A Realization...

Yes, we've all lived fantastic lives in AIESEC.. ones that have given us a chance to build widespread personal networks... in diverse countries.

As much as we talk about these networks with each other, we've unconsciously taken an oath not to brag about it too much to non-aiesecers, as they'd never understand us. I've been careful while sharing my experiences with close friends, but recently this one incident in London made reflect on this issue a lot deeper.

So we're sitting in London, at a quaint Thai restaurant in Angel. Group consisted of us 5 Indians.. 4 IIT'ians and me. :)

Much to my surprise, we didnt have conversations about the latest in Digital Signal Processing or simpler ways to get through Fourier Transformations. After introducing ourselves, (me very clearly stating I was from India, lived there all my life and now living in Norway), the topic of conversation soon switched to what we were in London for. 3 were on work, 1 was on an IIM-B (arguably the best B-school in India) exchange scheme, and then there was me... just visiting friends. The question obviously arrived - which friends are these? Parallely : warning sign echoes in my head... be careful Aneesh... dont brag. And so I reply.. "Just some friends I've met through AIESEC".... the obvious follow up question out of sheer Indian curiosity was .. "Who are these friends and Where are they from?". So I go on to explain how I met this Danish friend and his Malaysian girlfriend, after which I had to catch up with 3 British friends and 1 Kenyan born Indian (all ex-trainees from Bangalore)....

And that was it! The next question was asked by the girl at the table, in the most innocent tone ever, (which actually surprised me even more)...

"So, which country did you say you were from?"

Boom - Bang - Powwww - Crunch - Splat - Sock... I was blank. Shocked? I dunno... Proud ? I dunno.....

Its lil' experiences like this that if caught, can send you in whirlpool of thoughts of how you represent your true almost finalised identity to the majority who will never relate.

Finally, here's to my beautiful trainee couple, The Danish Lasse and Malaysian Khay Ling, who after meeting in Bangalore 4 years ago, entered a magical phase as newly wedded on the 28th of April, 2005.