Developed new skills: Service

The Duck Race 

On the 31^st of August my friend at ICS, Basia Clauer held her brilliant event raising money for Krebslige Zurich, the Duck Race. The Duck Race was created and organized by Basia herself, the race revolves around selling rubber ducks and having participants dress up and decorate their ducks. 

After participants have a duck they put, the ducks that is, into a giant pallet and finally a crane holds them over the Limmat River in Zurich releasing them to flow down the river, carried by the current. The event involves a lot of organization and so I wanted to help out Basia and her excellent cause.

 I was involved in administration of the ducks, which involved a lot of running around chasing down ducks, taking peoples names and addresses and selling ducks. I also advised participants on their duck dress up! It was a long day in the very hot sun but it was a throughrally enojable experience. Many language barriers faced me as tourists from around the world got involved, it was also challenge to use my German. Often I was doing transactions in German, while trying to take down names and addresses in English. 

Worked collaboratively with others: Service

Room to Read

In July I heard that there was going to be an event in Zurich to fundraise for the Charity Room to Read. I had heard about Room to Read previously at ICS and participated in other events for Room to Read including a "Read-a-thon". On top of the fact the event was run by a charity I am very passionate about it was also based around another love of mine, running. The event centered around a movie called "The Perfect Runner", attached is the trailer. So I got in contact with the organizer Christian and asked him if he needed any help. He replied saying he'd love some help, could I help out with set up, drinks and clean up of the event. 

Here is the press release:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0TEukG-6Mg

I was excited to help out but also nervous about working with people I had never met. The event was to take place in the HUB luckily with my experience helping out with Shore 2 Summit I had heard about the HUB but still managed to get lost  couple of times on my way there. Finally when I arrived I met all the organizers and got started setting up. It was very inspirational to be surrounded with people who all have busy, demanding careers but still make time to give back. I helped pouring drinks but also with the  raffle. It was a long evening, it challenged me to get involved in working with others who all knew each other very well but who did not know me. Overall it was a rewarding evening which taught me a lot about working with new people in foreign situations.