SU Bucureşti & Sofia 2024: Enjoying the Balkan way of life
“Balkan Bridges: Connecting Cultures” was the title of the Summer University of AEGEE-Bucureşti and AEGEE-Sofia. It took place from 8th to 23rd of August 2024. Karina Jecheva from AEGEE-Sofia sent the interview answers on behalf of the organisers.
GT: What was your Summer University about?
SU Team: Our SU was centered around connecting cultures and crossing borders, just as the title hints. The AEGEE antennas in Sofia and Bucharest teamed up to create the ultimate experience of discovering the rich history, traditions, and way of life in the Balkan region.
GT: How many participants and organisers did you have?
SU Team: We had a dynamic group of 30 participants in total, coming from 8 different countries. The core team consisted of about 10 members from Sofia and Bucharest, and around 10-15 other members helped. We’re proud to note that, even though our antennas are not the most experienced in hosting SUs, and many of the organisers had newly joined AEGEE, we still have overall positive feedback from the event.
GT: What were the greatest thematic programme highlights of the SU?
SU Team: Without a doubt, the workshop that sparked the most interest among the participants was the one focused on Bulgarian language. They got to learn how to pronounce and write simple words in Cyrillic, as well as spell out their names. Another highlight of our programme was Mitko, the tour guide who led the participants around Sofia and the Rila monastery, explaining notable geographic, historical, and cultural moments. With his encyclopedic knowledge and cheerful personality, he kept both the participants’ and organizers’ interest.
GT: What were the funniest or most exciting moments?
SU Team: Some of the more exciting parts of the programme included swimming in a waterfall, and also a party night, where we got the chance to play billiards and beer pong while handcuffed in pairs. This led to some funny moments and more chances for the participants to get to know each other. Our SU participants also got to enjoy the many wonders of the Bulgarian railway system, with all of its ups and downs. Last but not least, the European Night – we managed to include a folklore element with songs and traditional dances, which added even more to the excitement of the evening.
GT: How was the group of participants?
SU Team: The group was very good: people were friendly, responsible, and always ready to participate in the programme we had prepared, both during the workshops and to enjoy the parties.
GT: How successful was the SU overall?
SU Team: A lot of the participants expressed their contentment with the SU at the feedback sessions. The organisers were praised for their availability and open communication, and we had overall positive reviews regarding the activities. On the other hand, bearing in mind that this was the first SU even for some of the organisers, we had a few difficulties, that we solved to our best of our possibilities.
GT: Which other moments were memorable?
SU Team: One of the fun and memorable moments of this SU was the send-off of the participants from Sofia to Bucharest – the bus was a bit late, so we all had additional time to say goodbye, sing some chants, and take photos.
GT: Are you still in contact with your participants?
SU Team: Yes, in fact, several of the organisers are still actively communicating with some participants, and even planning possible events or trips to their respective antennas.
GT Anything you would like to add?
SU Team: Surprisingly enough, romantic relationships were overshadowed in this Summer University – though, certainly there were still some lovey-dovey feelings – by the spirit of friendship and many iconic bromance pairings, that added a bit of extra excitement to the group dynamic. The positive impact of the SU continued after the event, fostering collaborations and inspiring future initiatives.
