Our SU is the story of two countries, two organising groups, two girls who at first brought two very different locals together and an amazing group of explorers from all over Europe.
Once upon a time, two girls from locals not too far away from each other in Germany and the Netherlands met during a SU as participants. As the time came to start planning for the Summer Universities in 2014, these two girls (one from AEGEE-Amsterdam and the other one from AEGEE-Osnabrück) decided to give it a shot to organize a SU together with their locals. At the first glance two very different antennae were facing each other and no one really knew if such a Summer University project was a good idea. On one side, there was the very big local of AEGEE-Amsterdam and on the other side there was AEGEE-Osnabrück, a way smaller local with a very different structure. On one side Amsterdam – a cosmopolitan city where everyone dreams to go to once in their lifetime and on the other side Osnabrück – a small city that even Germans have to search on the map sometimes if they want to go there to be inspired by its lively young culture and beautiful surroundings.
Still, the two locals decided to give it a try and formed an alliance – after all the distance between Amsterdam and Osnabrück is only 250 km. In the following months, the two teams got to know each other on European events and in several Skype meetings. There was a regular update of the progress in the local planning process and everyone was getting more and more excited that this SU would not stay a dream but would become reality. At the beginning of August the time was finally there to start the SU (S)Urban Explorers 2014.
The organisers were all very excited and waiting for the participants to arrive in Osnabrück. They finally wanted to meet all the (S)Urban Explorers, ready to explore, dream and discover their German-Dutch summer in both cities. The accomodation was ready with a gossip wall, the whole programme on the wall, one whole room only with drinks, an individually installed kitchen in what used to be an empty room, the equipment for many games and much more.
As the name states, the goal of the SU was to explore and to experience different urban and outdoor adventures in both Germany and the Netherlands in many ways. And explorers we really were!
During the first week in Osnabrück, the accommodation was an old military base in the suburb of the city – the perfect place to experience the surroundings and the beautiful landscape of Northern Germany and to be together with the group day and night. We were ready to bring the AEGEE spirit to all the AEGEE people, become a group of explorers formed by organisers and participants and to go climbing, canoeing and hiking in the picturesque landscape around Osnabrück!
For sure everyone not only had to explore the city and the landscape, but also their own limits. How little one can sleep while still having full energy day and night was one of the challenges from the very first day with a programme planned in a detailed way from early morning till late at night.
Osnabrück is the city of the famous “Peace of Westphalia” in northwest Germany. It was approved in the townhall of the city and it’s the place where we started the first day, after the welcome day with icebreaking games, with a welcome reception and a guided tour of the townhall. Even the radio was there to report about the SU! Furthermore in Osnabrück not only a lifestyle-tour and a crazy rally were part of the program, but also a guided tour by a nightwatchman to explore the dark past and the underground of the city was included.
In a salsa lesson we could see how much a body can really shake, during the excursion to Bremen everyone had the chance to try all kinds of beer in the famous Beck’s brewery and see how this drink that cheers us all up is really made and in the language course the explorers of all language levels trained their risible muscles during funny games and explored that it is not impossible to pronunce difficult words or sing drinking songs as a beginner.
With all different kinds of food like German bread or the menu of the university canteen we tried to keep up the energy so the explorers also had enough power for the workshop about “Spreading Europtimism” that lasted longer than expected, because the AEGEEans from all over Europe had so many stories to share in this interactive environment. But real explorers never stay inside for too long and so the garden of the castle or a nearby lake were the spots for group activities and energizers when we were not at university or the accomodation. Outstanding was indeed the canoeing during which many participants jumped in the river to refresh on a warm sunny day but also performed the Dutch dance “Hoofd, Schouders, Knie en Teen” on their small canoes and no one fell in the water – what an amazing moment.
During the climbing park in a forest we were all exploring our limits many meters above the ground between the trees for several hours. One of the best ways to really rely on your climbing partner and create a great group spirit. There was so much more going on also in many challenges of the day, but this can only be experienced and explored in person. The last night in Osnabrück, after many party and club nights, was a party of the 20s and so a real journey in time and a fancy night after so many outdoor experiences.
After over a week, it was time to say goodbye to the the city of peace: Osnabruck. Week two of our awesome experience started! We decided to kick off with a fine AEGEE-Amsterdam tradition; hitchhiking! A lot of people were a little hesitative at first but soon explored the long stretched highways of Germany and the Netherlands from the comfortable backseat of the car owners who were more than happy to take them along. By the end of the day every single participant and organizer had arrived safely and well in Amsterdam (fortunately for group spirit).
Time to get the party started at AEGEE-Amsterdam’s weekly social drink. After a slow start, the people loosened up and transformed into real nightlife explorers in the cosmopolitan city of Amsterdam. One crazy week was going on after, filled with scavenger hunts, photo frenzy’s, BBQ’s, city tours, a workshop about nationalism by Dr. Krisztina Lajosi which created many discussions about questions like the following: When is a flag a sign of nationalism and when is it not?
We all had the chance to party hard in a gay club and a former church, enjoy big parks in the city or take part in a tour on the canals in the beautiful capital of the Netherlands while the rain never got us down. You cannot imagine how much fun it was to go on a bike tour with everyone in a city where there are more bikes than inhabitants or to see the unique and world famous red light district all together by night.
A language course, a workshop in impro-theater and much more brought the group closer together even though we stayed with private hosts and not in a group accommodation in Amsterdam. Last but not least everyone could party one last time at the ‘goodbye party’ after over two weeks of little sleep and full power exploring in the cities and outdoors. Here and there one could always see someone sleeping in the bus, the workshop or even a bar or a club, but all in all every S(U)urban Explorer reached the personal limits the best possible way with lots of energy and fun. The last night is always one of the best but at the same time worst parts of a Summer University. It’s sad to see all those great people leave but you’re also unbelievably happy to have met them and to have organised such a time for everyone. The curtain closed on our (S)Urban Exploring adventure. But definitely not for good… See you all somewhere in Europe soon again. And we still have all the private letters written for each other after the arrival back home. A wonderful memory, a wonderful journey!
Written by Lise-Lotte Albers, AEGEE-Amsterdam