Infrastructure

Over the past couple of days I have been reflecting on another unique part of our organisation: infrastructure. Exciting aye?

Part of my work sees me communicating with several countries from sub Saharan Africa, providing support around the implementation of our internship program. Now I know that even the purest of souls have trouble replying to emails, but I have to say that I was really concerned when the people I was working with hadn't been able to communicate properly in almost three months. That is until I received this email:

"Apologies for not responding to your mail for some time now ...it was because of internet problems which we are facing at our University.So far our intiatives for TN are not forthcoming, the approched companies are still considering our concerns.
On the SN side, like always every member is really interested but the stumbling block is finance for airtickets,trully speaking this is our hinderance we have been approaching companies to finance and most of them where turning down individuals proposals. I believe that we will make it.

On chatting,this is a little expensive for we will have to be logged in for a long time chatting(internet is expensive this side) and also that my L.C does not have any P.C so we are using the Library facilities which are rationed

However, with us working hard on fundraising projects i believe that we gonna make it.

Until then,

Chao Chao"

Here's to all the people around the world working their guts out regardless of their infrastructure. I am in awe of the Africa GN, amazed by its growth in the last year and see it as a constant reminder of what AIESEC can do.

So, people remember to use every minute of internet time wisely.

Assass.ination in
Lebanon
.not g.ood
Need stab.ility

Bo.no in Australia = not good.
Al Gore = much good

The Drones

The Drones are a Melbourne band. Imagine an old bluesman coughing his soul through the pickups of a second hand, world weary Fender. The sound is all bar room, sawdust and tired. The lyrics are images rather than words. They are currently playing with the Dirty Three (See below) at the All Tomorrow's Party Festival, that would be amazing. Before I left Sydney I managed to catch the Drones play at the Annandale, an iconic Sydney music venue. Dank and dark, smoke and bourban.

I still call Australia home

Five months since I left Australia. Having trouble with words today so instead I will post a picture of Warren Ellis, lead violinist for the Dirty Three (from Melbourne, Australia). Their music ranges from a gentle lull to a violent crashing shriek Perfect for train rides, people watching and generally living. This band paints sonic pictures of the Australian landscape... wide, empty, beautiful, harsh, strange, dry, vast, personal... it could be the oceans, or the mountains, the deserts or the farms... or even life in the city.

The landscapes created by the Dirty Three are a great analogy for my life in the last few months. Unique, special, challenging, tiring but ultimately rewarding.


My family: John (Sophie's boyfriend), Sophie, me, Dad, Kyle and Mum. I miss you guys a lot, speak to you soon.

A powerful country: Yemen

Ali, was our guide, driver and above all friend on our four day tour of the northern hinterland. Ali, through his stories and customs, invited us into the world of the Yemeni Bedouins. A deep thinker, wise, caring with a gentle sense of humour. Ali made our trip what it was, going well beyond the call of duty and setting a high standard for generosity and hospitality. Ali told many a funny story about growing up in desert tent communities, being responsible for camel herding, moving his family to a village, fighting in the civil war, and a great story about how much trouble he once had distinguishing his fully covered wife when she was sitting amongst a large group of women in a hospital... his full name is Ali Ahmed Ali Abdulla Moseh Nassar Hajem Howar (he forgot some here)Aldrani. Ali, thankyou.


Knife Dancing in Amran. Couldn't pass up this opportunity. The drums, the crowd, the ancient city and the living attitude of the locals.


The mountains of Yemen are striking. We stood for days staring out over the vast expanses. I live in Bahrain, the highest natural point here is a little over 100meters above sea level. There is something incredibly soothing, peaceful and thought provoking about mountains and valleys.


More mountains. I spent much time in 'deep thought mode' realising that what I was seeing around me was a country rich in culture, that had remained untouched for millenia.


The Wedding. This was a surprise, we came across this wedding in tiny village at the top of a mountain ridge. Hundreds had gathered to give their blessing to the groom. People danced to the tune of local drumming, as each new group joined the music would stop and they would sing a call and response chant to each other to recognise the new comers. We were invited to share a meal of powerfully good, entirely unname-able food. The host Ali came to welcome us and invite us to chew qat with the men in the after ceremony... just another example of the fine hospitality of the Yemeni people. oh yeah, you might notice the guys are dancing with rifles... the gun ratio in Yemen is said to be 3:1 (guns to people), but they are treated with high respect. I guess you learn how to handle one when you carry them around your whole life.



Goats. Goats on, or near, roads was a common sight. For some reason goats make me chuckle.


Yemen is green. Enough said. The table lands leading up to the mountain ranges were covered in low rise trees and crops. It was a bit of a surprise.


Sana'a. A powerfully old city. The entire old city is world heritage listed and features this style of architecture. The place is amazingly safe and incredibly friendly. Highlights? Finding random food places, being invited to drink tea with locals, braving a barber shop (haircut and shave), listening to the kids play with their fireworks, picking out the different ways one can tie a turbin (ghutra), and of course, passing Eid with our travel agents, chewing qat in the visitors room that sits atop each of the old houses... amazing place. highly recommended.

Middle East History

By no means my own find... I have put it here cause I like it... and can refer to it at whim...



Now stop reading about Middle East/Politics and get back to partying with The Presets!! Seriously... so much fun.

The Presets - loud and stomping music from Sydney

There comes a time when ruminations of global politics, positively, existentialism, travel and the Middle East just aren't enough. Time to put down the brain and turn up the stereo for an absolute ball blasting no thinker of a tune... I present: The Presets.

The Modular scene has been growing strong in Sydney for the last two years. Wolfmother, Cut Copy, the Presets, the Avalanches, Midnight Juggernought, Siminian Mobile Disco, Van She and a bunch of other retro fascist dance nuts have taken control of 'cool'... and damn they do it well. This uncouth collection of misfits now have a monopoly on the party scene... Victory.



This photo was taken at a festival in Sydney, back in June, one of my last days in my home town. I have glorious memories of The Presets (a two piece live electro band) completely tearing apart a hall of 5000 festival goers. Things were building to epic proportions and then they dropped this: Down Down Down... and blew the place apart.

The track puts distortion on EVERYTHING from the ridiculous drums to the dirty synth and vocals, any track that has the balls to drop its first breakdown in the opening 80 seconds of a six and a half minute track earns its place of honour...

The Presets - Down Down Down (Digitalism Remix)

and for more victorious dancing in the living room (not from Sydney but equally as cool):

Justice vs Simian - We Are Your Friends