Sunday, May 31, 2009

Living abroad gives you a creative edge




Living abroad gives expats greater creativity in problem solving, according to new research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. In an experiment, researchers gave subjects a box of tacks, a candle, and some matches. The subjects were asked to fix the candle to the wall in such a way that, when it was lit, no wax would drip onto the floor. Sixty percent of expats could solve the problem, versus 42 percent of those who’d never lived abroad. Another experiment asked subjects to draw an alien creature. Those who hadn’t lived abroad returned fairly ordinary creatures which closely resembled Earthbound lifeforms. Those who had lived abroad — well, see for yourself. It’s not just that more creative people are predisposed to living overseas; the study’s authors isolated personality traits known to be associated with creativity, and controlled for their presence or absence in their subjects. It’s the process of adapting to a new culture that seems to drive the creativity boost.
Published by FREAKONOMICS

More links on that:

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Entrepreneurs can change the world

Love this video :)

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Bitter tears for the Dreams


This week has been quite terrible in terms of bad news I have been getting day to day, where the level of emotions was jumping from one to another and in the end made me to re-think everything what I'm striving for now, how well I'm keeping the relationships with people close to me and just listen to my own heart on what it says. Stop... Sit down... Reflect... 

This week has been a week, when Dreams of certain people don't come true... It can be the influence of someones decision of being "not the way you planned" and wanted... Or the worst thing, that universe made the situations happen the way, that your life stops... and all your dare dreams shut down in a single moment.

This week my personal dream wasn't fulfilled as I wasn't selected for the role I was striving for a longer period of time. Sure, there are always people who are also dreaming about it together with you and in the end, they turned to be the most suitable for that. And you, feeling sad and confused, that your plans were basically ruined, are trying to reflect what was wrong and how can you learn from this experience... In the very end, it was a great process of learning for you... And then tons of people are saying, that "everything happens by purpose", "something good should happen to you soon" or the sentences starting with "at least, you ..." And everything goes fine again. You believe.

Dreams are always crushing when they don't come true. But it's the simple dreams that are often the most painful because they seem so personal, so reasonable, so attainable. You're always close enough to touch, but never quite close enough to hold and it's enough to break your heart.

The next day this dream already didn't matter for me at all, as I understood how selfish it was for me that time again to leave my family and close relatives for a year again, not turning back home and again spending less time with them than I should. That moment I understood that the life may happen the way, that some of them I wont see in my life anymore... 

When we lose one we love, our bitterest tears are called forth by the memory of hours when we loved not enough.

I have been crying twice during my year here... During the times when I was feeling stressed in late autumn, alone and not understanding how the things I was currently doing contributing to my development, also missing my home and friends... That time was a big self-reflection time for me and in the end that was smth needed for me.

This week I was crying the second time, but due to a different occasion... Even worst I could ever imagine in my life now... I got the news about one of my youngest cousins who`s life has been stopped by the car accident due to the mistake of a total stranger. I know that he was dreaming a lot like his sisters to study and work in Almaty, my hometown, and he made the first step for that entering the university there and almost finishing his 1st year there. He had had his own dreams, ambitious or not... He was one of the ones, whom we can call like "golden child" in the family, whom everyone adores and takes care of... And he was one of my loveliest cousins too. 

And now... you can imagine... Many times in our lives we cant influence the occasions, but maybe knowing that, we can prevent it next time, being more watchful with our own lives... It was pretty hard to be far from my family and close relatives, when they were all together and you cant physically be with them... What I could do is just call and say my words of condolence to his parents... Talk to my mum and say that she doesn't need to worry about me and going to be back home very soon... Being not a religious person myself I felt that I need to be in some spiritual place, where I could at least show "him" my feeling and how I do care... And i went to the orthodox church to put the candle for his soul and express my inner feelings, how I still love him and will remember always... That has been the first time in my life when I thought that it will be right thing to do, is to go to the church... I don't know why and cant explain... I think we still as human beings believe, that there should be "someone" through whom many things can be explained and passed...

Will be missing you a lot, my dear Zhenis...

You'll get over it...' It's the clichés that cause the trouble. To lose someone you love is to alter your life for ever. You don't get over it because 'it' is the person you loved. The pain stops, there are new people, but the gap never closes. How could it? The particularness of someone who mattered enough to grieve over is not erased by anyone but death. This hole in my heart is in the shape of you and no one else can fit. Why would I want them to?

Sunday, May 17, 2009

EuroVision 2009 Winner!



Alexander Rybak - Fairytale

Years ago, when I was younger,
I kinda liked a girl I knew.
She was mine, and we were sweethearts
That was then, but then it’s true

I’m in love with a fairytale,
even though it hurts
‘Cause I don’t care if I lose my mind
I’m already cursed.

Every day we started fighting,
every night we fell in love
No one else could make me sadder,
but no one else could lift me high above

I don’t know what I was doing,
when suddenly, we fell apart
Nowadays, I cannot find her
But when I do, we’ll get a brand new start

I’m in love with a fairytale,
even though it hurts
‘Cause I don’t care if I lose my mind
I’m already cursed

She’s a fairytale
Yeah…
Even though it hurts
‘Cause I don’t care if I lose my mind
I’m already cursed


And Estonia was also awesome! Love the performance a lot...




Urban Symphony "Rändajad"
 
kõrbekuumuses liiva 
lendab kui jääkülma lund
öö peagi laotamas tiivad
rändajaid saatma jääb tuul

see on tee
nad rändavad nii päevast päeva
see on tee
nad rändavad siis ajast aega
see on tee
ta nähtamatu rajana kulgeb
nende tee
ta ootab kui riskida julged

külmunud hingi vaid saadab
kuuvalgus varje neist loob
päikesekiirena sooja
hommik taas endaga toob

see on tee
nad rändavad nii päevast päeva
see on tee
nad rändavad siis ajast aega
see on tee
ta nähtamatu rajana kulgeb
nende tee
ta ootab kui riskida julged

nad rändavad nii päevast päeva
nad rändavad siis ajast aega
ta nähtamatu rajana kulgeb
ta ootab kui riskida julged

üle mägede taevasse kaigub hääl 

nad rändavad nii päevast päeva
nad rändavad siis ajast aega
ta nähtamatu rajana kulgeb
ta ootab kui riskida julged

see on tee

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Capturing the experiences

Just today I came back from the last national conference of our MC team year in AIESEC Estonia and it was I’d say very emotional for us… And that’s quite natural for sure as we are almost in the end of our roads and experiences we started in June 2007. Time is passing very quickly and we have to capture the best moments of it and remember… 

This has been the all-year-round intense development experience for us, but at the same time we managed to keep all our promises and achieve the ever greatest things we dreamed about before… I’m sure this year is one of the Legendary years in the history of AIESEC Estonia, which will be in the memories of many people being the year of turning many things around showing how AIESEC Estonia can be successful, changing the old mindsets by implementing new ideas that pay off in the end and the year of Growth and Professionalism. And I’m really thankful to my team experience which I had during this year with our MC and I think that’s one of the teams, about whom you say in the end “I would love to work with these guys again”… And we are all now very proud to pass the created growth platform for new generation here, which should be much better in the results and successes… I always say, that “your real impact of the year in AIESEC will come, when your successors become better than you”… And I’m quite sure, it will happen… 

Everyone of us at the conference was sharing their own MC stories mostly capturing their AIESEC experiences, as most of us are finishing with the active career in the organization and looking for new challenges on how to capitalize on our personal and professional growth in AIESEC, network of contacts… For me it was for sure different experience, than other of my team mates had, being the only international in the team in AIESEC country abroad. I shared some of my reasons on why I was looking for this experience, why I’ve chosen Estonia, what I gained from it, thank you word to people I worked closely apart my team… It’s pretty hard to share now about this experience, I’m living now, as I’m sure more reflection time should come in the very end of my story here or after it… But definitely this year has been a good investment to my personal development as a whole and building myself as a person to grow individually even more in the environment that is out of my comfort zone… And I guess, I managed quite well to stay positive in the end of the road and leave the “growth footprints” to the AIESEC country, which I already consider as a home too…



But now I’m looking for the next challenges that I want to connect with my own career plans and future ambitious. And I’m already on the way of creating my path for the next year and I want to spend it abroad too… Let’s see how it works out this time. I was sharing with my friend recently in our mail correspondence, that I feel a bit strange currently and I'd say quite empty as I even don't know what's going to happen to me in the next 2 months - where I will be and what will I do... This uncertainty has been always the most uncomfortable or even sometimes scary thing for me, with what I try to deal immediately. Especially its hard to feel now, as I used to count my life by “years”, already knowing at least four months before what are my next steps… 

I'm also compiling my Estonia "to-do" list as the time of pressure is coming over me and I'm trying to experience as much as I can in the last moments - visiting new places, cultural events, travelling and basically having fun with my friends here as well. 

Be always cool and enjoy every moment of your life… 

Even if it’s hard on the way, the final outcome will positively surprise you… Believe me…

Friday, May 01, 2009

Minu Eesti! Моя Эстония!

Welcome to My Estonia!

Do you live in Estonia?

Then pack yourself a picnic lunch, throw in a couple of good ideas, grab a couple of friends and come along to one of our think tanks on May 1st!
By putting our heads together we’re bound to come up with ways to make life in Estonia even better, whether it’s in our own neighbourhoods or throughout the whole country. And we’re sure to figure out how to turn them into more than just ideas.
Are you Estonian, but not living here? Think tanks are being formed to accommodate Estonians in countries around the world, and/or you can participate on line in a virtual think tank. All others who have an interest in things Estonian are welcome, as well!
Let’s work together to make Estonia a better place!

Check! www.minueesti.ee




And it's happening tomorrow! :)