Exchange Stories Vol. 007

[Written by Yau Sze Ern]

Gan Mei Ling, an AIESEC member from Universiti Sains Malaysia, made her choice to go exchange to Taiwan during her four-months semester break. The project she was involved in is “Talent of Youth”. Wondering why she chose Taiwan instead of other countries? That is because she always wanted to know more about Taiwan not just through TV or movie but with her own experience and get the chance to see everything with her own eyes. Other than that, getting the chance to experience their lifestyle and learn what Taiwanese believe in is also what Mei Ling wanted to gain.

Believe it or not? This is Mei Ling’s first time traveling aboard alone! She is very excited and looking forward for her exchange. Tons of questions kept popping out in her mind. “What kind of people will I met ? Am I going to adapt the new environment? etc* ” Mei Ling told us how she felt before going for the exchange, “It feels so insecure and wonder am I really going overseas? ” But, deep inside her heart she believes that she is able to go through this exchange successfully.

During Mei Ling’s exchange in Taiwan, her role is to assist the English teachers in their classes which consist of Standard 5 students. At the same time, she holds the role of an ambassador of her own country by sharing Malaysian culture during assembly and classes in that school too. Responses from the students were just surprisingly amazing, as they got really excited listening about the Malaysian culture that was being presented. Besides, she also got the chance to be involved as a facilitator in a Summer Camp which is organized for primary students.

On the other hand, she faced a few challenges too. For instance, communication. She was assigned to work hand in hand with another intern from Malaysia under the same school. Although both of them are from Malaysia, they have completely different thoughts and personalities. Thus, it's a challenge for her. Through this, she learnt that tolerance is the most essential thing in every friendship. In order to build a strong team, commitment and willingness to work together is very important.

In the period of 6 weeks in Taiwan, she had learnt to appreciate and value things that she had in her life. “Be happy and contented with our life, especially our family members who care and love us for who we are.”

Of course there are lots of funny stories to tell about her exchange. “The funniest thing that happened during my exchange was going to Seven-Eleven and calling tons of orders with friends until the shop keeper recognized us without mention any names or address to the deliver. We met lots of students over there. We even hang out with the students and the teachers. Not forgot to mention that we usually go karaoke with them.”

This is an awesome experience. She never imagine that she will be able to step out of Malaysia, but she just made it and brought a brand new experience for her own self. She had colored her life with a new chapter!

Mei Ling shared her exchange experience and told us that she really like her exchange experience a lot. She like the feeling of simplicity and heart-warming when she interact with the locals and get to understand what they understand about their own county, Malaysia and the world.

She felt sad that her exchange period in Taiwan is so short. Time passes so fast. Now she is addicted to the lifestyle there and want to go for an exchange again! However, during her exchange she did miss Malaysia so much and she feel so proud to be a Malaysian due to lots of reasons.

“The world changes every minute.
Nothing is impossible, nothing can't be done, problems comes with solutions all the time.
We just need to get a way to solve it our self, in the way to learn a lesson.
I love and appreciate my experience in Taiwan. ” ~ by Mei Ling

To know more about AIESEC exchange opportunities, do log on to
AIESEC Global Community Development Programme

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Read More

AIESEC is now coming to USM Engineering Campus

RSVP Here

Read More

Exchange Stories Vol. 006

Grace Alexander, from Universiti Sains Malaysia, made her choice to go for an exchange in Vietnam right after her exam finals. Knowing Vietnam is one of the countries in South-East Asia that has the most population living with HIV/AIDS, she decided to go there to educate the people on HIV/AIDS. Besides, she is also curious about the way of living of people in the third world country.

She was pumped up before stepping out of the country for an exchange. However, she was mentally ready for what she is going to face there - the environment, the people, the language, the weather,the food... everything that'll apparently give her a culture shock when she get there. Grace was extremely excited of getting herself ready to travel abroad ALONE for the first time and also nervous about the project that she is going to handle in Vietnam. "Two months is very long indeed" she said to herself, but she confidently continues, "the longer it is, the more experience I'll gain, the more chances and opportunities I'll get and the more people I'll be able to educate."

For the first two weeks in Vietnam, Grace felt so lost. Her 'mentally prepared' brain wasn't mentally prepared at all. It was so different than what she had imagined. But, thanks to her hosts, friends and herself for not giving up so easily, she quickly learnt and picked up whatever she could and need. To be honest, she was doing much better than she expected, and she felt blessed!

Grace was involved in a project called LIVING WITH HIV awareness campaign. They went to primary and secondary schools, universities and international schools to educate the students there on HIV/AIDS, using different types of syllabus prepared. Grace having fun time educating students in primary schools, as the workshops were conducted in story telling and a more interesting and simple way of explanation. For two months in Vietnam, the project team had educated around 28 schools and 3000 over students.

Apparently, the main attraction for the workshop is the condom demonstration, where students get superbly excited about them. Sometimes before workshops, they travel to respective schools to do some promotion about the workshop and that really involves hard work because they have to travel to and fro the school every time, but it never stops them from doing so. It turns out they saw and met lots of interesting things all the time. Other than workshops, they also went to the HIV/AIDS shelter homes for visitation. It was really heart breaking to see all of them there. Having to see so many people getting educated every week about HIV/AIDS made Grace even more glad and happier than ever!

Being in Vietnam for two months, Grace first ever challenge was the language barrier, as none of them speaks English except private university students, taxi drivers, certain street sellers and tourist attraction places. So, when Grace first got there, she have to communicate with the locals with sign language. Only after a few days she got to learnt a few important words of their language in order to 'survive'. After two weeks, she was able to order food and ask for directions!

The second challenging part was getting lost every time she needs to go somewhere other than the central of Vietnam. Travelling alone on the public bus with a hysterical map that make her eyes squint and head spin every time she look at it is hard! Adding to that, Saigon is overcrowded and full of motorbikes, so even by walking by the streets and crossing he roads was a challenge to her! The first time Grace crossed the roads in Saigon took her 15 minutes!!! Also, sitting on the local's motorbikes gives her a heart attack because it seems that in any second they will collide with the motorcyclist next to them. But all these gave her the touch of the real local daily living in Vietnam.

Challenges surrounded Grace in these two months eventually made her realised and learnt a lot of things, and she went through all of them step by step. She already knew the streets in Saigon pretty well, and she can even order food and ask for directions by herself. Now, she only need few seconds to cross the streets, and she even love riding on bikes!! More important, her knowledge on HIV/AIDS improved tremendously!

These 2 months time in Vietnam had taught her a lot and she found herself learning so much that she could not get to learn in her own country, Malaysia. And so, she started to appreciate everything when she was in Saigon. "I've learnt that the commitment that one gives to a project and teamwork are very essential." The whole project team that Grace involved worked really hard for what they are doing. Every time Grace see students listening and concentrating to what they said, she was moved and felt so glad, happy and relieved. She believed they have changed lives around Saigon and saved them too! She was even glad when many of them asked questions regarding HIV/AIDS.

"I've gained trust, when students actually confront us individually and shared their private stories about HIV/AIDS, believing in us that we're the answer to their questions all these years."

Through this exchange, Grace had learnt to grow and love. Understanding each kids and watching them fighting against the diseases had inspired her. She come to understand that most of the child born with HIV/AIDS only lives up to the age of 13 or 14. The only thing they wish and hope for is love and a chance in their life. Grace also learnt how to cherish every opportunities that she have.

Grace knew that she will be educating students when she applied for this exchange, but she actually did not imagine or expect that she actually learnt more than what she had expected. "It's the stay there that had inspired me to go forth for everything while I still can. It's the experience there that had lead me into a whole new dream." Grace wasn't really concern about HIV/AIDS in the beginning.

Time flies. Two months passed real fast and she felt reborn coming back to Malaysia. Grace had found her passion from this exchange. So she hope she could encourage more people to grab this opportunity to experience this priceless experience like she did.

"Thanks to AIESEC, I've believe I have achieved what I wanted and more.

I now have, as what I like to put it, a new vision towards the end of my path.

What I've learnt is to eye for every opportunity that is given to you.

When you come across any opportunity, just take it and worry about it later.

Let your heart lead the way.

Time does not resist us. It is us that resist time."

Always give your heart a chance to learn more. It's never wrong to be wrong. - Grace Alexander

To know more about AIESEC exchange opportunities, do log on to

AIESEC Global Community Development Programme

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Read More

Run For Peace 2011 Press Conference

On 9th September 2011, Soka Gakkai Malaysia, AIESEC in USM, The Right Livelihood College and Ghandiji Ashram Penang had come together to officially launch Run For Peace 2011.

We have heard of lots of walks and runs all over Malaysia. Run For Peace is a non-competitive run which aims to create awareness of a peaceful and healthy existence in our multi-racial society. The event will be on the 2nd October 2011 (Sunday), starts from 7:00am at Stadium Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

Through this event, AIESEC in USM would also like to contribute to raise the awareness of the event. The Peace Shop, is the way AIESEC in USM together with The Right Livelihood College, to set up a mini shop during the event day to promote some merchandise that are related to peace. Profit will then be donated to charity organizations to support their cause and also peace.

So what are you waiting for?

Do join us for this huge event and RUN FOR PEACE!!

See you there!! =D

If you are interested to know more or register Run For Peace 2011,

kindly log on to RUN FOR PEACE 2011 (FB).

Read More

Exchange Stories Vol. 005

Lim Gene-Harn (Japheth), an architectural student from Universiti Sains Malaysia, went for exchange in Shanghai, China, in his first year of his university life.

He chooses Shanghai for a few advantages in his personal agenda, namely the world's largest expo - Shanghai Expo, and as well he believe in Shanghai being the most vibrant and culturally modern mixed urbanscape in the whole China, proven by being the economic center of whole China.

Before going to China, Gene-Harn was feeling challenged because of his mandarin language level, as he thought it could be a barrier for communication. At the same time, he was also feeling anxious, as it was the first time for him to step out of Malaysia and to travel alone in a foreign land. But he knows... that this experience will change him entirely by able to see things for himself abroad.

Reaching the land of China for the first time in his life, Gene-Harn felt "This is it!!". The moment he stepped out of the plane, his heart told him "I knew I was on a journey to experience and understand myself better because it was only me, myself", feeling like there was a total new chapter and new connections in his life, that he would need to transcend whatever he had learnt before and apply in the new environment.

Eight weeks in Shanghai, he was involved in a project called Green Power Now project, which has a learning partner from Greenovate. Together with 6 team mates, they were trained under Greenovate and educated more than 3000 students in higher secondary schools. They also helped the NGOs in any of its side activities, including MAGIC MADE Green in China project, which encourages the participants to come out with innovative designs from waste that is marketable. It was totally a brand new things to learnt.

Even though he was from Chinese education background, one of the challenges that he faced there is communication. That is because communication is always different everywhere because of culture. However, that is the funniest experience he had. Chinese words are often categorized into modern and traditional writings. Thus, for a modern Chinese educated person like him, he tend to treat all the words in Shanghai as it, so he misintepreted a few streets name, as the map does not have English translation then. So, he spent few hours walking blindly on the streets. However, he discovered more interesting parts of Shanghai.

According to Gene-Harn, "I have learnt independence and gained my passion on Environmental issue. It is indeed one of the most essential turning point of life I had. I learnt of cultural acceptance and a better understanding of myself and my country." When he was back in Malaysia, many friends of his noticed that he had some positive changes in him.

Going for an exchange was not what he could imagine before entering university, because he did now know there would be such wonderful opportunity and organization that provide such experience. Ending his exchange, he noticed there was always a force in him that pushes him forward in everything he does.

"My exchange experience is really indeed, an EXCHANGE experience. Such exchange does not only help me but others, because a lot of locals in China would know more about Malaysia and about cross cultural practices. This programme is essential for all parties. I would really encourage everyone to go for any exchange ASAP, as the earlier you realize more about your own and the world, the more you will feel the urge to do something!"

For more information regarding Gene-Harn's exchange, do log on to http://geneharnshanghaiexchange.weebly.com

Read More