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SUMMER UNIVERSITY
SOCIAL TIMES
“We put our hearts and souls into the TSU programme”
SU #16: AEGEE-Burgos, AEGEE-Santander & AEGEE-Valladolid: “YABADABASU! 2.0”, TSU, 14–29 July 2018
Golden Times: What was your Summer University about?
Natalia Barbero Pérez, organiser from AEGEE-Burgos: The theme of our Summer University was the AEGEEans evolution. We wanted to give our participants the opportunity to discover the yabadabahistory of humanity and practise some yabadabasports. Therefore we followed the steps of the first AEGEEans on Earth in order to find out how we ended up evolving to be now the most modern AEGEEans!
GT: How many participants and how many organisers did you have?
Natalia: We were 16 organisers and we took care of 33 participants.
GT: What were the greatest thematic programme highlights of the SU?
Natalia: If there is something Spanish people know then it is how to enjoy tapas and wine, so we took our participants to a tapas workshop and a wine tasting for them to enjoy a trip to the future, thanks to the vanguard cuisine. We also saw the oldest human remains of Europe and we jumped from the rocks into a river pool created by water rising from the bottom of the Earth like the actual Flinstones. And to top it all, we hosted the European Night at a bowling place, went to a boat party and surfed to prove that the past isn’t always better or the future will be better… AEGEEans really know how to have fun in the present!
GT: What were the funniest or most exciting moments?
Natalia: One of the best moments was hands down waking everyone up with the song Traag, as this wakeup call meant that biscuits were ready for breakfast — our participants’ favourite snack of all time. We also laughed a lot with our yabadabaversion of “come on”: “jamón”.
GT: How was the group of participants?
Natalia: Our participants were the highlight of the Summer University. As they were so many, the group was diverse and dynamic. Besides, having such a wide range of nationalities and cultures greatly enriches the SU experience.
GT: How was the cooperation in the organizing team?
Natalia: We were a big family, had a great time during the whole experience and successfully jumped over the little adversities that happen in any event.
GT: How was the romance factor of the SU? Where there many couples and what were the highlights from the gossip box?
Natalia: There were indeed several couples at the SU, but actually, everyone was very open minded when it comes to international fluids’ exchange. Some days I had the feeling the gossip box wouldn’t have time to catch up with everything that was going on… Anyone who attended the European Night can confirm this. But gossip means people like each other right? That’s always a good sign.
GT: How successful was the SU overall?
Natalia: As part of the organisers’ team, I can claim that we all tried our best and put our hearts and souls into the programme so that our participants had the time of their lives and discovered the best spots of our regions. Even when temporary tiredness threatened to knock us down, our excitement was dripping in each one of the activities that we organized. We were very happy with the final result and so were the participants. Honestly, we could not ask for anything else.
GT: Anything you would like to add?
Natalia: Thank you for choosing us, and yabadabaSEEYOU somewhere in Europe!The Summer University Project turned 30 this year! In this album you will find photos of all SUs! One by one, we are starting slowly. :)
+ Congratulations, new board of AEGEE-Izmir 2018/2019! +
A great year lies ahead of AEGEE-Izmir – next year the antenna will host the European Planning Meeting! In a couple of weeks the new board will start its term. Get to know them!
Golden Times: Who is having which tasks in the new board?
Kutay Çorman: It is my pleasure to introduce our new board!
President: Kutay Çorman
Secretary: Pırıl Ece Akın
PR Responsible: Emine Yıldırım
Responsible: Efe Ergüz
Treasurer: Feyyaz Güngör
GT: How many board members are new? Who continued from the previous board?
Kutay: Actually, all board members are new. Last year I was the assistant of AEGEE-Izmir’s PR Responsible.
GT: When did the elections take place? And from when till when is the term of your board?
Kutay: The elections took place on the 27th June. The term will start on 1st September, running till the 31st of August 2019.
GT: How many members does your antenna have?
Kutay: We have almost 200–250 members.
GT: What are the biggest plans and events of your new board?
Kutay: We just finished our Summer University successfully on 15th of August with great feedback and comments from both participants and organizers. I can say that everyone left Izmir very happy. Our organizing team did a great job. Next year we want to make a Summer University again with the topic “Suncity” for third time, plus of course we have the upcoming EPM on the way! Also we are planning an exchange with other locals. I think the new term is going to be great for AEGEE-Izmir.
GT: How can people in the network contact your antenna?
Facebook: www.facebook.com/aegeeizmir35/
E-mail: aegeeizmirinfo@gmail.com
İnstagram: aegeeizmir
GT: Anything you would like to add?
Kutay: We like AEGEE spirit and AEGEE!
“We visited Barolo, the origin of the most famous Italian wine”
SU #25: AEGEE-Torino: “W.I.N.E. 2018: Water Isn’t Nutritious Enough”, SC, 24 July – 7 August 2018
GT: What was your Summer University about?
Pedro G. C. Santos, Main Organizer: Following the up to the two previous years, the Summer University “W.I.N.E.” continued to narrate the tradition of the Piedmont and the culture of wine. It brought participants to the most important vineyards in Northern Italy and showed them the marvelous peculiarities of Turin.
GT: How many participants and how many organizers did you have?
Pedro: To focus on the experience, this year we decided to downsize to only 24 participants. On the other hand, we had a completely different group dynamic: to give a hand to our 11 organizers, we hosted two wonderful Russian helpers and our beloved Spanish trainer from the European Citizenship Working Group. Moreover, given our cooperation with the 30 SU project, we were lucky to receive three funny, lovely and competent adventurers for a couple of days. This year we also decided to formalize the visit of members who would like to join us just for a few days. During these two weeks, we received friends from Milano, Paris and Bologna.
GT: What were the greatest thematic program highlights of the SU?
Pedro: Undoubtedly bringing participants to Barolo, from where the most famous Italian wine comes, has a special place in here. Having the opportunity to walk through the vineyards and to taste the many varieties of wine produced by traditional families in the region is unique and remarkable to any wine lover. Our Wineolympics also brings us really good memories. This year our Social Program team put a lot of time and effort into our traditional toga party. The atmosphere then was exceptional: people playing games on the grass in the park; candles and music built up the mood; organizers dressed as Roman Gods; much wine and much fun.
GT: What were the funniest or most exciting moments?
Pedro: We had two very special characters in our group this year: a biter and a show boy. Let’s just say that we ended up with quite many pictures and videos of bites in really unexpected places and butts everywhere.
GT: How was the group of participants and your cooperation in the organizing team?
Pedro: The group of participants was very young and, at first, we were afraid they could not bond much or experience the SU at its fullest. However, from the very beginning, it turned out the whole group united as a family: participants and organizers helped each other during issues and enjoyed every piece of it all together.
GT: How was the romance factor of the SU? Were there many couples and what were the highlights from the gossip box?
Pedro: I think this year passion and love sprouted around as I had never seen in any AEGEE event before. We saw couples getting together for the first time; couples reuniting after a long time; couples that finally made peace with their past together. Many passionate kisses in the lips, forehead, cheeks and neck. True smiles and tight hugs. We met love in all of its different forms and did all types of crazy things we only see in the movies. There was the one who gave up on his flight to get one more kiss; the couple who faced a storm and kissed under the rainbow; the one who bailed on everything and took the first bus to Brescia. I don’t know how it’s going to be afterwards, but I am proud for having seen all these feelings in our SU.
GT: How successful was the SU overall?
Pedro: This year we learnt that it doesn’t matter how prepared you get for your SU, you can’t predict the future and have every single piece of it under control. Problems will show up and only a strong and unified organizing team will be able to face them. Along its curves and edges, the W.I.N.E. 2018 took its own shape. Participants, organizers, adventurers and Turin itself contributed in all different ways to create a real-world fable over these two weeks. I am sure whoever took part in it came home with sweet memories and many new friends for life, from all around Europe.
GT: Anything you would like to add?
Pedro: W.I.N.E. 2018 was definitely a mark in the history of AEGEE-Torino and hopefully also in the hearts of everyone who participated in it. Everything passes, but memories are forever.The Summer University Project turned 30 this year! In this album you will find photos of all SUs! One by one, we are starting slowly. :)
New type of summer event, great success: the story of the very first Summer Break in Pisa! Check out the interview.
www.aegeegoldentimes.eu/summer-break-pisa/
Seven Days in Tuscany: Successful Summer Break Premiere in Pisa — AEGEE Golden Times
aegeegoldentimes.eu
This year AEGEE saw a new type of summer event: the Summer Breaks. The first one was organized by AEGEE-Pisa — with great success.SU #3: AEGEE-Warszawa & AEGEE-Gdańsk: „be CuRious, bE originAl, invenT, imaginE – CREATE“, TSU, 30th June – 13th July
Golden Times: What was your SU about?
Monika and Hania: Our Summer University was focused on exploring inner creativity, teaching how to think out of the box, improving imagination and art skills.
GT: How many participants and how many organisers did you have?
Monika and Hania: During our SU we had 26 participants and 20 organizers.
GT: What were the greatest thematic programme highlights of the SU?
Monika and Hania: The thematic programme was well-prepared and focused on developing a wide range of skills. We would like to highlight here the teambuilding session, as well as improvisation and PR-related workshops, such as as photography, design, public speaking or social media.
GT: What were the funniest or most exciting moments?
Monika and Hania: Our Summer University brought as lot of funny and exciting moments. Our participants enjoyed a lot our cooking workshops, where we were making dumplings. Also the theme parties “Polish Wedding” was a great experience, as it was modelled on the real wedding — with a bride and groom, typical food and music as well as the unveiling and capping ceremony. AEGEEans could see how this reception looks like in our country. Definitely the most exciting moment during every evening was the time of reading all the gossips from the gossip box!
GT: How was the group of participants?
Monika and Hania: We had a group of great and positive participants, who were full of energy. We couldn’t have wished for better people on our SU. They were just amazing!
GT: Sounds great! And how was your cooperation in the organizing team?
Monika and Hania: The organizers were friendly and supportive. We’ve been working so hard for many months to make our SU successful. The cooperation between AEGEE-Gdańsk and AEGEE-Warszawa went well. During the SU, there was a great atmosphere within the group and much AEGEE Spirit. We all became a bunch of really good friends and already miss this time and our participants a lot!
GT: How was the romance factor of the SU? Where there many couples?
Monika and Hania: Our SU flourished with many love affairs. We had seven couples in total. But if the event had lasted longer, there would have been probably a few couples more! In the end of the SU, some people got more courage to finally reveal their feelings to their summer crushes. We hope that all these nice relations will be developed and maintained.
GT: Let’s hope so! What were the highlights from the gossip box?
Monika and Hania: Every evening, in the gossip box, we had at least a few kissing challenges — they were always bringing a lot of emotions and laughter.
GT: How successful was the SU overall?
Monika and Hania: All the hard work and commitment that we put in preparing the SU paid off. With a clear conscience we can say that this SU was successful. We received a very positive feedback from our participants. They enjoyed their summertime in Poland a lot, which made us extremely happy and gave us a boost of new motivation and energy for future projects. Of course we had some problems but we went through it and now we have a lot of new friends and great memories.
GT: Anything you would like to add?
Monika and Hania: The Summer University is one of the best AEGEE experiences that we can have. It is a great project that we all should be proud of. We would like to say “thank you” to all the people, who made our SU possible and who became part of this amazing time we spent together. It wouldn’t have been possible without you. We love you so much! Best wishes to you!The Summer University Project turned 30 this year! In this album you will find photos of all SUs! One by one, we are starting slowly. :)
AEGEE HISTORY
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ALUMNI
OPINION
Philipp Blum: “Bring the University in ‘Summer University’ back!”
AEGEE RESEARCH
LATEST ARTICLES
Seven Days in Tuscany: Successful Summer Break Premiere in Pisa
The Summer University Project 2018 took successfully off in Poland
