San Francisco Day 1

7am...the night did not leave totally and the sun is getting up very slowly, San Francisco is getting ready for a new day, and I'm getting ready for a morning walk.

Surprisingly, San Francisco is not a city with skyscrapers or fancy buildings, so when you roam around the city, you might feel disappointed a little.

We officially started our Techwomen experience this morning, with the hosting meeting, finally we got a phone number, we could activate our cards, and get an idea about the transportation system, it was cozy, and friendly discussion.

We've been devided to several groups, so we could run some errands and visit the city.

We've met an amazing lady from Iran, who took us to Union Square, and showed us the main places and streets where we might do some shoppings.

In San Francisco you can hear many languages, you can find people singing, or even sharing their music with an external speaker.

You will find long queues to get in the cable car, and people running to catch a bus or a tram.

San Francisco is also about happiness, tonight there was a live band in union square, singing mainly Spanish songs, giving the opportunity for a salsa dance, it was little cold around, the rhythm was sweet and soft, and the people were giving a great energy.

So even if you don't know how to dance, you will start moving, you will start to show some steps, and if you are lucky enough, somebody from Cuba May ask you for a dance, at that moment get ready to swing.

After a long day of meeting people, and walking around , I came back a 10pm, with the mind full of pictures, and heart full of emotions.

It was just day 1, expecting more for the coming days.

OTW to San Francisco

What if you wake up a morning, and you find an email saying you've been selected to go to San Francisco? How would you react ? What would you feel?

This is a real story, my story, after few months of preparation, after few days of packing optimization, it's time to get in the airplane, it's time to live this amazing experience.

I have met the Algerian Techwomen, for the first time all 5 together, we had our first official picture,and we felt the excitement of everyone of us.

I will be at salesforce.com, I've been impressed by the achievement of this company, my two mentors are from salesforce, let's say it's going to be a great experience.

Professionally I will work with learning path and mobile app, culturally I want to discover new countries, cultures and traditions, I want to visit the city and enjoy my time as much as I can.

First step, Algiers - Frankfurt, light food, buena fe music , and no sleep yet!!

Trying to document this trip as much as possible.

7 days to go!!

Here we are, one week left before the big departure, one week to enjoy the family time, one week to prepare for everything.
I believe that every Techwomen preparing for this adventure, will have two contradictory feelings, excitement and worries.
A trip to United States is a big event in a lifetime, discovering a country with this much different culture will be overwhelming in the beginning but exciting, in the same time, leaving everything around going out of our daily comfort zone, taking risks with new projects, with new goals this can bring some worries and stress.
But here it is, time to face all challenges, time to believe in our selves, time to show our EL side and reach our limits and goals.
7 days is a pretty short time, no need to overthink, get ready, and buckle up, the Silicon Valley is waiting for us.

How did you became a techwomen candidate?

I've been a part a the tech world for many years already, studied mathematics during high school, electronics in college and telecommunication as a career path.

I heard about techwomen program from my best friend, she had been selected for the first session, but because of a career change she could not continue the program. But she convinced me to apply this year, saying that the worst thing that can happen is not to be selected but in the same time I will experience an interview, and have the opportunity to sell my profile.

After applying, I've been very nervous, because for many weeks no answer, no news, until I received the email inviting me to the embassy for an interview. On that time I was out of the country, so I had to make a call conference interview. The duration was 6 minutes, 6 minutes to convince a committee or a group of ladies that I deserve this chance, and I'm an interesting person.

After the call, I could not remember any of my answers, but being overbooked, I just move on. And big surprise I'm selected, I was not expecting it.

And then I started thinking, am I a techwomen ? Am I a person that can bring something new in the women tech field?

I've always tried to be a role model to my students, my colleagues or members of my family.

After being selected, I started doing some advertisement for the program, I felt having a message to share, tech world is not only for men, tech world is the best path for a lady.

Most of the time, girls, ladies are surprised with this idea, but now it's an emerging one...so it's a good beginning .

I hope from this trip to get more confidence facing new challenges. Build a networking environment, and learn some new technical and business skills.

New adventure, new hope and a new beginning.

San Francisco here I come!!

Melkam Addis Amet

Five years ago, I've met customers in China, it's always a great experience, most of the time you have the opportunity to meet people with a lot of common point with your self, since at least they are in telecommunication field.
for the last 8 years I had some extraordinary life experience, some of these people became very close friends, we might be from different culture, religion or continent, but we have the same view of life.

so five years ago I've met a group of Ethiopian in China, it was my third time to be there so I felt comfortable, I've been surprise by this group, they were smiling, little shy but friendly, they came to invite us saying it's the new year.
being in September, and hearing new year I've got curious and surprise, they explained that Ethiopia calendar is 7 years late and the new year celebration is every 9/11.
so we celebrate 2001 again, I had to feel 7 years younger and be 21 again, what a pleasure for a girl.
so party time, we went to KTV room, we watched a documentary about Ethiopia History and you know what these people are the only one that can say we never been colonized by any country, and that's something to be proud of.
then the music started, those rhythm took my feet away, my shoulders could not stop moving, for somebody like me who loves and enjoy percussion and drums rhythms it was crazily amazing.

we had some dancing courses, we enjoyed cakes, we talked with these people, the same I was seeing very shy in the morning, they were smiling and happy now, they were themselves.
I felt happy I felt free to be myself as well.
Since that night, some of these persons became my close and best friends, 5 years later, we've been lucky enough to meet again in Addis for some of them, but mostly we kept in touch following each others life.

when I went to Addis, I felt happy, mostly people get confused by my reaction, Ethiopia is not just an African country, it's first a place where different religions live together without hard feelings, Ethiopia is the place where people bring the good traditional hospitality, people will invite you and make you the most important person in the world.
Ethiopia is about a real friendship feeling.

In my heart, I feel that when you meet an Ethiopian person, you can be sure it will be there for you, forever.

Thanks to God for this wonderful experience, thanks to every Ethiopian person that brought my smile anytime in my life.

I wish a Happy Ethiopian New Year to everyone, might this new year be full of surprises, happiness, development and a World Cup qualification hihihi!!

30 days to go!!!

September 1st!! 30 days are left before to go to San Francisco, 30 days before to leave for the new experience.
I've been in my comfort zone for 8 years, doing what I like the most teaching, and enjoying travelling. this time my trip will be to an unknown place, and I will have to work on a totally different project.
I feel exactly like before my skydive, I feel anxious, but excited, curious and ready to face the new challenges, because I know that at the end of this opportunity I will be different , and happy.

am counting the days, i'm imagining how life will be, i'm hoping to meet some of my friends there.
Thanks God for this wonderful chance!! let's try to get the best of it!!!
 

Webinar!!

It was my first time to attend a webinar!!
to be totally honest I did not know what is it few days before?
I started googling it and trying to understand how everyone will be conntected together.
through Skype I can understand it, then I tried to use the application attached, and I discovered a Cisco app, Oh God these people are really good at what they are doing, they are mastering the network.
so the app will allow different people to connect all together and share a presentation.
It was weird to hear some voices, but no faces, but it was interesting.
during two hours I was able to imagine myself travelling to the US, thinking about my daily clothes or working hours, I felt excited.
attending a meeting from my room is something I want to do again, I will start looking for some free webinar to attend, learning, improving might be the best actions that everyone can do on daily bases.

Interview

• What is your impression of what the United States will be like? United States represents the land where dreams can come true for everyone, I’m expecting to have a hectic days, full of work/ activities/ gathering and new experiences am expecting a big infrastructure, a cultural mix and busy days
• Why are you excited to travel to the United States? I’ve been travelling around the world for almost a decade, but I’ve never been in United States, I’m happy and excited to visit such a big country, I want to learn about the culture, I want to meet people and to experience the American dream
• What are you looking to gain from the TechWomen program?  The TechWomen Program is the best opportunity to meet professional leaders, I hope to develop and improve my leadership skills, I want to learn how to manage a project and face different issues. I’m looking to develop relationship with ladies from all over the world and different field to share experiences and get stronger together
• What are your fears about traveling to the United States or participating in the TechWomen program?I cannot call it fear, I believe that travelling to US or attending the TechWomen Program is a chance and an honor, on the other side I hope I will meet the expectations of my mentor and the team that has selected me, so am ready to work hard
• What do you hope to do when you return home?  In Algeria, few girls choose STEM field for their studies, I want to provide them with advices I want to let them know that having a major in technology as a girl is not impossible, but with faith and determination, it can bring happiness.
• Why did you apply for TechWomen?
  I applied for Techwomen, to get the opportunity and chance to be surrounded by professional leaders, to be able to learn from them, and to challenge myself.
  In my daily at work I had to prove my technical skills over and over for my colleagues or my customers, now I would like to learn about team management, project management and leadership, and I believe that this experience with Techwomen can push me to learn and improve all these aspects.
• What do you hope to experience or learn in the United States?
  From every trip I expect two parts the daily improvement and the human experience. Silicon Valley, represents for me the place to be to experience the newest technologies and have the chance to visit the most famous companies, I feel ready to work on project that can be positive for me and for women in my country.
  On the other side this trip will gather ladies from different part of the world sharing the same love for technologies and progress, I hope we will have some cultural exchange to learn from each other’s and have the opportunity to enjoy our staying all together
• Throughout your career and life, who has inspired you the most? Why?
  In my life I’ve been inspired mostly by member of my family, my mom was the person that showed me how to be strong and face challenges without fear. She was an engineer during the day and a housewife after working time, she successfully managed to fulfill her career reaching a management position, educate two girls and take in charge of the house as well. Since I was young my mom was the perfect definition of an active successful woman.
  I have been inspired by her, and it just felt natural to follow her steps and select an STEM path for my studies and career.
• What languages do you speak?
  Arabic, French, English and beginning Chinese

Eid Mubarek

it s been. While since we did not go to hometown to spend el eid with the whole family.

Honestly I have to say that traveling 300km to spend few hours hen a sleepless night to comeback home it s crazy and makes tired.

But this time eid was associated to the weekend , totally 3 days off, first day we had time to meet the family in Algiers, saying eid Mubarak to everyone, so still 2 days to convert, still 2 days to pass. So why not?

300 km when everyone drive 100 only, it s not a big deal, when we arrived we remembered how hot hometown can be. Then people start coming and arriving, all of them surprised, Algiers girls are here, how long, 13 years for some of them , 13 years we did not meet or even not talk on the phone, most of them got married, and have children.

For me this trip was pretty special, I've met my cousins, the people who share the same face, the same eyes, in a way, I felt belonging to somewhere, I've seen the heritage of my family.

The best moment was to meet the new generation, most of them they don't have the same family name as me , but they are as naughty as we were 30 years ago, i started missing this tradition that we had of gathering all together at least twice a year.

Let us hope , that this experience , I have to say this much appreciated experience will be a new habit.

countries...

I’ve decided to write down first thing I can feel about each country of the ones attending the techWomen.

·         Algeria: my lovely country. Sunny, shining place and people

·         Cameroon: the country of football and nice rhythms

·         Egypt: the pyramids country

·         Jordan: my favorite middle east destination, love the food and the weather

·         Kenya: the best place to meet warm people and wild animals

·         Lebanon: a place I wish to visit

·         Libya: friendly and respectful people

·         Morocco: the country sharing almost the same culture as my country

·         Nigeria: the country of African Queens

·         Palestinian Territories: freedom fight

·         Rwanda: thousand hills and million smiles

·         Sierra Leone: beauty of west Africa

·         South Africa: rainbow country

·         Tunisia: little blue city

·         Yemen: beauty of the middle east

·         Zimbabwe: the heart of southern Africa

 

TechWoman Bis...

Here it is.
I received that email saying, congratulation we have matched you with a technical mentor. and you will be at.......SalesForce.com.
when I read this part I felt shy for not knowing this company, and then I understood that for me it will not be Google, Facebook, twitter or Ericsson, and at that moment I felt disappointed in a certain way.

I tried to google the name of this company, I was surprised to find out how big it is so I decided to read the techwomen email once again. there was an attachement the mentor resume and at that moment I felt happy... my mentor is an expert in leadership, program management and training management...this is exactly what I wanted to learn...this is exactly what I was looking for from this experience.

so I've got my smile back and I can't wait to start discussing projects with my mentor, am sure this experience will help me to improve myself.

Salesforce.com can't wait for you!!!