London 2008 - 2009

Coming to a different country has always the nice feeling of change and learning of something new. And the past 17 months in London was time full of personal development from all possible aspects.

Still, it was different when I arrived to London. Unlike my friends, I was not especially excited about the place, for me it was the one where I was supposed to settle down. I didn't know how will London open my eyes and how will its energy and freedom completely change my plans. I remember my 2009 NY's resolution of staying at one place this time... and yet, after few months I started to feel I have to move again and experience the feeling of change and constant learning of something new. That time I realized I had a serious problem: during the past 5 years I'd lived in 5 different countries and I was looking for new one! I went through the options (if you can call it so during the severe recession London's job market was suffering) and I constantly knew there is not a single job in the world which would allow me to change countries each year or so. And I was wrong again...

I came to London knowing almost anyone. Thanks to an AIESEC friend I'd been invited to an ALUMNI gathering. There could have been around 40 different people that time, I met just three. The first two became my flatmates and I owe them quite a lot for how they took me between them and their friends and how homy atmosphere they created in the house. The third one told me about the dream job.. There were more months of uncertainty and mess in 2009 than I experienced earlier but it was so much worth it and now it conjures a smile of satisfaction on my lips.

I want to say that every single person I'd met last year had an impact on me and I couldn't stop admiring the smartness, enthusiasm and inspiration I saw. Every single one of you has something very unique which makes you awesome and I greatly appreciate all the opportunities I was given in London.

And the resoultion for 2010? To learn as much as possible and meet as many people as possible in Hong Kong.

Paris

As a Christmas present I invited my mum to Paris. Paris is her favourite city and she wanted to see the Xmas atmosphere there. It was pleasant to spend couple of days together just the two of us, since I do not spend much time with my parents lately.

We did sightseeing of the whole city: walking down the Champs-Elysees, visiting Louvre, Montparnasse, Opera and Montmartre with Basilique du Sacre-Coeur, Notre Dame and the Latin Quarter, Pantheon or the Invalides, La Defense or Galerie Lafayette, just to name few. We also took a city bus tour and a boat trip at night and enjoyed few nice and cosy pubs and shops.

On top of it I booked the online tickets for Eiffel Tower for exactly the time before sunset so we could watch Paris with daylight and the sunset itself as well as the city by night. It was an amazing experience since none of us had been to the top floor before and we even enjoyed the small scary movements you can feel there.

Bricket Wood and Lake District

Feeling like you need a change, need to meet new people, need to switch off and forget the rest of your normal world, need to live different things?

4 weeks, 28 nationalities, 68 delegates ...

So many memories, so much fun and new friends!

جمهورية مصر العربية (Egypt)‎

Egypt was the right choice for some nice time off in between the jobs. It was my first visit to Africa, my first contact with arabic spoken country and I was extremely surprised how similar developing countries are (it reminded me so much of South America that I almost booked another ticket lol).

With my dear friend, we booked a last minute trip. The fun actually started before we took off when he realized that the agency confused our departure date.. Suddenly, I had 2 hours to pack and get to the airport to catch almost fully booked flight from London to Prague to be on time for another flight from Prague to Hurghada. It seemed almost impossible and I enjoyed the excitement I expect from my future job =) We were lucky and managed to meet at the airport on time after years of not having seen each other.

The plan was simple, just to relax on the beach and chat for ages. Yeah, we spent some time on the beach, only few hours at the end though.. Most of the time was dedicated to explore the real Egypt outside the hotel complex. We visited Luxor with its Karnak الأقصر Temple and Valley of Kings, Cairo with its Giza الجيزة pyramid complex and Sphinx أبو الهول, the National museum and the city itself.

We also made a trip to Giftun island enjoying a bit of the famous Red Sea snorkeling. And most important of course, we met some nice local people (remembering Hassan ?! LOL )

Great relaxing, 35 degrees, hot sea, great architecture and wonderful people.

Love جمهورية مصر العربية

Weekend in Spain

I saw M. in Spain for a weekend, it was a nice encounter although the expectations might have been slightly different. I had this plesant feeling of seeing a person, real friend, I want to keep in my life on very important place..

I guess this was my last visit of Vigo and it feels just right for the moment.

Tatras Mountains

Climbing with my father was exciting although I realized I am lazy as an office rat and he had too much energy to keep climbing every day and drinking every night. After such a holiday I feel like taking few days off to properly recover :)

Frankfurt am Main

I visited Frankfurt, the Germany's financial centre twice last month. It was another of these interviews where you actually have enough time to stay at the place for a while and make a proper sightseeing. I stayed over the weekend, visited few places, met some people and chilled out. Overall, it was nice but compared to London far too small to settle down ...

Scotland

This was one of the best weekends in UK so far. With Jenny, we spent Friday in Edinburgh, sightseeing the whole Royal Mile from the Castle, St Giles Cathedral, to the Scottish Parliament and The Palace of Holyroodhouse. The fact that it was quite chilly and rainy most of the time couldnt have changed the beauty of the place. We bought plenty of souvenirs and booked a tour for the next day to the Highlands. At night we stayed at Ankits, enjoying Indian food and glass of good white wine, talking about his marriage.

Saturday, early in the morning we took the 12 hours Timberbush Tours to Loch Ness, long but definitely worthy. Our driver, Patrick, was talking the whole day about the history and local legends, showing us every castle and lake on the way, he also played typical music and of course, wore a kilt and knife behind his right sock. I haven't checked what was under the kilt but Patrick reassured that us every Scot wears under his kilt just shoes and socks =)

On the way we saw the Stirling Castle, Rob Roy Country, Loch Lochie, Glencoe, Great Glen, Fort William, fresh water lakes full of salmons and the highest UK mountain Ben Nevis. We stopped at Loch Ness for two hours sightseeing the Urquhart Castle and taking the Cruise. It was just amazing and we played like kids, especially while it was the first time Jenny was on such a cruise. At the way back we saw Inverness (capital of Highlands) and Pitlochry. Arriving to Edinburgh around 8 p.m. we decided to stay at home and watch Transformers, recommended by Ankit.

Overall, I loved every single fact about Scotland, its atmosphere, history, culture, people, pride, humour, nature, their own money (I got a 1 pound note!!!), even the cold weather. And I was bit jealous of Ankit making such a good deal with RBS, staying in Edinburgh for 6 months, not too long to get bored, but too long to enjoy the place! I should think about something similar.

Cambridge

It was a lovely sunny warm weekend we spent in Cambridge with my dear friend and current flatmate Jenny. We took a guided punt trip and walked through the town the whole day. I especially enjoyed Jenny's company and her positive proactive thinking which was very inspiring.

Spain

Here I was in Spain again, it was the same as always and still sooo different.
I understand why are people travelling from UK to Spain for weekends. It is so refreshing after busy city week to relax in the nature, on the beach. The weather was not that nice, but I had a great time and enjoyed every single second.

The cost of recession in London

I remember the words .. will us, remaining, ever forget and forgive what happened last week .. I saw more tears and fear than I wanted, I saw great people saying good bye. .. few glasses of wine trying to forget such a failure ..

As the time changes, the remaining will start to leave pursuing better opportunities, believing they are joining nicer companies that will treat them in a better way... but those companies have probably very similar history and its own folks feeling exactly the same.. that's why it is such a scary concept! All what happens if a company gets rid of its ppl is that they are loosing important relationships that cost nothing and will be hardly ever recovered!

Portugal

It was a great sunny warm weekend outside of London.

We fully enjoyed Portugal and all what this favorite chill out place of British people offers. Again I tasted my favourite octopus, this time fried but still in so typical olive oil. Great walks, fancy restaurants, boat trip, wine tasting, fantastic view and of course the beach.

London reunion

Was nice meeting some old friends from AIESEC Prague times here in London :o)

It's strange that few of them are living here but there is never much time to really see each other.

Day without computer

I arrived to work, logged myself on the computer and started a normal day. Suddenly, all systems stopped working.. I restarted my computer and found out my account was disabled. I called IT, was asked some questions about my contract type and was told they have to check what's going on.

It would be just fine if we were not living in financial crises and my company hadn't announced 20% cut of workforce as soon as possible...

I asked my boss if there was something he forgot to told me..there was not. So I had a nice morning, long breakfast and time for newspaper. In the afternoon my account was re-enabled by the US office. Well, sometimes some communication processes do not work as they should, so IT was not informed about my extension which was signed in October last year!

Prague

As always and still so so different! I just do not belong to the Uni any more! For the last time (probably) I went there because I needed to (to pick up my second diploma from the secretary).

I couldn't avoid the strange feeling I am not part of it any more. If I remember how much I was looking forward to this situation ...

The rest was great: friends, family, snow, city, country, food, alcohol and fun.. But I do not really have other reason than parents to go back again since all my girls are already elsewhere.