So, it is probably an understatement to say that things have been crazy around here. Chaotic, mind-blowingly hectic, topsy-turvy, yes. Those are closer. But, eventually rewarding.
I've been running recruitment for the last two weeks, and it should be officially over next Saturday. While I enjoy meeting new, potential members, and seeing the next generation of AIESECers at the very start of their journey, it is still an intensely draining process. Doing interviews was a fascinating process. It was fun to watch the current AIESECers learn how we wanted them to interview and then have them interview and evaluate potential new members. It was also impressive to watch the interviewees stand up under the pressure of being drilled about AIESEC. Although Gina and I may have been more intimidating at the start because we don't speak Mongolian, we were definitely the more lenient interviewers. Some of our members, Adiya and Boldko, were pretty damn tough. Although, it had to be difficult for them too to interview in English (which they both speak well), but had to do it and not let the interviewee speak in Mongolian - which several of them wanted to. But, they did pretty awesome...
I'm also working on pushing AIESEC Mongolia to take shape and have leaders and such - which is interesting. Some people that the MC had thought would be good for leadership positions are not interested and all, and then there have been some surprises for people who are interested who we didn't think would be. As long as the people who eventually end up in leadership can be reliable and communicative, I think we'll be in decent shape.
Mostly, I've been slowly climbing a pretty respectable learning curve. Work ethic in college is completely different from the work ethic required for running a nearly brand new NGO. The hours are wonkier, the days longer, and the level of adaptability required to keep sanity is through the roof, as is the ability to bullshit believably. With possible members, potential partners, current partners, complete outsiders, current members asking all kinds of questions you never thought of or thought you would have to answer - it helps to be a little quick on your feet to assemble enough of the truth with just a hint of bull and a dash of eloquence (more or less used to obfuscate the language than anything) to convince the questioner that you actually do know what you're talking about. College so did not prepare me for this - then you could offer to answer with prepared BS, or just write it down in term paper format with a well cited list of people who did know what they were talking about. Here, it's all original. Thank you, thank you I'll be here all year.
Anyways besides working my little brains out recently, there has been a sneeze of social life. The play that I am tech crew for is slowly chugging along and hopefully will live long enough to make it to production. Meeting more people from the ex-pat network which is nice to have people to share experiences with. I re-attempted shopping. It went better this time. Still not great, but better. Slowly accumulating more acceptable clothing. Slowly. Finally found shoes that fit, and a few shirts, but I'm going to have to locate a tailor to get pants. Also, Saturday it snowed and I went to a fund-raiser salsa event. The whole eventing was kind of a cultural conundrum - It was at an American bar called American Ger'll. My group drank red wine (while salsaing), ate pepperoni pizza, and danced to salsa music - in Mongolia. Sounds more like a night in Athens than Ulaanbaatar.
Also, you should probably watch this http://vimeo.com/15041403
It might not make a lot of sense if you don't know Mongolia. But, it's pretty fun. (And, I know them.)
