Shoes Because I Want them...

I really need to buy a computer of my own!

I have been trying again for the last half hour to upload pics but Mialy's computer has some serious issues. A lot of major spyware on it... Case in point: get some heavy duty anti-virus when i buy my computer. Once I can afford it...


But meanwhile I bought me 4 new pairs of shoes!

Yeah Yeah... before you start on me, the shoe shop is having a sale, "buy two get one free!" SO I DID! And I threw in one for good measure! So I am the proud owner of ankle length black formal shoes, basket ball trainers, a pair of running shoes and a pair of brown skechers. YeeHaa!

Ehrm...(cough cough) forgive my enthusisasm but I realized when i got home that i hadnt bought a new pair of shoes JUST BECAUSE I WANTED TO! I did buy a pair of Clarks in London but those.. I needed! And the beautiful thing is that Fonterra pays me just enough that i can afford to. hehe

AIESEC International Congress is on right now in Poland and it is quite cool to watch the virtual insanity campaign going on to bring the congress to people around on the world through the web. And also to read the blogs of my friends who are attending in their capacity as MCPs, MCVPs, AI members, YouCan Facis... A lot of memories being made right now!

But the funny thing is... I have absolutely no desire to be there. I am EXACTLY where I want to be, when I want to be! Mialy was reminiscing that she would have LOVED to be there. but after 4 ICs and more than 6 years of AIESEC... I am not missing IC. My first IC was in 2001, (also my best one) I missed 2002 and it WAS gut wrenching not to be there. But I more than made up for it with editions in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

So you guys and dudettes in Poland, make the best of your time in IC while I hold the fort down here in Auckland Aoetearoa. Exactly where I want to be!

At work and at Play

So there I was...

I was burning up the dance floor at the Backpackers Club in downtown Auckland. Twas just the kind of music i could dance to. Dance, hip-hop and R&B. When suddenly, Black Eyed Peas song "Lets get it Started" came on and i totally lost my ryhthm! I FULLY expected the whole club to stop, get in rows and start the line dance that Rajiv's AIESEC International team made so popular at IC in Germany!!

When that didnt happen, i just couldnt get my flowing moves back! Sheesh! I ended up collapsing on a couch laughing so hard at how long and hard it will take for me to get through a party without leading an AIESEC dance at least once.

Its been a month since i started my traineeship and the month has moved so fast! Lots to learn, lots to do, lots of new people to meet and I think its fair to say i have settled in quite nicely to this bubbling and active city. Lets see now...what have been the highlights of the last month...


OFFICE PARTY:
I work on Level one of the Group headquarters of Fonterra on the Middle East and Africa team. The Fonterra Customer Service has the USA, Oceania, Asia, Europe and Latin America teams who are all providing service for the 140 country network operations of the company.

There is also a brands, Nestle, Inventory and Order resolution teams who all play a part in the serious business of dairy production and sales for Fonterra. All in all, 150 people with as varied nationalities as an AIESEC International conference!

So we had a party where it was nice to see all the colleagues and bosses let their hair down and surprise surprise... I turn out to be one of the "talking points" for the ladies in the office. Dont know if that is a good or bad thing...

DEVONPORT TRIP:
Auckland is similar to Stockholm in the sense that there are a lot of outlying islands you could travel to for the day just like the Archipalego. So we (AIESEC interns) took a weekend trip to nice tiny island called Devonport. Filled with nice families, well paved streets and large parks, it seemed built for growing families.
We had lunch at a nice Peruvian restaurant and boy did I feel at home in that place! I have now concluded that I am a person of passion. Which is why the music, culture and passion of Latin America and Africa call out so strongly to me!

WORK
I am learning a lot in my time in Fonterra, my role demands an attention to detail and my experience in Sweden has gone such a LONG way to prepareing me for this role. And what do I do?

I happen to be an interface for a simple yet extensive process in getting dairy products from Cow to Customer! I move tonnes of milk products worth an average of US$300,000 across the world everyday. I am constantly in touch with product planners, Logistics, Account managers, Warehouses, packing plants etc...

In a nutshell!

Of course, there is a whole lot more to it but there you have the main gist!

Its a Friday night here now and i am meeting up with some of the other interns for a drink downtown. Dont know if i am up to it. Plan to spend my time in the Library tomorrow. The Auckland main Library has quite a collection I am told. (I wonder how i never got labled a 'dork' in high school!)

(I have been trying to upload some pics for the last half hour. I do think there might be spyware on Mialy's computer. Brand new computer too! I'll upload some good pics later!)

4G/160 Symonds Street Auckland. Pls come visit!!!

Comfortable bedroom. Master bedroom too!



Fully functioning kitchen with all kitchen ware


My front door. The number is 4G

How far? Its been quite a day!

A big bunch of people were at the Auckland International Airport to pick up the latest Fonterra intern and my newest flatmate Mialy. Mialy is from Madagascar and has moved here from Switzerland. I was there as well with Cris, Ina and about 9 other people. Mialy must have felt very welcome indeed.

So welcome Mialy to New Zealand, to Auckland, to 160 Symonds Street! Mialy is sleeping right now as there is an impromptu party scheduled for later this evening in our apartment. Trying to make a playlist for the party now actually...

I have been raving about the apartment so i thought it was time i show what it actally looks like. So some pics of the place all through this post.
Just a quick synopsis again. It came fully furnished and when i say fully furnished, I mean FULLY!!!
Its a 3 bedroom apartment and i will be sharing with Cris and Mialy from Brazil and Madagascar respectively. Beds, sofa, kitchenware, persian rug in the living room, dishwasher, TV and DVD player with surround system. Fully carperted all through and a Persian rug in the living room.


Watching TV in my snazzy new living room

There is airconditioning in the living room and in the Master bedroom (which i have :D). Washing machine, dryer, sheets on the beds, with duvets and blankets bedside lamps in each of the rooms and an extra heater in one of the smaller rooms. The only thing we had to buy was Crockery and pots and pans for the kichen.


Unpacking the shopping. From Left is Cris, Jan and Me

Jan, one of the nicest and prettiest girls i have had the pleasure of meeting and who is in AIESEC was very kind as to drive us to one of the big stores in a neighbouring surburb to do the shopping. She even went so far as to lend us money when we ran out! Thank you Jan!


Loading the shopping into Jan's car

Now I am off to prepare for the party which the AIESEC members have deemed will be hosted by us. Not much preparation though. Buy a few beers. Finish the playlist...

Went on an interesting Store visit to the South Island. Saw milk factory, port operations...but more on this later...














Posing with Cris and Jan