Recently, BNUZ organized a get-together for the AIESEC volunteers. Six students shared their experience in overseas volunteering respectively. It is said that the oversea volunteering has been a great change for them to broaden their horizon.

Different Perspective, Different World

Wang Zhiqi is a sophomore from School of Logistics. She has been a volunteer in Poland this summer. With passion, she shared the whole process of her project.

"I went there for cultural exchange. You would find that everything is different when you got there. The first problem we came across is cultural difference, for volunteers are all over the worlds. It took a long run-in time for us. "said Wang Zhiqi.

Wang Zhiqi’s main work was teaching kids how to recognize cheongsam, to make paper-cut or to tell stories about Chinese Zodiac and so on. She needed to find creative ways of teaching kids, who could not be concentrated for long.

"They keep jumping up and down. Ran out to play themselves without a word. ”said Wang Zhiqi, “This was a big trial for me cause I have to learn how to get along well with kids. I dressed as cartoon characters at first and finally became their friends. Thanks to this experience, I got more patience now."

For Wang Zhiqi, this experience not only gave her an opportunity to know about the culture of Eastern European, but also refresh her perspective towards the concept of "country". "What impressed me most is a war reporter. He told me that there isn’t any country in the world. Everyone in the world shares the same sky. I prefer call it Global Village than different countries."

Wang Zhiqi had gone to several countries such as Germany and France during her volunteering. “It changed my plans about the future. Now, I know how to solve problem with more patience and broader mind. This is the greatest gains which AIESEC gave me. ”said Wang Zhiqi.

Stay Alone In Iran
Zhang Jiayi, who is from International Business Faculty, has a different choice on volunteering. She chose Iran.

As the only child in the family, Zhang Jiayi didn’t leave so far away from home before. Her mother was the last one to get the news of this case. When her mother knew that she was going to be a volunteer in Iran alone, she was very concerned and surprised. Jiayi tried her best to persuade her mother by her passion and detailed plan, and finally got the permission
Before going to Iran, Zhang Jiayi thought it would be a cheerful travel but actually, it was not. To consolidate their determination, the leader of project asked them to climb a mountain, where there were no paths to the top at all. During their climbing, the leader kept climbing up himself and ignored others’ complains. “I burst into tears that night and felt very regret. I thought the leader was cruel to us. But I was wrong. At that night I was waking half frozen. As soon as the leader found that, he left me a better place to sleep. Actually my body wasn’t that much exhausted, I just need more training. ” said Zhang Jiayi.

"I was touched by many things during the project. Let’s say, my leader, he helped me a lot. And the local family was very enthusiasm. They provided all mountaineering equipments for me. Iranian is very enthusiasm. In their views, there is no reason needed to treat strangers well. They just wanted you to have a pleasure journey in Iran"

The 43-days project was finished soon but Zhang Jiayi didn’t her exploration. She delayed the date back home and traveled in Iran alone. When people asked her:”Do you have the courage to travel along the ten-thousand-meters mountain road by yourself? ” She said, "Definitely yes. I have the courage, from now on"

Unlike traveling or summer programs, AIESEC gives you different experience, according to Zhang Jiayi. "It allows you to communicate with the local communities and culture,"she said, "which can not be gained on books. You may find that the world is that big, that different."One year ago, she thought the AIESEC volunteering was other people’s story, but now, she created her own legend—an incredible journey at Iran.