From the 24th till the 27th of November, AEGEE-Aachen is hosting a Network Meeting (NWM). They will have a panel discussion within the context of Brexit, an education in cooperation talk, two days in the Eifel Mountains and a Christmas Party in November. To know more about this fantastic NWM, we interviewed Leonie Riebesam of AEGEE-Aachen

The AEGEEan: What is the focus of your NWM and how does it relate to the title?

Leonie: The topic is cooperation on different levels, e.g. within an AEGEE local or board, but also with the municipality, the university or other partners. A more special part of it is that we are organising a panel discussion about cooperation in Europe for our participants and other students in Aachen on the first day.

Can you tell us more about your schedule?

When the participants arrive on Thursday and come back from the city tour, we start with a nice opening ceremony with some speakers and art performances. Afterwards we will have a panel discussion on the topic “Hurry up Europe! Time for new cooperations”. The next two and a half days will be full of interesting sessions and awesome parties.

What are the objectives of the NWM?

Since cooperation is the theme of our NWM, we want to gather many ideas and experiences on cooperation with different entities, so that our participants can start working on the implementation when they get back. Of course, it’s a NWM, so there will be room to share experiences and knowledge, and get to know the other participants and their locals. And last, but definitely not least: have an awesome weekend full of fun!

What can you tell us about  the place where it will be?

Since it’s hard to find a place to sleep in Aachen, we decided to book a house outside of Aachen. It’s in the Eifel Mountains, directly next to a lake and perfect for team building during the NWM.  Plus, we have real beds there!

How big is the organising team and who is in it?

We started with only four people, but now we are seven. Damien Latacz, whom you might know as President of MedCom, is our Main Organiser. Other than that our President and two other board members are organisers. Also Lucia from Summer University Coordination Team (SUCT) and a new member have started helping the participants as incoming responsibles.

Who would be the ideal participant for your NWM?

A cooperative one [she winks, ed.]

What was one of the biggest challenges that you faced in organising this NWM?

Probably the biggest challenges will arise in the week before the NWM, so we can’t say yet. Until now, the most difficult part was getting interesting speakers for our panel discussion. But we managed it! Now it’s time to coordinate them to be sure that the discussion itself is interesting and that our participants can learn a lot from it. That also brings its load of challenges, but don’t worry, you won’t be disappointed!

Tips and tricks for future organisers?

For a NWM find a good topic that will give you the main direction for your plan. That way you can focus your effort because you know what to achieve for your participants. Start planning early and making a to-do list with an integrated timeline is a good way to keep an overview of your whole project. And don’t forget, that the main ingredient for success is communication!

Is there something that you would like to add?

If you missed the deadline to apply to our NWM, don’t worry, you’ll get plenty of other chances to visit the polar bears!

Written by Violeta Croitoru, AEGEE-Iași

You can call her the NetCom of the Two Isles. Lisa Gregis, who cares about what is informally known as “the Rainbow Network” (part of the Italian locals and AEGEE-Valletta), decided to assign the organisation of her Autumn Network Meeting (NWM) to AEGEE-Cagliari, again on an island after AEGEE-Valletta organised the Spring NWM one. From the 3rd to the 6th of November, the Sardinian city will host a NWM that promises to be “rainbowlicious”. Let’s discover more about this event from Lisa and Francesca Zorcolo, President of the Italian local and Main Coordinator of the Network Meeting.

The AEGEEan: Why did you chose Cagliari?

Lisa: The application of Cagliari was simply amazing. When the NetCom received it, I thought they were applying to host an Agora, not a NWM! I thought “this is crazy!”. We should take their application as a model for the future. They are organising an amazing event and I’m really proud of them. The seriousness, passion and devotion they are showing for this event is inspiring for me. I feel I have to work even harder in order to not let them down.

Why did you decide to apply for hosting the NWM?

Francesca: We decided to candidate because the Network Meeting represents the successful completion of a path that we started a few years ago that had the aim of being more active on the European level as a local. We worked really hard and it’s an awesome achievement to finish 2016 hosting the first NWM in the history of AEGEE-Cagliari.

AEGEE-Cagliari Board 2015-2016

How many participants do you have?

Lisa: We will have 40 super lucky participants and we can’t wait to meet them!

What will be presented during sessions?

Lisa: The sessions will be about the new Strategic Plan, Summer Universities, fundraising, how to organise a thematic event, SWOT & sharing best practices, 60 Agorae in 120 Minutes, open space technology, board meetings, European Citizen Initiative, the State of the Network, we will talk about what happened at Agora Chișinău. I’m still building the programme, so something might change, but for sure in a week it will be definite.

Rooms where participants will sleep

What is in store for participants (facilities, meals, social programme)?

Francesca: We would like the participants to feel like guests who are coming here for meeting old friends. That’s why we have organised everything as best as we can offer: they will sleep in the hostel in the city centre, all the meals are provided in restaurants, there will be the famous Abis’ pub crawl, the cost being included in the initial fee, the European night and we will even try to take care of them before and after the event

Who will be a trainer?

Lisa: The trainers will be Zvonimir Canjuga (CD), myself (NetCom), Gunnar Erth (Les Anciens), Carolina Alfano (SUCT), Damiano Deidda (AEGEE-Cagliari), Alessandra Caddeu (AEGEE-Cagliari). Maybe there will be space for someone else, but still I’m happy we can have many trainers with very different experiences, so we can provide the best learning environment for our participants.

The core team of NWM Cagliari

Who is in the core team?

Francesca: The core team is composed by 10 members: Paola, incoming responsible, Thomas, social programme responsible, Antonio, fundraising and logistic responsible, Roberto, logistic responsible, Fabian, meal responsible, Federico and Matteo, IT responsibles, and myself who coordinates.

Did you apply for any funding or did you get any help from the university?

Francesca: In order to offer the “NWM of our dreams” we studied a strong fundraising strategy. That’s why we have applied during this whole year to several call for bids from our university, from our municipality, of our region, and also private ones. Moreover, we have organised different events for self-financing and we have gained some sponsorship for cutting the costs.

One of the rooms where sessions will be held

What is special about AEGEE-Cagliari and the city of Cagliari?

Francesca: AEGEE-Cagliari is first of all a family! We support each other, we study, train, eat all together, the success of one is the success of all of us. I think this is what makes us special and what helps us to always have active members.

Cagliari is an amazing city and we will be lucky to stay in the city centre for the entire event. We are hoping that the weather will be nice, as it usually is.

Written by Erika Bettin, AEGEE-Verona

 During the last Agora in Zaragoza, ‘Nationalism‘ was elected as the topic for the upcoming EBM in Lublin. Different thematic sessions workshops have been prepared to give a deeper insight to EBM participants about it, such as the workshop ‘Branding nationalism the American way’ that Réka Salamon (AEGEE-Aachen/AEGEE-Debrecen and Speaker of the Public Relations Committee) will give.

The AEGEEan: How exactly do you brand nationalism the American way?

Réka Salamon: The name of the workshop aims to refer to the spectacular American fashion of wearing their national identity on their foreheads (sometimes literally!). We are often mislead by a biased media presentation or misguided by our own stereotypes against the Americans but the massive amount of their national symbols and their reapparance in every possible surface, penetrating every possible aspect of their daily lives from food commercials to cinematography, from political speeches to civic education… the concept is simply astonishing. But is the USA really the greatest nation on Earth – how the Americans are often trying to present it – or it is only based upon a series of exaggerations and blind patriotic images?

AEGEEan: Why is it important for Europeans to learn from this American way of branding?

Réka: Not only AEGEEans, but also young Europeans in general tend to be caught up in the ‘continental mindset’, meaning, we possibly have a great knowledge of the European culture and it’s 1000-year-old traditions and tendencies up until nowadays, during the time of the EU integration and crises. One aspect of bringing the American viewpoint into all this is to discover what is behind the nowadays commonly used annotation of ‘United States of Europe’ and how Europeans can learn from the American model mainly by means of establishing a unified pro-European vision for all the citizens. The other aspect the workshop is to provide the Europe-bubbled mindset with a fresh global perspective by drawing a comparison between the European and the American model.

The AEGEEan: What can AEGEE members learn from your workshop?

Réka: AEGEE members will be introduced to the background concept of American patriotism from a brief historical perspective up until nowadays. The participants will be invited to take an active part in sharing their own impressions and stereotypical thoughts about the American culture, which ideas will be challenged and eventually “lessons” will be learnt. What is the impact of the iconic American patriotism in the everyday lives of American citizens? Is it a wildly manipulative articifial imposition or a heartfelt attachment for their motherland? From reenacting famous speeches to debunking the idea behind Captain America, learning and entertainment is granted!

The AEGEEan: What makes you the perfect person to give this workshop?

Réka: I have already given various types of presentations and was presenter at progress meetings during our statutory events. I completed my Masters in English and American Studies at the University of Debrecen, Hungary. I was also working in the US for a few months and had the opportunity to meet the living-breathing images from my textbooks. Yes, they are normal human beings (smiles), with a very unique mindset when it comes to their attachment to their country and this is something i have always found admirable and intriguing at the same time. Learning about the American culture in its past and current developments is one of the personal interests of mine.

The AEGEEan: What do you epect of participants joining the workshop?

Réka: I expect the participants to bring a lot of enthusiasm and dare to share even the craziest ideas they might have! I am also curious to meet fellow American Studies students, but in any case, the only thing is to be active! I would like to fulfil the participants’ expectations and meet the learning objectives of the workshop and have a mutually satisfying and fun time together!

Interested in this workshop? The exact infomation about time and place of the workshop will be announced during the EBM, but will also be available online in the EBM Lublin 2014 – Official Group

Written by Svenja van der Tol, AEGEE-Nijmegen

Aren’t we all a bit nationalistic? Nationalism in Europe is getting stronger again, they say. Is that true? Where can we see it? And is it just “the others” who are getting more nationalistic? Are we, young, educated and tolerant people, really as liberal as we believe?

This is why former member of the Comité Directeur, Thomas Leszke, decided to organise a workshop on Nationalism at Zaragora.

AEGEEan: Thomas, why did you choose to organise this workshop?

I believe nationalism is one of the main problems in Europe. Nationalist sentiment is relied upon for many a wrong policy and we are not aware of it!

We, AEGEE members, are unlikely to be nationalists. Yet, even for many of us, nationalist attitudes are closer than we think. Of course, everyone has a national identity and the line between “having a national identity” and “being a nationalist” is very thin indeed. This is logical, because most identities (and certainly national ones) are based on social exclusion and everyone wants to feel like they truly belong somewhere. Still it is dangerous, because we may not realise that our feeling of attachment towards our home country may lead us to opinions that are discriminatory, unjust and even in conflict with human rights.

This is why it is very important to understand what nationalism is and to see how we can protect and cultivate our identities without getting into ethical trouble. However, I do not want to stand in front and preach abstract definitions of nationalism. Participants should find out for themselves in a more active way.

AEGEEan: Can you tell us something more about what your workshop will be like?

Firstly, participants are split into two groups (liberals and nationalists – this doesn’t reflect their own beliefs). They should try to put themselves in different political perspectives and use arguments that do not necessary reflect their own personal opinion. They will be put up with political problems that are of high relevance in different national societies in Europe today.

Furthermore, participants are separated again to three committees (consisting of both groups) where they discuss and decide about different issues, supporting their roles’ opinion (so not necessarily their own). This way, they can learn to distinguish between “national identity” and nationalism. AEGEE members in general have to realise how present nationalist ideas are in our common thinking and start thinking about what we as an association or as individuals can do about it.

AEGEEan: What do you expect from the participants?

I expect participants to realise that many of the problems that will be discussed in the workshop are in fact a reality in their own societies. The workshop is not a place for drafting activities, but for understanding problems. I am quite sure that most of the participants will leave the workshop with a lot of thoughts and that they will go on discussing about it, involving their friends in the topic as well. I would not be surprised and even very glad to see that participants develop ideas for projects of activities countering nationalism, whether it is on a local, national or European level.

Written by Lia Tuska, AEGEE-Kastoria

A multi-time AGORA visitor, an even more-time workshop presenter, Fabian Brüggemann is at it again. Get ready to join his “Improve yourself” workshops among the possibilities at AGORA Zaragozaaaaaaa. Just as the ideas he presents, Fabian also never stops improving himself. With 11 AGORAE behind him and 12 workshops done, he keeps learning something new. All this started with a brave attempt at a workshop given in AEGEE-Kyiv’s AGORA back in 2009.  Now, Fabian travels from European Schools to Summer Universities and improves our AEGEEans all over Europe. Who knew that it can turn into a well-paid hobby. Let’s see what he has to say about it.

AEGEEan: Tell me about your workshops. Are they always on “Improve Yourself”?

Fabian: I think four of them were not “Improve Yourself”, but also something HR / motivation / flash mob related. The rest were all connected with improvisation theater. The name “Improve yourself” started at Agora-Alicante.

How active will the workshop in AGORA Zaragoza be? Will each of the points presented come with a little game?

There will be about 10-12 games for the four points I am going to teach. Thus, each point has even more than one game to go with it.

Do you change your workshops from year to year?

Together with the participants, I also improve with every workshop I give. I do change the games and methods a bit and also exchange games for other games that fit better. However, the basic concept is still the same.

How do you as a trainer improve? Do you also attend some workshops or do you read more about the issue?

There are several things: of course the direct feedback in the workshop (e.g. the reactions to my explanations, how much the participants understand the message I want to bring across), but also very much the feedback later. After some time a participant might tell me “You know Fabian, in your workshop I realized that … accepting a certain situation helps to move on or being spontaneous and talking in front of people is nothing to be afraid of “. Apart from that, I’m also taking improvisation theater classes, which I’ve been doing for several years now. I also talk about the concept with friends who are experienced trainers and who give me quality criticism.

I remember you once told me you also give similar workshops as a job and actually get well paid for it. Do I remember everything correctly?

Yes, exactly. I don’t give them on a very regular basis, since I have a normal 40 hour job, but I gave a workshop like that, for example, at Siemens.

And AEGEEans have a chance to get it all for free?

Yes. There are two reasons for this. First, I started giving these workshops in AEGEE, so in a way it´s “giving it back to AEGEE”. But also, AEGEE is a great playground to try out new games and concepts, because people are very open for new things and, at the same time, critical, so I get good feedback. Actually, there is another one: it´s just so much fun that I don´t want to give it up.

Anything the participants should do/take to be prepared for your workshop?

Their level of English should be quite good, because some of the games are about language. As for the rest: no! They should just be open to try out new things, leave their comfort zone and have fun.

What is the goal of the workshops you’ll be doing?

My goal is that the participants realize that they can actually DO the things they try: speak in public, be spontaneous, be flexible, be able to accept things as they are and make something out of that, be a bit more aware of what is happening around them and watch out for others. My goal is that they have fun at the same time as well as remember the things I try to teach them and apply the methods in real life. I also want to give them a positive way of looking at things – so that´s rather an attitude change, but that´s a very big goal for just a 2 hour workshop.

Sounds reasonable. Anything else you would like to tell our readers?

What might be interesting is the fact that at Agora Kyiv I gave my first workshop (about flash mobs), just to try it. So I used AEGEE as a playground to try something out – and I learned so much from it, that by now even companies come and ask me to give workshops! To cut to the chance: it is worth to try things out in AEGEE and make something out of it!

Thank you very much for your replies and good luck at the workshops in Zaragoza.
Written by Olga Volovyk, AEGEE-Kyiv.

“Honest disagreement is a sign of progress” – that’s what Ghandi said. Among all the interesting workshops that will be held at the Zaragora, we focus on “The art of constructive disagreement , that will be held by Ivan Bielik (AEGEE-Brno) on behalf of the International Politics Working Group (IPWG), whom we interviewed for you.

The AEGEEan: The expression “constructive disagreement” may sound a bit like an oxymoron and people tend to feel attacked and to stay closed in their position when other have different opinions, so how can disagreement be constructive?
Ivan: Disagreement is an essential element of human life. The reason is that if two of us disagree about something, we are on the way to talk about things and to come up with some compromise and solution. This situation cannot happen when both of us agree about something. The word “constructive” means that two or more people disagree about a subject in a manner in which they are devoting their effort not to insult each other’s ideas, but to find the best or the most appropriate solution. It is an approach that matters. In other words, well-developed and persuasive arguments should prevail in the discussion, not populist or misleading ones.

Debating, therefore comparing your ideas, leads to a cultural growth of course, but why should it be considered an art?
It is an art, because it requires skills which you can learn throughout all your life. You cannot paint a Mona Lisa portrait on your own without learning how to paint. You have to practice your painting skills and then you might create a masterpiece. In debating it is the same. It is a never-ending process. You need to learn the skills of debating, practice them with other people and then you might gain the ability and confidence to speak in the public or to persuade other people. Without learning and practicing these skills, you are not able to become a good speaker. In ancient Greece and Rome public speaking was highly appreciated in the community. I do not see a reason why it should not be the same in our age.

How can members benefit from this workshop?
Debating stimulates critical and creative thinking through a non-formal and entertaining educative process. Moreover, it develops crucial soft-skills which are important for a future careers, skills such as creating and defending opinions or clear expression of ideas and self-confidence.

Quite often it happens that some people don’t give their opinions, which are different from those already presented, because they are shy or don’t feel at ease to speak in public. Do you think this workshop will help those people?
My workshop is exactly for this kind of people. They should not be afraid to come out of their comfort zone. We will do special exercises where the participants can gain their self-confidence in speaking in front of an audience.

What is the aim of the workshop? Why should members attend it?
The aim of the workshop is to stimulate creative and critical thinking among AEGEE members and to build a positive approach of young people towards participation in the public deliberation, be it at the Agora, at university or in their home town. And why should they attend it? I believe that debating is a special non-formal educative tool which challenges your thinking, cultivates your civic virtues and builds personal self-confidence.

Written by Cosmina Bisboaca, AEGEE-Torino

These days, all the Working Groups of AEGEE are in the middle of elections for new boards. The Sports Working Group (SWG) reflected on their year as the board of the SWG, and in this interview the Culture Working Group (CWG) and International Politics Working Group (IPWG) also look back at their time as board members since Agora Budapest.

During the time the IPWG has developed a new debate platform at the beginning of 2013, called AEGEEDebate. Besides this, they continued to update their blog website with new articles about International Politics. They continue to tackle various issues in AEGEEDebate which are relevant today. The success, however, depends on the will of AEGEE members to participate in the project.

One of the things that the CWG have been working on is the Cultural European Night (CEN) “During some months we developed a campaign to encourage organisers of all kind of events to introduce culture facts in their events. Culture European Night was one of those facts. Our principal aim is to include cultural topics like songs, typical dresses, some small explanations… That is the reason why promoting reports and contests like the best Cultural European Night Award have been created.”

Regarding the discussion on whether alcohol should be part of European Night or not the CWG comments “This debate has been one of the most famous. Hundreds of different opinions, comments, discussions… It is clear, everybody has a not ambiguous point, you simply love or hate it. Inside the CWG board we have our own personal opinions and have also debated about our general impressions and which point we should support. But what we have in common for sure is our desire of introducing Culture in all the CENs. Our desire is to have some shows, speeches, to learn about other cultures. The aim of the CWG is not to ban anything, but to enrich each event. If people want to drink, we are not going to tell them not to drink; people should be responsible for themselves.”

What have been the highlights?

IPWG: Networking. Since you are in the board you can get new, useful contacts with other people who are doing similar activities.

CWG: Without any doubt, we remark two occurrences: The recognition the CWG got for being the most active WG during the last Agora, and the creation of the new project EurStory. In the whole term were proposed 19 projects and 12 of them already carried out or done. Fifteen people have been actively responsible for these projects and many members have contributed. The board 2012/13 is very proud of this and believes in the possibilities of this cultural family for the next year. About EurStory, this is another sign of motivation; you do not always have the chance to watch the origin of a new AEGEE project inside a Skype members meeting debate. We wish all the best to this new family.

Both of the Working Groups agree with the SWG that keeping the activity high is difficult. To the question on what makes it difficult being a board member they say:

IPWG: To create communicate channels with members.

CWG: When a group has touched their zenith, the most difficult part is keeping the level of activity. We all are volunteers and have many different things to do in our lives. This was the challenge of the second term, which was not as active as the first one.

Will any of the current board members continue in the next board?

CWG: That is still not sure, but the current board agrees, there are many newbies inside the group who are perfectly able to continue this project and even improve some things. The current board members are continuing being active, of course, but we want to give the initiative to new minds, new points of view, a new capable generation. And this WG has enough potential board members for more successful years.

IPWG: It is not decided yet and it is dependent on the interest of others. Changing faces and bringing new ideas is, however, preferable.

It is certain that it is possible to learn and grow a lot while being a board member of a Working Group. “One of the best ways to “taste” the European feeling of AEGEE is joining the board of a WG. Inside a WG you have the chance to discover and get to know new people who organise projects and debate about the topic you like, in this case culture. So, it is easier to enjoy what you do and to find things to believe in. If you, member of the CWG, are motivated in your antenna and want to increase your knowledge and your experience in AEGEE, and of course you want to have much fun, we highly recommend you to join this cultural team; for the board 2012/2013 it was an amazing experience. We feel very grateful and motivated, and of course we will be glad to give a hand to the next team,” the CWG responds to The AEGEEan on the question on why they would encourage others to become part of the board.

For the rest of 2013 the IPWG would like to stick to the primary purpose of IPWG. That is to provide a discussion among the members, and at the same time they are preparing for Agora Zaragoza. There the participants can meet them at not only the fair but also taking part in the workshop hosted by Speaker Ivan Bielik.

Written by Patricia Anthony, AEGEE-København

“Are you a good lobbyist”? This was the central question to a simulation played at the Summer University of AEGEE-Delft, “Create your own world”. More than 20 participants and some of the organisers took part in this interactive workshop on European Union sustainability policy, getting a hands-on grip on the mechanisms of lobbying at the European level.

In order to facilitate the discussion, the workshop at Delft’s amazing modern university library was kicked off with a brief introduction to sustainability and the European policy-making process. With the adoption of the Lisbon treaty sustainable development became a fundamental objective of the European Union. This is partly operationalised in the Europe 2020 Strategy, though unfortunately limited to energy and resource efficiency.

Nonetheless, a number of sustainability topics outside this restricted scope remain hot items in European politics. One of them is of course climate change, which is being recognised as a strategic priority of the EU. The international deal is to stay within a 2°C temperature rise since pre-industrial times (say 1750), but this will of course require significant cuts in CO₂ and other greenhouse gas emissions: from 20% by 2020 to up to 95% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels.

The EU has designed a cap-and-trade system to help achieving these goals, but due to the economic crisis and flaws inherent to the auction basis of this Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), the carbon price is currently far too low to stimulate any investment into cleaner production. Still, European climate ambitions remain ahead of most other developed countries, making the EU a front-runner in international negotiations.

Another topic currently under discussion is the protection of biodiversity, which in recent years has reached alarming levels of destruction. With extinction threatening 1 in 4 mammals, 1 in 3 amphibians, and 1 in 8 birds in the near future, the EU’s initiative to translate the Nagoya Protocol into European law is more than welcome. This international protocol aims to preserve biodiversity by sharing some of the profits generated by its uses (e.g. in medicines or foodstuffs) with the inhabitants of the regions it originates from.

With such powerful players as the pharmaceutical or agricultural industry, and such huge amounts of money concerned, it comes as no surprise that the Members of European Parliament (MEPs) working on the new rules are constantly being approached by lobby groups, both from industry and civil society. What are their demands? How do MEPs deal with them? And who is the best lobbyist, using the best arguments to protect his/her interests?

Based on personal work experience at the European Parliament, a simulation of the lobbying activities was developed, with each of the participants receiving a specific role, ranging from French small-scale farmers over Peruvian indigenous populations to big industry representatives. Of course a couple of MEPs from various political parties were added to the mix as well, with the difficult task of judging the lobbying efforts and taking a final decision on the proposed European legislation.

After a cautious start, arguments started flying up and down the circle, with people adding new elements to the discussion to refute claims made by other lobby groups. The representative of the agricultural industry, for example, proposed the French small-scale farmers to switch to his more lucrative, genetically modified crops, but saw his argument countered by a particularly stubborn scientist from Germany pointing to the threats such crops can pose to local biodiversity.

At the end of the debate the lead rapporteur from the European Greens, acting as moderator, consulted with her colleagues and they then delivered their verdict: a percentage of commercial profits to be used for supporting small-scale farming, additional funding for research into the effects of GMOs on biodiversity, and a number of industry-supported and NGO-monitored projects to conserve biodiversity on site. A reasonable and balanced deal, applauded by all parties — though in reality things are not always that easy.

Written by Mathieu Soete, Policy Officer on Sustainability

During Agora Rhein-Neckar, the Visa Freedom Working Group (VFWG) organized quite a successful workshop! The main leader and speaker of the workshop was an American citizen living in Germany and the Czech Republic, Mrs. Kimberli Jo Lewis, who has a certificate from the London Coaching Academy.

Kimberli Lewis, International CEO, executive coach, and mentor, talked about transitioning and being culturally transitioned both in the private and work life. Kimberli has over 22 years CEO experience in 10 countries and has a lighthearted view on how to manage transition. She is an executive coach of cultural transition and expatriate all over the world. Kimberli is the CEO of globalbusinesstherapy.com and ponytaletalk.com.

We had around 60 members at the workshop, which was quite a surprise considering the fact that it was already the third day of the Agora and right after lunch.

The first part of the workshop was an introduction of Kimberli, her short life story. How she moved from the USA to Europe. How different it was to see and live with the people here. She went to Germany, where she met her current husband and settled down. She explained how Germans are able to walk around the town with no specific aim, while in the US people usually go for shopping at weekends. She told us that after some time living in Germany, she was able to accept the traditional morning beer. The biggest problem for Kimberli was to learn the time perception in Germany, when suddenly she had to be everywhere on time and keep the deadlines. 

That changed a bit after going to the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic was a bit more relaxed. But on the other hand, life was harder there. People were not that helpful anymore and you have to deal with a lot of problems alone. The rusty system of the Czech Republic’s bureaucracy requires a lot of paperwork and patience, because the Czechs are: 1) not keeping the deadlines, only if it is for money; 2) usually are tired and bored from their jobs, so they just do not care about your problems. On the other hand, Czechs know how to sell you the beauty of their country.

Kimberli gave a short presentation about the effects of travelling into different countries, cultures and environments. You should be careful not to start being all sad and depressed when you are coming from your “honeymoon phase”. You miss those beautiful places and the great people, just like our Post-Agora-Syndrome. All the small differences and details that you can recognize after coming back home are actually pushing you to think more about going abroad again and try to explore other places more often. The voice in your head is telling you that what makes you excited makes you happy too. And that you should use your chance. The weather is so bad all the time anyways and the job is boring. That is the point when you decide that you need a change – so you start travelling. And one day you find yourself not living your “old” life anymore.

What comes next, Kimberli said, is the cultural shock and basically “waking up” from your beautiful pink dream. You have to deal with everyday stuff. How to ask for bread, when you actually do not know the name of it in the other language? Where can you exchange money? Is it possible to drive a car here or do I need a special license? Why the flat rent is so high and why is it hard to find a good restaurant? Why are people so closed and always in a hurry? Why can’t I understand the joke?

But after some time, you adapt. You are not scared by the really bad traffic in the morning, as you got a book to read while sitting on the bus. You learn the language well enough to understand the jokes and order in a restaurant. You can feel proud that you have seen more sights than the domestic people. You make friends and plan a trip to a city nearby. You go to a really good party. You do things that locals do too and you do not find it weird anymore. Everything seems to be easier and more enjoyable again. You get a job and you feel really happy because you walked so far and survived!

In the second part of the workshop, we got a small homework. We were supposed to define the word “culture” and its meaning. Culture is not only related to the country or people’s behavior – culture is also your neighborhood, your school, free time activity, an event spent abroad with a mix of foreigners and more. We split into groups and we were defining our own culture. The strongest features and what we find weird about ourselves and our cultures. What is the contradiction to our cultures and how we should deal with it. Then representatives from Germany, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine and Greece presented results of their culture description. Germans and Greeks – like two different worlds! Are Spanish lazy? Are Turkish always on time? What about the driving skills of Polish people? You could have heard that and much more  during our workshop. If you missed it, do not be sad, because the Visa Freedom Working Group is organizing a workshop for Agora Zaragoza again!

Written by Visa Freedom Working Group

Monday afternoon, the first class of the week is over. Lauren leaves the lecture hall and crosses the street to another university building. She’s excited, because today she will pick up her first vegetable bag. Like hundreds of students in Antwerpen and other cities, she can’t wait to discover what vegetables will be on the table this week. Will it be celeriac or spring onions, turnips or carrots? But she’s sure of one thing: they will be fresh, locally grown, seasonal, and organic. And they will be cheap.

Three months earlier. It’s the beginning of winter and Lauren has just arrived home from university. After what seemed to be an endless bike trip through the cold wind, she’s happy to finally be inside. She puts a ready-made pasta dish with fine beans and fresh tomatoes in the microwave, takes out the trash for tomorrow’s pick-up round, and settles on the couch with her steaming dinner.

Surfing through the channels on TV, her attention is caught by a topic on the 7 o’clock news about the new minister of Migration addressing the issue of winter shelters in the city. Something I might be able to use in our debate on social inclusion later this week, Lauren thinks.

While forking through her pasta, she continues to follow the news as the cameras move to Kenya where food is once again getting scarce. According to one of the villagers being interviewed, his entire harvest of fine beans is being shipped away at a low price, leaving him not enough money to feed his growing family. Lauren is about to move on to another channel for her favourite series, when the penny drops…