Highway through the hell

Finally after sleepless night my father came to Vilnius to pick me to the airport and say goodbye as we not going to see each other for the rest of one year.
All funny things started at 4:00 am on 26th of October. As you might know at this time we have to turn one hour back. Confusion started before actually leaving my place. At the end everything came out that I had more time then I needed to be in airport. But in other hand – my family had a chance to stay with me little bit longer. I, meanwhile, was thinking oppositely – the faster changes will come, the faster everybody will adapt. So, as you can understand I supposed to change time zones several time during 24h: Lithuania, Copenhagen, next day from Copenhagen to Istanbul and when – to Karachi.
In the beginning everything went quite smoothly. I was picked up in Copenhagen airport by MCVPER Morten. When I was contacting him by e-mail, I didn’t really know who he is. As soon as I saw him I remembered him from ENERGY and SYNERGY conferences in Latvia and Lithuania (if I’m not mistaken). So it was nice surprise. He also awarded me with very delicious breakfast at his place. Beer was included as well (at 9 am). According Morten is ‘never to early for beer’ – and I totally support this idea. ‘Well, the last drop of European beer’ I told to myself.
After I studied guidelines how to get to the Pakistan embassy and from embassy to the airport I left Mortens’ place (which is shared with another MC guy Prateek from India). I managed to get to the final train station but the problem came when I needed to find a right street. According Morten it should be easy: when you get out of the train, turn to the left side, walk shortly till the small street, when turn to the left (again) and third road on your left should be the right street you need. Hmmm. I’m at the station, but where to go?! As I had time, I decided not to ask for a help from strangers passing me by and to manage by myself. I tried to go to one side of the station – nothing. When I went to another side of station – not even close the street which I need. I even had small part of map printed from internet and as I could read other streets names around but the streets I saw was for sure none of them. I still didn’t panic as I had same extra time before embassy opens. I started to ask for direction to strangers who were passing me. I asked three different people and all of them said differently. That moment I realized that I might be lost. For the last try I decided to go into the nearest shop and ask there. The old lady who hardly could speak English, but at least understood what I was saying started to analyze my map. After while she gave up and brought a bigger one. Eureka! We found a place where I need to get. But it was too far to go by foots and especially with big bag on wheels and one on my back. So I took a train for one more stop. Finally I was on the right direction. I managed to come to the embassy just before they opened. I was naïve as I believed that my visa is waiting for me and I need just to pay. I came to the council and gave a later which I received from Pakistan which states that I got multiply business visa for one year.
- ‘Ok. Now you have to fill in the application form, attach your photo and your passport’, said council…
- ‘What?! I don’t have photo! Nobody told me to bring it hear’ – I was totally shocked.
- ‘This is a normal procedure’ – continued in the monotonic voice council.
- ‘So how long it will take to get visa..?’ – More and more started to panic.
- ‘Up to ten days…’
I lost my voice… tried to say something and argue but he simply called next visitor… Luckily I had a number of MC in Pakistan. I called to Pakistan MCVPX, explain the situation and she started to work on my visa. Problem was that nobody from Pakistan embassy didn’t want to pick the phone. I even tried to give my mobile phone to the council through window but he totally ignored me.
Finally, after some 15 min when someone from Pakistan board or migration department called to Pakistan embassy in Copenhagen, they took me to second floor to the main guy in the embassy (as I thought so). He ensured me that everything will be ok, and I will manage to catch my flight which supposed to be in 1.5 h. But before I get visa I need to bring my photo. I got scared that I will miss my flight and I will stuck in Copenhagen for hell knows how long as I didn’t have more money to buy new tickets. So I had to run to the train station where was a photo machine. Guess if I had any Danish krone? No! So I started running all around looking where can I exchange euros. I found one place, but the guy worried me that exchange rate is really bad – fuck it. I need 60 krones right now! After running to one and other side I was completely wet (the rain helped in it a lot as well).
More over, council asked me to pay. It supposed to be easy thing as they don’t accept cash; I took my debit card – not valid. Credit card – the same. Fuck. I was told that 5 min walk from here is a bank and can make a transfer. I thought I’m going to die because of running with my backpack (which is ~7.5 kg). When they got my photo and receipt from the bank, I had to wait until everybody will sign and will issue my visa. But before I got my passport into my hand, the main council wanted to know what is AIESEC and if he can send some Pakistani people to Lithuania to work in textile field or in IT. I wanted to shoot myself…
I was happy getting back my passport with Pakistan visa (even for three months instead of one year long) I was running with all my bags to train station. As soon as I got in the train which took me to the airport I could relax, because the rest time depends not on me.
Of course I was late to my flight. Luckily Turkish airlines are very friendly and they changed my tickets for free. Now I have two more days in Copenhagen till my flight. Thanks to Morten I have where to stay.
I’m not in Pakistan yet, but so much stress in one day! The whole year in Pakistan is going to be fun.

bye bye party #3

Yeah, right! Yesterday was my bye bye party number 3. First one was introduced in my previous post. Next day I had a small party in sauna with my relatives. And finally yesterday I came back to my home town where I met my old friends whith whom I grow up. They taught me how to smoke, drink, party till the early morning and lots of other things which I don't regret.
As usually we met in our most favorit bar called Respublika. I also had a very nice surprise from Siauliai, Kaunas and Vilnius. Few friends came to meet me without wondering in advanced. I felt really pleased... After couple of beers we took brendy (as usually) and when we run out of brendy it came time for moving to the club. Nothing better can be than partying in da club with good friends. I danced and shout on the dance floor as it is my last time of freedom. As I don't know what kind of parties will be in Pakistan, I tried to take out everything in maximum level being in Lithuania.
This morning when I woke up, I woke up with a smile on my face as I remembered yesterday night. It is still difficult to realise that I have such great people around me. I told them to miss me : ) I'm pretty sure they will! I will make my best to keep in touch with all of them during my stay in Pakistan. Pictures, e-mails and experience - this will be my gift to them.
Next post will be either from Copenhagen, either from Pakistan. Lots of adventures are still in ahead. I please God to help me with logistics in order be on time in Copenhagen. The rest everyting gonna be alrigth.

Bye bye party

People usually think that parties and being in the center of attention is something natural for me. Today you going to find out about me something new!
The days are running out and the date of my departure coming closer and closer. In whole AIESEC career I attended many "Goodbye parties" and "Welcome parties". This time it was all about me and I had big dilemma should I organize something similar or not... The truth is that I don't like to create attention to myself. Quite difficult to explain why it is so, but it is simply me.
Anyways, I decided that I want to meet all my friends in one place in Vilnius. I wanted to remember how they look, all random jokes which can be understandable only between us and so on... One evening chatting with my very good friend Sandra she told me: "You have to organize "Goodbye party" with all your friends in order to remember the reason why should you come back to Lithuania after internship". And she was so damn right!
I really didn't expect that so many people will come to say "bye" before my leaving. Yesterday I realized that I have very good friends around me and I can count on them whenever I need it and of course I'm always ready to do my best for them. I'm going to miss you all and the time which we spent together. I hope that all good moments still are in ahead.
The party started as usually and as I'm not perfect in logistics and screwed up with location : ) But thanks to Vytenis and Vija who came to the pub "Grasas" worried me that this pub is closed and they found a new place and even reserved the tables. After couple of beers we became overcrowed and we decided to move to MC flat. This flat has seen the best parties ever! Last night was not an exception. I honestly tried to enjoy each moment with all people who attended the party. Sorry if you didn't get my attention enought. Just let me know about that and I will figure out how to compensate it : )
Naturally after such long and hard night I fall asleep in Denys' bed. Poor girl was kicked out from the bet (as always) and didn't let her sleep. But thanks for taking care of me. She is the one who always make sure that I'm ok... Well, finally she will have one year with a calm and sweet sleep.
During the party I made a small trick with my guests. As I wanted to make sure that the same people will come to my "Welcome Party", I organized a whishlist where all party delegates had a free will to write anything what they would like me to bring from Pakistan for them. So if they really want small presents - they will have to meet me again. When I read all whishes which were written on the napkin I started to smile. Where were all kind of wishes: earing, wrap (from cashmere!), a bullet, a wepon (AK47), food, football t-shirt and so on... I will try to make my best to fulfill all requests.
There is one more thing which I wanted to say: I'm very thankful fot the book with all your best wishes for me and photos in there. I couldn't wait till I'll be back at home to read so I started to read your whishes in the bus. I guess I looked quite strange in the bus by sitting and smiling alone. This is not what lithuanians usually do (sadly). I was so much into reading that I even missed my bus stop. But from the good side, I had a nice 10 min walk with warm and small Lithuanian rain over my head...
My new adventures going to start soon. Can't wait to be in Pakistan!

Wavetec

Wavetec is the name of the company where I'm going to work for one year.
I was told that we are going to be 3 interns from AIESEC who will work for this company. One guy already started his internship. His name is Tobias and he is from Argentina. So I couldn't miss such an opportunity not to write him an e-mail. From the reply I received, I understood that my choice was right and I shouldn't be worry anymore.
It is really great to know that company gives lots of space for your learning and what is most important, in my mind, they strust you.
'Wavetec is a medium company, with headquarters in Karachi and offices in Lahore, Islamabad, China, Dubai, Sharja (UAE) and Saudi Arabia and distributors/resellers in near 20 countries of asia, Africa and Europe.' That's what I was told by Tobias, my new colleague. I think me and Tobias will get along. I believe in that even though we have never met before. I made such conclusion because of one sentense he wrote in his e-mail. Let me quote it: 'Well, again I hope your visa doesn't take long, meanwhile be patient and drink a lot of beer because that is something we don t do much around here…'
Yeah, I'm really going to miss that. But it is ok. As I wrote in my previous post - I will survive. Not a big deal!
Now more importanly is to get to know our competitors and do my homework before coming to Pakistan. I want to impress my employer from the first day of our meeting. I guess all of us are trying to do that... This is atleast what I was tought by older people.