Tuesday, September 26, 2006
On Maps and Stefan
To celebrate my sixth strength, humor, playfulness and wit, I am writing about something I experienced yesterday and about someone who has this as his #1 strength.
Part of the MC's job is to visit LCs and support them for their orientation days. I was very excited when I was sent to go to Oulu because I always enjoyed hanging out with these dedicated people. :)
So, yesterday morning I woke up at 4 am, packed, showered and left for the train station so that I would have ample time before the train leaves. When I arrived, I realized that the only way to buy my ticket was through the electronic thingy they have at the station. Apparently, Helsinki is still dead at 6 am (very different from Manila!). Since I was very confident of my train schedule and my Finnish, I single-handledly bought the ticket from the ticket thingy, even though it "talked" to me only in Finnish. I got my ticket, my bags and rode on the train, prepared that in around 7 hours I would see the LC.
During the first half of the trip, I was listening to music, writing my book and eating my tuna baguette. I was chilled and relax. All of a sudden, I had the urge to ask whether the train was going to Oulu. The passenger in front of me said no. I was confused but still remained calm. I thought what he meant was that he did not speak English.
However, after a semi-staring contest with the guy, I realized that when he said no, he meant that I was in the wrong train. The first thought that came into my mind was (insert expletive here). Then, I thought of creative solutions on how to get off the train as quickly as possible. Since jumping off a moving train or pushing the emergency button were not really good options, I just asked the conductor on what the heck I was supposed to do.
To cut this story short, 3 train changes later, I arrived to Oulu, safe and partly sound. :) Granted that I am not one to worry about the past too much, I would still like to share four key learning points from this experience:
- Just because Oulu and Kuopio rhyme, it does not mean that they are close to each other. Hmm, in fact, they don't even rhyme. Why the heck did I think they were neighboring cities? Only time will tell. :)
- Maps are not just cute pictures with nice little dots on it. They have a purpose beyond aesthetics. :)
- I really have a special and unique talent of getting lost. :)
- I should read Why Men Don't Listen and Women Can't Read Maps soon.
Now that I think about it, I can capitalize on this really unique talent of mine. I can write a book called, Get Lost Quickly (as in Get Rich Quickly). In this book, I will chronicle how I managed to spend at least an hour in a 5-star hotel in India trying to find my room after 3 days of sleeping in it or how I managed to be in a completely different city for a company visit after counter-checking directions 3 times or how I spent one and a half years memorizing the route from my house to my high school or how I got lost 3 times in 2,5 days in Rotterdam only to be saved by 3 different AI people each time.
After this experience, I realized one thing: I may have direction in life, but I still need directions otherwise. :)
And because I had a lot of laughs due to my experience, I decided to write about a person whom I have had a lot of laughs with -- Stefan! Today, Iwill share snippets of my fun memories of him. :)
Stefan, Ladi and Me
- Ste-fun Experience: The Joke
Place: Norway
Occassion: ScaLDS 2005
What happened: During the first ScaLDS' opening plenaries, delegates were given the chance to make a wish or a request for other people to do, to liven up the atmosphere. At that particular morning, someone asked Stefan to tell a joke. (Someone also asked that JC turn Janne upside down, but that is another story.) When Stefan was onstage, he choked but he still bravely pulled his face as an attempt to make people laugh. He later explained in the official dinner that he had a mental block because he was talking to a partner when this dare came in. He then retold the joke but not without explaining the context of the joke first. That in itself was funny! The joke, as I recall, was about a turtle and a snail and that the snail doing something with the turtle (it was not dirty at all, I just don't know how to write about it). Well, it was a random joke but people laughed anyway! :) - Ste-fun Experience: The Lap Dance
Place: Sweden
Occassion: Scandinavian Chill Out
What happened: Then MCPs -- Emma, JC, Janne and Stefan -- were challenged to do lap dances for the rest of the MCs. Emma tried her best but her hip movements were not good enough. Janne made a feeble attempt at body movement and even took his shirt off to bribe the judges, but his shoulder movements hardly deserved to be called a lap dance. JC was JC. But Stefan really took the challenge to heart. He shook his butt, lied down on the floor and put himself in between a chair's legs (this was way too funny) to prove his desire to win. The clear winner: Stefan! :) - Ste-fun Experience: The Pool
Place: India
Occassion: IC 2005
What happened: Hmm, I will try to do the math for you. 20 people + 2 liters of vodka + a great Indian party + a great Norwegian roll call + lots of energy + new friendships + pool = people jumping into the water (of course)!
I know there are much more sides to Stefan than being fun. He is also smart and is not afraid to speak his mind. During IPM, for example, at the height of the Danish cartoon issue, he readily gave well-constructed opinions during discussions without sounding abrasive.
I also appreciate his ability to listen and his ability to show how much he cares for people around him. For sure, my 2005-2006 MC year would have been a bit more lonely if I were not able to build a level of comfortability with Stefan (and the rest of the Scandis). I especially felt really grateful for his company during IPM. :)
I missed his presence in Poland this year. It was my first seminar without hearing Stefan's strange laughter, without seeing his funny smile and listening to his humor. I could think of many moments during IC where I could have used hearing his jokes just to lift my spirits up. :)
So Stefan, please listen to David Pollay and use your #1 strength. :) It really gives positive energy to people. Take it from me. Hehe. :) Good luck with the studies! If you have no one to tell your jokes to, you can always email me. ;)
---
Thanks to David, Lara, Thordis, Aksu and Helja. :)
9 comments:
LOL I almost ended up in Venice, Italy last month (you can my post called "A nightmare before Venice" in August if you want ;-)) instead of Geneva, Switzerland!!! Always a first time for something, isn't there? :-)
By train, I mean
Hehe...
Erica, I was literally falling of my chair laughing when I read your posting :D
I have to admit that I am at home today (still working!!!) trying to get some rest before my fever gets too attached to me. I was laughing very hard until the mail man came. He was trying to cram something in through the mail slot in my door and apparently heard me laughing hysterically in here...alone. He stopped the cramming for a few seconds, as he was probably shaking his head in confusion, and then left me with my wrinkled up mail. Thanks for a good laugh, Erica.
To the mail man: I'm very sorry I couldn't invite you in to read this funny blog! And I'm sorry if I sound discriminating. You might just as well be a mail woman ;)
Cheers!
Hi Erica,
Thanks for your positive, energetic and funny postings.
You blog makes people here at work ask why I am smiling so much during the lunch break.
Unfortunately I can't share with them because they don't read English.
To say it like David would: "You are a great blogger."
Hugs,
Kevin
Hey Carissa, Haha, strange feeling to be that lost, eh? :)
Annika, I am happy that I made you scare your mail person! :)
Kevin, thanks for reading my blog. Your comment also made me smile. :)
Hehe, I am not the only one getting lost. God knows how many skid marks there are Helsinki when I had to turn around...
aaaaaaaaaw Stefan! He just gets this twinkle in his eye and you know he is considering mischief!
Hey Dora,
Yey! There are more of me in this world. :)
Aine,
Yeah, Stefan has this look. :-P
Hey Pepez,
Sorry I thought you were Dora. :) I just got confused. :)
Sorry again! :)
Hugs to you,
Erica
Post a comment »