“I never actually made it to Brussels,” says Agnieszka Kiona, one of the latest new Les Anciens members. “I only acted on a local level, coordinating events such as conferences or student exchanges.” Agnieszka was member of AEGEE-Poznan and works nowadays for Google in Dublin.
Golden Oldie: When and where were you born?
Agnieszka Kiona: 13 February 1979 in Poznan.
Golden Oldie: What are you doing now as main occupation?
Agnieszka Kiona: I am an Online Advertising Specialist at Google Ireland.
Golden Oldie: Do you like your work?
Agnieszka Kiona: For the time being it is just perfect – viva free lunches! :)
Golden Oldie: Where did you study and what was your subject?
Agnieszka Kiona: I studied International Business at Poznan University of Economics and ISCTE in Lisbon. Two semesters in Portugal were the best studying experience ever. Nobel for those who invented Erasmus!
Golden Oldie: How and when did you join AEGEE?
Agnieszka Kiona: A university friend kept on encouraging me to join but honestly I was quite reluctant. Moment of truth: I imagined AEGEE as a group of boring people who meet just in order to have serious talks about EU politics. Then in 2000 the big day came and I applied for an SU. Soon I realized how wrong I was. Very wrong actually.
Golden Oldie: What was your favourite AEGEE event?
Agnieszka Kiona: SU Riccione 2000 – the very first and the craziest, SU Cagliari 2003 – simply the best.
Golden Oldie: What were your biggest achievements and worst moments in AEGEE?
Agnieszka Kiona: Best moments: meeting some incredible people with whom I am still in touch! Worst moments: sleeping on the floor and freezing during ES I in Valladolid, or Campo Spero to be precise, in the middle of nowhere. The gym was not heated and it was snowing outside. The lecture room was so cold that everybody used to put on all the clothes they brought along. So I remember looking totally opposite to sexy – coughing, shivering, sneezing and with 3 sweaters, 2 jackets and some scarves on. Luckily in the small village of Campo Spero there were only two grocery stores but almost a dozen of bars! That’s how we kept spirits high. Paracetamol plus sangria, that works!
Golden Oldie: Are you single/married/married with 5 children?
Agnieszka Kiona: I have a boyfriend, no kids on the way.
Golden Oldie: What are your hobbies?
Agnieszka Kiona: Spoiling myself in every possible way.
Golden Oldie: What kind of sports do you practice or like?
Agnieszka Kiona: Skiing, running and swimming.
Golden Oldie: What are your dreams about life?
Agnieszka Kiona: To live my life to the fullest and be happy!
Golden Oldie: What are you most afraid of?
Agnieszka Kiona: Mice and rats, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Golden Oldie: Where do you live now? What do you like/dislike about your city?
Agnieszka Kiona: Good, old, dirty Dublin – and the best part is that it’s at the seaside! The worst part? Surprise, surprise – the weather.
Golden Oldie: What are your best and least liked cities?
Agnieszka Kiona: Best: Roma, Lisbon, San Sebastian, Paris, Mumbai. Worst: come on, there is something nice about every city – even Katowice. :-)
Golden Oldie: Which languages do you speak?
Agnieszka Kiona: Polish, English, Italian, French and a bit of Spanish.
Golden Oldie: What is the furthest place you ever went to?
Agnieszka Kiona: Kashmir/ India – which was a scary experience but definitely worth it!
Golden Oldie: Which country would you like to visit in the near future?
Agnieszka Kiona: Argentina.
Golden Oldie: Who are you in five keywords?
Agnieszka Kiona: “I’m just a girl!”
