AEGEE is unfortunately disappearing in Sweden. Thus having fought for months to keep AEGEE-Lund alive it appears that Network Commissioner Karolina Mazetyte and subcomissioner Patricia Anthony have to say “see you soon” to AEGEE in Sweden at Spring Agora Rhein-Neckar.
Some AEGEE members in Lund have decided that they need to move on from our organisation, and others will join former twin-antenna AEGEE-København just across the bridge. However, there is also a third option and that is Les Anciens, the body of AEGEE where former active AEGEE members can join at some point in their AEGEE life. This is the choice made by Carolina Andersson and The AEGEEan interviewed her about her past and future AEGEE life.
AEGEE-Lund members a few years ago
The AEGEEan: How long time have you been a member of AEGEE?
Carolina: I joined the local mailing list of AEGEE-Lund already in 2002, but regrettably I didn’t get active until around 2007 when I was about to finish my studies… Better late than never, though!
Why did you join AEGEE?
Having studied abroad twice through the Erasmus exchange, the first time in Göttingen (Germany) and the second time in Lancaster (England), I was happy to continue interacting with people from all over Europe and also help organizing AEGEE events. Furthermore I have been blessed with many great friends and unforgettable moments thanks to AEGEE!
You have recently joined Les Anciens, why?
Since I’m no longer a student (apart from an evening class in Italian) and AEGEE-Lund is about to close down due to lack of active members, I have started to mentally prepare for life after AEGEE… Then a friend of mine suggested me to join the New Year’s Event with Les Anciens in Berlin, and I thought “why not?”… It turned out to be a good choice!
You spent New Years Eve with Les Anciens, how many were you and what did you do?
We were about 40 Les Anciens members celebrating New Year in Berlin, and it turned out that the AEGEE spirit was still very much alive and kicking! We went to restaurants and pubs, had a guided tour through the Stasi museum, drank Glühwein at the Christmas market near Alexanderplatz, visited Potsdam and the Sanssouci Castle, and last but not least the highlight of the event: The huge open-air party by Brandenburger Tor, a two km long party zone with about a million visitors and artists like Bonnie Tyler, Pet Shop Boys and Loreen performing live… An unforgettable night!
Are you planning to become more involved with Les Anciens?
I definitely plan to become more involved with Les Anciens! In mid-March I’m going to Brussels to attend the annual Les Anciens gathering “Back to Brussels” and in the summer we are planning a Midsummer event in southern Sweden. And before that there is the annual General Assembly, which will take place in Malta in the end of May. I have never been to Malta before, so I’m really excited about going there! To be continued…
The AEGEEan wishes Carolina good luck with her future AEGEE life, and hopes to see that a miracle will happen and AEGEE-Lund won’t close or that it will return sooner than later!
Written by Patricia Anthony, AEGEE-København