Change of location ...

Hey Dear friends,

I have been posting my Indian experience to another blog, that I especially dedicated to the same experience. You gonna be connected to it soon ...

Sam

How is India!?

It was August-September 2007 during the AIESEC Annual International Conference that I knew where I needed to be with my after studies period. It is during that conference that I met Tata Consultancy Services-TCS people, who were representing TCS as well as some trainees that were there to be "living" testimony of the TCS commitment towards empowering the youth from all around the world, commitment that passes through the professional opportunities that are being offered to them.

Here I am, since July 5th 2008, I am proud to be an humble Rwandan just representing his country in this Global IT company! It is been 3 months and 1/2 since I left my "sweet home" for the "Incredible India" a fast growing economy where learning is possible if a person is open.

Welcome to my Indian experience page ...

Does time mean anything to you?

...
"When are we visiting the other place you told me?"
"Tomorrow of course. At 8AM"
"8AM or 8AM African time...?"

This is a kind of conversation that goes on about time, time management and how people do observe or not the appointment. Sometimes it is not easy to understand it but it has somehow been in our culture to fail to arrive on time for an appointment so that it tends to be said that we have our own time-which is the agreed on time plus some 30min, 1 hour or even more of lateness!

Why of this? Why can't we observe time and once for all fight for a good image of our cultures and motherland? It is very ashaming to hear that we are the ones for whom time management is a worse. This is why I wanted to share with you this message and I learnt from it and hope it will be the same for you also:

• To realize the value of ONE YEAR ask a student who failed a grade/course and has to repeat a whole year;
  
• To realize the value of ONE MONTH ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby;
• To realize the value of ONE WEEK ask the editor of a weekly Newspaper;
• To realize the value of ONE HOUR ask the lovers who are waiting to meet;
• To realize the value of ONE MINUTE ask a person who missed the train;
• To realize the value of ONE SECOND ask a person who just avoided an accident; and
  
• To realize the value of ONE TENTH OF A SECOND we ask a person who won a silver medal in the Olympics...

Every second that is wasted will never come back, treasure every moment you have and use it efficiently as it is special at its own.

Daughters' Dads dating rules!!!

Sooo...I got this from a friend (Hey Kim) ... and all I can say is that sometimes we are unfortunate to meet "tough" dads ... Poor guys!Da

Rule One:
If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're surely not picking anything up.

Rule Two:
You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.

Rule Three:
I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.

Rule Four:
I'm sure you've been told that in today's world, sex without utilizing a 'Barrier method' of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.

Rule Five:
It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is: 'early.'

Rule Six:
I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.

Rule Seven:
As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process than can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?

Rule Eight:
The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing or holding hands. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual themes are to be avoided; movies that feature chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.

Rule Nine:
Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dimwitted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.

Rule Ten:
Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit the car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.

NOTE: This application will be incomplete and rejected unless accompanied by a complete financial statement, job history, lineage, and current medical report from your doctor.

NAME ____________ _________ ________ DATE OF BIRTH ____________
HEIGHT ________ WEIGHT _________ IQ __________ GPA _________
SOCIAL SECURITY #___________ ___ DRIVERS LICENSE #___________ _
BOY SCOUT RANK AND BADGES______ _________ _________ _________ _
______
HOME ADDRESS_____ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ ___
CITY/STATE ____________ _________ _______ ZIP______

Do you have parents? ___Yes ___No
Is one male and the other female? ___Yes ___No
If No, explain: ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _______
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _

Number of years they have been married ____________ _________ _________ ___

If less than your age, explain:
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __

ACCESSORIES SECTION:
A. Do you own or have access to a van? __Yes __No
B. A truck with oversized tires? __Yes __No
C. A waterbed? __Yes __No
D. A pickup with a mattress in the back? __Yes __No
E. A tattoo? __Yes __No
F. Do you have an earring, nose ring, __Yes __No
pierced tongue, pierced cheek or a belly button ring?

(IF YOU ANSWERED 'YES' TO ANY OF THE ABOVE, DISCONTINUE APPLICATION AND LEAVE PREMISES IMMEDIATELY. I SUGGEST RUNNING.)

ESSAY SECTION:
In 50 words or less, what does 'LATE' mean to you?
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __

In 50 words or less, what does 'DON'T TOUCH MY DAUGHTER' mean to you?
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __

In 50 words or less, what does 'ABSTINENCE' mean to you?
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __

REFERENCES SECTION:
Church you attend ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ ___
How often you attend ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________
When would be the best time to interview your:
father? ____________
mother? ___________
pastor? ____________

SHORT-ANSWER SECTION:
Answer by filling in the blank. Please answer freely, all answers are confidential.

A: If I were shot, the last place I would want shot would be:
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __
B: If I were beaten, the last bone I would want broken is my:
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __
C: A woman's place is in the:
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __
D: The one thing I hope this application does not ask me about is:
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __
E. What do you want to do IF you grow up?
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __
F. When I meet a girl, the thing I always notice about her first is:
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __
G. What is the current going rate of a hotel room? ____________ _________ _____

I SWEAR THAT ALL INFORMATION SUPPLIED ABOVE IS TRUE AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE UNDER PENALTY OF DEATH, CRUCIFIXION, ELECTROCUTION, WATER TORTURE.

_______________________________________________ _________
Applicant's Signature (that means sign your name, moron!)

___________________________________ _____________________________
Mother's Signature Father's Signature

____________ _________ _________ _ ____________ _________ _________ __
Pastor/Priest/ Rabbi State Representative/ Congressman

Thank you for your interest, and it had better be genuine and non-sexual. Please allow four to six years for processing this application.

You will be contacted in writing if you are approved. Please do not try to call or write (since you probably can't, and it would cause you injury). If your application is rejected, you will be notified by two gentlemen wearing white ties carrying violin cases (you might want to watch your back).

Guys be watching your back when you pass by your lovers' places, as we never know!!

My Valentine's Day celebration (Ma version du Saint Valentin!)

"Let's build a strong foundation for a better future"

While all around the world people seem quite "busy" organizing or enjoying the Valentine's day, I was thinking about the best way, my own way, of celebrating it!

Saint Valentine's Day has to be the celebration of love between people! Being a Rwandan, I come to realize that my (Own) Best Way of celebrating this day, is to share with brothers, sisters and friends the responsibility we have over today for a better future.

Sometimes back (last year August-September 2007), I got an opportunity to represent my motherland abroad during an international conference! I would say that before that I was aware of the situation we were in, vis a vis the external world, but NOT the perfect picture and the PERFECT responsibility that is upon us! People I met who knew about Rwanda, most of them that was through books, TV news, or movies about the Rwandan genocide. So, you may guess the kind of questions I was being asked there... BUT this helps me knowing well how much work we have to do in order to change this, NOT the history but the future by building the present on strong foundation!

This is my Valentine's day celebration, thinking about the "Love to my motherland-Rwanda and even Africa"! Am saying this because the image we are giving most of the time is not the one giving the REAL HOPE!!

Why of this? Aren't we tired of this situation? Aren't we sad and even ashamed to see that the young generation, to make the difference is the one involved in these destruction activities; to see that we are behaving as unconcerned by the political, social, economic... problems that our countries are facing... because whatever we may be saying while lying ourselves, the consequences come to all of us!!

So, let's contribute towards a BETTER future and I am really convinced that nobody would wish for his/her children to pass through what we know because the history doesn't look appear good, but the least we can do, even though we have no power over the past, we can change the future while starting from now, we can change our destiny, we can prevent the history to repeat itself... so there is something to do!


And I think and am convinced that Rwanda, Africa and the world in general have the beauty to pass time building for and working towards...
There is a lot to worry about and very important for our countries and us in general!!!

At least we have these few people who will be doing the little they can but the results will be visible and I don't think any Rwandese or African or anybody else logical can allow these "Peas-brain" or "Low-minded" People destroy our future!!

A New Lady has come..

Here she is: Yvette (Her Excellence from now on), the author, Vincent (a Belgian friend of Rwanda) and Peace another amazing lady!


(2nd Picture) At the 1st line: Sam (the author), Her Excellence Yvette and Phiona (a friend and the University Students' representative for gender and equality), at the 2nd line: Paul and Kevin, just after the election ...

Congrats Ma Dear!!

She is great, she is mature, committed,... she has the potential, in brief she is amazing!

Am talking about an Amazing lady who is to lead the AIESEC in Rwanda for the term 2008-09! Rwanda is among the countries known for encouraging women to contribute to their countries' development by being involved in various activities from the businesses start-up to the various political and decision making positions!


Now, it is the time for AIESEC in Rwanda to show to show the same picture that Female-AIESECers are able and trusted! She was voted at 100% by members and this means something! Members have recognized her abilities but also most of all they do believe in the future, in the expansion and in their development besides her!

Leading a University Youth international organization is a challenge but at the same time an opportunity to use these hidden potentials and capabilities we do have unexploited! This is why I would like to dedicate this Quote by the former South African President Nelson Mandela "The Greatest Glory lies not in in never falling, but in rising every time we fall" to her! We are there.

Congrats my Dear!

Sam

ça fait reflechir...

Les Philosophes d'antan étaient parfois pris comme des fous! Et même aujourd'hui, quelqu'un qui se comporte bizarremenent est surnommé un Philosophe par ces-mêmes gens qui n'en savent rien des Philosophes! Dans les lignes à suivre vous verrez que les conseils qu'ils prodiguaient étaient pleins de sagesse......

Et bien les amis prennez votre temps et lisez ça! Bien sūr ça nous évite des betises et nous aide à reflechir! Ça diminue les emmerdements ....

Socrate avait, dans la Grèce antique, une haute opinion de la sagesse. Quelqu'un vient un jour trouver le grand philosophe et lui dit :

"Sais-tu ce que je viens d'apprendre sur ton ami?

- Un instant, répondit Socrate. Avant que tu me racontes, j'aimerais te faire passer un test, celui des 3 passoires :

- Les 3 passoires?

Mais oui, reprit Socrate. Avant de me raconter toutes sortes de choses de choses sur les autres, il est bon de prendre le temps de filtrer ce que l'on aimerait dire.

C'est ce que j'appelle le test des 3 passoires. La première passoire est celle de la vérité. As-tu vérifié si ce que tu veux me dire est vrai?

- Non. J'en ai simplement entendu parler...

- Très bien. Tu ne sais donc pas si c'est la vérité.

Essayons de filtrer autrement en utilisant une deuxième passoire, celle de la bonté. Ce que tu veux m'apprendre sur mon ami, est-ce quelque chose de bon ?

- Ah non ! Au contraire.

- Donc, continua Socrate, tu veux me raconter de mauvaises choses sur lui et tu n'es même pas certain si elles sont vraies. Tu peux peut-être encore passer le test, car il reste une passoire, celle de l'utilité. Est-il utile que tu m'apprennes ce que mon ami aurait fait ?

- Non. Pas vraiment.

Alors, conclut Socrate, si ce que tu as à me raconter n'est ni vrai, ni bien, ni utile, pourquoi vouloir me le dire ?"

Qu'est ce que vous en dites?