“ Unique to my exchange, I had the opportunity of

mingling with local AIESECers to exchange culture

and norms.
Learning to live with each other under one roof
as a family
It taught me to plan, to trust myself and to adapt
to situations.
If one can afford it, AIESEC can offer an experience of
a lifetime! AIESEC helps you integrate into a society
unlike your own and lets you feel like a local for the
period of your stay.

”
Dharshini Mugunam, 22
Malaysia
Dharshini Mugunam is a Biology undergraduate in Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. Although she had an eventful
campus life, she missed working with an NGO as she had done back in high school. The opportunity unveiled itself
when she was introduced to the AIESEC Go Exchange programme. Only a month after signing up, she was on her
way to Jaipur, India for her developement traineeship.

“If one can afford it, AIESEC can offer an experience of a lifetime. AIESEC helps you integrate into a society
unlike your own and lets you feel like a local during the period of your stay” Dharshini said.

Through AIESEC, I met many other AIESECers who were in the same situation as me; Being in a foreign country and
trying to reach out to its people. The interns that I met there who were non-AIESECers did not get this opportunity
unless they were with us. Unique to my exchange, I had the opportunity of mingling with local AIESECers to ex-
change culture and norms. Non-AIESECers did not get this opportunity as most youths had a curfew where they were
back early or refrained themselves from talking to strangers. Just being an AIESECer made us non-strangers.

I gained the opportunity of living like a local in my host country. Through AIESEC, I rented a room, went to work like
every other working person and visited rural areas as part of my job. Had I not done this internship through AIESEC, I
would have not been able to obtain the full Indian experience.

The exchange also had me living with 16 AIESECers from other parts of the world. Coming from different cultures
and backgrounds, we all adapted differently to living and traveling in India. I think we all found common grounds by
learning to live with each other under one roof as a family. There was no place for stigmas and judgmental attitude as
we needed one another to make the most of the exchange experience. I doubt I would be so in love with India if not
for the company I had while I was there.

Self-discovery was a big part of my exchange experience. I had never imagined being able to be a solo traveler. Trav-
elling on my own, be it for field trips or for leisure was one of the best things that my exchange experience gave me. It
taught me to plan, to trust myself and to adapt to situations.

Dharshini had made the choice of her lifetime. What is your decision? Apply to go on exchange with Local Committee
today!

Your future is in your hands. Make your decision.

For further information, please visit www.aiesec.my