onsdag 28 januari 2009

About the dominating thoughts shaping my day and the questions we ask ourselves...

As I was checking my emails a final time before leaving for a 3 days expedition to Aconcagua I asked myself, what the dominating thoughts were that shaped my day? At first, nothing came to my mind and that made me happy because that some how indicates a day of presence. However, as I allowed some space, three dominating themes shaped my day: appreciation, gratitude and preparation. Appreciation for having the opportunity to plan a very small, yet special expedition, since it is the first of its kind for me recognizing a very challenging environment. Gratitude for allowing myself the space to at all experience what I am experience these days. Preparation, from having the vision of hiking on 4000 m altitude to what that means in terms of the details that needs to be in place before leaving. As I am writing this post on an Internet cafe in central Mendoza I feel comfortable that we are set to go.

The other realization I have as I am writing this post is the power of the questions we ask ourselves. How a day is being remembered really depends which questions we chose to ask ourselves about that specific day. The power of asking questions will have to be a recurring post because now the time is running out. Aconcagua, here we come!

Emanuel

tisdag 27 januari 2009

about adventures in Mendoza, the people I meet and excitement to visit "the roof of south America"...

As the trip up north in Argentina is starting I conclude that the first few days have been quite incredible when it comes to adventures. Yesterday, I for the first time in life did paragliding and enjoyed an argentianian asado (bbq). Today I explored the "rio mendoza" by rafting in it. Tomorrow the plan is to taste the wines of Mendoza, which by some is argued to be some of the best in the world. These days have been about settling in and realizing vacation and exploring mode. The trips above have been through organized tours. These are great in the sense that you in a fairly cost and in a very time efficient manner gets to experience adrenaline and see beautiful nature, however, an edge needs to be added going forward. I believe the edge will be that the nature and the travel itself is what is, as oppose to focus on the the specific activity I do...The day after tomorrow, we (myself and my love) are planning an expedition to Aconcagua, "the roof of south America". a three day hike where we will leave our, minds, hearts and will to the nature. I shall look forward to that challenge and I will keep posting some of the reflections of the experience at this blog.

Another dominating theme is the reflection that the people you meet generates in you. For example, yesterday we had dinner with two travelers from the Netherlands and Germany. 10 years back they started a motorbike journey from LA in the US with the ambition to travel to the Southeast part of Argentina and the world (Ushuaia) prior to Antarctic. The concept is that they travel as far as they can during their vacation, then they parc their bikes no matter where they are and then they come back the year after. As we met them they were determined to reach their destination, as they had arranged for a 3,5 months vacation. What was incredible was their choice of lifestylein what could be called a "second career". They were 55 plus and the career ambitions didn't excite them any more, but the drive to learn, explore, thrive and see new places where stunning and quite inspiring to listen two - it is incredible what you can experience on the road, but also the kind of choices you can make. As you recognize that you have a choice, only the imaginations are the limits for what you can do with your life. I wish Ben and Elmhult good luck as they continue their journey - thanks for a very interesting dinner!

Until later/emanuel

söndag 25 januari 2009

About Clarity, Compassion and Choice…

As I want this blog to be a space where I share some of my thoughts, discoveries, securities and insecurities, about myself and the world I wanted to initiate with a post on a quite important resent discovery of mine.

As I had the opportunity of spending a few months in Stockholm, before leaving to Argentina, AIESEC Sweden really enabled me to process part of my AIESEC Experience through engaging me in different activities of theirs. One incredible inspiring realization, was on the question on the role of AIESEC. As for now, I understand the role of AIESEC “as the responsibility of its alumni”. It helps me to understand how I can relate to an organization, which for many years have meant so much to me. Another important realization of mine came as I was preparing for the AIESEC Sweden 60th Anniversary a few months back I reflected on some of the central themes of how I have come to understand leadership. I want to capture it here they are reoccurring in how I strive to relate to my trip in South America. Three central themes emerged and those were clarity, compassion and choice.

These themes are important for me because they inspire me on a daily basis. Everyday, I want to strive towards being clear about my role in the world. Every day I want to recognize and feel responsible that I have a choice and with that, choose to see the best in people, choose to learn from the past, live and act in the present and be inspired by the future. Every day I want to dare to be compassionate towards myself, my peers and to the world.

Having said that, as I am posting this I am preparing for a two weeks trip in the mountains of Mendoza, Argentina. The trip will be about experiencing nature, hike, speak Spanish and be in my relationship. Another way of articulating what these weeks will be about is to practice compassion towards myself, my love and the nature. I shall look forward to capture some of the experience here.

About learning a new language…

As I am learning a new language I am experiencing that what I know and do is very often articulated through linguistic means. Learning a new language, is in a sense like becoming a child again, and I am experiencing that I am growing in the pace I am improving my capacity to express my linguistic intentions. Having said that, it is with great admiration and respect that I appreciate other means of communication than the spoken. The beauty of learning a language, is the every day tangible learning process I go through and the intimacy through which I get to connect to the people and the culture of the country I am in. Every day I get to talk with people I most probable wouldn't have talked to unless I was not discovering a new language, their language and every day I get to add new words to my vocabulary. It has been incredible to experience the willingness of people to help. My ambition of learning their language becomes their mission. The Spanish language is still a stranger to me and I am still a disaster in speaking it, but I am learning and that is beautiful. Sooner than later I hope to leave a Spanish post on this space.

Correr

Correr is Spanish and means "to run" - Running has been a central theme the first couple of weeks here in Argentina. Running could be exhausting and avoiding, but it can also be refreshing and a tool to discovery. One of my wishes as I was coming here was to stop running, however, as everything in life, there are always at least two sides of the coin and what I have realized as I have spent the first few weeks here is that running has been a central theme to discovery. This blog is a space for me to articulate some of the discoveries I have as I am running around in South America.