Currently in fashion is scarfs and pile crumbled napkins. Many have been struck with this decease that humankind has never been able to cure. Jup, it’s called the common cold in the family of Coronavirus. The name “coronavirus” is derived from the Greek κορώνα, meaning crown, as the virus envelope appears under electron microscope to be crowned by a characteristic ring of small bulbous structures. So, those bastards, viruses, are ruling over our health and needed to be overthrown.
Viva la revolution! Let’s behead the king!
Echoes
20 Days of Incredible India Together with AEGEE
- Madli Pindmaa
Most probably many of you have heard that this year is a special one for AEGEE not only because our dear organisation is now 25 years old but also due to the fact that for the first time in history, it has sent members to explore other continents. The keyword here is Beyond Europe – the current flagship project of AEGEE-Europe – and its case-study trips (CSTs) to India and South Africa (related with United Nations’ Millenium Development Goals: UN MDGs).
I was lucky enough to be amongst 20 participants from Europe who spent three weeks in India. We started the project in Baroda, a small and very untouristic city in Gujarat state with ca 1.5 mln inhabitants, and ended up in New Delhi, a buzzing capital of this incredible country. The aim of the CST India was to empower young people to contribute to the achievement of the UN MDGs and thus all the program was related to getting to know the respective situation in India.
During the time in India, our days were full of different visits to schools, hospitals, NGOs, slums, and other projects where we managed to get an overview of their activities, ask questions, as well as carry out our own program on the spot. One of the best day for me was when we were split into smaller groups and my group was visiting a wastepickers’ union in a really hardcore slum to talk about their life as well as answer any questions they had. Being a regular tourist, one would never be able to access this kind of slums without some confrontations, leave alone getting that personal contact of the inhabitants. Additional highlights for me were, for instance, a drawing competition we made for different primary schools, a tour by a former street child in Delhi, going door-to-door in a slum, making a questionnaire with local students, and a visit to a traditional Indian family in a remote village.
After these 3 weeks, it is still hard to describe India in only couple of sentences. It really is a mix of everything: shiny, happy people, cows, elephants, camels and dirt on the street, amazing culture and music, deeply rooted religion, extreme poverty versus extreme wealth etc. Also, imagine a challenge you’d have when being in India for the first time and having to organise 3 weeks of program for ca 30 people – and this is exactly what our Beyond Europe team managed to do…
All in all, after getting an initial grasp of the country and realising how chaotic it was, I figured out that there is still a structure in this kind of country and nothing will be undone despite it is done a bit differently than we are used to. 
While CST India is only one part of the Beyond Europe’s UN MDG’s initiative and follow-up is an important aspect of the project, then stay tuned for more to come. Meanwhile, feel free to get more up-to-date about UN MDGs and its progress here: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/reports.shtml The blog of CST India’s full activities can be found here: http://cstindia.wordpress.com/ and Beyond Europe’s homepage is here: http://www.projects.aegee.org/beyondeurope/
Summer University 2010 Talk
Georgian Mountains and Sunny Beaches
- Märt
I like to travel to places that are, or at least seem to be, different and special compared to commonly visited countries. Places that charm with interesting people, nice scenery, and offer exciting adventures. These were also my expectations for Georgia and I didn’t have to be disappointed.
Georgia is very old and beautiful country. Landscape, flora and fauna vary drastically even in short distances. Our accommodation was mainly in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, but almost every day we had an outing around Tbilisi. Distances to visited places were relatively short (from 50 to 200 kilometres), but we experienced totally different nature. A few days we were hiking in the forest where we had also possibility to swim under very high waterfall. Another day, we were walking in mountainous desert. One day, we were climbing on Caucasus Mountains, where we reached 2200 meters. The highest mountain in Georgia is slightly over 5000 meters. In Estonia, our highest hill is 318 meters. When I mentioned this to organizers and participants, then everybody laughed, except Holland people who were quite serious. Besides these landscapes, Georgia also borders with the Black Sea, so the nature is very diverse and offers extremely beautiful views.
Summers in Georgia are hot and rainless. During the summer university in August, we had mostly 30 – 40 degrees Celsius outside and had rain only on one day. Therefore, ideal weather to sunbathe on the beach and swim in the Black Sea. We were in Batumi (which is resort city such as Pärnu) for five days and most of us enjoyed this ideal weather on the beach. Georgia’s hot and sunny summers are also reason why this country’s winemaking traditions are very old, reaching back thousands of years before Christ. Actually, Georgians consider their country to be the birthplace of wine. I have also begun to respect and drink wine after summer university in Georgia.
Georgian summer university was full of activities and adventures. As already mentioned above, we were hiking quite a lot: in desert, forests, and mountains. We had city tours in Tbilisi, Batum,i and some old cities. We did rafting on a wild and really fast mountain river. Of course we visited very old churches, archaeological places, and important historical places: organizers took us even to Gori to see the museum of Stalin. We had fun in water park and amusement park. We were introduced to the main region of vineyards and we tried different wines in real wine cellar. In addition, I have never slept so little and had so much party. Since it was my first AEGEE summer university, then I didn’t know to expect so many activities, but organizers kept us in continuous movement and I liked it a lot. Still, we had time to swim in the Black Sea, get tanned on Batumi stony beach and relax.
The participants were wonderful and AEGEE-Tbilisi organizers were very kind and helpful. Though organizers had a little problem with timing: everybody were gathered together before going somewhere and Georgians told that we leave in two minutes, but instead we usually left approximately half an hour later. Within a week, participants already took this into consideration and if organizers told that we leave in two minutes then someone went under shower and people started to pack things for this day event. Nevertheless, AEGEE-Tbilisi members were very good at organizing and if someone needed help then he or she got it. For example, in our free day (it was also organizers’ free day) some organizers were our guides in Tbilisi and showed us shops and market where to buy souvenirs. Also, I was two days in bed because of stomach disease (actually, almost all participants had stomach problems during summer university) and all of this time the organizers took really good care o f me. When talking about Estonian and Georgian relationship, then this is quite good and our country’s contribution is respected in Georgia. Our biggest cities and Mart Laar were even known in random street shop. I would not compare Estonia and Georgia at this point, but if someone is interested in it then there is a good article in 7th of September newspaper Postimees on pages 12-13 by Ahto Lobjakas with title “Vene konstandiga korrutatud suur saatus”
Upcoming events
TSU meeting in Tallinn 1-3 October
This weekend AEGEE-Tallinn is organising a meeting to plan the next year’s Travelling Summer University.
So in order to gather ideas, discuss the SU in more detail we invited our closest neighbours: AEGEE Tartu, Helsinki, Riga, and Ogre.
If you are interested to meet these colourful people and give an effort in making the best TSU Europe has seen so far, join us!
Here is a short cut of the programme:
Friday, October 1st
- antennaes arriving to Tallinn
- 22:00 party at a local lounge called “La Passion”
- getting to know each other & having lots of fun
Saturday, October 2nd
- 11:00 meeting starts in Tallinn University M-649
- AEGEE-Tallinn presents their idea of SU 2011
- Helsinki, Ogre, Riga and Tartu presenting their ideas
- 14:00-15:00 o’clock – lunch
- Continue working and discussing the SU issues in more detail.
- 18:00 Conclusion
- Free time, dinner
- Around 21 o’clock – crrrazy pool and sauna party – “Northern European Night” 8 Kassi Strt.
Sunday, October 3rd
- 12:00 – TSU2010 “Guide to a Better Life” evaluation and feedback session in a pub
- Farewell’s to our friends from AEGEE-Tartu, Helsinki, Riga and Ogre
If you will join us, let me know anni@aegee-tallinn.ee or just show up as magic
Be ready for the Cultural Babel
The ones who went to summer universities share their impressions, show photos, and sometimes even offer the food they brought with them. The others listen, watch, ask questions, and enjoy.
Event will be held on 13 October. More information soon to come…
First exchange as twin-antennaes with AEGEE-Groningen
11-16 November our Dutch friends are waiting for our delegation of 15-20 people to visit them in Groningen.
AEGEE-Groningen members, who have also visited us in Tallinn, will keep us active throughout these days, we will have the chance to see the best on Groningen, including the nightlife since Groningen is known as a city of students.
The cost of this trip should be around 1000 kroons. Route there and back suggested by the Dutch: Bus from Tallinn to Riga, flight from Riga to Bremen, bus from Bremen to Groningen and back.
So think about it, clear the schedule for 11-16 November and please let us know your decision here: http://www.doodle.com/7vut3ppnxpi9p9cc
August birthdays
- Larry Lorenzoni
Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.
Therefore, Happy Birthday!
03.09 Maie Peetri
12.09 Svetlana Zolotarjova
19.09 Mari Malmstein
Nothing cures the cold like bowl of nice hot chicken soup!
Your messengers, Anni, Tarmo and Silja.
From the moons post office.
