AI ... AI AI AI !!

And so AIESEC International 07/08 team of Directors is complete. It was an absolutely unforgettable experience being on the other side of the table and each unique candidate passed through the room.

There are lots of emotions around this entire scenario. For everyone, and for me. Got a call from a really special person after announcements last night! You're A Gem!

- Here are a few unique moments from the last 3 days for me -

Diversity Baby!

Selection Panel Hugs!

The Ladies .. They Are the Hot!

... And the Strong!

Regardless, I remain the Playa'!

The Selection Panel for AIESEC International 07/08 - Right Before Announcements!

Gorgeous Venue!

Tonight's a big night as we get ready to potentially join the AIESEC Network as Full Members!

Such an Honor!

Being part of the selection panel for AIESEC International is one of the greatest honors one can have!

I can't be more proud of having this opportunity. Honestly, it's such a great experience... To walk into an anticipating Global Plenary knowing the person that is President of AIESEC International... To be standing behind the candidates as the bowl of water is poured... It's out of this world!

Congratulations Gabiza! Look forward to having 20 interviews with you in the coming 2 days!

Respect.

Three Wheeler Stallion

"Behind Every Successful Attempt to Change the World, is a Brave and Gallant Rickshaw"

Deviant Thoughts

This post is inspired by the word "Incognito".

Last night, there was a pretty kick-ass barbeque thing we did on 'The Roof' with the purpose of taking a break from everyday stuff (and people!) and enjoying some good food in the good weather. Now for those of my friends that haven't met 'The Roof', Oh Dear Lord, are you missing the best part of my 'Mansion'. No, I am not delusional. It's the good life!

It's funny I'm making this post when I hinted in my last one that there won't be many regular posts for a bit. It actually stems from a conversation that I had with a friend today, who asked me why I finally got me a blog. As soon as I told him that it was to keep my friends up to speed with the stuff that was going on with me, I realized that when you update your buds you don't just tell them what's going on with your life, but also what the hell's been playin in your mind.

Of course, due to the very nature of blogs being treated like disgusting online emotional diaries, this post isn't going to be quite an 'insight' into the deep dark secrets of Emad's mind! (Do I hear someone going 'Damn it'!. Did I just address myself in third person?! Damn it!).

There's a lotta stuff going on nowadays, and I find myself regularly switching between work - the conferences coming up, the followups to be done, the meetings to be had, the international relations - and personal next steps. Moreover, I've also been thinking about how, while I haven't been in touch with most of my friends as well as I woulda liked, they're too cool to have real issues. Yes, they do bitch to me about it, but hey, wouldn't I!

Have also been gettin to know some super-cool new people! People who share my love for desi food and of Marbles for dessert, people that think it IS cool for me to join the airforce, people who take heartbreak REALLY well, people that love to babysit, and some others.

But yea, surely looking to get life's balance back, since I got a disproportionately larger number of 'professional' birthday calls than 'personal' ones! Woah! There were a couple of important people that DID forget my birthday, though. I shall now use this to name and shame! haha! Jus kiddin! But for those of them that STILL dun remember, it was on the 7th. Got a really cool surprise from some of my friends here, as well as my first bunch of flowers!

Speaking of flowers... And People... there are other things that get some kind of thought processing time. These things usually have funny english accents, hate roses, and are proud owners of shoe collections to match the one you see here! (This is actually from one shopping spree! Bah!)

Anyhow, interesting times to be a neuron in my head . A very happy V'day to loadsa people who are luckier than me!

V for Ven-Visa?

For those of you that have ever applied for a visa to the US or to some high profile Western Europe country, being a citizen of Pakistan, you'd agree that the process is fairly complex. It involves everything from travel insurances, invitation letters, attested photographs, long forms, travelling to Islamabad, grilling interviews with grim faced visa officers and exorbiant visa fees. After going through hell, if you satisfy the requirements, you get the visa, else you don't.

What you might not be aware of is that Pakistan takes bilateralism VERY seriously. So the following is the process for someone applying for a Pakistani visa (assume for the purpose of this analysis, that person is from an EU country):

1. Apply for Visa at Pakistan Embassy in EU country.
2. Get told there is no such thing as an NGO Work Visa. Get rejected.
3. Bring printout of Ministry of Interior website on NGO Work Visas.
4. Apply for 1 Yr Multiple entry NGO Work Visa.
5. Get told an approval is required from the Ministry of Interior.
6. Get approval from MoI.
7. Get a 1 month single entry NGO Work Visa. Complain.
8. They say it can be extended from Pakistan. Complain.
9. They give you a 3 month NGO Work visa. Get happy you acheived something.
10. Come to Pakistan despite serious warning against having to have extensions here.
11. Apply for Extension. Wait.
12. Follow up extension. Records are lost. Apply again.
13. 1 week to IC. Still no extension. Single entry visa. Shit! Panic!
14. Travel to Islamabad and beg for a re-entry visa after banking hours (yea rite!)
15. A few tears, and you have a re-entry visa.
16. Come back to Pakistan, apply immediately for extension using high powered govt contact.
17. Get told a 10 month extension takes long. Get 3 months extension instead, while keeping 10 month in progress.
18. Wait for 1 month for the Intelligence Bureau people to show up. Nothing. Follow up. Wait.
19. Wait for 2 months for the Intelligence Bureau people to show up. Nothing. Follow up.
20. Panic.
21. 6 days before IPM you get told there's no such application there.
22. Options:
a. Apply for extension again. No going to IPM.
b. Apply for new visa. Go back to EU country.
c. Change Date on Visa. Get arrested.
d. Kill yourself.

After following a rather extensive documentational requirement, one realizes that they are still no closer to getting a Pakistani visa. Why is it so difficult when the Prime Minister is begging foreigners to come to this country? What are we thinking?! Perhaps we don't like to mingle? Why are we making mile long queues outside the German embassy then? What are we thinking?!

Today, I took Joanna's passport to the passport office in the hope things would work out. After waiting for 2 hours for a 'guy' to show up, I was told, it's prayer time and that I should leave! Hell, with all the corruption, you're gonna need more than prayer, buddy!

But Pakistan's an amazing country. Every time I walk out of that godforsaken passport office, I hear the voice: "Get outta here man! Leave! Join that mile long queue to Germany!". Funnily, by the time I get back home though, I realize things will never 'automatically' get better. I belong to the small echelon of society that can make a difference. So, should I join that queue and never look back?

On my way back today, an interesting thing happened. I got stuck in traffic 'cos some 'Big Person's Motorcade' was passing and they'd chosen to disregard any respect for life in general so that that person may pass. I counted the cars (Wish I had a camera to record this live!). 27 Vehicles! That's right, Inclusive of Bikes, Ambulances, Bomb Squads, Fire Engines, 4 Mercedes Benz, Civilian Police, Traffic Police, Military Police, Army, Navy, Rangers. People all around me got excited sayin 'Oh Musharraf Ja Raha Hai' (Oh Musharraf is passing!). Reminded me of a documentary I saw last night, Power of Nightmares. Talks about how societies will decay from within and this decay will accelerate as you find leaders that make you believe you are getting closer to freedom. Freedom? I don't think the random policeman in that motorcade was too free! Or the Rickshaw guy in front of me! Or I! Or Even Mr President himself. Wonder if he needs visas to go around!

Oh well, before I go into another endless rant, I'll leave it at that.

In other news, I did not apply to AIESEC International. For all those I've promised an update, things just spiralled out of control at a rather bad time as my parents decided to have a midlife crisis of sorts. Surely, a little sad about it, but I'll live! Who knows, maybe I'll join the selection panel and be super mean to all the candidates! Khee! I love these guys! Best of Luck, y'all!

As for me, I'm now thinking out loud 'What's Next?'. Open to suggestions! :)

On a final note, I'll be travelling for a coupla months now, so another update might be a while, but I promise it will be a sexier update (with pictures!). Egyptian Biryani and the Deserts of Hyderabad, here I come!