Skills Matter 2009: May from Australia

My name is May Lew and this year I worked for the AIESEC project Skills Matter in Simferopol, Ukraine. After being actively involved in the organisation since 2005, I felt that it was time to take up the opportunity of international exchange. My decision to work abroad through AIESEC centred around two things. One, I felt that I had grown too comfortable at home in Australia, that I was sheltered in my way of thinking. I had a strong desire to remove myself from everything familiar and change to an unknown environment. Two, I wanted to explore Europe, particularly the East. I knew next to nothing about Ukraine and felt that immediately was as good a time as any to change this. For two months, I was able to live and work with interns from Germany, Hungary, Canada and Poland to deliver soft skills training sessions to university students. Through this, I developed my facilitation skills and gained new knowledge about the topics (e.g. financial management, project management). It was extremely rewarding for me when participants told us how they enjoyed the sessions and what they learnt. Working in the stimulating environment provided by this international team was new to me. Each intern brought a different working style, facilitation method, set of ideas, and shared experiences. These, along with their incredibly unique personalities, gave the project a fun and rich working atmosphere.
Beyond work, the cultural experience has been intense; Ukraine is certainly very different from Australia. Of course there are the obvious differences in the political sphere, languages, stage of country development, value systems etc. On a more personal note I can honestly say that until this internship, I had never showered in a bucket, washed my clothes in a vibrating bucket (aka Soviet style washing machine), been cured of a cold by alcoholic remedies twice, shared a bed with 5 nationalities for warmth or lack of beds, or appreciated hot running water so much. Also, thanks to quarantine I had ample time to travel around Crimea aided by friends who were wonderful tour guides. Highlights for me were the views from Novy Svet and Bakhchisaray, the first time I saw and jumped into the Black Sea in Sevastopol, and chilling out by the water in Koktebel. Crimea truly has a unique beauty. And, I should mention that watching Shaktar win 2-1 in the Donbass stadium in Donetsk was amazing.
I hope to come back for a summer, as I hear that Crimea is amazing and buzzing with life during this season. On my to-do list is to see the jazz festival in Koktabeal. Perhaps I will run into my fellow interns from Skills Matter at that time, as they too are tempted, or have promised the Local Committee, to come back. I feel privileged that I have been able to experience and see a part of the world that people my age and from my country wouldn’t ordinarily have the thought or opportunity to see. In the short time that I have been in Simferopol, I have gained an invaluable exposure to new ways of thinking, unexpected friendships and connections, lessons in life and memories that I will always cherish. An intense experience like this and the personal growth that you can achieve is almost addictive. I find myself prolonging my time abroad, and searching for another management internship.
It is difficult, really, to communicate everything that this internship has provided to me in this article. All I can say is, there is only one time in your life that you can be a part of AIESEC. Make the most of it, and take up any opportunity this organisation can offer you.

May Lew, Australia
intern in AIESEC Simferopol
project Skills Matter'2009