After CPS Autumn 2008

I first intended to write about everything that happened during this four-day conference, but obviously that would be too long and boring. One thing I learned from my past experiences of both being a faci and a student is that people don't want too much text on a screen. When you have a lot to say, it's better to condense them. It's like making coffee...if you add too much water for the same amount of coffee beans, it just wouldn't taste so good. So from now on, I will try to treat my blog posts as cups of coffee. Maybe even espresso sometimes.

I forgot to bring photos to work, so I cannot post them now. But just wait for it, they are coming soon.

I stopped counting how many AIESEC conferences I have attended a while ago. But most of them I attended in the US (and one in Canada). Hence I noticed some differences in how we do things.

1. Targeted Training - In the US, we basically have only two kinds of conferences: RoKS (regional kickoff seminar) and two annual national conferences. Contents of these are not really specified, so we just cram all the AIESEC elements we can come up with into one conference. In Romania, and probably in many other countries, each conference has specific objectives and trainings targeting specific people. This CPS (Cultural Preparation Seminar) targeted EPs (exchange participants) to prepare them to go abroad. Moreover, attendence of this conference is a requirement for them to go abroad. There is not enough training in US for preparation to go abroad. All the "training" I received from @US was an one-hour online presentation, and after this conference I realized the danger of making the process to go abroad too simple. I'm in no position to judge which style is better, but I like the idea of content-specific conferences.

2. Absence of SH&A policy - In the US, a delegate must sign a form for Sexual Harassment and Alcohol Policy. We do this for good reasons, but still, maybe we are being a bit too sensitive? At this CPS, I saw beer and other alcoholic drinks in the same room we hold plenary in, for the first time. And did we have any problems with SH&A P? No (my silly behavior at parties aside). Of course in US, it is illegal to drink for many of the younger delegates. @US can be in big trouble if someone had an issue with SH during a conference and she/he sued the organization. But in my ideal world, there shouldn't be signings of SH&A policy...not that I want to binge drink or sexually harass anyone, but because we should know better, as AIESECers.

For the next few days I'll be posting bits and pieces of CPS memories. Again, be waiting for photos. And sorry if this post tasted like one of those diluted coffee at McDonald's. Give me feedbacks (and criticism) so that someday I can name myself Starbucks.