The stories that you are going to hear about this TSU are going to be legendary, because those stories are French and Italian legends created by all of the participants and organizers. This TSU included not only discovering Italian and French culture, but also friendship and unforgettable memories within 17 different nations. A legend was made by the antennas of Lyon and Genova in two weeks. Lyon, Annecy, Genova and Cinque Terre… those places are going to be remembered fondly by each one of us.
“We shared umbrellas to hide from the rain. In stormy nights we kept warm with a cuddle. We lost our souls rushing from train to train and found them again at the end of the bottles” said Anja Nedelkovska, one of the participants of the TSU organized by AEGEE-Genova and AEGEE-Lyon. As it is understandable from this meaningful quote from one of our participants, it was more than a cultural exchange and more than just fun activities. We faced bad weather during the first days in Lyon, but we challenged it by appreciating every moment. As this Summer University was the first for many participant, we learned how to act and think within a group of AEGEE people. We never tore apart. Hikes in Italy were very tough, but we were always hiking together even with rain, high temperatures, humid and hot weather.
This amazing TSU was made with big challenges. AEGEE-Lyon is a small antenna with 15 members, and four active members. Those people managed to make a successful TSU with a big help from AEGEE- Genova. Also organizing Summer Universities with different locals have always been complicated, but French Kiss the Italian Beauty was organized in two different countries and it was an amazing event. All of its participants and organizers did a good job. From timetable to meetings and group activities, everybody was energetic and tuned all the time. Magic was in the air like our French song said. We all felt the warmth of excitement which led us to discover every corner of the amazing cities. We had so much fun that at the end of the TSU, we all had six-packs and also some sort of drawings on our bodies as a memory. Form all the crazy stuff we did, there is going to be some fond memories for each of us. Like the 14th July, French National Day, fireworks that we watched for 20 minutes near the Annecy Lake. The show was breathtaking – we could not closed our eyes for even one second. Also the concert afterwards was also very good. The first night in Genova was also another great time in this TSU, we had a pool party and everybody enjoyed Genova Port with itscity lights and stars.
Besides the amazing nights we spent throughout the TSU, we also had great sport activities like the hike from Camogli and the splendid beach of San Fruttuoso. Hiking took three hours, even if it was exhausting, we loved the view from the top and enjoyed our meal that we ate surrounded by nature.
Activities were magnificently arranged for the sport lovers. In France, Lyon offered us adventure park and Annecy showed us the amazing Annecy lake view by hiking. In Italy, we took Kung-Fu lesson, swam in the warm sea of Sestri Levante and Cinque Terre let us to enjoy all the breathtaking views it has. All the places we stayed or traveled to and all the things that we did, they cannot be said in word, one should experience them. Shortly, this TSU was a metal chain connecting each the people who participated with the help of sport and nature.
Written by Ayşegül Gökdağ, AEGEE-Izmir