I don't want to write something of what report or so, just want to tell story merely, concerning my story in Macedonia or still have some feelings.

Now think back of, those two months as if happened in dream. Perhaps, those who have the opportunity to go to Macedonia are also not much, so I should say at last I am the lucky person. More or less, I have found something unforgettable, commemorative or something I can boast of where my steps have stepped. Or say, it will surprise someone when he or she hears of the fact that I have been in Macedonia.

Not only Chinese, but also Macedonian asked me, why I went to Macedonia? This was one of the most difficult questions to reply but had been always asked. However, I had to say with smile, I had no idea. God wanted me to come here, and I followed Him.

(I) Overview
Even the Western Europeans don't know much about this place. The German guy told me that before he came here what he knew actually as much as I, an East Asian, have known. This is a country consists of Slav people with the religion of the Orthodox Church. It lies in central Balkan Peninsula, has the population as much as the city Hang Zhou. And it is the country that you can't only use few words to describe. And it is not very developed. From first sight here, I actually felt I was in a town of China. But the natural things for me are better than noisy and crowded Chinese cities. Vegetable, fruit and tobacco are highly produced here, which are famous of raw material. But exporting raw material unfortunately can not make sufficient income. So they have no extra capital to let their economic boost up. In their eyes it is as if a mythology that happened in China these twenty years.

The people here are very enthusiastic, especially the group of IAESTE-MACEDONIA. Their purpose is to make everything possible and convenient for us foreigners.

Talking with people here is usually concerned with history and culture. We talked from Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism to Catholicism, Christianism, and Orthodox Church, from the prophet St Naum to the respectful comrade Tito, from the language which is only used by one or two millions people but has its own writing to the language that has the most speakers and writers in the world... After I passed several Macedonian lessons, I could read Cyrillic out but slowly. And I bought a dictionary there, which should not be found in China. Macedonian, including the foreigners, IAESTE trainees like me, only knew little about China and considered all people from China should be an expert of kungfu, though I just know little taekwondo. Taekwondo is not a Chinese kungfu. However, I acted as a missionary, explained to my friends what is Chinese martial art and what is taekwondo or karate...

(II) Work
PEXIM is a computer company. Compare with other foreign trainees, I had chance to get on internet free, not like the German guy working in a teapot factory who was running to internet caf¨¦ every day. People in the company were very friendly. They were time to time asking me if I want coffee, helping me buy breakfast, or trying to make me feel comfortable while working... I want to give my sincere appreciation to what they have done.

This company was developing banking system mainly. I coded some program on database for them. I was working 5 days per week and 8 weeks had passed very quickly. But I was not satisfied with so little work to do and a lot of spare time. So my major purpose of the training ship went to cultural alternating, knowledge extending and my mind circle broadening. As to professional technical aspect actually it gained not much, but for other aspects, I had chance to learn such as the organization, coordination and operation of a company.

(III) People & Entertainment
I was surprised that the IAESTE-MACEDONIA had more than one hundred members. Most of them were university students. Every week they hold meeting discussing the work of the following week, decide an organizer, and have an election. But for us foreigners, we couldn't understand a word.

The Macedonians are not a hard-working People. They are easy going, and sometimes they don't keep time. There is a saying that if you ask about the appointed time, you'd better say it is "Macedonian time" or not. A meeting is said to be hold at eight o'clock usually means one hour later. However, they have good efficiency, not like the Chinese meetings that begin with holiday words and end still with holiday words. The Macedonians seem not like keeping themselves busy but leisurely.

Going to bar and coffee shop with them some time was a daily work. They liked to have fun even that did cost much money. A friend from Belgrade told me that perhaps it was the nature of Slav people. According to my view, I feel like to spend money in more useful case. However, of course, I did not want to insist on my opinion for these two special months. And with their carnival, I tried to live this kind life with all problems throwing away and just concentrated on only music and alcohol. As the result I almost had visited every bars and coffee shops in Skopje. Sometimes we change places twice or even three times in one night. But finally I gave up going to drink and dance continuously because of the heavy smoke there.

IAESTE members were with me these two months. Now I still have my friends in my mind, Alexandar, Mitko, Lyupka...

(IV) Places & Sightseeing
I visited the city Bitola, Ohrid, Prillep, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Kriva Palnka, and of course the capital Scopje. My foot steps covered nearly the whole Macedonia, from the border with Greece to the border with Bulgaria.

Two places I have to remember. They are the most remarkable places I have ever visited in my life. One place is the Lake Ohrid. There is the clearest water in the stream and beautiful aquatic. It was the seminary of the Orthodox Church. The churches here were attractive to me even I don't have any religion and know nothing about that. Still, I like the water the most. It was strange that the weather was hot that time but the water remained cold. And we swam in the lake, enjoying sunshine and bathing. The other place is the Peak Pelister. I made a great effort to get to the top antenna of the mountain. It is 2601 meters from sea level. I enjoyed sweating in a cold and strong wind, such a strange feeling, and of course a lot of beautiful views.

(V) Feelings
This is my first time going abroad. So no matter which country I had been in it made no difference to me. Everything is new. With the concept of IAESTE, the Germans, Swede, Norwegians and Mexicans and me, and with native people here shared the various cultural spirits. Not only local stories were informed, I also knew the beautiful scene of Mexican gulf beach and the icy and snowy world during polar night in Norway. Luckily we all came from non-English-speaking countries, so that we sometimes disregarded all grammars, using the movement of eyes and body. We exchange the different opinions of music, art and architecture, as well as society, nations and so on. I told my friends all interesting things I know about China. I hope that some day they will come to China, and have a contact with such a completely different civilization.

I did learn something during this traveling. When all people are friendly to you, you can feel the power of happiness. If we try hard to help others, we will make a family. IAESTE has deeply embedded every place in the world now, and still growing. With this idea, we may mitigate the prejudice of nations and the discrimination of faith, as well as reduce a lot of bleeding that should not occur. But only one organization is not enough, so I hope there will be more such exchange programs in China. So far as I know in Europe there are plenty of such programs, and that is partly the reason why many things in China or Chinese culture are not known by people in the other countries.

However, the dream was to wake up eventually. The time I was intoxicated by the satisfied life and the beautiful scenery of foreign country, my date of return was also in approach constantly. I would be back to my busy and 'realistic' life. I was reluctant, but also anxious to return because I missed my family and friends who also missed me.

Many thanks to IAESTE-CHINA and IAESTE-MACEDONIA, as well as Zhejiang University and PEXIM Computers. They gave me this opportunity to learn so much.