not? Two of the most valuable things you could ever have on exchange are an open mind and a thirst for adventure; otherwise, there is no point. Attempt to teach overly energetic Estonian kids who speak little English for six weeks? Sure. Socialize on an almost daily basis with people you have just met despite the fact that social interaction gives you quite a bit of anxiety? I got this. Try some blood sausage and garlic ice cream and meat gelatin boiled from pork feet? Yum. Watch the last showing of The Fault in Our Stars alone then walk 10 kilometers at midnight to get home? Okay. Go on a date in a rooftop café in Old Town with a cute Estonian boy you just met? Been there (and it was perfect). Spend the midsummer holiday throwing old books in a gigantic bonfire while eating grilled moose, and then visit the local sauna only to see a bunch of drunk and naked Estonian dudes? Done that (and probably never doing the last thing again). Hitchhike to Riga, Latvia? Okay, maybe not. As important as it is to say yes to new experiences, trust your gut instinct and know when to say no. And that goes with having some much-needed alone time – it gets exhausting to teach hyperactive kids, attend AIESEC meetings and events, plan outings, sightsee, and socialize with people, so don’t feel bad if you need to retreat to your happy place and just chill by yourself.

Embrace the odd tourist-yet-local hybrid status you will have. Doing groceries was such an interesting experience for me. Who knew bagged milk and cardboard-boxed ice cream were a thing in Estonia? Shopping where locals shopped offered me a peek of how everyday life was like in Tallinn, and I learned quite a bit of Estonian as well! Then again, most of the words I know are names of food, but at least I know how to order apple juice and a large pizza with bacon, blue cheese, pineapple and olives (that’s õunamahl ja suur pizza peekoni, sinihallitusjuustu, ananassi ja oliividega, by the way). Spending six to seven weeks in one area gives you the chance to witness and experience things as locals do ­– knowing the shortcut routes when walking to work, getting off at the right bus stop at the right time, navigating the winding streets of Old Town and not getting lost, even somewhat comprehending what the signs and posters around the city were saying – and it is incredibly fulfilling. At the same time, your stay is still short enough that everything is novel and different and infinitely interesting. I still got surprised every morning when I wake up and it’s freakin’ 15 degrees, or when I get home at 10 PM (or rather, at 22:00) and the sun was barely setting. I still (and always will) struggle with eating using a knife and fork. Strolling around Old Town while taking in the gorgeous architecture will never not be a breathtaking experience. And shamelessly posing in front of all the things with a wacky face to take a selfie? Yes, that is obviously a given.

And finally, fall in love. Fall in love with the crowded touristy landmarks and the hole-in-the-wall hang-out spots frequented by locals. Fall in love with that quiet park in the middle of city center where you can make up kooky back-stories for passersby on a rare sunny day. Fall in love with the scenery and the architecture and the big blue skies and the glittering sea. Fall in love with that out-of-breath feeling you get when you realize just how big and beautiful the world actually is. Fall in love with the local AIESECers and your fellow EPs, because they will be your family and support system in this strange new place. Fall in love with the kids you will be teaching and the lessons they will inevitably teach you. Fall in love with a charming local boy, even though you will have to leave him in seven weeks, because he will irrevocably change your life forever. Fall in love with the locals and the culture and those inside jokes you finally get because yes, you’ve been there and you’ve done that as well. Fall in love with trying new things and stumbling occasionally (or a lot, in my case) and venturing well beyond your comfort zone. Fall in love with adventure because life is short, and the universe is a remarkable and humbling thing, and people aren’t as bad as people make them out to be. Fall in love with the journey – because it is almost impossible not to.

xxx