The Book

Using an idea craftily stolen from Mazzy, a while ago I started adding all my conference sugarcubes to a single book to keep them all in one place. Or at least that was the plan, until I fell behind in adding them… for a few years. But, having brought all the old, tattered envelopes with me to Egypt, I was able to finally update it. Although I’m missing a few of my earlier conferences (pre-Oct 2002) I’ve now got memories from 13 conferences in 3 countries safely stored within:

MONKEYS 2002 & 2005
MORE 2004
SSC 2003, 04, 05 & 06
WSC 2004, 05, 06, 07
MMS 2004
MENA LDS 2007

It’s kinda weird to read through all the messages from those past conferences; all the people whom I briefly met, worked with and then left, some never to be seen again. Some of the names I haven’t heard of in years, others I saw this past week. Some of the notes came from people whom later would be my room-mate, team-mate, and closest friends.

I’d be the first to admit that It’s been tough to move on from what is now the past. My life with AIESEC US was one I held very dear to my heart, and although my future is so full of adventure right now part of me is still crushed that I had to leave that part of my life so suddenly. Even with WSC this past January, it feels like there are still so many goodbyes to say, so many friends whose hands I wish I could shake, fellow AIESECers whom I wish I could embrace one last time.

But while the book in a lot of ways reminds me of a lot of those things, places & people I miss so much, it makes me realize that there’s no shame in remembering the good times – the late-night discussions, the inspired party themes, the raised glasses, the hours spent in the company of friends. I have pages and pages of memories with me now, but many more pages to fill. My AIESEC Experience isn’t over. The last 6 months have taken a lot out of me, but I’m not ready to leave just yet…