From IBA to Turkey: My AIESEC Exchange Journey

If you were to tell me I was going to spend 6 weeks away from home in a completely foreign environment, living with strangers halfway across the globe, volunteering to do certain tasks with people from all over the world, and enjoying every second of it, I’d probably call you crazy. But that’s just what Outgoing Global Volunteering with AIESEC Exchange is, isn’t it? Helping you embrace the unfamiliar, the crazy, and what’s more, enabling you to have the learning experience of your life while doing it.

AIESEC Exchange in Turkey

About a year ago, I signed up for an AIESEC exchange opportunity in Turkey. Having had my dreams of going to university abroad shattered by circumstances beyond my control (I’m sure many 2020 college graduates can relate), a 6-week opportunity overseas seemed like the perfect way to experience life anew and push myself out of my comfort zone.

Little did I know, however, how amazing it would truly be. And that’s not taking into account how stunning Istanbul is as a city. Surrounded by water on all sides and bearing the scars of several ancient civilizations, the city is as picturesque as it is historically fascinating. But AIESEC exchanges are not just about pretty sunsets and tourist spots, are they? (though Istanbul does have a lot of those). They’re about the people. And people it was that made the whole experience worthwhile.

People from AIESEC: Stories, Experiences, and Memories

People from across the globe; Tunisia, Siberia, Morocco, USA, Romania…you name it; every AIESEC exchange participant had a story, experiences to share, and memories to form. For 6 weeks we worked together in Istanbul’s imposing Medipol University, our ‘hub’ for cultural exchange and activities related to the internship. Working hours were from 9 – 4, four days a week, but as is the AIESEC way, they were as fun as they were informative. Weekends were spent exploring the city and getting to know each other – yes, gossip over chai is not as foreign a concept as you might think – the monotony is often broken by bonding trips organized by our host committee.

But why OGV? Why not just visit a city on your own as a tourist and avoid all the hassle? Well, for one, OGV gives you a chance to actually make a change. The people you work with, they’re aspiring young leaders of tomorrow. Representing your country while working towards change in another one is something that is mutually beneficial and socially uplifting for both.

And for another, when you’re a tourist, there is so much you’re missing out on that only such an opportunity can provide. Interacting with the locals (living with them, in fact), creating lifelong friendships with strangers living lives completely different from yours, and pushing yourself towards experiences beyond imagination (just as an example, I jumped off a mountain 2000 meters high for a paragliding experience even though I’m afraid of heights). That is not something a 10-day trip can encapsulate.

But AIESEC’s exchange program can and does. Take it from someone who took a step that changed his life for the better.