“Walking in the mud of the Wadden Sea was great”

AEGEE-Groningen: “From Cycling to Cheese: Discover Groningen with its Chilly Breeze!”, Summer Course, 17-31 July 2019

Golden Times: What was your Summer University about?
AEGEE-Groningen: As the title says, it was about Cycling and Cheese, so it doesn’t get any more Dutch than that! In contrary to our expectations, it got up to 39 degrees in Groningen! Our Summer University was about exploring the various diverse aspects of Dutch culture, values and customs including an Eierbal Workshop, Sinterklaas celebrations and Black Pete Discussions. A lot of topics related to Dutch culture were part of the programme including a walk across the Wadden Sea, traditional Dutch games, Hazing Workshop, a Dutch Cantus and Drugs Workshop and Experiences. During the SU participants got a detailed insight into what the Dutch culture is, how the Dutch culture works and got a chance to experience this first hand including visiting a Cheese and Dairy Farm to learn how cheese is made, a biking day where we biked to a Dutch windmill and a visit to a seal rescue and rehabilitation centre.

GT: How many participants and how many organisers did you have?
AEGEE-Groningen: We were completely full! We had 25 participants from nine different countries, seven amazingly talented organizers and loads of helpers.

GT: You described the programme already in detail. What were the greatest thematic programme highlights of the SU?
AEGEE-Groningen: First, the trip to the island of Schiermonnikoog; second, the Cocktail workshop and the Dance Workshop; and third: walking on water, mud and the bottom of the Wadden Sea! The daytrip to Amsterdam and Canoeing through the canals of Groningen were extremely entertaining as well! Besides those the European Citizenship Workshop, Black Pete Discussions and the Hazing Workshop were hard hitting as well!

GT: What were the funniest or most exciting moments?
AEGEE-Groningen: Some of the funniest moments were when the participants were walking in the mud on the bottom of the Wadden Sea. The expression of their faces was priceless along with their reactions to the discovery of life under the ground! Some of them even sank knee-deep into the mud! Other funny moments came from the dance workshop as well! It was really amusing to see all the participants step out of their comfort zones to dance Salsa. But in general the entire SU was exciting along with the Cocktail Workshop and the Biking day to the Windmill.

GT: How was the group of participants? How did you manage to integrate them?
AEGEE-Groningen: The participants were amazing and everyone bonded really well! It was quite beautiful to witness the entire group come together! Everyone was just so sweet, very kind and always very considerate! During the entire SU we had multiple games, workshops and moments when everyone came together and worked together!

GT: How was the cooperation in the team?
AEGEE-Groningen: We really had an all-star team! We couldn’t have hoped for a better group of organizers!

GT: How was the romance factor of the SU?
AEGEE-Groningen: Romances were built already during the first few days with tons of highlights along the two-week period!

GT: How successful was the SU overall?
AEGEE-Groningen: The SU was really an enormous success! Definitely the best Summer University we have organized in recent memory! We had great participants, amazing organizers and awesome helpers! We couldn’t have hoped for a better group to spend the two weeks with!

GT: Anything you would like to add?
AEGEE-Groningen: Check out the Aftermovie of our Summer University for a visual impression.