21 grams

Simple living

2007-12-09T11:02:00.000-08:00

For the last 3 -4 months I've been working with ViitorPlus (FuturePlus) a sustainable development NGO, work that I really really enjoyed, work that brought me closer to issues that I wanted to understand better in Romania like Recycling, Climate change or other environmental issues.

I had also the first get away from Bucharest - with ViitorPlus this weekend, in a really fantastic way. We had our meeting together with another sustainable development NGO in Sighisoara
Romania. Sighisoara Durabila (Sustainable Sighisoara) is an NGO oriented towards sustainable urbanism, climate change, environment in the area and surroundings of the town.
It was great to meet like minded people, to see that there are other people in differeent parts of the country that think in the same way and try to make a difference in their environment based on their values.

Thanks to Sherry and Hans ( 2 of our hosts) we experienced a different style of lifving, a bit more sustainable, creative and bio. From eating healthy food(from an ecological farm) to having common sessions on climate change, to I enjoyed every minute of my time there.

As well I got to know the "couchsurfing" concept and a very romantic story about how an american woman and a german-romanian guy met and are living together now in Sighisoara :) through this concept. You basically travel the world and live in ppl houses and on ppls couches. Quite simple and free.

Africa in my soul

2007-09-02T06:44:00.000-07:00

The only things that make me thick lately are comprised around 2 subjects: Africa and development.
Separated or integrated they the subjects that make me search for more, make me hungry of more and of departure on another continent.
I realize I will still study abroad, and I will still have a "european" career - but I will deceive myself if I won't give response to this powerful urge of mine of visiting and living on the black continent.

My project and my intuition of learning more on Africa is getting bigger every day...I learn new things I connect new things, and I want to get there...

But as I promised myself, I'll finish my master degree and then go there.
Development as field is very wide and I lack the people to introduce me to it. I search and search and get tired, but I won't give up, not yet.

Two of my friends who passed by to say hi in Bucharest (both are from Timisoara) told me incredible and exciting stories about Africa. One was in Rwanda and the other is going in 2 weeks in Zimbabwe at Kufunda project.

I need to...

A romanian movie...one of the best that i've seen

2007-08-11T01:37:00.000-07:00

If you want to understand Romanian humor, and how some things seem to work in this country - illogical somehow, if you want to understand the romanian unwritten rules ...California dreamin(endless) is the movie to watch.

The movie it's a comedy and a drama at the same time and seem to explain (among a lot of symbols) exactly the way Romanians are impressed by Americans (by any foreigner actually) and how they act when the opportunity of interacting with them appears. (of course in the example of a small village - where the coming of some Americans it's a humongous thing)

The movie it has a lot of the Romanain negatives and kitch - the "spaga" = bribe - which in Romania it si used a lot as a way of making sure things get done, the stealing, the nudity, the Romanian prostitutes, the Dracula it's used, the imitation of the Eiffel Tower in the country side in Romania, the ranch from Dallas (the movie) ...etc.

Apart all this, this satire of the Romanian village where nothing happens and suddenly the Amercans are coming, explains the drama that Romanians always waited for something to happen (somebody to come) to save them from a situation.

Brilliant movie, very very ironic and funny where both the american and romanian actors and the director have done a fantastic work.

The movie has received the prize "Un certain regard" at Cannes 2007.

Transition

2007-07-02T14:29:00.000-07:00

Both in AIESEC in Ireland and in my soul :)

Today we had our last Board of Directors Meeting and also the official take over party at School House in Dublin.
It is very confusing...i still have some transition to make (just to finish things up) and I can't say that I'm prepared to leave. Even if i sent already 50 kilos at home, i almost packed, I know that in 3 days i'm flying, it's weird. is like i'm not prepared.
So, Colleen darling, if you are reading - the time that i spent here didn't help in getting ready:) - i know that you wre saying that it is so fast for you- it is so fast anyway! :)
We had as usual our quarterly evaluation, but also we talked about what will be our legacy for the next year. We generated more revenue than last year, we have established some long term partners, branding ourselves with our existing partners, branding AIESEC in Ireland in the network, created a structure for next years, focused on a few aspects as exchange and finance.
SO, overall we had a positive year, and a challenging one as well:)
This is all for now, cuz I can begin to feel a bit tired after a busy day.

I

Just don't! Ok, don't!

2007-06-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

This is a really sad post written in a sad moment. So if you don’t like sad posts, don’t read this one (because of course you know what you don’t like).

When will we stop making each other miserable? Do we need to get to be old and wise in order to understand that were just being mean to each other. “You’d better not cross that line, or I’ll be annoyed”, “I don’t like that that and that, so you’d better not do that and that. And on a second thought I don’t like that either. So just stop it. God!!! ”. Or “I think that like that is wrong, I have a better way”. Small things that pile up…and we’re just to not working, living together anymore because of small things. Because we fight over small things that we’re so sure that they work in just one way. Our way. Because we like to have control, over our situations, and because we need to have certainties, and to feel good that we did it our way.

What if others don’t like it? Who cares? I am ok, so. That’s enough.

Well it’s not. The worse thing is that I am becoming one of these people that I’m talking about. Or I was from the beginning. At first I thought that it is a very Western thing. After all the people that I met, I discovered that it is happening everywhere, even at home, at school, on the street, even with me and how I act with people. and maybe only the people that had real experiences will understand that fighting over nothing doesn’t bring any good to anybody. And what do I refer to when I say real – extreme situations, either good or bad.

So if I ever did this to you, I am sorry.

Love in time of cholera(the film) is completed!

2007-06-25T16:24:00.000-07:00

Yeah - just found out today on www.imdb.com.

Source: http://www.answers.com/topic/love-in-the-time-of-cholera-jpg

A good reason to read the book again before I see the movie. And this time in spanish.
It is after all one of my favorite novels. I can't wait!!!!

funny song on a late night

2007-06-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

Slave to the wage - by Placebo

Run away from all your boredom
Run away from all your whoredom and wave
Your worries and cares
Goodbye

All it takes is one decision
A lot of guts, a little vision to wave
Your worries and cares
Goodbye

Its a maze for rats to try
Its a maze for rats to try
Its a race, a race for rats
A race for rats to die

...
Burn away
Run away, run away
Run away, run away
Run away, run away
Run away, run away

I write these lyrics because I tend to run away, run away from my boredom, but also from the storm going on in my head, which is faster and faster and heavier.
a lot of pressure, fear, questions, answers, are they the right ones or the wrong ones, no conclusions, no convictions, just chaos , like a brownian movement.
but even if i am afraid it feels alive...it feels damn alive
and there still is a fear - a fear of not being right,
but, as a dear friend shared with me last night (one of most famous Roosevelt's quotes):

Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself

so i begin taking decisions.what decisions? I'll let you know when I know.

Diam's - Ma France à moi

2007-06-21T10:53:00.001-07:00

I've come across this song on Margot Wallstrom's blog. It is a video that has apparently a huge success in France, after the election of Sarko, a song about immigrant France, "Ma France a moi" uses harsh words in order to bring to people's ears something that is always avoided discussion. Immigration, integration, discussion. Some of my friends wouldn't agree with the language or with the attitude. The language is necessary for bringing to the public agenda such a hot issue, or to remind people that they can fight for respect. You can see the lyrics here: http://www.lavi2rue.com/lyrics/paroles-diam-s-ma-france-a-moi-5581.html

Peace

2007-06-01T04:20:00.000-07:00

"Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of creative alternatives for responding to conflict- alternatives to passive or aggressive responses, alternatives to violence."
~ Dorothy Thompson

http://www.visionofhumanity.com/GPI_Country/index.php

"The future performance of our organizations will come down to the quality of our conversations"

2007-05-31T15:33:00.000-07:00

the headline is a quote from Hubert Saint Onge.

because this post refers to the meaningful conversations that I've had on May 31st.
The first big idea from the first conversation with a dear friend was: "none of us has a job, we all have a portofolio of projects - and it is important that in this portofolio there are projects dear to ur heart" - otto scharmer. the conversation started from an idea of a job in talent management and it went different other levels.

Second conversation on the irish culture with another dear friend emphasized "the things that define the irish culture, or that you'd miss about Ireland"
1.sense of humour. sarcasm, hyperactivity :)
2.small talk - on how's the weather - discussion that would chear you up when walking in a shop or walking our of a bar and having random but nice conversation with the bouncers.
3.dressing up for going out on a Saturday night - The fact that irish women dress up to go out here in a regular pub - as we, romanians we'd dress up to go for a wedding. imagine how many of those dresses we should have - one every week :)
4.bulmers - definitely - i'll have either to make it or import it.

Third conversations - with three of my dear friends. Sharing pictures from past AIESEC conferences and memories. friends will be friends. good times.

these were my conversations for today - and i'm very proud of them.

Etre Depayse e

2007-05-28T05:42:00.000-07:00

Et je parle de moi maintenant...

A word very confusing to me while I was living in France was the verb: "depayser" which can be applyied to yourself "etre depayser" - something like: "je suis Depaysee, tu est depaysee, etc"
The definitions that I found in the dictionaries are(i'll write them in french - as they are the only that can really describe the maning of the word):
Depayser = A. Transporter quelqu'un hors du pays, du lieu où il est ordinairement implanté. (Quasi-)synon. déraciner; anton. enraciner, rapatrier.
=B. Changer le décor habituel ou les habitudes de quelque chose ou quelqu'un
=C. Au fig. Déconcerter quelqu'un en le transportant dans un cadre inhabituel, en modifiant ses habitudes. (Quasi-)synon. dérouter, désorienter, égarer; anton. acclimater, familiariser. La vie du grand séminaire ne me dépaysa nullement. Elle était bien telle que je l'avais imaginée (BILLY, Introïbo, 1939, p. 38).

Bon...So it means taking one out of one's country, in another country he is not used to, changing one's habits, etc.

For me is more than this - Depayser means that moment in time, when , after living abroad for a while - I like the "new country" - I feel that I belong in the "new" country, I don't want to leave anymore. I am ...."depaysee" from the first country and "payser" in the "new" one. Like baptizing.

It's not about not missing your home anymore or being afraid of going to your "official" home, but actually enjoying, belonging(being "a l'aise"), being of a different nationality, having had changed.

I felt it quite strongly in the last months and I realized it during this last weekend when I spent time with Alma and Dan, friends from London that visited me in Dublin, and I had to be a "guide" in my "new" country.

I realized it while I was....
talking about Ireland
walking in Dublin
climbing in Howth
being at Glendalough at the upper lake
listing to the Brazen Hussies at the Brazen Head
understanding the accent
and just being in Dublin....

Thanks Alma & Dan for a great weekend - one to remember in Ireland.
I am 4% irish (1 year out of...25) but i feel 90%

this is "etre depaysee"...

Did u know that...

2007-05-21T07:49:00.000-07:00

Gmail reminded me of the "did you know that..." section in my manuals in high-school. I always liked that section.
The next recycling facts and tips can be found when you check your trash mail in Gmail.

"Recycled glass bottles can be made into roads, tiles, even surfboards
Newspapers can be reused as wrapping paper for gifts.
Empty tissue boxes can provide easy and handy storage for plastic grocery bags.
There is no limit to the number of times an aluminum can can be recycled.
Junk mail and newspaper can be reused as package stuffing.
Empty tissue boxes can provide easy and handy storage for plastic grocery bags.
Recycled plastic bottles can be made into rugs, jackets, fences and more.
Plastic bags can be reused as bin liners or package stuffing.
Rubber shoe soles can be recycled to make basketball courts and soccer fields.
Recycled paper takes about 60% less energy and water to make than new paper.
You can make a lovely hat out of previously-used aluminum foil.
Empty tissue boxes can provide easy and handy storage for plastic grocery bags
Film canisters can be reused to store nails, screws, buttons and pins.
Recycling a 3-foot-high stack of newspapers can save one whole tree."

Good association - Google ideas don't stop to amaze me :)

A beautiful mind

2007-05-17T17:28:00.000-07:00

For sure, one of the best movies that I've seen in the last weeks is "A beautiful mind", not that I didn't like the others - but this one made me think - and I know I got something out of it. You know - that feeling at the end of a book or a movie - when you know it contributed with something to your knowledge/development.
The movie tells the story of a brilliant mathematician who won in the end of his career "The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 1994".His name is John Nash.
The main character has an abnormal college life as a graduate at Princeton - because of his passion for mathematics. he is recognized as not being sociable (" I don't like people and they don't like me")but he manages to make some friends and mary one of his students, Alicia. Everthing is wonderful until his ming is affected by Schizophrenia, and he is hospitalized.
I think the beautiful mind consist not only in the discoveries, formulas that he is working on, but also in the power of overcoming a mental disorder by a coscious effort. As he said when writing his biography for the Nobel prize: "Then gradually I began to intellectually reject some of the delusionally influenced lines of thinking which had been characteristic of my orientation. This began, most recognizably, with the rejection of politically-oriented thinking as essentially a hopeless waste of intellectual effort."
And also from his own words: "Statistically, it would seem improbable that any mathematician or scientist, at the age of 66, would be able through continued research efforts, to add much to his or her previous achievements. However I am still making the effort and it is conceivable that with the gap period of about 25 years of partially deluded thinking providing a sort of vacation my situation may be atypical. Thus I have hopes of being able to achieve something of value through my current studies or with any new ideas that come in the future."

I think it is an example of not losing hope and continue to struggle with or own problems as we can consiously find/develop at least one solution for them, and solve them.

Also in the middle of the movie - Aine said something like " and all this work - to be able to teach when he got old" I think it is an essential conclusion, as whatever we know and we spent our life realizing will be worth "transitioning" or passing it on - our legacy. Thank you Aine for that remark :)

And also thanks for all the interesting discussions on the Nobel prize, the Prince of asturias prize, genius, Aiesec and many more :)

we don't need to be climate experts to see that it is getting warm...

2007-04-22T15:54:00.000-07:00

Last winter there was hardly any place to go to ski in Europe on natural snow.This summer is expected to be the hottest one in Ireland. Everywhere is warmer and warmer...
Even Google is melting.

The word of mouth(or word of media/internet) for this period is probably GLOBAL WARMING or CLIMATE CHANGE.
I don't know much about the subject. But I'm afraid. And prett ymuch I don't know what will happen. a natural fear. but what can i do about it?
For now, document myself.
I found some ressources, key words, enough to stimulate my interest. and probably it is not something that i should do or read later, but as fast as possible...
what is the Kyoto protocol
The text of the Kyoto Protocol
washington post on kyoto
EU's website for Environment
Leonardo di caprio's eco site
AL Gore's movie "an inconvenient truth"
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
All of this because today is Earth day.
Is it enough?

Irish humour & accent

2007-04-05T06:59:00.000-07:00

For all of you out there interested in the Irish humor and an example of Irish accent(there are lots of them, the Dub, the Cork accent, etc...)just try an episode of the famous TV show Father Ted that you can see here.
You can start with "Hell" or "Think fast Father Ted" (Apologies to all concerned for any unintentional infringement of copyright)
It is hilarious!!!!!!!!!

Milestone

2007-03-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been asked - what do you want to do next? What do you see yourself doing in 5 years from now? What is your thing? In what do you want to specialize? What is your focus? What will be your impact? Your change? How will you change the world?

Or even asked yourself these questions - that just don't want to leave you alone, won't let you go to sleep - because you have to decide- and you don't know - because there are so many opportunities, and you need to think about you, but also your parents, the society you live in, not to be selfish, etc....

well- if you were in AIESEC for the last 1,2,3, 4 years - or even if you never had anything to do with AIESEC - the answer would still probably be yes...you've been asking yourself these questions,and probably other asked you as well.

Well, I've always been haunted by these questions.
What should be the answer? Should there be an answer? Which is the best answer?

No. No best answer, no answer at all.

I think the key is to trust Life. to trust yourself, the decisions that you are making and the "good" behind your decisions. And eventually you will know - even if you'll be 90 by then :p

My milestone for now is a word: DEVELOPMENT.

I know. Such a cliche for AIESEC. But still. Why do we have "Milennium Development Goals?", why do we need sustainable development?

I am dreaming too much. I know. i am asking to many questions. still i think they're not enough.not enough questions.

I miss u guys...

2007-03-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

This is for AIESEC in Ireland MC 06/07 - Aine, Colleen & myself

2007-03-21T06:06:00.000-07:00

At the end of your life, what you will most regret will be the deeds left undone and the words left unspoken." - Robin Sharma
From a Robin Sharma email:

"Been thinking about great projects. Finishing a degree, closing a sale, running a major event, signing an important deal. In every case the project is hardest just before the end. You're tired and unenthused or a last minute obstacle has emerged or the client has changed their mind. It's tough at the end. Yes, it's important to take the first step, however, anyone can take the first step. It's the individual who takes the thousandth step that is truly remarkable. Enduring greatness comes to those who stay with a project till it's done. And done masterfully.

The Final Push is that last burst of effort that gets you across the finish line. Where you reach deep into yourself and find the resources necessary to get the job done. And here is the big idea: your biggest challenges will draw out your greatest gifts.

Think about the projects in your life. What needs a Final Push? What do you need to finish beautifully in order to fulfil your commitments, deliver outrageous value or leave a legacy? I challenge you to start that Final Push and get to your greatest life.

Here are some tips for finding extra energy at the project's end:
1. Remember why you are doing the project.
2. Visualize a positive future--receiving your degree, satisfying a customer, closing the deal.
3. Take care of yourself. Eat well, drink water and breathe deeply.
4. Take mini-breaks. Go for a walk, listen to your iPod or call a supportive friend.
5. Set and achieve short term goals. Focus on the work you need to now and you will worry less about everything else."

3 months left ha?
we can still do it :)

Va pupa Prue

future plans?

2007-02-16T04:12:00.000-08:00

i have many...
but i am more and more enthusiastic about going to Chile or Peru.
If I get there in the summer - they should be in winter. And imagine just the ocean, the desert and the MOUNTAINS!!!! ski - mwahahaha

9-10.02.2007

2007-02-10T08:24:00.000-08:00

Not that something spectacular happened today - just that I realized how much I work, how less than before I sleep and how little time i dedicate to myself.But maybe time on your own is overrated :)i'm sure it is actually.

so where should I begin. yesterday we just arrived form Cobh, county Cobh from the MC team days. Great fantastic little town-i will for sure go back soon - but that's not the point of my post.right....yesterday. we woke back at 5:50, Aine's father took us to teh bus station in Cork, at 7 we departed for Dublin. By 11:30 we were in the office ready to begin a new day of work after a good break of 2 days. It's incredible how many things we have to catch up with just after 2 days. incredible amounts of emails, phonecalls, persons to talk to, task :)

Anyway I couldn't stay longer than 5, cuz at 7:30 i was working in Break for the Border (my week end par time job :).So I came home, had a shower, dried my hear and headed for B4TB. I like my job at the bar, but the only thing is that I'm really tired after I get home and also the next day :) So, worked in the BAR, really happy that Aine met this cool irish guy from north Dublin (she visited me at the bar with her friend Evie), we closed the bar by 3 am, and by 4 I was at home. But I had some stuff to organize for AIESEC, so I just stayed up and worked until 6am, when I sudennly realized that I was working with my eyes half closed. Went to bed. Woke up at 11:15, to prepare myself to go pick up Mada from the Airport. My room is a mess- judging by the photo you can see in this post. And I suddenly realized that in the picture(before I took it) I had a few things that caractarized my year in Ireland. My apron - the red stella artois one - that I have to wear at the pub, my laptop(my AIESEC work) - in the backpack, my diary, and my Ulysse (the toy that I received from B - symbol of missing home).

So yeah Mada is here - I'm really happy to have her and Jacek - showed them a bit around Dublin, and I'm back at home to actually eat something before I go into my Bar work again at &:30 pm.

Busy times isn't it?
But this is how I learned how precios my time is...and how spontaneous we should be sometimes in order not to miss life - passing us by :)
About my future - the same - i'm confused - i try to leave the present and to be a bit spontaneous about the future even if I know that it will happen based on the ideas that i have in my head - and itis already planned :)

holidays in the snow

2007-02-06T05:26:00.000-08:00

so....
I just miss it....

prue

question of the day: Prue, what is mint rubbing?

2007-02-05T09:47:00.000-08:00

Dear Aine,

ask any romanian.they'll know.

cultural difference ,ha?

leadership,recruitment,6 nations,team days,visits, memory problems?

2007-02-05T08:28:00.000-08:00

wow. and i thought i didn't have that much going on in my life at the moment!!!i'm wrong...

leadership. or facilitating leadership.or activating leadership - at one of the conference that I've always dreamt of facilitating. actually I wanted to facilitate at EuroLDS - my first international conference in AIESEC.but it doesn't exist anymore.now there is a more relevant conference for the WENA region in AIESEC.WENALDS.great journey of facilitating such a conference.what is leadership?because we seem to have so many definitions?what is leadership to you?

recruitment. having 25 as a minimum target for selection and sending abroad.or making a difference in 25 lives through AIESEC.25 irish.25 students who have understood or will understand why AIESEC is different, and it changes your worldview, opportunities, life. seems a small number but is a big one.

6 nations.this is a dilema - we all know france and italy as nations - but did we questioned the title"6 nations tournament" taking into consideration that the other 4 are Ireland, England, Scotland & Wales? England&Scotland&Wales are part of UK, as it is also Northern Ireland - even if it's playing together with the Republic of Ireland in the Rugby tournament. so what do i do to solve my dilema? go to a dictionary. and find out that:
nation= 1. people in land under single government: a community of people or peoples living in a defined territory and organized under a single government;2. people of same ethnicity: a community of people who share a common ethnic origin, culture, historical tradition, and, frequently, language, whether or not they live together in one territory or have their own government;3. Native American people or federation: a Native American people or a federation of peoples- the Apache nation;4. land of Native American nation: a territory occupied by a Native American people or federation;5. group with common interest: a group of people united by a common interest;[13th century. Via French <> nation- "birth, race" < nat-, past participle of nasci "be born"]
and my conclusion is - given the origin of "nation" as a word, the people in a nation are born under the same etnicity - with a common ethnic origin.and yes the tournament can be named 6 nations - even if there can be 7 nations (Norther Ireland?)
again it is a question of refference - if i wouldn't be in Ireland - i wouldn't have such questions on my mind. and afterall we're all european.or?

team days.yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! In Cork & Cobh
i'm looking forward to that.is my first step in fulfilling one of my objectives for this year - travelling and getting to know the english speaking part of europe - as in the 4/5 nations :)

visits. mada and jacek are visiting me!yaaaay!almitza as well for St pats,deedee, marina, anca are thinking about it and most important - buzghi -on the 22 of feb. pure crazyness..

memory problems.yes. seem to have a short memory.really.sorry, i must have too much on my mind.

enough for today,

va pupa Prue

La multi ani, Nico!!!!

2007-01-18T09:51:00.000-08:00

Nico& me
Originally uploaded by madalinapruna.

Dear Nico, I'm going to write my wishes for your birthday in english, so not just my romanian friends will see who you are and how much I appreciate you, but the whole world!!!
Thank you for making my life more interesting at IBM, for all our morning discussions about diplomacy, purpose in life, corporate policies and profits, online learning, for the example that you've been for me as a part of the IBM team in terms of continuous learning, creativity, commitment, responsability and leadership. You are a grreat person to have as a friend and I thank you for all the time at IBM, afterwards, and at Suceava and in Bucovina... I really hope that you're going to find what you're looking for and that you're going to visit me in Dublin...

La multi ani,

Mada

IRISH MC

2006-12-08T03:23:00.000-08:00

IRISH MC
Originally uploaded by madalinapruna.

check the apps at : http://www.aiesec.net/members/ai/ireland/file-storage/index?folder%5fid=52554585