cestories February 2023 | Love and lifelong friendships

cestories

CES | February 2023

LOVE AND LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS

STORIES OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP

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ALIYAH MILLER

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ASHTON COBB

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DAMON VAVROS

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JULIE VO

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MARYBETH HANSEN

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Stories of love and friendship

In honour of Valentine's Day, we have created a very special edition of cestories in which we celebrate love and friendships that started in Maastricht and have lasted beyond time and space.

On behalf of all of us at CES, we would love to wish everyone a:

Happy-Valentine'sDay!

A special thanks to Aliyah, Ashton, Damon, Julie and MaryBeth for sharing their lovely stories and photos!

Aliyah Miller

Spring 2017

“Kelcy and I met when we became members of the same sorority our freshman year at Baylor University. We instantly became close. One day, in our junior year, we decided that we wanted to go to Maastricht together for our school’s study abroad program. In the Spring of 2017, we boarded a plane and set off on our big adventure. Once in Maastricht we roomed together and traveled the world for three months.

Some of my favorite memories of the two of us are bungee jumping in The Hague, eating Pinky’s Waffles every day, traveling to Dublin for St. Patrick’s Day, and exploring Poland and Italy together. When we returned to the States we remained roommates until graduation.

Although we don’t live together anymore, we talk weekly, and I was even part of her wedding in August 2020.

We’re so thankful for our time in Maastricht for bringing us closer and creating such great memories!”

"We’re so thankful for our time in Maastricht for bringing us closer and creating such great memories!"

Ashton Cobb

Fall 2019

“Making friends in Maastricht proved to be both easy and difficult. It was easy due to the fact that everyone else in the program, for the most part, was also looking to meet new people. We all came from different universities and for different programs. I think this created a more open experience at the beginning of the semester to make connections with people.

While we had activities lined up for us before classes that did facilitate those connections, I really started making friendships in the kitchen of our guesthouse. Everyone would be cooking and eating dinner around the same time every night. This led to a lot of random conversations about classes, where we were from, where we wanted to travel, and more. That’s honestly how I bonded with the friends I still keep today.

Marissa, Emily, and I all lived on the same floor so we ran into each other all of the time. nd Kate was often on our floor for dinner and onversations at the end of the night. Marissa, Kate, and were also all in the same program at UM so most of our asses also lined up. Between biking to class, planning ips, and making dinners we spent a lot of time ogether. And ultimately it led to most of our travels hile there.

We grew as people, students, and friends traveling throughout Europe, but what really kept us together

"We grew as people, students, and friends traveling throughout Europe, but what really kept us together there and now is the room we gave each other to grow. "

there and now is the room we gave each other to grow. No one was judgmental or constricting when it came to working o who we wanted to be individually and to others around u When we all left, it was really sad. I was nervous that we might not stay connected in the way we wanted to and th we would never see each other again. I think the quick sp in the popularity of Zoom during COVID-19 really helped connected though.

September 2022

While we don’t all talk every day as we did in Maastricht, we make a conscious effort to meet via zoom every few months to catch up with each other. We have also scheduled trips once a year to continue to do what brought us together. These friendships really exhibit to me that friendships are evolving and finding the people that allow you to be your most authentic self is the most important thing you

"I would like to thank Maastricht for bringing us together three years ago and Zoom for keeping us together now. "

Damon Vavros

January 2017

“In 2017 I fell in love with Maastricht. In 2018 I fell in love with Charlotte.

In January 2017 I embarked on a life-changing trip to Maastricht undertaking a short course facilitated by CES in International Relations and Politics in the EU. I made great memories while studying and travelling with new found friends eating many frites along the way.

January2018

anuary 2018 I returned to Maastricht as an intern with to support the journey of a fresh new exchange up. Much to my surprise a friend from back home, ddison, had found her way to Maastricht with the 2018 up. Through Maddison I met Charlotte (who had fast ome friends with one another) and over the course of y nternship I got to know Charlotte too. By the time it had ended, we were still talking on social media and it wasn’t long before we were back home and already

planning a meet up. 5 years later and the rest is history! I 2022 we got engaged and are now planning our wedding for August 2024. As we look to the future, we hope to return to Maastricht and revisit the place where the mag all began. Yet another couple made in Maastricht!”

"In 2017 I fell in love with Maastricht. In 2018 I fell in love with Charlotte."

Julie Vo

Spring 2007

The start of Julie and Sarah's friendship dates back to 2007. During the last 16 years, they have celebrated so many milestones together: Sarah's wedding in 2017, Julie's wedding in 2018, and the growth of their families. Theirs is the definition of a lifelong friendship.

Julie's love for Maastricht has also remained strong: “I swear one day I'll return for Carnival with the family and to visit the parks and Vrijthof. I still think of Nora's kebabs near The Shamrock, and Sarah and I reminisce

about Twee Heren and De Alla when we had the energy to stay up and dance.”

Fun fact: “we've been doing the same pose since 2007, haha!”

“Sarah's wedding”

“My wedding”

"That is 15 years of friendship, all beginning at UM!"

“Carnival” “When we reconnected when I moved back to the US”

MaryBeth Hansen

Spring 2022

“I truly owe abroad, Maastricht, and the CES airport pickup shuttle, funny enough, everything, because the were all the foundations of Sam and I’s friendship. I arrived at Amsterdam Airport and was waiting in line with the other students. I was so excited but nervous. I made awkward eye contract with another girl and beg chatting. Little did I know that girl would become my b

friend Sam! We endured a long hot bus ride and arrived in Maas. We exchanged numbers and after quarantine ended, met up for our first walk around town!

The rest is honestly history. From that point on we planned trips together, traveled together and spent the next five months galavanting around Maastricht and Europe. Traveling bonded us at the core. After a while you kinda learn everything about each other. For some this can mean the end, but for us, we used it as an opportunity to get even closer.

We would play the question game at dinner and then spend the next three hours discussing our point of view on political ideas, art, the world, and everything in between. For me this friendship isn’t just a reminder of my life abroad it’s truly a friendship for the future.

We have even visited post abroad. She came to my college town in November and post grad I will be

"I truly owe abroad, Maastricht, and the CES airport pickup shuttle, funny enough, everything (...)"

visiting her in Colorado. I always say that looking back,

June 2022

"It makes perfect sense to have met one of the best people during the best times of my life. Forever in debt to our little ole Maastricht."

cestories

For this edition:

Text

Photography

Aliyah Miller, Ashton Cobb, Damon Vavros, Julie Vo, MaryBeth Hansen

Aliyah Miller, Ashton Cobb, Damon Vavros, Julie Vo, MaryBeth Hansen and free stock photography from Canva

Ideas & input

Design & layout

Naomi Nijssen

Naomi Nijssen

CENTER FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES

Bonnefantenstraat 2, 6211 KL Maastricht +31 43 388 5282 | ces.info@maastrichtuniversity.nl