Travelling Summer University was organized by AEGEE-Bratislava and AEGEE-Lviv on the break of July and August 2014. It started in Bratislava on Thursday, when the participants arrived to the gym where we slept. About half of them gathered for the Slovak language workshop. Instead of the survival phrases, everyone was interested in pick-up lines & dirty words. Boys, remember: “Máš pekné oči.“ (Your eyes are beautiful) and girls, save money by: „tento pán to všetko zaplatí“ (this gentleman pays for all). In the evening, the President of AEGEE-Bratislava, Lucia, officially opened the SU and we also celebrated the 22th birthday of the only Slovak antenna with a cake.
On 
Friday morning there were some workshops about AEGEE and the European Union and then in the afternoon we did bungee jumping. A navy party followed on a boat anchored on the Danube River. Saturday morning was devoted to a city tour with a guide who knew the history of every single palace on the Michalska Street. Many participants were went for coffee, but everyone was ready to taste the honey wine in a small shop in between the souvenir shops and the Slovak restaurants. Later Erik & Juro took us to the castle. The way was quite unusual, but they claim that it was in order to show us the typical communist bus station under the bridge. From the castle, we went to the beach by the Danube River. It was a good opportunity to play volleyball, enjoy drinks or see the participants in swimsuits, which could be helpful at the traffic light party in the evening.
Actually, traffic light party is an interesting psychological game. In the end, the desire and impressions beat the colour of the t-shirts. A game with the ice cubes breaks the ice, and this is how we met Elvis Campolungo from Siena. Next morning, the bus to High Tatras was full of sleepy people. We hoped that the fresh air in the mountains would wake us up. We made a stop at the Demänovská ice cave. It was almost like the ice bar the previous night, but less ice and no free shots.
First night in Poprad started with a pub crawl. Participants, divided into 6 teams, had to find directions to 6 bars and in each of them perform a task. Final task was a tequila body shot from AEGEE-Bratislava bodies. This is the Slovak hospitality.
Poprad is a gate to High Tatras – Slovakia’s biggest mountains. AEGEE people departed from civilization in the last village and enjoyed the walk in raw nature. In popular culture, we can label Tatras as the birthplace of Tatra Tea, Tatranky-wafers filled with nut cream- and Tatran – a small brewery.
I did not count the nationalities, but the ‘tables’ at the European Night of TSU Bratislava 2014 lasted over 90 min. The night started with a folk dance by some local guys (you can even see it on the Regional TV from Poprad).
Slovak organizers introduced typical products, including the sheep cheese product bryndza, and several variants of Tatra Tea, ranging from 17 to 72 degrees. Table was topped by Borovička, the revenge of Mother Nature, as Juro from AEGEE-Bratislava told us. The participants from Ukraine followed with their vodka – horilka that tastes always the same, just the adventures are always different. Also, they taught us a dance. I am sorry not to mention all the presentations as I really could not capture all, despite the fact that I was still sober. Best participant Mika was silent while introducing his Finish drink. In contrast, Italian ‘pasta guys’ sung the national anthem like Squadra Azzurra before an international match and educated us on some typical gestures. Diego from Mexico explained the difference between the Mexican and Spanish tortillas and offered tequila, but without salt, lemon and belly buttons. From Giu Di Lu we learned that gulash is really international food because it reminds him of Chinese cuisine. Around midnight, the party relocated into a gym because AEGEE people are full of energy and even if it looks like that they sleep, they are just getting ready for another party.
On Tuesday, after chilling in the Aqua park, we went for dinner, where we were served traditional Slovak dish ‘bryndzové halušky’. After that, we headed for a private party, which turned out little bit wild. From Wednesday I would like to mention the workshop on culture. For everyone, culture means something different: toast with peanut butter and jam, dinner at 6pm, sweet pasta. Interesting, how simple issues develop into serious talk about national stereotypes and similarities. As Erwin Groot, a participant from the Netherlands said: ‘Spending time with open minded people from all around Europe creates a bonding within the SU group that feels like family. Because of this family feeling, the moments of being in the hostel or bus or just walking through the city, are just as nice as the moments you are having parties, city rally’s, watching castles, exploring the Tatra mountains, jumping of bridges (with rope). And even though it feels like a year goes by, by being open minded towards everyone, you build friendships in Europe that last many years after.’
Massage workshop followed and in the afternoon I met some guys (and ice bears) looking for massage oil in the supermarket. In the afternoon we played city rally, the first prize went to the Smurfs team. At the closing party, we were writing on t-shirts till 2am, when part of the participants left for Ukraine. And when I read the words of Oksana Konyk, I regret that I did not join them. She also mentions an incredible and a little bit crazy AEGEE family ready for any adventure in romantic and charming Lviv. Besides sightseeing, museums, castles and the awaited tunnel of love,theye had different workshops. The most memorable were varenyky and motanka ones.
It was really a great time with great people. So see you again somewhere in Lviv! Although both parts of TSU are formally over, it still goes on in our open minds, hearts and in the Facebook group. Hope that no one will forget how good it is to meet somebody to #lol.
Written by Erik Redli, AEGEE-Bratislava (with the help of Oksana Konyk, AEGEE-Lviv and Erwin Groot )
Photos: from the photos posted in the participant’s group.
Here is the daily coverage of TSU Bratislava in Tweets.
This video captures the best moments.