With the intention of making this year’s Summer University (SU) the best possible, AEGEE-Niš and AEGEE-Sofia joined their creative forces and the magic happened – “Balkan Beats” was born. In the spotlight of this SU were, as the name itself hints, music and dance, both traditional and modern ones. 25 participants from all over Europe had the opportunity to experience Serbia and Bulgaria in the best way possible: through the rhythm and gastronomy, cultural and historical workshops, on foot, by train, hiking, dancing and singing. The main destinations of this musical journey were Sofia and Plovdiv in Bulgaria, and the Kopaonik mountain and Niš in Serbia.
The two-week trip started in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, where the participants and organisers met for the first time and almost instantly became friends sharing experiences, discussing plans and expectations. And so the unforgettable voyage began.
You have to know a thing or two about a country before you start discovering it on your own, so workshops had to be done firstly. The Bulgarian organisers did a really good job in bringing the participants closer to Bulgarian tradition, history, language and culture. The trip to the magnificent Rila monastery was the first highlight of this SU. The Rila monastery represents one of the most important monuments of Bulgarian history and culture, and participants were amazed by the greatness of this place. Since the participants came from so many different countries, the European night gave them the chance to portray their country in an interesting and funny way, from their own perspective and learn about other participants’ countries, while enjoying the taste of traditional Bulgarian dishes and drinks.
The next stop was one of the oldest cities in this part of Europe – Plovdiv. This part of the trip was defined by captivating history, the town tour and amusing night life. The last day in Plovdiv was reserved for an aqua park, where the participants could refresh and gather some strength for the adventures Serbia.
Up next was time for yet another mountain – Kopaonik, in Serbia. This meant switching from “dobar den” to “dobar dan” to say good afternoon and converting levs to dinars, but the interesting vibe going on stayed the same. Kopaonik is the most beautiful and beloved mountain in Serbia due to its breathtaking scenery and pleasantly warm weather this time of the year. The participants couldn’t hide their excitement of spending two days in this heavenly place. In the comfortable environment of the mountain home, surrounded by vivid nature, complete with delicious traditional cuisine, they learned a bit of Serbian language and had a musical lecture held by one of the most talented Serbian young musicians and artist – Oliver Katić. 
The next day was very active and just a little exhausting as they climbed the highest point of Kopaonik as well as of Serbia – Pančić’s Peak. Their reward for a successfully completed task, when the sun came down, was the enjoyment of laying in the grass looking at the enchanting starry sky near the campfire with drinks and laughs as the silent guitar rhythm played in the back.
The sadness of leaving this place quickly transformed into excitement when they came to Niš, the final destination of this Summer Unversity.
New city, new people, new incredible places to explore! The stay in Niš was packed with various activities such as dancing to the rhythms of hip-hop, salsa and bachata, inevitable cultural and historical workshops, and a workshop about Europtimism.
Niš has always been a crossroad between west and east, so evidences of its rich history can be seen everywhere around the city, so sightseeing the city and visiting the memorial museum and the infamous Skull Tower really made a great impact on our participants. 
Another highlight was a night in kafana, a well-kown trait of the Serbian night life. The expressions of amusement and joy on the participants’ faces while they enjoyed the cozy atmosphere and marvelous specialties can’t be put into words. One of the participants, Marina Gattiglio from Italy, found herself surprised when she first encountered kafana. “I have never experienced anything like this in my life, this specific atmosphere, this mix of a contemporary restaurant and something traditional, and I have traveled a lot”, said Marina and added that kafana should be kept as something “truly Serbian” due to its uniqueness.
The visit to the spa of Niš offered some time to recuperate and preparation for the journey home with relaxing massages, swimming in the pool, beverages and sauna. “Nothing reflects the phrase ‘enjoys like a Serb’ as this spa does”, noticed the Bulgarian organisers.
Nishville Jazz Festival marked the last four days of this SU and our party people had the pleasure to enjoy every single night with some of the greatest jazz musicians in the world.
Much to the delight of the Serbian organisers, one of the participants, Constantine Bakiris from Greece, who came to Serbia mainly because of the closeness between our two people and his admiration for our culture, fell even deeper in love with Serbia. “Historically, Serbs and Greeks are like brothers. In my visit to Nis, I witnessed hospitality beyond my imagination and met some really interesting, wonderful people. It is my honor and privilege to be a member of AEGEE Nis, taking this eternal friendship between our people to another level. Brothers forever”, said thrilled Constantine.
As the time passed there was no longer the difference between the organisers and the participants as they were functioning like a well oiled machine helping each other in times of necessity.
They started as strangers, then they became acquaintances and now they’re lifelong friends. So many memorable places that were seen, a lot of unforgettable memories that were made, with everlasting friendships and short summer romances brought this adventure to an end. This SU was full of joy, happiness, smiles and a few tears. We couldn’t be more grateful for this amazing group of people that made this SU the best so far. They have found their places in our hearts and not just there, but also in our homes if they decide to come back to Serbia again.
Written by Marija Ranđelović, AEGEE-Niš