RTS - Regional Training Seminar

For the past 4 days I was in Durau, Romania, for RTS. In AIESEC Romania, right after recruitment, individual LCs hold a local training seminar (LTS) for new members to get jump-started and for old members to further develop themselves in terms of @ quality. This year, three LCs (Constanta, Iasi, and Galati) agreed to hold their LTS at the same time, same location. Trainings were held separately, but parties were held together. Interesting concept. But even more interesting is the fact that the conference was held in a monastery. I think this is the first and last time that I see an @ conference held at a place like this, but who knows, maybe I'll be proven wrong.

On the way to Durau in a maxi-taxi (basically a van), delegates were told to form groups of three for room assignment. I was not familiar with people in the van because they were mostly newly recruited. But I was told to pick two people, so I said in reply "maybe someone else can pick me instead." In the end, I ended up staying in a room with two girls. What more can I ask?

What I didn't know before arriving at the conference was that meals would not be provided, period. A delegate must either bring enough food to last for four days or obtain food somehow from somewhere. It was a surprise for me but it makes sense. It is actually the same way in the US, regional conferences are not required to provide 3 meals a day (though most of them provide 1 or 2). So my diet became seriously imbalanced during the conference, but it just adds some fun to the conference and let you appreciate your regular eating habit.

I was involved in the old-member track, and I did much more work than I expected doing at this conference. On the first day of sessions, I was involved in a LC simulation session where everyone in the session became members of EB and planned every aspects of LC operations for a year, quarter by quarter. I was a VP OGX, which is something I have no experience in. I learned a lot about local realities in Galati during this session, and it brought me back some memories because it was exactly like LTR (leadership team retreat) we do at @GT...locking ourselves in a small room with flip charts to brainstorm about LC operations. We could only do this for two quarters (six months worth) because of time constraint, but if we were to continue planning for all four quarters without stopping, like how it was originally planned, I think I or someone else would have jumped off or thrown someone off the balcony. On the second day, I had some trainings on situational leadership and leadership qualities. Great sessions done by Ferdi and Klin, though I wasn't even in the recovery process yet from the wild night. I stayed awake through all the sessions regardless, sometimes I even impress myself.

I also met some guys I acquainted two weeks ago from Iasi, as well as many new members. The conference would have been even better if all the trainees from other LCs could come and push more international side of AIESEC along with the leadership side. But from the reactions I saw from new members, I can tell it was a great conference. I cannot express everything in words here or this post would become too long for easy reading, so tell me if I missed anything critically important so that I can be more inclusive.

By the way, here are some pictures I took, although I feel like my skill in capturing the perfect moment in still picture is diminishing lately.