- Karlsruhe, Germany 30/6 – 4/7 2010
ESTIEM celebrated 20 years and Local Group Luleå were of course represented. Here is the story, by Lovisa Nykänen and Anna Olsson.
Our trip started started 7:45 Tuesday morning, the 29th of June, when we left Gothenburg and Landvetter Airport in direction Frankfurt, Germany. From Frankfurt we took a train to Karlsruhe, besides that we had to wait one hour at the main station in Mannheim the trip went quite easy. In Karlsruhe we were met by sunshine and a temperature somewhere between 30 and 40 degrees, so tired and completely sweaty we started up by sleeping for almost two hours on the floor in our hosts flat. The first night was quite easy, we watched some football with the other ESTIEM:ers and just enjoyed being there. Then went back to our host, Julian’s place where we slept 4 people in a room of about 12 (?) square meters.
Day 2, Wednesday, was the “real” arrival day and the day when the event was about to start. Again a lazy day for us, we did some shopping and city touring on our own and then we met up the other ESTIEM:ers in the evening for the dinner and the opening ceremony. For the dinner all Local Groups brought some local specialty from their country, for the others to taste. A perfect start of the event and the night later continued in some night club in the city. This night it was also time for moving to our real accommodation, the gym. Around 100 ESTIEM:ers in one gym, no more comments needed.
Thursday started up way too early, already 6 am we were awaken by some wonderful noise of vuvzelas and loud music. This was a day with a lot of sports and competitions, including football, volleyball, frisbee… The least thing to say about is that it was HOT, again sunshine and around 30-35 degrees, so we got some nice sunburn but it was fun! In the evening it was finally time for the legendary tram party… We have heard about but still, it was even better than we expected, one tram, 180 ESTIEM:ers, music and jumping. When the tram party was over we continued to some club and again it was a late night with a lot of dancing.
On Friday we had a nice city tour in the morning and some interested games, with or without drinking, in the afternoon. Everyone enjoyed it and the ESTIEM spirit was on top! The evening we spent in an adventure bath, and except the fact that two people had to go to the hospital it was again a good evening, this time not that late.
On Saturday it was time for the Unicef Charity run, in two hours we should run or walk as far as we could. For every round, which was about 1 km, Unicef earned 60 cents. Totaly we donated 5000 Euros to Unicef, incredible! And just because we are so proud of ourselves we also have to add our own result, Anna did 24 rounds and Lovisa 15. After the run we watched Germany beat Argentina, 4-0, what a game!
As always the event ended with a traditional gala dinner, this time in a beautiful botanical garden. Before the dinner we enjoyed a great performance of the ESTIEM Anniversary Theatre play, the topic was “How I met ESTIEM”. Then the evening continued with dinner, party, more party and suddenly it was Sunday and an amazing event was over and our trip home began.
Thank you, Local Group Karlsruhe and all other participants for an awesome week.
Anna Olsson & Lovisa Nykänen
