I LOVE 2010 (part #### - who cares?) AIESEC

I had heard about AIESEC about 3-4 months back when they first conducted a recruitment drive for first years.. But i couldn't attend it due to my Appendicitis Operation :(... I guess God wants me to be part of this sort-after organization! It seems AIESEC IITKGP is on an expansion mode and wants more members! Hence, there was a Internship cum Recruitment Seminar on Feb 3. The way they presented themselves immediately moved me.. It was obvious that they were proud to represent one of the best T-schools in the world and be a part of its growth here..! What i found most striking was that even though they were all students who conducted it, they were professional too!!

In the seminar, there were foreigners who had come to Kharagpur to do their internship. There were Philippe and Sandra(from Mexico) doing their project on the "Go Green" project (ya, they're basically saving the planet with their work!) and then there were Vanessa(from Brazil) and Lucia working in Barnmale(a NGO based in Kharagpur and working towards awareness of HIV/AIDS). It was inspiring to hear them talk about how different their culture is from ours and how they are enjoying!

Then there were videos of guys n gals who had already attended internships offered by AIESEC. Later on, Shubhanshu Mishra and Sachin (Local Committee President, btw) started talking about the various benefits of joining AIESEC. In short, I was mesmerized by the plethora of experience opportunities that they were providing. The internships they offered were also varied. It wasn't limited to technical matters either! Even though I had told a lot of my relatives that I would be coming to my hometown this summer, I was literally brainwashed into trying for a development traineeship and being an AIESECer! I, of course, applied for the interview and group discussion that was to be held the next day.

The next day, at about 2030, they registered our names and I waited for my chance at the group discussion. They were calling us three-by-three. It was only because there were a lot of familiar faces at the waiting room that I didn't go mad with excitement! At the group discussion, we were asked questions I wouldn't have expected at all! I mean how am I supposed to know, why they made their logo so?! But the concept was nice... Normal people become individuals and emerge from the crowd when they are through AIESEC. (check out the logo here!!)

Overall, I had a great experience. And yes, I did get selected! YAHOOOOO!!!!!

I LOVE 2010! - (part 1)

Yup, work at deco team, SF was grueling. BUT, who cares??! The amt. of fun we had drawing, painting and cutting thermocol(that IS the spelling, right?) was unparalleled!! The best part was using the fevicol to stick up whatever that came into our hands... There wasn't a single day that I didn't go back without a load of fevicol in my hands! At the end of everything, we had to carry our stuff all the way from the gymkhana to the arena (near Comp. Sc. Dept. - that's almost half a km ppl!). Couldn't be helped.. After all, we stuck most of the stuff onto thermocol! The kshitij deco team had it easier, their arena was near vikramshila and they did the work there!
Anyway, on the eve of the SF, we were poised for night-out. We hadn’t finished arranging the arena. There were a hell lot of stuff lying around and we were wondering where to put them… Then comes ….. …. Abhirajika! Our one and only, Jika to save the day and boss us around!! We were 3 first years (initial strength = 30 odd.. they just disappeared one-by-one citing one reason or the other) and a load of 2nd years (who by the way were in-charge) left to stick up the caricatures onto the charts (again, we had to make them). Jika, her antics and her fights with others, were our only form of entertainment (if u r reading this, please don’t kill me and ‘thank you!’).
By morning, most of the stuff was done. We just had to put up some boards. We came after our morning classes (ya, we still had classes… I lost count as to how many times we cursed the Profs that day!) and labs (I bunked one.. attendance will be a big criteria for grades.. I heard later... Bugger).

My volunteer work was in Netaji Auditorium. For those who were not in Jnan Ghosh or Netaji OR the photography team > LOSERS! The inauguration itself started in Netaji. The main attractions were Centrifuge (the dance competition), Two for a Tango (yes, as the name suggests any two ppl could dance to glory) and Sargam (the eastern band competition). I made a lot of friends… the type I can keep for life! The work was minimal too. I was, for the most part, the waiter boy (got drinks and stuff for the judges). Before you scoff at me (I know you already have), I got to have a hell lot of stuff free! That is, because the judges didn’t feel like eating them (for the authorities ;) ).
SF, in a word, simply rocked. We did have minor setbacks with Skid Row backing out due to an accident and Jal quitting at the last mo’. Instead we (doesn’t include me of course.. all accolades to the organizing team) called Preetam, who was kind enough to accept.. Turns out it would have been a better idea if he was coming in the first place!! The crowd enjoyed him and his group. Some other good stuff that happened were the Hasya Kavi Sammelan (HKS!), Dance floor (Perpz) and Drama (Thespianage – we had some great plays).