YE #Cultural Storytellers
“Goedeavond” or “iyi akşamlar,” our friends from Greece, Turkey, Spain, and host country the Netherlands warmly greeted us in the picturesque town of Schaijk in southeastern Netherlands. Together, we enjoyed dinner and, exhausted from the journey, quickly settled into bed. The Erasmus project officially commenced the next morning, starting with a short energizer and immediately followed by ice-breaking activities.
We enthusiastically dove straight into the project’s themes, full of anticipation and energy. Engaging in various discussions, we presented our viewpoints and had many meaningful debates on topics such as community, determination, and the courage to stand up and advocate for something. This routine continued for several days: two morning sessions packed with active self-development and exchange of opinions, a later lunch, diverse afternoon activities, and then the eagerly awaited dinner.
Dinner was not always ordinary. Often, it was intertwined with cultural experiences, featuring traditional or distinctive dishes prepared by the participating countries. This allowed us to genuinely appreciate each nation’s character, dining habits, and customs. Each day concluded with a traditional cultural evening, where we learned intriguing facts about each country, participated in interactive games or quizzes, and typically learned a traditional dance. These cultural evenings smoothly transitioned into nights, leaving us happily exhausted and ready for bed.
In addition to these positively stereotypical days, we had opportunities to explore the Netherlands differently. We took a full-day trip to Nijmegen and explored various surrounding towns, often using traditional rented bicycles during our leisure time in the afternoon.
This project provided numerous opportunities: experiencing the Netherlands first-hand, discovering a new country, and relaxing away from everyday life. Yet, beyond all these wonderful experiences, the most valuable takeaway from the project was undoubtedly the people we met, the friendships we built, and the memories we now cherish. Overall, it was an incredible experience, truly worth it.
