Final thoughts - Part I

It was a bit more than 3 months ago during a nice weekend at the end of April sited on my couch in Bogotá talking with a good friend about my application: “You were selected” – he said- and the journey started. Final preparations and arrangements, quitting my old job, packing, farewell dinners, parties and chats, visiting my parents and saying goodbye, visa, tickets, etc. You know all the pre oversea-flight arrangements that need to be completed before leave your country and I was not the exception.

“The most amazing and breathtaking airport I had seen in my life”. That was my first impression of Holland even that it was not the impression of a country but just a place on it. But it didn’t care… it was my impression and that’s it. Romas at the airport waiting for me and welcome me to my new home for the following 3 months.

My life during the subsequent days was quite hectic: fixing problems, fighting with the fu**ing wireless network at AI’s office, reviewing stuffs, checking different options, compiling information, etc. Team dinners during night were the best! I think just miss 2 or 3 during my whole life in Rotterdam. Try so many receipts from all over the world, new flavors, spices, learning new words, etc. It was just awesome. Favorite chef: Kamil (Dey’s food was excellent too)

I think you always can go again to the places you visit but you will never be able to live the same experiences or meet the same people… as some historic quote said: you can't step into the same river twice (Heraclitus). Without the fear to say it AI members are crazy! some much more than others but crazy. And I’m say it because you need to be crazy to apply for this amazing and non-comparable team. Run this “bla” organization is not an easy going matter. So many sides and people that you need to align and coordinate: it is just amazing. One think I can say from AI members is they are brilliant people. The knowledge and theories they have, the incredible chats you can establish with them, the natural result-oriented behavior they show and the nice and crazy way to live their lives that our young people state give us is an excellent collage of stuffs that bring all the energy and good vibrations to this team that you can feel just seated close to them. Some names I will never forget: Brodie, Geta, Sveta, Orianna, Shantanu, Manish, Romas, Kamil, Abhinav, Lanchanie, Taco, Tom, Chris, Frances, Mike, Vero, Jovin, Kevin, Petr, Petroula, Dey, Kiko, Ryan, Jarda, Mairi, Pinar, Habib and Araz, Amit, Maria, Ondrej, Abhi, Gee, Martis, Laura, and the lovely Romanians Coco and Gabitza (I love Romania ()