The closest I´ve been to a sunset ...

Two of the most beautiful moments of the day are the beginning and the end of the day, the sunrise and the sunset ...



And when you combine this moments with water, you witness one of the nature´s miracles.



Until now, I have only witness sunrises, in Romania, on the shore of Black Sea.



Here in Portugal, I connected with the Ocean, and gazing to the West, I knew that I will witness my first water sunset ... I imagine the red ball of fire fading into the Ocean ... I imagine sharing this moment with someone special ....




Last weekend I was SO close to catch this moment ... but I missed it ... twice ...



But maybe it was supposed to be like that, because watching a sunset all by myself it would be like being killed by a beautiful pain ... And I´m really looking forward to share my first water sunset with a special someone ....

Perfect Weekend

Here is my idea of how a perfect weekend should look like :

Friday night ... go out with a bunch of friends, drink, dance, have lots of fun, come back home when the sun is lighting up the sky ...

Saturday ... totally lazy day, sleep till late, watch TV, share silence, do nothing ...

Sunday ... Visit new places, take fancy pictures, spend time with a very special person to your heart.

Nothing more, nothing less. A perfect recharger for a brand new week.

Thanks Dey :)

Testimony about my internship

Last week I received from AIESEC PORTO FEP the final evaluation form for my traineeship. In the last part of this evaluation form I had to write my testimony about my traineeship in Portugal.

I decided to make a short resume about my story, so here u have it :

**********************

I can´t tell you the story about my experience as a trainee here in Portugal, without speaking a little bit about me, before coming here.

I´ve been an active member of AIESEC since 2004 until 2007. This organization transformed completely my years of faculty, and transformed me as an individual. I improved the skills that I had and I developed new ones. And while passing through all the AIESEC Experience, I felt that the Exchange faze it´s a must for my personal development.

So, after “finishing” my courses, I become an Exchange Participant, and I was opened to go wherever Insight will lead me, but as a favorite Country, Brazil was on top of my list.

But my path was going to change its way …. After 6 months of continuous search for an internship, I was on the edge of giving up, when I received an e-mail, from one Ricardo from AIESEC in Porto FEP, Portugal, asking me what do I think about some company´s form. I gave it a look it seemed pretty interesting. A lot of e-mails came, an interview, the acceptance and all the AIESEC formalities.

On the 2nd of March, after a sleepless night – maid of honor at my best friend´s wedding – I was welcomed by a bunch of happy AIESEC people at the Oporto Airport. I had my first francesinha and watch a Portuguese football game :).

And this is how my traineeship started …

Remember I´ve told you about my dream of going to Brazil … Well, I found out here that I am going to share an apartment with a guy and a girl from Brazil. You can imagine what came: I got to know a lot of Brazilian culture, food, music, stories, and a lot of Brazilian people.

Then I found out that almost each month, an International Reception Weekend is organized by AIESEC. The great thing about these IRWs is that I had the chance to see some parts of Portugal, and meet all the trainees all over the country. I visited place like Porto, Lisbon, Coimbra and Tavira in Algarve. I saw how the Porto wine is made and I tasted it. I experienced Queima das Fitas – celebrating together with all the students the end of graduation courses. I listened to fado and drink coffee on the little streets of Lisbon.

I have made a lot of friends from all over the world: Brazil, Venezuela, Spain, Germany, Romania, Mexico. Poland, and I have met people even from more countries. I am fully LIVING DIVERSITY.

One of this people that I met, and I´m talking now about Dey(ex PAI), become my best friend here in Portugal, enriched my soul and brought me a new perspective on life.

Also a lot of FIRSTS happened during my traineeship:
- First time when I saw an orange tree :),
- First time when I saw the ocean,
- First time trying kite surfing and rafting,
- First time in a huge concert like Rock in Rio
- First time to an African Party

….. and the list is not stopping here ….

And so, 6 months passed …

But the story doesn´t end here:

I got an offer from the company I´ve been working with, to stay for 6 more months. I accepted it and I´m very happy with my new job description and with the work I´m doing. And even if officially I am not a trainee anymore, I will continue in spending my free time with the other trainees, because they are my friends and my family, and I will try as much as I can to stay in touch with AIESEC.

Once an AIESEC-er, always an AIESEC-er !

***********************

Despedidas

Andra, my best friend from AIESEC Bucharest, visited me. We spent a great week together, but, time passes, and inevitably, we had to say goodbye, but knowing we will see each other again.








The next day, Luciana, my flatmate, the best flatmate I ever had until now and a great friend, finished her internship and she left Portugal. It was the hardest split up from a friend. We had wonderful moments together, but I know that the story is not ending here.

Oana, my work colleague, my future flatmate, my best Romanian friend here in Portugal. She went to Romania for more than one month. Luckily, she will come back at the end of September our journey will continue.

The person who took care of me and helped me a lot in my first week in Braga, the one from which I learned a great quote : "Mi vida apesta"(My life sucks), but also the one who cheered me up when I was feeling like that. Rafa, a real friend that will show me Spain one day.

Pieces of my heart broke and went away with them, but the empty spaces were replaced with pieces of their hearts. We beautify each others hears, and we know that we will always be there, and one day will meet again.

Never stop running

I am a runner ...

Since I was 5 years old, my father took me to the athleticism trainings. I loved it ! And I practiced this sport, with some interruptions, until I was 18.

Now all that I´m doing is jogging. I can´t give up running, where ever I might be.

After I arrived in Braga, one of the first things that I did, was to find a good and nice path to run. And I found it. It´s the way to Bom Jesus. A nice road, on which after 10 minutes of plain running, you start going up hill.

After I first walked until Bom Jesus, I said to myself that till the end of my traineeship I will reach the place, running. And every time I went for my jogging, I went a little bit more far than the last place I stoped the previous time.

Today I did it ! The objective was accomplished. I put my foot on the stairs of Bom Jesus ! Just 3 days before my traineeship ends.

I am proud of myself !!!

And now? What will be the next point to reach?

Kitesurfing & Rafting

Two water sports, so different, but connected through the same thing ... water ...

Great experiences, such an intense feelings, so much adrenaline ... another 2 firsts, here in Portugal, I never dreamt of this ...


Kitesurfing ... the power of water and air combined ... flying above the water ... feeling the force of the air in my hands ...

I did it !!! I flew !!! I rocked !!!

Rafting ... seen only in American movies ... the calm and the torrent of water coming together ... jumping from 3,5 m height ... overcome the fear ... feel the excitement !


Row! Row! Row!



What will be next ?

Primavera Business Software Solutions

August is here ...



Today I had a meeting with the Human Resources Director. Even if the meeting was planned for 5 o´clock in the afternoon, she appeared at my desk, 20 minutes earlier, and she said she wants to talk to me. So we went in the meeting room, and she said we must discuss about my future in the company, and that Primavera has an offer for me :



... to stay another 6 more months in the company, to work directly with the vice president of Primavera, to move from one department to another, to identify KPI´s for how Primavera can enter on more international markets ...



I said YES, and I got out from the meeting speechless, a little bit scared but very happy, and willing to take this challenge and do my best.

So ... I´m going on with Primavera for the next 6 moths, at least ... afterwards ... who knows