Audra in a week’s time

Content:

-Audra is going to IC (=International Congress, the biggest annual AIESEC conference where all executive bodies of 95 countries gathers together, this year in Poland)
-Audra needs UAE residence visa urgently!
-Audra needs the ticket & Audra is in traffic jam
-Audra is packing
-Audra is in airport
-Audra preparing surprise

Audra is going to IC

One of the days when transition was in it’s mids at the “Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf” Basma said that MC budget may cover my travel expenses to Poland. Yahoo! Surprisingly, me somehow managed to have spare money (which is not a case usually!!!) for delegate fee. So here we go – Audra is going to IC!!! But… it’s a week time till IC, deadline for registration is way back! And Misss Audra is way not on delegate list. But luckily after couple of emails I was approved as delegate! UAE has a delegation!!!!

Audra needs visa

The ones who has followed my story I guess missed some storied about visa. So here we go, brand new story about visa J Since I arrived to Dubai I’ve had copy of the visa and as we have been told we been waiting for a call for medical check in order to get proper visa in the passport. So as IC same into the horizons I said to myself “Oh shit, I cannot leave the county if I don’t have proper visa in my green passport, and if I leave, when I’m returning the copy of the visa will be expired already… So… “Hello my dear immigration department, it’s me, Audra, again!” J To my surprise or not surprise the dialogue continues “Miss you have to wait for 5 to 7 days to be visa issued. (and IC pre-meeting begins in 2 days…) So, no way I’m making for pre-meeting, even if I make urgent visa… However, no panic – one day or another I’ll make to Poland! BUT to do that I need to give blood!!! For those who don’t know me well I have to say that I’m terribly afraid of giving blood! So, Audra went to the hospital, laid down, closed her eyes, but the nurse couldn’t find any vein, because they just simply disappeared as I was so afraidJ. After some conversation she found some blood spot in my hand (the front part of the palm!!!) That was so bad….:L Anyways, as all tests were done, I came to the stage of “WAIT”. The results of all the torture is that on Wednesday 4 p.m. Audra has got UAE residence visa for 3 years!

Audra needs ticket & Audra is stuck in traffic jam

Since cheep flights do not provide you with the possibility to change the dates of the flight and you have to purchase it on the booking, so in my situation when I even didn’t have my passport in hands I couldn’t relay on the government saying that they will issue visa today. They would say today or tomorrow… So… Wednesday 4:30 p.m. I book the tickets, they are printed at 6 p.m. only. 5.15 p.m. Audra is leaving KV (=Knowledge Village, the place where AIESEC office is situated) 8.15 p.m. Audra reaches ticket place in Karama. Where did I take so long? Vrej and me were stuck in the bloody traffic for 2 hours!!! My ticket guy finished work at 5.30 p.m and he agreed to wait till 6 p.m. when I come to pick it up. He has stayed at the office till 8.15 p.m.! He was really pissed off of me saying “I’m stuck in the traffic” But at the end he charged me 15 Dhs less!!! I don’t know why!!!

So 8:20 p.m. ticket + visa are in my hands, I’m leaving Dubai less than in 4 hours. Things to be done: 1. shopping for Global Village + souvenirs, 2. packing, 3. shower

Audra is packing or Indian family interfering Audra's packing

Everything started when I showed to Vanita that I bought Abaya. She got so excited about the idea of me representing UAE in global Village so she wanted to make me look real Arab girl (who wears lots of jewelry and make up). She brought all the jewelry she has (and she has lots of it!) and we started to match what goes best to me and abayaJ. So it ended up that my suitcase is full of Arabic – Indian jewelry, some more specific clothes. At that time I got Rana’s call saying that I have to get ready in 15 min – so quick shower and quicker packing!!!

Audra in airport

Finally, thanks to Rana and one of his best friends I have reached the airport where I had some time to reflect on all busy day and past week. And less minutes till my flight left more exited I got. In the morning I spoke to Avinash who has reached Poland first out of our delegation (and got lost – but here’s another storyJ). Then Basma left couple of hours ago. At the time I was in Dubai airport my VPICX was chilling & exploring Warsaw with Australian delegation and my teammate Basma just landed in London. It’s just another 12 hours and all three of us will meet in Poland, in IC opening ceremony! That’s so exciting, however more excitement comes when I realize that I’ll be representing AIESEC in UAE!

Audra preparing surprise

Excitement is the best engine of energy & motivation! I’ve been excited about going to IC because of couple of things. First is the power IC holds! It’s my first International Congress where all leaders of entire organization uniting 95 countries come into one place! I already know that these 10 days will have strong impact on me as representative of AIESEC in UAE and as a person. Another strong motivator is the fact that I’ll meet my Lithuanian delegation and after conference I’m going home where I’ll meet my family. (During IC my mom & sis are having b-days! So all I need to do is to wrap myself into present paper and go homeJ ). None of my family or friends or AIESECers knows that I’m coming to Lithuania for few days! I simply can’t wait till THAT!