Photos, finally!

These are the rare sunny days in Tallinn. Now it's about 15C and raining.



Click on the picture to see other photos.

Artemy Lebedev Studio is terminating its contract with Nokia

Köik on super!

My life in Tallinn is normalising, but sometimes it quite boring.

• On Friday we went a bye bye party of Nadine, a Dutch girl who had studied and worked here for a year. It took place in a flat with a closed yard just in the Old Town. It's so amazing that people can still live in this Medieval environment. We prepared barbeque, drank wine and danced salsa with Mexican girls.

• On Saturday we went to Viljandi, a town in Eastern Estonia. The party took place at an aiesecer's summer house and was dedicated to St. John's day. At first I was a bit scared of mixing with so many unknown Estonians, but they turned to be friendly. Again, I used the opportunity to enjoy barbeque. After midnight we went to the local castle for a public party. It took 30 minutes under rain to go there, but drunken people were the only we could see there. One of the aiesec girls was also so drunken, so that she could stand, but wanted to chat and dance all the time.

• Today I went to Comperess, the popular restaurant with two Spaniards, Venezuelian and Indian to eat traditional Estonian pancakes. Then went to huge Soviet-style embarkment to observe the Baltic Sea. It's a very impressive place, but very abandoned, so that only young people come there for drinking. Investors with imagination could make a fancy attraction of it.

Tallinn is very nice city with a Medieval Old Town, but I've thorougly explored it. So, now I'm in search of any social activities I can engage in after work that ends at 16.00. The point is that most of my friends get free after 19.00, so that I must kill my time in a usefullway.

I'll probaly take Spanish classes.

Do you work till 16.00? Don't tell anybody!

Life is so relaxing in Estonia. I must be the most smartly dressed employee in our department: others come in jeans, shirts, and even slippers. A working day officially ends at 17.00, but some employees are absent at 16.30. Last week we had a farewell party for one girl going for a maternity leave. She brought lots of sandwiches and cakes to please the enormous amount of colleagues, who presented her flowers.

The Prejudice is Gone

I've lived without the Internet for 3 days, which means isolation from the world nowadays. Hopefully, I'll get the computer tomorrow. In other terms I'm very happy: it has been a right decision to come to Tallinn, Estonia.

My first working day has been perfect!

I work in one of the most fancy offices in Tallinn, that is very close to the well-know Tonismagi. It's a 12-storeyed building made of blue glass. It takes me about 30 minutes to go there from my flat, where I live with guys from Brazil, Venezuela, Japan, and Estonia. Our house is a Soviet-type block of flats, but we have a big pine-tree park near us.

My colleagues are very active, friendly and happy about the fact that I've come. I work basically with Estonians, but there are some Russians, who seem to be not so sociable. Everybody speaks very good English, even ladies in the kitchen. So, the famous stereotype of Estonians as slow and mean people has gone for me.

Today Rait, one of my colleagues has showed me the city center. However, I've managed to explore it all for 2 days. It's so nice! Old houses, chirches, paved streets, stairs, towers... You feel like you are in the Middle Ages. Everything is very close and small. I've been to Viru, Tallinn's "big" shopping center, but it's so small in Moscow terms.

Even though the conditions are nice, I feel a bit lonely and sad for no reason. I can see lots of Russians and want to talk with them, but I'm afraid it will be strange. Yesterday I went to the Russian Orthodox Cathedral named after Alexander Nevsky to put candles. When I was listening to the Old Russian spiritual songs, tears came out of my eyes.

It would be easier to go somewhere like Bolivia, where nobody speaks your language. I cannot distinguish Russians and Estonians from their appearance, so that I don't know in what language I should approach. Today one seller has preferred to speak English rather Russian with me, even though I saw him speaking Russian.

From Eesti with Love

I've just arrived from Moscow to Tallinn, Estonia to have an internship with Hansabank. By the way, my bank's logo was the first thing I saw when I came out of the train.

The 18-hour trip by train was ok. My neighbours in the car turned out to be former dwellers of Almaty, Kazakhstan, but now they live in Belgorodskaya Oblast. They've presented me Kazakhstan as a fast-developing and friend country, so that now I want to visit it. They say that many Russians who have moved to Russia are now going back to Almaty, as they have much more better opportunities and level of life there. The other neighbour was a man, who family was travelling in the next kupe. He didn't speak at all, but he was snoozing so loudly! I can't imagine how his relatives can sleep at night.

What are my first imperessions of Estonia? Well, it's not so different from Russia. There are Soviet-style blocks of flats, rusty factories, and drunked people on Sunday morning. I've seen many people speaking Russian. Of course, all train stations are like this, so that I hope to see real Europe soon.

I will share a 3-room flat with a Japanese, a Venezuelian, and a Brazilian - Hugo. The latter will go travelling in two weeks, so that he has suggested me to stay at his place as a sign of gratitude for my help in Moscow. However, now I'm sitting in the flat of Ankur, an Indian guy who has met me at the train station. Now he is sleeping, and it has taken me 30 min to fix his charging cable, so that I can use the lap top know. It's good that we are taught about electronic connections at schools.

Hugo will come from Parnu in the afternoon, so that I'll be able to move to my flat then. When Ankur wakes up, I'll go shopping and get to know Tallinn more.

Crazy Days

Yesterday I picked up my visa from the Estonian Embassy, bought my ticket to Tallinn, went to the dentist, and passed the last exam in this semester. Today I've met my parents' friend in Domodedovo Airport, and I still I have to buy slippers, make passport-sized photos, and meet a couple of people.

I'm leaving for Tallinn tomorrow evening!
I'll be back in 3 months!
Stay tuned!

UBS Reception in Appenzell


Click on the photo to see other photos. The photo is take by an official UBS photographer.

Estonian Work Permit

Paradise is not so far

St. Gallen Symposium has been one of the best activities in my whole life. It's such a unique opportunity to understand global issues, explore Switzerland, and get to know current and future leaders. Everything has been organized at a presidential lever, so that sometimes I felt like I was in the future.

Here you can see the photos taken by me.

Here you can see the photos taken by PWC.

Here you can see the photos taken by ISC.

Сегодня был самый официальный день. Выступали Министр экономики ОАЭ, Министр торговли Японии, Генеральный директор Шелл, бывший президент Ирана Мохаммед Хатами.

Речь Хатами произвела настоящий фурор. Главная мысль заключалась в диалоге между Востоком и Западом, которые должны друг с другом делиться. Запад - техналогиями, а Восток - духовностью. Я просто не верил ушам, когда он говорил, что демократия и права человека - это достижение человечества, которое должны все должны воспринять. В Иране это звучало бы как экстримистское утверждение. Потом я был на сессиях "Европейский энергетический паззл" и "Зависимость от иностранной нефти", которые был достаточно скучны, потому что их презентавали японцы.

Вечером мы могли пойти на четыре ужина в разных местах. Одной из опций был Русский ужин, которой спонсировал Виктор Вексельберг. Это был самый популярный выбор, но немного разочаровала еда, которая претендовала быть русской. Также должен был выступить Посол России в Швейцарии, но он не смог придти. Вексельберг тоже не сможет выступить завтра, поскольку у ТНК-БП какие-то проблемы с лицензией в России.

Здесь встречаются такие интересные люди, что просто не верится!

Сегодня погода выдалась гораздо лучше: весь день светило солнце!

- Утром я пешком прошелся до университета от нашего дома, который язык не поворачивается назвать общежитием. На протяжении всего пути я любовался очень красивым, ухоженным и вписаным в природу домам. Мне кажется, все, что мы считаем красивым в моем районе Москвы, будет просто убожеством даже по сравнению с маленькой деревней здесь.

- Мы разделились на 25 групп и отправились в Цюрих "искать сокровища". Сначала на отвели в суперсовременный офис ПрайсВотерхаусКуперса, где рассказали о том как же клево работать в этой компании. Нашу команду сопровождала Клаудия, немецкая сотрудница этой компании. Чтобы справиться с нашими заданиями, нам нужно было объехать весь Цюрих, но мы решили сосредоточиться на процессе, а не на результате.

- Мы бродили по закаулкам, любовались видом с возвышенности, катались на качелях, сидели у горной реки и грелись на солнце. ПВС дал нам целую сумку еды и всякой мелочи, так что нам не пришлось тратиться. Удивительно, но за два дня я еще потратил не одной копейки, т.к. все достается соврершенно бесплатно. Все возможные желания были давно предусмотренны.

- Компания Свисс Ре организовался для нас прием в национальном музее, но сначала мы прослушали диалоги известных архитекторов. Это было так скучно! Около часа они говорили не о чем и не отвечали на поставленные вопросы. Потом мы попали в сам музей живописи. Меня не вдохновили старые мастера, но зато понравилось современной искусство. Увидел много картин известных импрессионистов.

- Наконец мы отправились обратно в Санкт-Галлен. Сегодня я наконец-то нашел Давида, второго участника из России, с которым можно много о чем поговорить. Он получил первое образование в РУДН, но уже 4 года учиться в Германии.

Завтра начнется сама конференция и прибут очень важные люди. Уже везде полиция. Будет интересно!

Regards from Switzerland

Как я и обещал, буду делиться впечатлениями о St.Gallen Symposium'e, грандиозном мероприятии, yа котором я сейчас нахожусь. Оно проводится раз в год и объединяет 600 лидеров мира и 200 студентов для обсуждения мировых проблем. В этом году мы говорим о силе природных ресурсов.

- Когда я вышел из такси в аэропорту Домодедово, передо мной стоял Ваня Фастишевский, мой друг из AIESEC. По невероятному стечению обстоятельств он тоже летел в Цюрих, но для пересадки в Брюссель, где должен пройти Assessment Centre. Было весело с ним поговорить и часы ожидания прошли незаметно.

- В аэропорту нас уже ждали организаторы с водой и едой. Сегодня прилетело 60 студентов, а 120 приехали вчера. Мы сразу же принялись друг с другом знакомиться. Самая большая делегация с Юго-Восточной Азии, особенно с Китая и Сингапура, потом по численности идут американцы, а потом - германоговорящие европейцы. Очень много других стран, но из России всего 2 человека - Давид, который учиться в Германии и я.

- Мы поехали в Аппенцель, чудесное местечко в Альпах. По фуникулеру мы поднялись высоко в горы, но там был чудовищный снегопад с сильным ветром, что даже нас сдувало. Многие из нас были по летнему одеты, в том числе и я, так что нам приходилось стучать зубами и продираться сквозь непогоду. Я был в одной тонкой рубашке, а было 4C. Но наконец мы добрались до ресторанчика, где нас ждали горячие круасаны и лекция об этой местности.

- Спускаться было гораздо труднее. Внизу шел дождь, но по графику у нас была пешая эксурсия, от которой мы были не в особом восторге. В конце концов мы пришли в суперсовременный зал, где у нас был прием, организованный банком UBS. Нам раздали специальные электоронные устройства, которые определяют всех находящихся вокруг тебя участников, позволяют обмениваться сообщениями. Я даже могу послать сообщение Вексельбергу! Еда и напитки были на самом высшем уровне, что способствовало самой плодотворной международной дискуссии.

- Наконец мы поехали в Санкт-галленский университет, где нам раздали сумки со нужными вещами. Хорошо, что я себе не купил портфель для Эстонии два дня назад! Потом микроавтобусы отвезли на по нашим хостам. Так вот, я сейчас сижу у Баходира, своего узбекского друга, с которым познакомился в Москве.

В общем, здесь все такое маленькое и аккуратное, а сервис на самом высшем уровне.

Networking

Attending different event, such conferences, seminars, presentations, etc., increases your opportunities drammatically, as information is everything now.

So, for the last two weeks, I've attended a Banking Law Case Study at my academy, McKinsey Presentation Session, and Bain Case Interview Workshop in Moscow. Luba from AIESEC has been involed in organizaton of two of them. And I've meet Katya, Vanya, Natasha there as well.

Three years ago I went to McKinsey for an interview, but I failed. However, I met there Bakhodir, another interviewee, who is now a good friend of mine. In two years he went to Switzerland and joined AIESEC there. Now he is going to be my host.

Last year I attended EU Study Week in Moscow and met Sergey there. After that we have met 4 times at different events and shared our experiences. I was so surprised, when he told me he had met Alexey in Citigroup. He is my friend from AIESEC St. Petersburg.

Last summer I went to a night club in Bursa, Turkey. It was boring, as nobody could speak English, but one guy asked me something in Turkish. It turned out that he and his friends were from AIESEC, so that I changed the table and spent time with them. He is a friend of Nevin, a trainee in St. Petersburg who I met in Moscow.

I already know that I met Marina, a Russian trainee in Tallinn at Moscow New Year Project in 2005. And the elected VPF of AIESEC Estonia is my roommate from Cappadoccia Tour in Turkey.

The world is small!

No Comment



During the meeting of Putin, Berdymukhammedov and Nazarbayev in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Molitva / Молитва

I've been so excited about Eurovision Song Contest for the last 3 days, but felt lazy to share my impressions.

Here is Marija's song in Serbian, Russian, and English.



Just some thoughts:

- The Eastern European singers have been more genuine and impressive. The Western signers used many cliches and deviant images, such as those from Sweden and France. Wake up, Europe! But we should admit that New Europeans are more active voters, as their national identities are just forming. The most active voters in the West are national minorities, such as the Turks.

- Polical and geographical influence on the voting still presents. However, I've been surpirised to hear about the highest points from Turkey to Armenia and from Estonia to Russia. In the first case, it might be an excuse after Hrant Dink's murder. I don't belive that Estonia wanted to say sorry after the relocation of the monument, so that the Russian minority must have been active.

- Inspite of all the influences, the Serbian song was really the best! I voted for it for two times. Unlike the Russian girls, Marija is an individuality and great performer on air. Although you can't get the words, but you feel her sencere feelings. This song is about Great Love, but one Russian reporter shamelessly claimed it was about oppression of Serbia by the West.

The ESC is widely used for propaganda.

Think out of the Box!

Kings Of Convenience - I'D Rather Dance With You

Discussing the Themes for Leadership Streams

As you might know, I'm a member of a creative task force with AIESEC. We should create a logo and theme for International President's Meeting (IPM), a major convention of AIESEC leaders to be held in Skopje, Macedonia next year.

At first, every member created his own logo and theme, but the Focus Group couldn't choose the best. So, we've decided to brainstorm on the theme first and create the logo later. Well, we have a good pile of ideas. Every idea with any rhyme or .ipm is mine.

Which one do you like most of all?

 Temptation for change, Inspiration for success
 A leadership range for positive change
 In search of the essential for leaders' potential
 Be part of a real success team
 Leadership injection for drive and perfection
 Leaders' convention of global attention
 Leadership increase for the globe in peace
 Global Symphony No 60 "Success"
 Presidents' reflection on the common direction
 Peace in excess is global success
 Real leadership, real success
 Better Leadership, Real Success
 Composing the Future... Orchestrating a Dream
 Composing the future, Inspiration for Success
 See Your Future
 Contriving for future, striving for success
 Achieve Your Success Dream
 Strive, Drive, Thrive
 Open yourself to the global success
 Drawing The Global Success Strategy
 Present foundation for future sensation
 Smart strategies, smart success
 Leadership drive => Dreams are alive
 Unlock the door of success
 Meeting the future, greeting success
 Meeting the future, living the convergence
 Youth Strategy for Growing Success
 Unlock the door. You Hold the Key to Success
 Mixing mentality for successful reality
 We Hold the Key to Success
 In search of originality for successful reality
 Driving the world. Shaking our (your) role
 Open your mind, Live the success
 Leadership For Success
 Enhance your reality to better the World's
 Successful solution for global contribution
 GLOBAL contribution towards SUCCESSful solution
 Youth contribution to global evolution
 Global Leadership To Achieve Success
 Youth Leadership For Global Success
 Seeing the Future, Drawing the Moment… or vice versa
 Capturing the Moment, Drawing the Future
 Leading the Way to Success
 Youth Unlock the Door Leading to Global Success
 I'd rather live my dream...
 AIESEC Express heading to common success
 Global contribution towards future success
 Global unity for your opportunity
 A global team in search of a dream
 Discussing the themes for leadership streams
 Keep in touch with the future
 The right address for global success
 Say "Yes!" to your future success
 Just express and reach your success
 A lot of brains for global gains
 Click the future:
 What is your domain?
 Inspiring Personalities
 "orchestrating a global success"
 Come and sing your own song
 Write your own song
 See Your Future
 Finding a key to the future
 An ode to success
 Finding a key to success
 Unlock your future
 Symphony No 60 "Future"
 In the key of success
 60 years of orchestrating AIESEC
 Staying tuned for the last 60 years...
 Initiate it, Present it Make it - Macedonia 2008
 Come along and sing your song...
 Initiate Public Miracle
 Free Your Mind In Action
 Our address is future success
 Draw Your Future to Success
 Our success is peace in excess
 The Voice of leadership
 Wanna impress? Join our success

День победы !!! Victory Day



Today is a unique day: it brings sadness, proudness and happiness at the same time. 63 years ago Nazi Germany capitulated after the attacks of the anti-Hitler coalition. The Soviet Union played a key role in the defeat of this evil, but lost about 27 million people. This was the cost of our freedom.

That is why this day is so important for people from the former Soviet Union. Every single family lost somebody in this terrible war. At that time my Russian grandmother was a kid, but she had just a piece of bread as allowance per a day. Her brother was recruited at 20, but was soon killed in an unknown place.

Nevertheless, our family didn't suffer much from the war in comparison with others. About 6 million Jews were killed by the nazi from 1933 to 1945. It's beyond my comprehension: the nazi made soap of people's fat, used their skins for making gloves, tried new vaccines on them. It might be the reason that the Jews are the majority of Soviet Union Heroes.

I admit that this great victory over evil was followed by the occupation. The USSR and USA, as major winners in that war, allocated the territories of influence. That was the rigid reality of that time, but the poor soldiers, who sacrified their lives for freedom, had nothing to do with that political terror. So, they should be respected and commemorated.

Today I've had a feeling of joy and integrity. Almost all the people I met on the streed had a Georgion tape pinned on their clothes (on the pic). Some girls were so anxious to get them, so that they secretly took them of from cars' antennas. This is a symbol of respect to those who fell during the war. After the 90's, the year of moral decline, the society is changing in a positive way.

Life in Russia is changing. I can assess the whole county, but I've withnessed the development of Perovo, my district in Moscow. When I first came to our local Perovsky park 5 year ago, I saw drunken teenages walking on deserted side-walks. When I come there now, I can see lots of parents with babies, teenagers cycling or skating everywhere, pensioners airing their dogs. It's so green and busy!

Today I went to our park for a Victory Day concert. Most of my neigbours also came there with children to listen to the old, but touching songs of War time. Such concerts've been held across Moscow, including the Red Square, where 30000 people came. Yes, they are used for propaganda, but there is nothing dangerous in propaganda, if it is aimed at peace and integrity.

The culmination of the holiday was great fire-works in 14 locations all over Moscow!

Peace

Mestechko Chuli

My parents have just come back from Turkmenistan. They travelled to Chuli, a nice place in the Kopetdag Mountains on the border with Iran. I know every single corner there, as I used to go to Chuli every summer for vacation. Still I have lots of dreams happening there.