Don`t we look just perfect? :)
This is during my going away party...
Almost forgot to mention - these fat dudes all over me are Duci and Pedja... :)
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Friday, March 24, 2006
7 years ago...
...bombing of Serbia started... The "big and strong" NATO cowardly attacked my country from the air, attacking many non-military targets, killing 2500 people, dropping uranium bombs (which makes us affraid to have a baby these days - you never know if it will be born with an extra head or leg), trying out their new weapons...
I`m still pissed off... even if 7 years have passed... the only thing that calms me down is the fact that history told us that no dominant force is there forever... they will be fucked up soon... one way or another...
What history also tells us is that Serbia will always be around, sometimes strong, sometimes weak... but always an important factor in Balkans... liked it or not, that`s how it is... ;)
check out some pics made by a friend of mine, who is a news photographer - http://www.focus.co.yu/bombardovanjeeng1.htm
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
First few days in Istanbul...
So, I`m finally in Istanbul… :)
For those reading my blog for the first time, I just started a traineeship in Microsoft Middle East & Africa regional office in Istanbul as Community Affairs Coordinator. It is basically a CSR job and I will be enjoying it for one year. Those who know me better know that CSR has been my passion for some years already and that I`ve been waiting for such an opportunity for a long time… Since it was my first day at work today, I`ll just say it`s quite exciting and that the working conditions are really awesome…
So, what about my first days in Istanbul? I arrived last Thursday, unpacked in an apartment near Taksim square (if there is a place in Istanbul that you can call city center, then Taksim is the place), where I`m living with a flatmate Mohammad Shawky (also a new trainee in Microsoft MEA, ex-MCP of AIESEC in Egypt). The apartment is quite small and kinda made for one person, so we`re trying to make it comfortable by moving things around… It is indeed based in a city center, 1 minute from the square and all the buses/metro that I could need, but it is also settled in a dark, freaky street full of transvestites, dogs and cats (god, do I hate cats in February and March)… OK, it`s not that freaky as it sounds since transvestites are not aggressive (yet?), but it still may be uncomfortable to walk alone there at night.
Anyways, Istanbul is huuuuuuge and beautiful! And what amazes me the most is not it`s size, but the atmosphere it holds. It actually reminds me of Pec (my hometown in Kosovo) or Prizren (also a city in Kosovo), just 10000 times bigger… All those small shops everywhere, coffee shops, even mosques…
Since now, I visited the Grand Bazaar (expected more of it, actually, it`s just a place for tourists now), the Blue Mosque, Aya Sophia mosque (both huge and beautiful), tomb of Sultan Mehmet II, even made it to check out the Picasso Exhibition with more then 130 paintings in one fancy gallery and to see Turkish left wing demonstrating because of some social reforms done by right wing government (demonstrations were too organized for my taste – I like riots :)). Have also been to see the Galata Tower, but didn`t want to go up and check the view (waiting for Sandra to show up with nice weather – there`s a nice restaurant on the top ;)). Also enjoyed numerous café bars that are just perfect for chilling out all day long (especially those at Galata Bridge, with wonderful view).
People-wise, there`s a lot of trainees in Istanbul at all times. Mostly Germans apparently :)… And they are all really cool people. Cecilia is doing her second traineeship here, Magda also arrived recently, Ewa is here for some time already and she was using apartment I`m in now before I arrived, then there is Nadine who has to wake up at 5:30 every morning to make it to the work. There`s also a Greek girl, Turkish-German guy and many more foreigners, but I forgot their names (met them all in one night, so…). Ah, yeah, there`s also Aysha who is Turkish and non-aiesecer (her boyfriend Fernando was a trainee here), but she made the biggest impression on me so far. People from LC Istanbul I won`t mention in this message – I`m still giving them a chance… :)
Pictures are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/peckopivo
For those reading my blog for the first time, I just started a traineeship in Microsoft Middle East & Africa regional office in Istanbul as Community Affairs Coordinator. It is basically a CSR job and I will be enjoying it for one year. Those who know me better know that CSR has been my passion for some years already and that I`ve been waiting for such an opportunity for a long time… Since it was my first day at work today, I`ll just say it`s quite exciting and that the working conditions are really awesome…
So, what about my first days in Istanbul? I arrived last Thursday, unpacked in an apartment near Taksim square (if there is a place in Istanbul that you can call city center, then Taksim is the place), where I`m living with a flatmate Mohammad Shawky (also a new trainee in Microsoft MEA, ex-MCP of AIESEC in Egypt). The apartment is quite small and kinda made for one person, so we`re trying to make it comfortable by moving things around… It is indeed based in a city center, 1 minute from the square and all the buses/metro that I could need, but it is also settled in a dark, freaky street full of transvestites, dogs and cats (god, do I hate cats in February and March)… OK, it`s not that freaky as it sounds since transvestites are not aggressive (yet?), but it still may be uncomfortable to walk alone there at night.
Anyways, Istanbul is huuuuuuge and beautiful! And what amazes me the most is not it`s size, but the atmosphere it holds. It actually reminds me of Pec (my hometown in Kosovo) or Prizren (also a city in Kosovo), just 10000 times bigger… All those small shops everywhere, coffee shops, even mosques…
Since now, I visited the Grand Bazaar (expected more of it, actually, it`s just a place for tourists now), the Blue Mosque, Aya Sophia mosque (both huge and beautiful), tomb of Sultan Mehmet II, even made it to check out the Picasso Exhibition with more then 130 paintings in one fancy gallery and to see Turkish left wing demonstrating because of some social reforms done by right wing government (demonstrations were too organized for my taste – I like riots :)). Have also been to see the Galata Tower, but didn`t want to go up and check the view (waiting for Sandra to show up with nice weather – there`s a nice restaurant on the top ;)). Also enjoyed numerous café bars that are just perfect for chilling out all day long (especially those at Galata Bridge, with wonderful view).
People-wise, there`s a lot of trainees in Istanbul at all times. Mostly Germans apparently :)… And they are all really cool people. Cecilia is doing her second traineeship here, Magda also arrived recently, Ewa is here for some time already and she was using apartment I`m in now before I arrived, then there is Nadine who has to wake up at 5:30 every morning to make it to the work. There`s also a Greek girl, Turkish-German guy and many more foreigners, but I forgot their names (met them all in one night, so…). Ah, yeah, there`s also Aysha who is Turkish and non-aiesecer (her boyfriend Fernando was a trainee here), but she made the biggest impression on me so far. People from LC Istanbul I won`t mention in this message – I`m still giving them a chance… :)
Pictures are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/peckopivo
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
In Istanbul in a few hours...
The time has come... :)
I have a flight at 14:10, should be in Istanbul at 17:20, in my appartment meeting my flatmate Mohammad Shawky (ex-MCP of Egypt, also a new trainee in Microsoft MEA) at 18:30, and completely wasted until 22:00... :D
Heh, writing this and chatting with Zulu (who doesn`t know The Lord and Master already, shouldn`t be alive at all) at the same time, I`m just beginning to realize that I`m actually leaving for a year... Huh, I`d better go to sleep before I start thinking about what and whom am I going to miss for so long...
damn, too late...
/me being pathetic at the moment...
I have a flight at 14:10, should be in Istanbul at 17:20, in my appartment meeting my flatmate Mohammad Shawky (ex-MCP of Egypt, also a new trainee in Microsoft MEA) at 18:30, and completely wasted until 22:00... :D
Heh, writing this and chatting with Zulu (who doesn`t know The Lord and Master already, shouldn`t be alive at all) at the same time, I`m just beginning to realize that I`m actually leaving for a year... Huh, I`d better go to sleep before I start thinking about what and whom am I going to miss for so long...
damn, too late...
/me being pathetic at the moment...
Thursday, March 9, 2006
Eternal wisdom...
"Try not to become a man of success, but rather, try to become a man of value."
--Albert Einstein
--Albert Einstein
Tuesday, March 7, 2006
Got my visa today!
Finally!
My flight to Istanbul is next Thursday, March 16th... Wooohoooooooooo :)
`til then, I have to finish all the started tasks at my current workplace, to do the complete documentation for and transition to the dude that will replace me (which we still don`t have, btw), to visit my dentist at least 5 more times, to organize a party, to think of and buy everything I might need there... huh, can`t I just go to Istanbul tomorrow? :)
My flight to Istanbul is next Thursday, March 16th... Wooohoooooooooo :)
`til then, I have to finish all the started tasks at my current workplace, to do the complete documentation for and transition to the dude that will replace me (which we still don`t have, btw), to visit my dentist at least 5 more times, to organize a party, to think of and buy everything I might need there... huh, can`t I just go to Istanbul tomorrow? :)
Now this is real marketing...
A colleague just told me that she read in the newspapers this morning that Albert Hoffman, a guy who invented LSD, is celebrating his 100th birthday! Funny, but also discouraging... how many kids will use this news as a reason to try or continue using LSD?
Monday, March 6, 2006
Epic 2014
Turn on your speakers...
"In the year 2014, The New York Times has gone offline. The Fourth Estate`s fortunes have waned. What happened to the news? And what is EPIC?"
If the movie won`t play, then
Click here
"In the year 2014, The New York Times has gone offline. The Fourth Estate`s fortunes have waned. What happened to the news? And what is EPIC?"
If the movie won`t play, then
Click here
Saturday, March 4, 2006
Nomad world...
Check out the boat`s name... :)
Picture is taken in Belgrade a few weeks ago, on Danube quay...
Friday, March 3, 2006
Reservation made - Istanbul here I come :)
March 16th is the date... If I get my visa done by then, of course...
Thursday, March 2, 2006
"Have faith and pursue the unknown end." Oliver Wendell Holmes
...ok, not that unknown actually... :) Turkish culture is quite similar to Serbian, we share many customs and words, for Serbia was under Ottoman rule for more then 500 years...
But still, a year away from home... Heh, I joined AIESEC in 1999 and have convinced many outgoing trainees that they shouldn`t be afraid and... well... you all know the story... :)
And now I finally feel what they told me they felt before going abroad... :)
Quite a funny feeling... I know that everything will be just fine, that there are many trainees there already, that I will have a buddy in AIESEC Istanbul, that I have my personal friends there already... But yet, I feel that little waltzer in my stomach... I guess that`s positive...
Anyways, if someone wants to give me a tip or two about being abroad for a year or so, please do... The longest period I was away was a month and a half in Calgary, Canada, when I was a teamster in the CC of IC2002... This is kinda different, I suppose...
But still, a year away from home... Heh, I joined AIESEC in 1999 and have convinced many outgoing trainees that they shouldn`t be afraid and... well... you all know the story... :)
And now I finally feel what they told me they felt before going abroad... :)
Quite a funny feeling... I know that everything will be just fine, that there are many trainees there already, that I will have a buddy in AIESEC Istanbul, that I have my personal friends there already... But yet, I feel that little waltzer in my stomach... I guess that`s positive...
Anyways, if someone wants to give me a tip or two about being abroad for a year or so, please do... The longest period I was away was a month and a half in Calgary, Canada, when I was a teamster in the CC of IC2002... This is kinda different, I suppose...
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Going to Istanbul!!!!!!
Just got accepted for a fantastic traineeship in Microsoft Community Affairs and Citizenship Middle East and Africa in Istanbul! Shoould be there in 2-3 weeks...
So, I got a traineeship of my dreams! CSR and ICT in the same time! woohooooooooooo :)
will write more later... my brain doesn`t work so good at this moment :)
So, I got a traineeship of my dreams! CSR and ICT in the same time! woohooooooooooo :)
will write more later... my brain doesn`t work so good at this moment :)
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