The 27th of December 2012 the wonderful Winter University organised by AEGEE-Riga and AEGEE-Ogre started. The participants were able to enjoy the culture and the hospitality of Latvian people for seven days. The activities and workshops were diverse, from social inclusion, costumes, and other more sportive activities like ice-skating or the “ciambellas” (big truck tires used to slide downhill).
As usual, the program started with an introduction of the organisers and some ice breaking games where the participants got to know each other. After breaking the ice, the participants went to a pub in the Old Town, where they enjoyed the music and some drinks. From that day on Angel Rodriguez (AEGEE-Alicante) – or Angelina as he was called during the event – started trying to become the dancing king. However, Lelde Pētersone (AEGEE-Riga) also showed her nice smile, energy and good dancing style.
For the duration of the event, the participants were divided in four groups: lions, frogs, snakes and hyenas. Different tasks were given to each group, like waking up the other participants in the morning, logical exercises or playing different games. The division of the participants helped to improve the relations between them.
On the first day, after a lesson in Latvian language, the participants got the biggest surprise of the event. In the Brazilian beach volleyball centre, the groups had to work together on different tasks. The hyenas won the overall match. Afterwards the teams tried to get the recipe of some cakes selected by the organisers in the tearoom. In the meantime there was a small workshop about AEGEE where the organisers asked the participants to give ideas on how to improve internal relations in AEGEE; how to get new members; or how to stimulate friendships between the old and the new members.
December 30th started with a city tour given by an official tourist guide of the city. The participants visited different cathedrals and quarters of the city, and learned about the traditions, history and legends of these different parts. After the tour, the group went to a guest house outside the city. Before the participants started to get ready for the European Night, they had a Latvian dance workshop given by Elmars Leja (AEGEE-Riga). During the European Night the participants were able to enjoy different drinks from Italy, Georgia, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Germany, France, Holland, Latvia and Spain. For this event the Spanish participants did not prepare the popular sangría, they chose another special mix of champagne and orange juice called “aqua de Valencia”, because it is a drink that many consume in times of celebration. Of course there also were some sweets, pasta done by the great chef Enzo Lamuraglia (AEGEE-Bari), and the famous Spanish “tortilla de patatas” provided by Angel Rodriguez.
The following morning, the group had a great time in a small ski station near the guest house. Some of the participants enjoyed skiing and snowboarding, while the rest of the group were playing with the “ciambellas”. Since there were four tires, the participants organised races and sliding in different figures like trains or squares. The participants also enjoyed a great sauna party where they got the chance to rest and build up their energy for New Year’s Eve back in Riga.
After arriving back in the gym in Riga the participants began to get ready by putting on their gala clothes, while the organisers prepared an appetizer that both the participants and the organisers enjoyed, along with some nice sangría. After dinner, the group went to the riverside of Daugava to enjoy the fireworks at midnight, while drinking champagne. The participants continued on to a pub called “Mojo”, where they celebrated the coming of New Year in each of the different European timezones while sharing some traditions like eating 12 grapes.
Next morning the bravest participants went to Riga’s freezing seaside, before joining the rest of the group who went ice-skating in the “Lido”. After the lunch in Lido’s restaurant, the participants joined an aerobic class given by the two pets of the ice-skating park, two funny teddy-squirrels, who were dancing to “Danza Kuduro”.
And then the night arrived, and with it, the farewell party. There were prizes to be given out for the most energetic, the most relaxed (sleeping princess), the best flirt, and the best dancers. In the group contest the Hyenas finally claimed their victory while singing their song “Hyena, Hyena, Hyena”.
This event showed the participants who had never been to Latvia before how people from this area may seem cold and quiet, but when you get to know the country – and even better, if the members of AEGEE-Riga and AEGEE-Ogre help you – you will realise that the people are friendly, warm and funny. In one word: wonderful. Thank you AEGEE for another wonderful experience!
Written by Angel Rodriguez, AEGEE-Alicante (Wieke van der Kroef ed.)