Mel Mel: Dances Like No One's Watching: April 2008

I Think The Honeymoon Is Over...

hon·ey·moon
- noun

any period of blissful harmony
any new relationship characterized by an initial period of harmony and goodwill

So in some respects I should be happy that it actually took this long for this to happen. I think it was the culmination of many things that have building up over the last little while, triggered by the catalyst of returning from the high that was SA State Con.

Long term solution?

Look for a long term solution.

Short term solution in the meantime?

Turn up the volume of my music REALLY loud and continue to dance about the house. Repeat until tired and/or hungry.
Admire this lovely photo that Elo shared with me - how can you stay annoyed at that face?

Ice Cream and Cake

Ice cream and cake. Do the ice cream and cake!

Givle

Use aiesec.givle.com! The same google technology for a good cause!

Once The SA Region...

Dear AIESEC South Australia,

I definitely wasn't as articulate as I would have liked to have been in my closing plenary speech. Looking back, it seems ironic when I received so much feedback about being an energizer bunny. But like I said, I think I was simply lost for words.

It's now 2am, the morning after conference and I still haven't gone to sleep. Don't get me wrong, my body feels tired, extremely tired - it feels heavy, like a dead weight, everything from my head, down to my toes... and yet my mind is still running at hundred miles per minute.

I think I'm at a stage where I'm too scared to go to sleep because I know how painful waking up will be. Like breaking up a daily 3 hour sleep pattern with a hit of what would otherwise be considered a normal 7 hours of sleep would hit me like a tonne of bricks and leave me even worse for wear.

So here I am. Faci team conference team debrief is over. Sitting on Jen's couch, choosing to capture my thoughts now and provide some structure to the constant spinning in my mind that SA State Conference has given me. Because this is my learning edge.

I took up the opportunity of chairing South Australian State Conference 2008, with the intention of giving something back to an organisation that had given me so much, applying the skills and experience I had learned from my job practically to a conference environment and improve my knowledge of a region that I had heard so much about during my MC term but never really had the chance to experience first hand.

Typical how life has a strange sense of humour when it comes to turning everything on its head.

Insert my South Australian State Conference Experience.

Things I will remember about conference:

AIESEC is like an airport - full of good byes and hellos, except there are no true goodbyes, only see you soons!
Do! Go! Yes!
Learning and relearning is an essential part of life.
Law of requisite variety suggests that the person who has the most opportunities and is the most flexible in situations will always be in the better position.
People can step up by letting go.
Hay rolls, lots and lots of rolls of hay.
I can dance like a souja boy
It’s not that easy to try to line dance in kimono however.
It’s only with a mindset that is open to possibilities that we can truly grow as individuals. It’s scary as hell, but we are often our own worst critics and stop ourselves by putting up barriers that shouldn’t be there.
http://aiesec.givle.com/
Ice cream and cake and cake. Ice cream and cake and cake.
Even carpets can have an impact.
A shot of sambuca and a lit flame in the mouth is not necessarily a bad thing
Beautiful sunsets and sunrises.
“Exchange, just do it. When you gonna get to it? Exchange, just do it. Where ya gonna go?”

Thank you to all of you welcomed me so kindly into the region. South Australia will forever hold a special place in my heart.

I have gained so much from this chairing experience that it has given me new direction for what I want to do next. Watch this space for more details…

*hugz*

Mel

Bah Dah Dah Dah Bah Bah Bah Duh Bah!!!!!!!!

"I have a lime...

He is a tiger...

He has an aura...

And is from Tahiti..."

Bri, Ippei, Fi and Murad - Thanks so much for such a fun road trip up to Vic State Con.

The lethal combination of brownies, mint cupcakes, tequila and good company was fantastic!

In conclusion, "Bah Dah Dah Dah Bah Bah Bah Duh Bah!!!!!!!!"

What is the Real Cost of Chocolate?

Your favourite chocolate bar might not taste so sweet when you consider that with each bite you are supporting an industry where children are forced to work long hours in dangerous conditions instead of going to school.

Take the chocolate challenge!

Take up the 3-step challenge and make a difference to the lives of cocoa children and chocolate industry practices.

Step 1: Write a letter to chocolate manufacturers.

Email or print and send this letter to the manufacturer of your favourite chocolate c/o The Confectionery Manufacturers of Australasia. Let them know that you believe they have a clear responsibility to actively address the problems!

Step 2: Put the pressure on retailers.

Hand this coupon to the retailer where you buy your favourite chocolate and mention why you are doing it!

Step 3: Tell a friend..

..by forwarding this email to a friend, colleague or family member.

Don't Trade Lives - Eat Guilt-Free Chocolate!
Read more at: http://www.donttradelives.com.au

Women Rights and Equality - What Do They Want Now?

For most women the pace of life, particularly the constant juggling, often leaves them feeling depleted of energy and stressed.

The carer role is dominated by women and is undervalued

The superwoman stereotype does not make for a super role model

The availability of part-time work is a double-edged sword.

On the one hand part-time work may offer mothers the only sort of paid employment they can manage.
On the other hand working part-time means women are more available to do the unpaid domestic and caring work.

Generation Y is less likely to tolerate inflexible work conditions in the same way that previous generations of women have. Generation Y have seen their parents pay for their standard of living through stress, broken relationships, long hours and health concerns and want more out of their lives.

Own mothers are seen as the most influential and positive role models

For more information visit the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission