Giovanni's life out there

freestyle.ch

2008-10-07T15:24:00.003+01:00

check out some ass kickn jumps n tricks me and my beloved sisterheart saw at the biggest freestyle event in europe!
dude, how much i'd love to do it too!! but once that adult, I accepted that I prefer the safer watching, jejeje
have fun

HOME SWEET HOME

2008-09-07T20:50:00.003+01:00

leaving a place is never easy
but the fact that I carry some great experiences and wonderful memories about my time in India makes it all worth it

check out Javed s blog, who wrote a whole log about our trip - and ask me for some unzensored comments, since he put some stuff in a really nice way. don t know, maybe not to offend or put the blame on me or whateva. it s great to read it though and puts me back to the most amazing road trip ever. check it out here

now I m home again and about to start my last semester at Uni, write my master thesis and keep enjoying life...

WE GOT LEH-ID

2008-08-26T17:27:00.005+01:00

August 16, the adventure of our lifetime begins. Javed and me hit the road towards Leh and enjoy the most beautiful and diverse landscapes ever. Crossing stone areas, following rivers, passing no-mans land through off road riding in the cold desert and so many passes was indeed an incredible experience. In fact, during the 2'500 kilometers that we covered in these 10 days I thought of adjectives that describe what we've gone through, come across and saw. It was BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING, STUNNING, WONDERFUL, IMPRESSIVE, DIVERSE, MIND-BLOWING AND JUST INCREDIBLY AWESOME!!

Although the roads were in pretty bad conditions sometimes (in fact the roads were just washed away or there was no road at all) and not a single day passed that we didn't go to see a mechanist to have our bikes repaired, although we ate Maggie (Nestle 3min noodles) almost every day that I got sick and tired of it, we were freezing out butts off in the cold desert at nights and I had wet feet for the first three days - it was all part of the adventure - the adventure of a lifetime!
The nature and impressions that we got made it all up, was worth way more than all the hassle we went through.

It was a rally like Paris-Dakar - but much better, jejeje
It was indeed a unique experience and I can definitaly call myself a biker now!

On 5'602 meters above sea level we crossed the world's highest motorable road in Khardungla,
in Pang we passed the world's highest transit point
and overall we can definitely say that we did one of the most impressive travels.
And to have it done by bike is just the best - the adventure of a lifetime!

AWESOOOOMME
get some impressions by clicking here

2008-08-15T17:55:00.002+01:00

JNRG
hit the road
ready for the road trip of our lifetime

about to BIKE ON THE WORLDS HIGHEST ROADS

2008-08-13T09:17:00.014+01:00

Some facts about my upcoming trip:

Altitude of Leh-Ladakh:etween 2750 m and 3505 m

Distance:
Delhi to Manali: 570 km
Manali to Leh: 475 km
Total kilometers to be passed in 10 days: 2090 km

My bike: Hero Honda CBZ (150cc)

Why do I consider it as a unique opportunity and am I so much looking forward to this trip?!

"Soaring thousands of meters above the pollution, heat and chaos of India’s crowded cities, the Himalayas stand a world apart from any other Indian territory. Prayer flags snap in the wind on high passes and villages lie marooned amongst spectacular mountain scenery, linked by kilometers of challenging roads that have only been open to foreigners since the 1980s, Indians take pride on exploring the best biking ground on earth. Well below zero degrees Celsius on most of the places on the way gets the adrenaline pumping every time you visit.

The experience of riding on such high ground is a world apart from normal condition. Thin oxygen, the cold mountain temperature and challenging terrain combined to form the riding experience of a life time."
source: adrenalinrider

coming to an end

2008-08-13T06:55:00.002+01:00

Although it's nothing new that time flies by way to quickly I still have to state that here - since this is definitely my impression!
Two months, zzzzht - over like that!
I cannot believe that tomorrow, Friday 14th of August is already going to be my last day at Mirabilis and my internship comes to an end!

Sure, I still have my very exciting trip to Ladakh ahead of me, and I am so much looking forward to that since I really consider it as an unique opportunity that I would not do without Javed!
But also there, the time is going to fly by - even faster I fear and then my wonderful Indian experience already comes to an end... :-(
but won't talk about that yet
Will go ahead and enjoy the moments left, living them to its maximum - just as always!

annoying processes

2008-08-13T06:31:00.003+01:00

as almost everything in India takes so long to organize, we booked all last Sunday to get my bike organized for the upcoming trip to Leh!
but not as expected, it is not possible in Delhi, to rock up in a bike store, sign a contract, leave your credit card details and drive out with your hired bike... there is no such a thing as hiring, renting out or the way it works is that you have to put a security deposit of Rs 50,000, which is actually the price of buying a second hand bike. If you then bring the bike back within two weeks you would receive Rs 42,000 back! Which sums up to a rental cost of around US$ 200, which is alright - but what a d..stu...ma..fa... process behind it?!

New solution found is that Valentino, a U59er lends me his bike which he doesn't use anymore. Since it's been standing around unused for quite a while it needs some basic reparation - which I will take over. But again - it's not that easy to find a mechanist, and if he says it will be ready in one day it takes more then that... obviously!!

But also with my international driver license it's quite a hassle since IDL (International Driver License) totally screwed up! So, whenever you are abroad and need an international driver license, don't do it over www.idlicense.com - they don't keep their promise of having it ready for shipment within 24hours but needed some incredible 5 days to get it ready! Krascar International Travel Club is not reliable, unprofessional and my only advise is: HANDS OFF!!

Well, to make a long story short - everything is going to turn out - touch wood - and I'm basically just looking forward to us finally leaving for Ladakh - because that also means that we somehow managed it all... jejeje

Taj Mahal

2008-08-04T07:43:00.009+01:00

as it became quite clear in my last posts, I've been working like a dog last week. Friday till 11p.m. Saturday till 0.30 a.m. Sunday till 2 a.m. And to top it all, on Wednesday till 4 a.m. So when I came back from office at 4.30 a.m. on Thursday morning, Javed my roommate was already there - and he works night shifts!! All the reason why we did that was for the client meeting we had on Thursday itself. And that meeting was so frustrating - well, frustrating for Mirabilis, since we got the feedback of being far away from what we were supposed to deliver. On the other hand it was rather a satisfaction to me, since I always claimed that points of lacking structure, a missing focus, clear goals and a clear added value in the report that we were writing. Fair enough that no one listens to the trainee from abroad. But now, after the WWF Asian Pacific Manager asked exactly for these points we have to manage the turnaround in order to make the project successful. Personally I take it as a very interesting experience out of which I can learn quite a lot. It highly fosters my cultural understanding and sense of profesional work - or better said of how not to do it. Due to the fact that I really want to have an equilibrium in my work-life balance, I took Friday off. Just to compensate all the extra hours and mostly recover and relax. Together with my U59 friends I had a great night out on Thursday, sleeping in on Friday and preparing the birthday party of my Indian brother Javed. get more of javed's birthday party pics

On Saturday we headed to Delhi where we went to see the Red Fort, Ghandi Museum and India Gate. At India Gate we were interviewed by a local Television Channel, who asked us about Indian Monuments and what we know about India Gate. So after having been on the radio in Switzerland, I'm now going to be on Indian tely as well, jejeje In the evening we went out to Baci, which was an incredible over-priced club that we left immediately after entering. So we headed to check Headquaters and Decibel out. Although there was the worst DJ ever, thanks to the party people I was with we had a great night out! The DJ changed the music style after each song! You cannot do that Mr. DJ!! You cannot put Rock after Techno and then some Rap and some Punjab music after R'n'B and expect the people to go with it. FOCUS MAN - again (even in the disco). You can never ever please everybody, less you will do so if you are too broad... Once we reached U59 at about 4 a.m. we had a quick refreshing shower, got changed and jumped into the mini bus which took us to Agra. In a group of 10 people I had the pleasure to see one of the 7 New World Wonders!

TAJ MAHAL

indeed it's true! you've seen it on so many pictures and posters, but to be physically there, standing in front of it and watching the white marmor is not comparable at all! it was soooo impressive, so beautiful, so lovely that it definitely deserves the title of LOVE MEMORIAL! once we were to enter the Taj Mahal, it softly started to rain... 15min later, by stepping outside it rained cats and dogs! Never mind, we told us and went out to dance in the rain! It was great fun and so wonderful to enjoy that natural spectacle in front of the Taj Mahal!

the fact that we got completely wet didn't bother us at all - we went to a shop, got some new dry cloths, went finally for food and did some drinking games on the ride back to the shitwhole Gurgaon. Obviously we were quite exhausted but it's been such a great weekend!

it's been so GOOOD

pics of Taj Mahal journey

make your day

2008-07-30T08:30:00.002+01:00

since I've been working so much lately I brought my earphones to the office and listen to Radio BE1 - the station from Bern which I listen to all the time at home. That really connects me to home and I just feel like being in my room at my computer with radio BE1 in the background.
So today I wrote Simu Moser (the morning show moderator) a mail, saying that I'm in Delhi listening online to the best mix in town and to say out some greetings to all the people abroad listening to radio BE1 - because this is like real faithfulness to your favorite station, right?!
When he read my message out at 9 a.m. Swiss time, this really made my day!
So cool, I was for the first time on radio - and that when I'm far away from home, jejeje

On the other hand I made Javed's day!
Today it's his birthday and since he works night shifts and usually gets back at 5a.m., I put his present on the bed so that he'll see it right away when entering our room. Kind of had to improvise with wrapping the Swiss T-Shirt up in toilet paper since I didn't have anything better then that available. But that didn't matter at all - since he was so bloody happy about that lovely surprise. He was so grateful and told me that I made his day over and over again!

the point being here is to go ahead and either make your own day or someone's day!
it's not too difficult, nothing big nor special needed, it's the thought that counts

in that respect - have a wonderful day
be happy and spread the smile across

still in the office

2008-07-26T19:01:00.002+01:00

wouldn't have expected to leave work on a Saturday night at 11.30 p.m.
yesterday the same...
if I start like that already in an internship I see it unlikely to manage a good work-life balance!
and I'm so sorry for the planned weekend with Dhruv. We planned to hang out and stuff and now I end up working all weekend...

chuta q odio en serio! Nunca me lo hubiera imaginado... y creo q lo hago tambien xq es por la empresa de mi pana. En otra empresa no pienso q me pasaria encontrarme en una situacion asi...
pero se trata de la forma laboral en la India en general!
Veo tanto potencial para mejoramiento!!! No se organiza bien, se comunica peor y sobre todo por la falta de planificacion hay q rehacer las cosas varias veces. Obviamente eso roba bastante tiempo! Tiempo valioso q hay q recompensar en la forma de trabajar hasta la madrugada!
grrrr...

Amristar

2008-07-21T14:34:00.002+01:00

Another great journey to Amristar last weekend. Some of the highlights: - Service in the train: first we got served a snack and 1 hour later a soup, so that by the time we received dinner I wasn't hungry anymore... - traveling in an Oto - unbelievable how many people fit in - ceremony of the boarder between India and Pakistan - the GOLDEN TEMPLE - getting food for free at the Golden Temple and seeing all the voluntary helpers - a really impressive process...

check out the pics, they express it best...

my hope

2008-07-18T05:10:00.003+01:00

my hope

I thought it dead

but then I saw you

realized it's not dead

it cannot die

just as the love to you

observations

2008-07-17T05:16:00.003+01:00

before I even get started I want to make one thing really clear, the following are just the written form of observations - it is far away from any kind of judgment, insult or rudeness. It's not even a statement, just some observations about the daily life in India, which are quite interesting to me.

Observation 1)
If someone sneezes, nobody says anything. You will not hear a "Bless You". Although it's a shame to me, but more and more people don't say it in Switzerland anymore, either.
Now, the funny observation though is, that sometimes, the person who sneezes says: "Sorry", "Excuse Me" or whatever. That is because they disturbed your thoughts with that sneeze, it's an awful noise or interrupted the silence.
Natural noises though leads me to

observation number 2)
Farting, burping, peeing on the street and men scratching between the legs is the most common thing ever. The other day when we talked to the landlord about the Air Condition that was still broken, the passed gas in a loudness and like a duck takes to water.
Looking at my friend who stood some stairs above we had to self-control ourselves a lot in order to not burst out laughing...

Observation 3)
In general, people here in India never say hello, thank you or good bye.
No matter where I go, might it be in a shop, buying some items, in the supermarket, in the taxi, recharging my phone... whatever interaction I have with Indians, of course I greet them at the beginning, say thank you and good bye or have a nice evening at the end of the interaction. Sure, the Rickshaw driver doesn't speak English but hello and good bye they definitively know. But I never get nothing back! Which is so strange to me, I'm telling you. To me it's just the most common thing and so far I quite took it for granted. But as I realize it here, this kind of politeness is not as naturally as I though - such as pretty much nothing is self-evident in this world I guess...

A certain kind of ungratefulness is also visible on the street.
Something I hate so much is that certain part of my way getting to work, where the beggars are. Since there is so much traffic, my taxi has to stop there most of the time. Whereas the mendicants might only stand for a short time at an Indian's car, whenever they see white people, they become so imprudent and won't go away before you give them something.
As a matter of fact, you shouldn't give them something.
Well, that's at least the general Indian perspective on that issue. As long as they are healthy, the general viewpoint is that they should get some work and not be begging on the street, since there is a huge mafia behind it and a lot of them spend the money on alcohol and drugs... The well-known conflict and problem...
Anyhow, I often give them money, just because I cannot handle it, them knocking and touching the window, pulling their sad faces and making movements of hungriness. I know, it's their profession, they know how to do it and how to get to the money. But still, it's so damn heartbreaking to me that I just cannot sit there ignoring them. That's basically why I rather give some money, which eases my consciousness, makes me feel like helping a little bit and also makes them leave which gives me my freedom back.

But the other day, when I gave some 5 Rupees to that girl she kept standing there asking for more. Sure, 5 Rupees is not that much, about 15 Cents - but it's a fair amount of money giving to a panhandler here in India. The fact that she wasn't pleased with that and kept asking me for more made me really mad! Seeing such ungratefulness drives me up the wall and although the girl obviously didn't understand English, I told her off so much that she even wanted to give me the money back. She might not have gotten my point but still I hope that the situation in India is going to change in the near future. The potential is there, that's for sure.

I know the world is an unfair place. The more I see of it the more I realize that.
I reckon this might be the reason why I'm becoming an even more grateful person, aware of what I have, how privileged I am and all the things that are not for granted.

Hema, a friend from work keeps saying, that I might become a next Che Guevara after my road trip...
who knows...

exploring Delhi

2008-07-14T15:26:00.004+01:00

on the back of the Ghost Rider Javed we were heading to Delhi

went to see the Humayun's Tomb, which was the same architect as for the

Taj Mahal

the similarities are quite noticable

we took some great shots at the India Gate, the place dedicated to all the warriors who died in World War II

Funny was when I asked an Indian to take a picture of us, he wanted to take one with me too. First I thought he wants me to take a pic of them, but then I realized that he really wanted to take it with me. But instead of taking the India Gate in the background they just wanted to have me on, hehehe. Felt like a superstar, jejeje

As a matter of fact, non-Indians get looked at quite heavily. Whereas at white guys they just look, at our friend Julie from France they literaly stare, tall and blond haired as she is...

Next we went to a Sikh Temple, which was a really impressive experience. Sure we had to gett off our shoes and cover our heads. The atmosphere in the temple was really nice. And just as the Punjab themselves we sat down and praied. Although I don't need a temple to say please and thank you, I still enjoyed having that peaceful moment in such a hectic and lively city.

After that we went to Akshardam, the biggest Hindu Tempel in the World constructed by Swaminarayan. It was quite a hassle to get in there. We had to deposit everything, from cel phones to camera to bags and guns... So although it is a really beautiful place, that's why there is only one picture about it. Still, to me it was more like a museum than a temple, since there was no space to sit down and pray. People just walked around in the temple, watching the statues, paintings and impressive ceilings and walls.

Almost starving after that, Javed took me to the best kebab place in town before heading back to Gurgaon, which takes only about 25min by bike compared to the 50min by car or 1.5 hours by bus.

all the pics of our sightseeing in Delhi

I'm full with more impressions and observations about the daily life, which I hope to find the time to post them soon...

HUMAN ART in Jaipur

2008-07-08T05:36:00.003+01:00

Jaipur

2008-07-07T05:25:00.002+01:00

Saturday, July 5, 2008. 3.30 a.m.
7 trainees leave U59 heading off in the AC cab to Jaipur. Julie (France), Anca (Rumania), Stefano (Brazil), me (Swiss), Svetlana (Bulgaria), Jaime (Chile) and Matteo (Italy (he took this picture, that's why he's not on it))

at 7.30 a.m. we arrived in Amber, where we did an elefant back ride and got to see the fort.

Then we headed to Jaipur to do some sightseeing. It's a wonderful city and we spent a great time together.

Javed, my Indian roommate took us to places where we otherwise wouldn't have reached - it was just wonderful, but see yourself more by clicking here

Thank you guys, it was great and I enjoyed a lot!

so many people

2008-07-01T06:02:00.003+01:00

I keep saying: SO MANY PEOPLE!
in India you have so many people, any place, any time - and so many people! it's incredible!!

also at the get togethers with the trainees we are so many people, which is just cool! See what I'm talking about...
Nataliya's Farawell-Party last Friday, on the roof of U59 (the block where I live)
90% of the people you see on the pic live in one of the 25 rooms of the two blocks, which are linked together over the rooftop, where we usually get together and party...

That was at my first party in Delhi, the one that made my day, catching up with about 40 trainees from Gurgaon and Delhi...

...soooo many people...

2008-06-26T05:42:00.002+01:00

There's quite a funny story to tell about the client's meeting on Friday. On the way getting there, an Otto driver (Ottos are these little 3 wheel taxis) knocked on the window of our taxi, saying that we lack some air in the rear wheel. Thanks for information - never mind - keep on driving - but only for a couple of kilometers when the driver stopped - and we had a puncture!! There we were, in our formal cloths, sweating, stuck on the road. Already quite short of time, we had to take an Otto to the meeting. When my colleague got upset, I said that this is a nice story to tell and that she always has to look at it from a positive perspective, right?!

Well traffic in India... an issue for itself!
Cause after a wonderful welcome dinner with my company some 20 trainees were off for Vischiquesh, a village (you know, only 500,000 habitats) 250 km up north from Delhi. After 45km, which took us unbelievable 3 hours, one taxis engine broke and we were stuck on the road.
Some trainees were just fed up with the whole chaos and took the running taxi to get back. All the hardcore people did it the Indian way, took a crowded bus and made it somehow to the desired destination.

It was a wonderful place, in the middle of the woods. It wasn't a big surprise that there weren't enough tents for all of us - so we shared, as usual here, jejeje
Did some trekking to wonderful waterfalls and great refreshments.
In the evening we had a BBQ and Goton playing the guitar, which was great!

The rafting on Sunday was good fun. But defenitaly and unfortunately at the same not a raft 5. It was too dangerous they said, so out of the wanted 27km ride we could only do 11 with some 5 great rapids. But still, it was cool, especially the swimming in the Ghanges was such a well doing refreshment!
To give you an impression about this small village, I best put some pics:

Getting back to Delhi, an issue for itself - remember, traffic!!
It took us fkn, insane 8 hours for 250 km!!! Imagine, that's about 35 km/h the bus drives!!
The guys at the Tour de Suisse are faster!!

Roads here are the most terrible thing ever!
And the most annoying to me is that HORNING!
At the back of buses it even says: "Horn Please"
That's so stupid, they'd do it anyway, all the time. And of course, the louder the horn the better... GOSH, grrr, dono if I'll ever get used to that...

Besides most the things could be sorted out:
- have a room to stay now that I share with Javed, my new Indian brother
- have an own taxi driver - like my chauffeur, who brings me to work and home, jejeje
- my stomach felt a little strange for only one day, which is fair enough
and at my job we agreed that I don't work 12hours daily but rather 8. I reckon doing some 9 hours, since I really like what I'm doing, it's a great project.

Don't worry, I don't and won't go ape :-))

Link to all the pics

quite a mess

2008-06-20T09:32:00.002+01:00

before I start writing about what happened recently I wanted to speak out my THANK to all the readers of my blog. The 10'000 visit passed, which is incredible. Since from september 2006-07 it has been 6'500 readers. and now, in less time the 10grand line passed. So just, thank you for being with me and caring about me my friends out there!

So now about what has been going on the last says...
in short words: sooooooooo much!

and everything has been quite a mess and needs still to be sorted out
on wednesday i finally got my suitecase and went with it directly to my new office, which is set in guragoa, 1hour bus ride from delhi, if there is not too much traffic. so there was a huge debate about whether I move to the traineehouse in Gurgoa or stay in Delhi. Once it's been set that I move to Gurgoa, the trainees there told me that there is no space...
Dropped with my luggage in the office I figured that I had to leave work to sort things out. After getting lost in the taxi - it's too bad, taxi drivers usually don't have an idea where to go and get lost all the time, when they ask someone on the street, everybody gives huge explanations about the way, where to go and stuff, but they actually don't have a clue either...
Ok, so finally we made it to the traineeshouse, which is a huge block with lots of doors. Sure, no names nothing. Luckily I met someone in the corridor that looked foreign and asked him about a room for me. When he showed me the rooms they sleep in a was really surprise, for not to say shocked... they're quite small and have two beds in, right next to each other. so think of a kingsize bed to picture it correctly... and they share the room between two!!!

well, I don't know what I expected, nothing - as I always have been fine with that. But what I got to see there just confused me quite a bit. After talking to some other trainees I realized that this is the way they all felt at the beginning and yet the way the do it now. So I figured that I'll just be as fine with it...
Still, I don't have a room yet. Where I sleep is just for a couple of days but my final room and roommate have still to be sorted out...

The best thing though followed. After a hell of a day I went with the other trainees to Delhi to celebrate Badawis (an egyptian trainee) birthday! There were about 30 to 40 trainees there!! Imagine! it was incredible!! and such great fun to meet everybody!!! well, I couldn't even talk to everybody since there were too many, jejeje. and once the party really started we were all dancing, drinking and having fun! It was so cool, really, that made my whole day up!!

Work:
My job is awesome! A really young and dynamic team with really nice persons who are always there to help me out with whatever issue. So far it's been challenging and quite demanding. Yesterday I worked for 13hours - on my second day of work! But this was pretty much do to the fact that we have a client meeting today and things had to be finalized... well, that's what I thought and didn't bother working so long, although I hope this is not gonna be the normal case. I mean sure, it's an advisory - such as McKinsey, just a start-up and way smaller of course, but the work is comparable.
So I'm on that project about urbanisation, which is really interesting and learningful. Looking forward to proceeding with the project!

And yeah, DHRUV arrived yesterday! It was so great to see my Indian brother again, really!!
Although it's been nearly two years that we haven't seen each other, it was just as if we've gone out yesterday. You know, the leaves of a tree come and go, but the roots stay - and that's what a friendship is all about!

So after the client meeting (which is WWF, by the way) my colleagues give a welcome party to me, then I'll go back to the traineehouse, see if I can arrange a set room to me and at midnight we I'll go with the trainees to "don't ask me the name", where you can do rafting (raft 4-5 --> amongst the strongest possible --> how cool is that, yeahh), clif jumping and just chill!
I'm really looking forward to that!
will keep u updated...

first impressions of Dehli

2008-06-17T12:59:00.002+01:00

NAMASTE (hello in Hindi)

I arrived well in New Dehli, India but unfortunately my baggage didn't. When I went to claim it and saw that my bag wasn't on the rail I went to ask for it at the desk. There they already knew that my luggage got forgotten in London. Tomorrow it'll arrive they told me. Well, by now it is here, at a friends place and I'm so much looking forward to a shower...

Yes, it is really hot and humid. Without AC I was nearly melting away before up in my room...
After having received the greatest hospitality yesterday I moved into the traineeflat, which urgently needs cleaning but besides that it is excellent. One traineehouse is already full, and I'm the first one moving into a new house. In the next days two more persons are to come.
With a total of 50 trainees here in Dehli I'm sure it's gonna be great fun, jejeje

At my arrival yesterday, two guys picked me up at the airport and we went to Hockers, to have some typical Indian food, some shisha (waterpipe) and drink native beer. Then I went with some other guys from the EB to watch a movie, play cricket (national sport of India) and finally we went for dinner together. After nearly getting lost (which to me seems pretty easy in Dehli) Tarish then welcomed me in his very beautiful house with the loveliest family you can imagine to sleep over at his place.

The food is soooo delicious, I'm telling you! And they made me eat everything. Even from stands in the street they bought me some whatever typical snack. All the sorrows about my stomach, all my words that freshly in Dehli you shouldn't eat everything, give your belly time to adapt, of course, got blown into the air by the Indians. And hey, I'm doing just fine with it. Happy for that as just everything about my new experience :-)

Surprisingly to me I feel so familiar. It's my first time in India but I kind of feel like I know all this, like I've been here before. I just feel excellent, so welcomed and so much part of it.
Sure it's great to see the chaos on the street, mixed with pedestrians, cows, 3-wheel taxis, cars, trucks and everything just fighting for its right to go first. But it more amuses me than causing a strange feeling. Yesterday we hit twice another tuck tuck and nothing - the drivers just screamed at each other and that was it. It's all good - it's India.

And that is the most heard answer to any question: it depends!
which is so true when you think about it. India is so diverse, and even in Dehli you find anything. there is no yes or no to a question - because they have it all!

So I just do as told: FEEL WELL because in India anything is possible, you can do whatever you want as long as you feel good by it!

wish you can do so as well!
lovely hug from Dehli

it's done

2008-06-05T15:36:00.002+01:00

finally, exams are over and my summer vacations start! what an excitement!!

for now i guess i'll go with the hype of the european championship, chill out with friends and watch some games before i'm off to india!

gosh, that's so damn cool and i promise to update my blog more frequently once i'm in india

enjoy the summer (hope that yours is better then the one in switzerland)

going to INDIA for my TRAINEESHIP

2008-05-03T14:54:00.004+01:00

it's just incredible, amazing, totally thrilling and unbelievable

Finally I am going to finish my AIESEC eXperience with my traineeship - and you won't believe it - but I'm going to India - to work in the start-up company of my brother Dhruv!!

I'm sooooooo excited, can't wait for it! Damn happy about making another dream come true!!

Thank you so much Dhruv for being such an important part of it once again, you are wonderful!

INDIA HERE I COME :-)

I know that all the football fans would scream that it's a shame leaving the Switzerland during the 'Euro' (European Championship). But as a non-football freak to me it would be a crime missing out on this unique opportunity...

Well, I quite know why the song: "I'm so excited, I just can't hide it" is up in my head together with the AI dance on IC 2006 in Poland...

And AIESEC Ecuador, you are finally going to get my MT SN Number matched ;-)

Easter Weekend in Napoli

2008-03-25T14:40:00.003Z

It was just great seeing my brother Luigi again!
Napoli is a pretty city and we had lots of fun together. Met a lot of Luigi's friends who are all really nice. Although sometimes it was pretty hard to go into a proper discussion since most people don't speak English or Spanish, and unfortunately I don't speak Italian, which is a shame I know (especially with my name) but what can I do about it.
I really expected it to be closer to Spanish but it's not at all. Furthermore in Napoli they speak Napoletano, which is like Quetchua in Ecuador, Swiss German for the Germans, another weird langugage
--> no offence broh... ;-)

In terms of sightseeing I got to see quite a lot,
castles, plazas, shopping malls, the harbour and so on. was really nice. I even had a "cultural shock" or big surprise to call it... But I won't reveal that one, for this you have to go and see yourself... :-)

Fue bacan volverte a ver hermano, gracias por todo otra vez, me gustaba mucho

y esta muy bien saber q sigues el mismo - no solamente q siempre estas al telefono pero el pana q siempre estabas!

nos vemos en Suiza con nuestros demas amigos de nuestro tiempo inolvidable de Ecuador por la copa europea!!

For all the pics click HERE

Feeling high

2008-03-18T14:40:00.001Z

And I don’t mean "high" like on drugs or sth but just great, thrilled by all the stuff that’s going on in my life.
Yesterday I had my first working day at isonet, an IT company where I work as sales assistant. It was just an awesome day, though but so learning full. It's a great and really young team and my work seems to be really challenging and interesting! So much looking forward to getting started for real!!
On the way back to Berne I felt like after an AIESEC conference, kind off. Thrilled, full of energy, motivation and new ideas I have to think about…

Then I got elected for Accenture’s Mentroship Programm!!
Dude, I’m so grateful for that since there are so much thoughts and ideas spinning around in my head...

And I bought my ticket to Napoli for the Easter weekend where I will visit my Italian brother!! Senor Luigi – el loco!! Me encanta volverte a ver hermano!
Hasta pronto

2008-03-11T22:24:00.001Z

so much for all the lovely greetings to my birthday
I really appretiate!
And the best thing would be to do a huge party with all of you...
maybe on my 30th
:-)