experience matters

2094 days of Experience

2009-07-01T10:09:00.002+02:00

Yesterday, 2094 days passed since I joined AIESEC, the world's largest student-run organization with great vision. Capturing all that 6 years, I'm gretful for every minute I had the opportunity to act and learn here.
Thank you AIESEC for being here for more than 60 years already!
Thank you AIESEC Slovakia for giving me the opportunity to make us grow!
Thank you my MC team for challenging me and making my MCP experience a truly experience!

Now it's time to take next journey... let's see what that's gonna be :)

Manual - Starting with the books for adults ;)

2009-05-14T12:50:00.001+02:00

Couple months ago, if somebody would ask me if I read the books my reply would be something like this: "I actually do not, last things I read were Ariel when I was 8 (because it had many pictures in it) and then White puma from "I don't remember" author when I was 14 years old."
While answering the question this way, I at the same time I was fully aware of advantages of reading - gives you better imagination, puts you in front of opinions of other people-authors, can give you drive to some of your actions in the life, can improve the language skills of yours, etc. I was also admiring people who is regularly reading.
In spite of all that, I simply didn't find the time for reading - I would rather watch the movie or do something where I can "move my body" rather than just sitting and reading. We all know that "Life is about setting the priorities", so I decided to set one for me - start reading the books! :) In last two and half months, I managed to read 8 books so I decided to post here a short manual how to do it.

Starting with the books for adults :)
1) Make sure you know the benefits of reading for you
2) Research the books, talk to the people who reads the books and ask them for the best books they've ever read
3) Make your own list of books that fits your current interests, hobbies or could have an answer for your "life questions"
4) Invest! Buy at least 10-15 new books - it puts you into position of reading something you payed for already :)
5) Start with something short, easy and meaningful - I personally started with the book I read in 15 minutes (The man who planted trees from Jean Giono)
6) Talk to people about your reading experience, share your learning and thoughts
7) Give your books to your friends to read, don't keep it for yourself!

This step by step manual is based on my personal experience. If you want to read the books but didn't start yet, then you are free to use this manual.

P.S. Thanks to all people that inspired me to read the books! ;)

My eleven&one desires

2009-05-01T19:14:00.002+02:00

Is there any girl who...

(1) ...doesn't consider money as her desire?
(2) ...doesn't hesitate to sacrifice own comfort for own dreams?
(3) ...want to help and doesn't want others to know about it?
(4) ...care about day after tomorrow and live the moment at the same time?
(5) ...shine for others?
(6) ...can talk hour about solutions rather than own problems?
(7) ...value authenticity and strongly believe in own success?
(8) ...doesn't give up even after hundreds failures
(9) ...dream BIG for others?
(10)...love without judgments?
(11)...is so strong to admit own mistakes?

(&1) Is there any girl who dares to act this way?

then I only desire to be with you...

The blind.

2009-04-27T12:28:00.003+02:00

Exactly one week ago on my way back home from a conference I experienced something I want to share with you:
"I went to the cashier at the train station in Nitra to buy my ticket home. While waiting in a line I noticed blind guy buying his ticket somewhere. I was observing how he is able to buy a ticket. It was the first time in my life I focused on every single move of his and listen to every single word cashier was telling him & vice versa. It will sound maybe funny but I was amazed. I tried to put myself into his shoes and imagine how I, as blind person, would deal with so easy situation - buying a ticket. Suddenly, while imagining it, it just became so complicated - I was full of questions - how would I get to train station? How would I know where to buy a ticket? How would I know how much money I'm giving to the cashier? How can I check if I have the right ticket? Can I trust the cashier she will give me exact change? How do I get into the right train? and many others... Despite of all my questions and concerns I would face, the blind guy looked so humble, smiling not thinking of any of those questions of mine...
So I approached the guy (he looked only few years older than me) and offered him my help as I thought he cannot find the exit in the train station (he was going around the hall). Stupid me! He was just looking for some wending machine to get some Sprite :) As there was nothing like that inside, I took him out and told him to wait, that I'm going to buy him some water. I brought him a water and we chatted a bit. I figured he was buying the ticket to Prague for the conference about barrier-free solutions. Another questions popped out in my head - how is he going to get there? Train, public transport, specific address... just imagine how would you get at some place if you cannot see anything?
Dear blind guy, thank you for this short talk, I'm very grateful for that. It showed me how much I should value small things in my life that I take usually for granted. Also it showed me that dreams and passion are in everyone of us and there is no reason to keep them inside but rather make them alive..."

Istanbul, a wave of life

2008-12-13T11:16:00.004+01:00

It took me 16 months to come back to Istanbul, again for only couple of days. The purpose of my last visit was international Congress in August 2007. Now I'm coming back for smaller event where most of presidents of AIESEC countries from Central and Eastern Europe are meeting (around 20 people all together). Same as the last time I made sure I come to Istanbul couple days before the meeting starts, just to hang around the city and absorb the energy that is present in Istanbul, especially on Istiklal street. I have to say I love it here. Coming back was like coming home even I spent only few days in Istanbul before...
When we finally found MC office, we've been introduced to Rejep (originally from Turkmenistan but living with his brother in Istanbul for 4 years already), cool guy who is taking care of MCPs meeting. After that we had nice dinner and couple drinks in various places also with David(Hungary), Aigul(Russia), Barbara(Brazil), JuanCa(Colombia) and Mehmet(Turkey). It's amazing to experience different nationalities coming together to work on one goal. This is what people experience LIVE! in AIESEC and becomes normal after some time even the world is still facing different crisis mainly because of not understanding and being enough tolerant to other cultures.
On Saturday morning, after I woke up in the MC office which is extremely cool (many rooms, kitchen, shower, big meeting room, MCP has even own room) I got to know few people from Turkish MC that came to office on Saturday to work on their ATEMCO conference, which will happen in few days. I had a short talk with Duygu(VP TM) and great talk while drinking the coffee in the kitchen with Irem(VP OGX). We spoke about different cultures and countries and funny traveling stories of ours. Thanks Irem for the talk ;)

But what was that wave of life that hit me? Tons of people in the city - shopping, eating, drinking, celebrating, watching football, selling baked chestnuts on the street, 4 floors bars and restaurants, people eating outside and inside, diverse languages and colors of skins - that's what hit me like a wave full of life. Coming from country of 5 million people to the city of around 12 million and culture like Istanbul won't let you stay "cold" - energy just pops up in you and you're suddenly surfing on that wave...

My Copenhagen story

2008-12-01T12:57:00.006+01:00

Vienna-Copenhagen | 1 h and 40' | 78 Euro - thanks to low cost airlines and fast flights I can share my warm-cold story from Copenhagen - The cold was for the weather ;)
Taking nap after arriving to Copenhagen was the best thing to do to recover from a tough week. My short nap was followed by a nice evening in a Moroccan coffee place where I got a beer, Carlsberg of course! Meeting my friends from EuroCo conference which happened 2 months ago in Slovakia was great. It brought my EuroCo memories back...
The thing I like the most here so far was the French brunch which took more than 4 hours! Amazing! :) Four hours of eating and talking, sharing the stories and our realities was absolutely amazing - 6 people with roots from Iraq, Algeria, France, Denmark, Slovakia, Bahrain and Syria (Lucie, Fatima, Khaled, Christina, Leila and me). After a long brunch, me and my full stomach went to Tivoli - huge garden with a lot of stands and roller coasters, beautiful buildings and everything lighted - pretty place, especially for daters ;)

I again met couple of my friends from EuroCo but also several interns from Colombia and Poland, but also Fernando from Bolivia, Prateek from India and Dora from Romania - they all work for AIESEC. I also got a glass of "glogg" - hot vine with rum and spices inside, the same as you get at the Christmas market in Bratislava.

I think Copenhagen is definitely a city worth visiting - beautiful old architecture, a lot of places to have fun, Tivoli garden, bicycles all around the city, a lot of statues, etc...
But there is only one reason I travelled to Copenhagen which I didn't mentioned in this post yet - of course it's the girl, my girl - thanks Leila for making my stay in Copenhagen an amazing one!

Non ducor, duco or Welcome in Sao Paulo

2008-08-17T15:09:00.009+02:00

Capital of the state Sao Paulo | largest city in Brazil, first in South America by population | 4th biggest city in the world | 1.523 square km | 11.000.000 people - Bem vindo a Sampa {welcome in Sao Paulo}.
My first day in Sao Paulo was very cool. I spent the day with Hugo from Portugal, Betsy from Colombia and Odette from Puerto Rico. We were wondering around the city. We went to the big market place full of people and energy, small park in the city with the church on its side and the last destination was main avenue, where we found quiet street in parallel with the main avenue and had cold beer and nice food.
My general feelings about "Sampa" are very positive and I'm looking forward to experience another day in this energetic city ;)

Picture from Sao Paulo >>here<<

Going for coulorful experience

2008-08-15T17:19:00.006+02:00

I'm sitting in the Vienna's airport and waiting for my flight to Madrid (Spain) where my journey won't stop. I'll take another flight which will take me to the green-yellow-blue country, for many of us known by hot weather, great football players and dancing culture. Yes, I'm on my way to Brazil! :)
Another traveling experience of my life is about to come. Last 4 years has been very "travelish" :) - visiting USA, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Macedonia, Amsterdam, Romania, Turkey and Egypt was and still is just part of my life.

I'm getting very excited about trip to Brazil, the part of the world I've never been to before.

Ibero-America... I'm ready to discover your beauties! :)

Craziness must go on!

2008-08-04T21:44:00.005+02:00

Another crazy year in National Committee of AIESEC started already one month ago. July was again crazy, with no time to think about the things - month with fast decisions, month of extemporizations and great moments with new team, amazing 9 individuals I directly work with.
The feeling of having all this people around me make my every day. Life's running very fast (even faster than the deer:)), sometimes we don't even realize why we do the things we do. But having right people around us makes us to be sure about doing right things!

Music brings memories

2008-03-21T11:27:00.003+01:00

So excited because I found this song randomly in my friend's laptop. This was the song of my summer in U.S. when I went there for WAT program in 2004. The song means a lot to me and makes my memories alive! Thanks Dio for having this song in your laptop ;)

Finger Eleven - One thing

Restless tonight Cause I wasted the light
Between both these times I drew a really thin line
It’s nothing I planned And not that I can
But you should be mine Across that line

[Chorus:]
If I traded it all If I gave it all away for one thing
Just for one thing If I sorted it out
If I knew all about this one thing
Wouldn’t that be something

I promise I might Not walk on by
Maybe next time But not this time

Even though I know I don’t want to know
Yeah I guess I know I just hate how it sounds

[Chorus x2]

Even though I know I don’t want to know
Yeah I guess I know I just hate how it sounds

Even though I know I don’t want to know
Yeah I guess I know I just hate how it sounds

[Chorus x3]

The sun is rising every day and for everybody

2008-03-20T15:56:00.006+01:00

The other day, I was having discussion about positive thinking with my colleague. I'm one of positive thinking people - able to find at least one light spot in every day and be happy...
Sometimes when I'm thinking about my life I really think I have everything I need. In the past, I had the feeling that it will end at some point, that it can't last forever. But now I believe it's possible, I believe that sun is rising every day. And for everybody.
Everyday while waking up we can take the decision of having a good day or a bad day. It's just up to us if we let the clouds come between us and the sun.

Cutomizing moves the world

2008-03-20T15:04:00.005+01:00

Showing uniqueness of our personality is need number one for many people. Many of us want to have unique contribution in everything we do, in professional as well as personal life. Tuning our cars, making our houses look special, wearing the dress that nobody else wears, having unique hair style, having own picture on ATM card... also blogs allow us to express our uniqueness.
For some time, I'm questioning my self - why? What is the cause of this need? Why do I have this need? Still didn't find complex answer but I know one thing:
Word "customize" is something that makes people pay! :)

This is my ATM card. When I was choosing the picture I wanted to make people smile when they look at the card. I was thinking about all "not really happy looking" cashiers and people that are in touch with ATM cards and look like having the worst day in their life...and it works - people smile! :)

I'm back ;)

2008-03-20T10:31:00.003+01:00

Last year has been busy - I finished my diploma project, graduated in field of power electronics, started my job in communication area, traveled a lot... Amazing year! :)
I just somehow didn't find the time for my blog. But I'm back now! ;)

So after more than one year with no post on my blog I started to think of new name for my blog... and it suddenly appeared in my mind - experience matters. Thats why former "Just my life" became "experience matter". Experience is the way of my life - the fastest way how to learn new things, the thing I always seek for, the thing I'm addicted to... :) The bridge between me and the world, that's why it matters!

Welcome back to my blog!
--
Lukas - CEEtizen of the world:)

Who am I?

2007-01-07T18:07:00.000+01:00

This is one of my first posts so I think I should introduce myself to you;)

My whole name is Lukas Jakubicka and I'm 22 years old. I live in Slovakia - heart of Europe. My hometown is Topolcany, situated somewhere between west and center of Slovakia.

I'm studying electrical engineering at the University of Zilina with major power electronics. I should graduate in June 2007. I've been studying electrical "stuff" since my high school.
At the same time I'm working in the world's largest international non-for-profit and student-run organization called AIESEC. I've been doing many things there until this time - being team leader, working in area of exchange program, working as marketing manager and now I'm the president of Local Committee in Zilina.

One of my biggest hobbies are traveling and getting know new cultures and people. I love cars, especially my baby Opel Astra:) I like to be in motion, I don't like stereotype. I'm future oriented person with accent on details.

My favorite drink is red wine, I don't actually have favorite meal - I can eat almost everything.

I hope you will enjoy my blog and find many interesting things here...
Greetings from Slovakia;)

Lukas

Amazing time in Egypt

2007-01-07T13:15:00.000+01:00

Approx 2 months ago, I decided to start using my own blog... I haven't posted any single thought on my blog because I was waiting for some special moment that would be worthy to be a first post :) and here it comes...

Everything started at IC2006 in Poland where I met Mai. We became a great friends at this congress and we invited each other to our countries. Firstly, it looked like Mai is about to come to Slovakia for New Years Eve but then I just wanted to spend my NYE in warmer country so I bought fly ticket to Cairo, Egypt:)

I flew in Dec, 28 from Prague's airport, transfered in Istanbul and then finally landed on airport in Cairo at 3 a.m. in Dec, 29. I traveled by myself and it was the first time I was supposed to make my first step in Africa...
I got the passport check done and then I was heading to arrival hall to find Mai and her friends. I'm sure you know the people that are waiting for somebody in airport with names on the papers. How many of them are usually at the airport at 3 a.m. in the morning? You would probably find from 10 to 50 depends at the airport...I didn't count them but I could see hundreds of people in this airport, I couldn't even went through them, it was so crowded. So I went out of the hall and called Mai - I was so happy that she was there waiting for me.
My whole stay in Egypt basically consisted of 2 main parts - trip to Dahab and my stay in Cairo.

So right after I found Mai, her friends and Gabiza from AI (AIESEC International) we took the micro bus to Dahab - small touristically area in Sinai. 10 of us traveled approx 7 hours in micro bus. So after exhausting journey from Slovakia to Dahab (by train, 2 planes and micro bus) that took me 24 hous, I was ready to enjoy my holidays right next to red sea:) And I really did - I was eating Egyptian food (foul, shakshoka, tameyya, kofta etc.), I was swimming in red sea and snorkeling in well known "blue hole", dancing in the beach at New Years Eve party, having a shisha every day...I stayed in nice hotel called Auski Camp, in the room with Sherif. I got to know "Jordan girls" Monika(originally from Slovakia), Annika(U.S.) and Oksana(Ukraine) then Gabiza(Romania), Betty(Africa, PM),Sami(Egypt, MCP) then Tarek, Askoura, Sameh and Tamer. Everybody somehow connected to AIESEC:)) I was so happy that I could spend my time in Dahab just with these guys...So I spent NYE a bit unusually this year - at the beach and it was awesome. Last couple NYEs weren't so great even I spent them with family or friends at home. I was studying or working on something, I didn't actually have free time and I celebrated NYE in pub or at home - not really exciting...I was missing some adventure and new things to experience. This trip to Egypt fully accomplish this things. So I'm really thankful for every moment I could spend with my friends in Dahab.

more pictures from Dahab here

Next part of my trip was Cairo, capital of Egypt. We again took the micro bus from Dahab and traveled for 7 hours. It was very first day of new year 2007. I was really shocked when I saw the traffic and especially the way how they drive. Oh my God! So many cars and so crazy driving style...It's hard to describe it, but try to imagine it as puzzle. Every single centimeter on the road has to be filled by car, motorbike, bike or people...And everybody honks :) Gas is soooo cheap there, just 7,5 Slovak crown/liter (approx 30 US cents/liter). Cairo is also very polluted, low visibility. But back to the topic...

I was staying in Mai's house (or flat). Just for better imagination - our flat at home has 60 square meters. Her flat is about 3 times bigger then ours so I didn't consider it as a flat :)) Another thing that surprised me was that Mai didn't take her shoes off and she was just walking in the flat in it. In Slovakia, first thing you need to do when you come to somebody's flat is to take your shoes off, that's why I was so surprised...So I adapted and I also didn't take my shoes off:) Then, she showed me my room and also my bathroom. I just unpacked a little bit and we went to Mai's friend birthday party. I guess it was on the edge of Cairo because we traveled approx 40 minutes by car. It was typical traffic in cairo, we even hit the side mirror of another car on the way there...When we finally came there, I could see really nice house from outside. I walked in and the inside of the house was gorgeous, just amazing. They are Christian family so they had nice and big tree, everything was so well decorated, I was just impressed. After tiring day I went to the bed and slept directly...

Second day of January started with visiting the Coptic Cairo. Me, Gabiza, Annika, Sami and other two guys from AIESEC in Cairo University visited Coptic museum, a church and Jewish synagogue. We took a metro on the way there and back - it was also very interesting - people are not really waiting for anybody to get in or out, they just have to go in and our really fast because the door won't stay open so long - just couple seconds. So people are going simultaneously out and in to the train :) Sami even had to hold the door for us because it was about to close...After the beautiful views in Coptic Cairo we went to river Nile and took the boat to watch the sunset. We missed the sunset but anyway, boat trip on the Nile river was great. There were around 15-20 people with us at the boat - all AIESECers.

more pictures from Cairo here

Next day, me and Mai went to the museum and Mai wanted me to be her guide:)) really funny - so we were done with museum in 1 and half hour - I'm pretty fast:) Then we met Mai's friend Martha that gave us a ride to Citadel - 700 years old one. Inside the Citadel was the big mosque. We had also nice view on the Cairo from there. Then we went to bazaar Chán al-Chalílí where I bought my beloved shisha. It was one of my small dreams to have own shisha from Egypt and the dream came true;)

Third day in Cairo was also my last one there. Adham took me and Annika to Pyramides, but different way that you would probably expect. We took horse-back riding and it was amazing. Anyways, it's not so easy as it looks like, especially when horse is running, it's pretty hard to keep your body on the horse's saddle. I've never tried it before so it was cool experience for me. Then we again went to Chán al-Chalílí and I bought the presents for my family and my friends plus some tobacco and coal for my shisha. It was great to have Adham with us because shop owner was his good friend that even named his son after Adham. Adham was really impressed by this. So we had better prices for everything...
We spent my last night in one nice restaurant where we had a tea. It was pretty cold for Cairo, I was even wearing my winter jacket. Then I went to Mc Donalds with Askoura, so my last food in Cairo was Big Mac :)) My flight back was at 3:30 a.m. in Friday morning. Askoura and Adham stayed with me and gave me the ride to airport. It was really nice from them and I appreciate it.

I guess this post is long enough so I'll try to bring the end:)

Anybody who haven't been in Egypt yet, definitely it's the place you should visit. It's the place that showed me how different world could be and it's not even so far away from Slovakia. It's the part of the world where history meets present and it will provide you with many unforgettable experiences.

Go to the Egypt, meet great and nice people, buy your own shisha:) and just enjoy your time there. I guarantee you will fall in love with Egypt ;)