Philippines Experience ended

That is the end!

I'm already in Poland heading for new experience in Belgium!

I spend 10 months in amazing country - Philippines :)

I'm extremely happy that i decided to come here and spend that time.

I had chance to work in different culture with divers people. I had chance to experience how business works in the Philippines what sometimes was challenging.

Moreover I met great people with whom I did a friendship. I had my Family there :)
Eva, Karla, Cees, Bryan and Akie :)

It is very hard to describe all the experience that I gained in Philippines.

By this post i would like to close my blog.
Hope some of you enjoyed reading it ;)

For those who are going to visit Philippines enjoy your time there! Wish you such a great experience as I had.

Family Visit

 Last 2 weeks I had my family visit (dad, sister and brother in law). It was great chance to show them country in which I’m leaving already 8 months. I’m sure that because of this it will be easier for them to understand me more. For their staying I’ve planed different activities, for me it was important to show different aspect of Philippines. I spend with them one week in Palawan the most beautiful and amazing place I’ve seen so far here. Great island, beaches and snorkeling! If you are coming to Philippines you have to definitely see this place. Moreover I went with them to Corregidor and historical island in Manila Bay, we learn more about World War II so it was also interesting. They also had chance to see famous Rice Terraces and Caves J and of course volcano J So all in all I think that they  had chance to see a lot! More you can see on pictures J I’m waiting who next will visit me!  Maybe you…?  :D 

Amazing experience in Donsol

Last weekend together with great 6 :) we travel to Donsol which is in the south of Luzon.

We traveled there by plane because it was most effective and fastest way :) only 45 min. – Cebu Pacific rules!!! We reached Legaspi at Saturday morning around 7 AM and first thing that we saw was Mayon Volcano which made an amazing impression on all of us. It is a perfect shape volcano very big and still active one, you can read more on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_shark

From Legaspi we have to take van to Donsol which was around 1,5 h. When we reached Donsol after checking few places we found good resort -  Amor :)  It was very nice place where you can eat and relax near beach :) after breakfast we went to Donsol Tourist office where we had to register for the main attraction – Swimming with Whale Sharks! YES ! SHARKS : ) Those sharks eat plankton so it is save to swim with them they can be grow till 18 m :) What you can do is rent a boat and snorkeling equipment and look for whale shark :) when the boat crew notice one you have to prepare and quickly jump to the water. After putting your head under water you are trying to find this BIG fish but because of plankton water is not so clear. Suddenly something big is swimming under or near you and you is realizing that it is a whale shark! It is such unforgettable experience that even hard to explain it. We spent on water around 3 h and we saw 5-6 whale sharks :) if you are in the Philippines you have to visit this place.

You can see the movie here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD35USc9LX0&feature=related

After this experience we went to eat something and later we were waiting for another interesting experience – watching fire flights :) I would never say that those small bugs can be so beautiful. It was on Ogor river of course it was already dark, we were on the boat going down on the river that suddenly we saw a tree full of fire flights it was something geurgus. The tree looks like a christmas tree. At one moment all of us were lying on the boad with a head in the direction of the tree and sky full of stars! It was so relaxing that none of us wanted to go back., but we couldn’t stay there forever

At the evening we just relax in our resort and have some good drinks :)

Next day we use chance and relax on the black beach, after lunch we catch jeepeny and as always we were riding on the roof :) back to legaspi. I love it! You can see all the beauty of Philippines :)

Thank we found accommodation in Legaspi btw the worst hotel ever: P eat and next day morning went back to Manila and work.

This weekend even if was short was very special because we did something that I have never think of :) I wish this kind of experience for all of you! Other trainee shares your feelings!

 

 

 

 

Crazy moments

One of the reasons why I like my internship is people around me! I gave a very cool group of friends.  With them I can have great fun, talk about serious topic and enjoy my time here. Those people are other trainee, my work colleagues and other Filipinos. Because of them I feel very comfortable here and even consider staying longer. Actually it was one of condition when I was looking for internship that there will be more of us :)  because I know how important it is. I want to share with you some of pictures which are saying how crazy we are :)

 

Key note speech

On FRIDAY I had chance for the first time of my life to be a keynote speaker. IT was amazing experience. I was invited by LYCEUM of the Philippines University Batangas for their conference with theme: Networking and Linkages between Business and Academics Institutions. This university is around 2,5-3 h from Manila in very nice place. I was giving speech about: Standards and Qualifications of multinational companies in hiring people.

I went to the university one day before, Thursday afternoon and when I get there I was welcomed as a star :) with a big bucket of flowers pictures etc. I felt like Miss Poland they even called me like that because of course for them I'm so beautiful :) I was given very nice room so at the evening I prepared myself to the next day and went sleep. Next day I woke up around 6.30 AM to practice speech and prepare myself. It was very nice sleep because finally no street noise just pure nature :)

The whole conference was from 9:00 till 12:00 I was at the very beginning. My speech long around 30 min and in my opinion it was the only one speech which was useful for students the other were not so much on the topic. But after such long experience in AIESEC and thousand conferences I have big expectations　：）after my part I was given a certificate some small presents. It was a very nice experience to talk to around 300 students, their family members and other important people. I know that the organizers and university itself was surprised that I'm so young but I think that it is not about how old are you but what kind of experience you have. I hope to have mire chances to participate in such events for me personally it was a great chance to check myself as a keynote speaker, to got to know more education system in the Philippines and of course to have a great fun :)

Key learning points from last 6 months

It is already 6 months that I’m here in this beautiful country. It is amazing how time is passing quickly. So far I manage to visit many interesting places like: mountains, caves, rain forest, beaches, volcano, towns, underwater world, etc. J of course I’m looking forward for more! If you like adventures, sun and nice people this country definitely is for you!

Talking about experience at work I have to admit that I’m learning a lot! Job that I’m having is very responsible and I wouldn’t name it internship because you have to make very crucial decisions and scope of work is big as well, thanks to that I can feel like developing and discovering myself every day. I was already in many different situations, dealing with different people. I can say that being HR in AIESEC and in company is very different; when money is there everything is more complicated. I’m learning a lot how money influence HR and all the activities connected with this.  I’m also learning how to work in completely different culture. Sometime it is very hard. Filipinos are very friendly and hardly ever will say no sometime they need to be push and guide. The labor market is also different than Polish one. In our company currently there are 6 trainees and I can see how big value they are bringing. I wish more Filipino companies will use foreigners to combine different cultures and benefits from it.

In front of me more 6 months, sometime I’m wondering how things will go and what next day will bring. I started to think what to do next. I have different thoughts in my mind. Staying in Headway, look for some other company in the Philippines, look for another internship or back to Poland. I hope that everything will clarify soon so that I don’t have to worry.

To summarize I’m recommending such experience for everyone. You can get to know a lot about yourself, world other people. You are not loosing anything just gaining!

Filipino Aerobic

Last week I decided to join aerobic classes! I have to admit that it is a good fun here in the Philippines. The club that I join is near my flat but definitely is not the most fancy one :) what is different? For sure how less difficult it is. They are not exercising so hard as we in Poland. They are doing all of the exercises in 8 series no in 15 – 20 like in Poland! But for me at the beginning is enough because my condition is not the best one unfortunately :(  On Wednesday we have step and exercising with weight (Handle) of course all of the people took 2 pounds :) I took 4 :P the funnies moment was when you have to lie with your back on the step, why it was funny? – because steps were too short for me :) so I had to take 2 ha ha. Anyway it is really good activity for me and I enjoy it very much!