About the AI transition - June-July 2006

I liked it very much, especially the great and very special learning environment, with 40 incredible individuals. Although I was extremely tired because of the exams and I couldn’t enjoy the social events and the bonding part, I felt that I contributed a lot during the sessions and I felt very confident about my knowledge. And by the end of the term I had a very good understanding on what I wanted to achieve in my portfolio, but until then there was a long way to go.
First, I went home between the 13th and 20th June, to pass 3 exams but I didn’t pass all of them.
I felt shame but what can we do? We try it again… And anyway, passing over 10 exams during May was a big achievement on its own and the remaining part until my degree is nothing, if I have a balanced life during the AI term and I prepare more during the year.
So, I went back to Rotterdam and although I couldn’t catch up with sleep because my flight was 2 hours delayed and the next day I woke up very early to catch the 8 o’clock train to Brussels with Geta, my energy level was OK and I was very happy.

The sales trip in Brussels was very successful and useful and we could get a lot of transition done with Geta.
I’ve also received a mentor – Lanchanie, who has a similar personality with me and I was happy to share my thoughts with her and also to get some advice about my individual goals for the year.
Geta also gave me a lot of knowledge and some suggestions on how to manage my time, my outlook, my e-mails… It was very useful and I think I am still using those habits developed during that time.
Also, we had an amazing AI transition party where we started some bonding with the new MC people from the surrounding countries, the incoming AI team won the entire football (soccer) tournament, which created history (!!!) and we had a HUGE party at the end!

But my energy level went down to zero around the end of June, and that was exactly the time when the Learning Network Drive Teams were in Rotterdam – for 4 days, including the week-end and I had to bond my HIV/AIDS Drive Team and lead our planning process. And by the way they were also very tired and exhausted, so I was not very satisfied about the Drive Team meeting, we could have got out much more of it, but overall it went well and towards October every day we become more and more efficient in our work, which is good.

Once or twice I freaked out (meaning – cried) for very little things – e.g. in Brussels at the train station after the PWC training when I was very tired, in addition our accommodation was not organized properly – which resulted in additional frustration - and I wanted to get back to R’dam to be able to work in the evening but we missed the train, we had to wait an additional hour and by the time we arrive at the office, the shutter was already down and we couldn’t get in. And that was also the time when I really felt the negative side of NOT having an own laptop because there were no laptops for the transition period for the new AI members, so I had to use a very slow PC, in the middle of the office and in the middle of all the noise and at the place where people randomly walk through all the time.Anyway, the tough period was over, I’ve challenged my limits and every day I got to know more about myself. And that’s one of the reasons why I’m on AI, isn’t it?