THIRD ISSUE
VAGUE
ORGANISERS of DYF’14 THANK YOU!
Are we really FRIENDS?
COMMITTEE Articles
Session in numbers
PED- what to do? DYF’s confessions
EYP’s stereotypes
a delegate’s GUIDE to being an official
CONTRIBUTORS
IVANA BIGA (RS) MATEU TOMI (ES) SEZEN TOKADAM (TR) KONSTANTINA ROMPESI (GR) ORIOL ROCHE (ES) MILICA NEKTARIJEVIC (RS)
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Dear delegates, It’s been a long couple of weeks but the third issue is now here! So while you all are likely back at work, school, or another (less amazing) EYP session we suggest you take some time out, pour a beer, put your feet up and enjoy the final instalment from the Vague media team. Cheers, Lia & Conall Session Editors
4 STEREOTYPES IN EYP 5 CAN YOU FEEL THE P.E.D.? SESSION IN NUMBERS 6-7 LIGHTING UP THE SPARK OF 8-9 AMBITION 10 FRIENDS? CONFESSIONS FROM DYF 11 TRIBUTE TO A SPECIAL 12-13 BUNCH A FINAL FAREWELL 14-15
STEREOTYPES IN EYP: AN ADDITION TO THE EXPERIENCE The presence of typical clichés and how EYP makes them disappear is analysed by Mateu Tomi (ES)
We all love EYP for the variety of new experiences and feelings it has to offer, such as sleep deprivation or bitter PED. But there’s one aspect of a session that we always find amusing, the stereotypes. We like to believe that most stereotypes are true when in reality most are actually pretty far from accurate.
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Spaniard like me would disappoint most of the participants with my rather pale skin (some say I look Russian, in fact) and dislike of the beach. At the same time, most of the southern Mediterranean EYPers who think that Nordic people –Swedes, Norwegians, Finns – are cold and distant would also be surprised to see that they are the ones leading the rave at some room party. Among the most common clichés that are out there we can find the neutral Swiss, cowardly French, and of course, chronically drunk Irish. Most of the richer countries – the northern ones, that is – think that we Mediterraneans are friendlier to each other and use more physical contact in our greetings. This one turns out to actually be true; even I feel really uncomfortable when I meet someone else and don’t give him or her two kisses on the cheek. You may say that there is truth in every stereotype, however small it may be. And you’re right; how else would those stereotypes have come into existence in the first place? We humans like to be prepared, so having an idea of what to expect from people abroad can come in quite handy. Perhaps the accuracy of stereotypes has diminished, but they’re an important part of social interactions between cultures. Besides, most of them are pretty funny. Generally speaking, most people break the confines of their stereotypes in the early days of EYP, which is where the true beauty of the program lies. The fact that we shed our mask of ignorance and open our minds to new people and ideas enriches every person who participates in a session, both personally and socially. That is after all, the aim of EYP: not only to educate and develop our understanding of Europe, but also to break the cultural barrier that, frankly, we probably wouldn’t have otherwise.
CAN YOU FEEL THE P.E.D.? Konstantina Rompesi (GR) Provides support for those of us with (Post EYP Depression)
Welcome to the world of PED! For some this may be a new experience, for some it may be all too familiar. But for all of us that have participated in this wonderful session it is one of the toughest things to deal with. As we try to settle back into normal lifes let us not forget the memories we gained.
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o begin with, as a delegate of the DYF you enjoyed a week full of fun, laughter and fruitful debates. Having arrived in Belgrade as a stranger you became part of a big family after teambuilding. In this way, you broadened your horizons and shared an amazing experience. Every participant had a taste of the EYP spirit; an intense connection with strangers who may become some of your best friends. I may be safe and sound in my home now, but something is missing. Maybe it’s the weird way that Milica and Dora used to wake us up. Maybe it’s sitting down with the media team and enjoying lunch. Or maybe it’s just hanging out and sharing ideas and jokes with my committee. What I want to say is that all of these missing parts build to create the feeling of PED. Despite the fact that during the session you probably lived in a state of exhaustion, the unique memories and amazing people you met make it all worthwhile. This is exacerbated by the fact that you will likely not have the opportunity to experience something like this again for a while. But you should bear in mind that having been a part of EYP you will always have people who hate you in every corner of Europe from Sweden to Spain and from Ireland to Turkey. To sum up, since you were a piece of the marvelous multicultural puzzle of EYP you should feel grateful. If you are still feeling the after effects of such a wonderful session then the only thing to do is apply for another!
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124 PHONE CALLS
1 POOL PARTY
164 SELFIES TAKEN
419 POST-ITS USED
43 BROKEN BED BOARDS
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28.4 KM WALKED PER PERSON
1 SESSION
32 TAXI RIDES
71 COFFEES BOUGHT FROM VENDING MACHINE
1 USABLE WIFI SPOT
47 DELEGATES
5 NUMBER OF DAYS SPENT IN BELGRADE
18 WRONG DIRECTIONS TAKEN
23 SESSION CRASHERS
78H 9MIN 42SEC TIME PASSED WITHOUT SLEEP 32 SECRET CRUSHES 16 COUNTRIES REPRESENTED
INFINITE NUMBER OF MOSQUITO BITES
8 HOURS SPENT DANCING
13 TEAMBUILDING GAMES PLAYED AFTER 2AM
17 PRANKS
UNCOUNTABLE MEMORIES 19 NINJAS PLAYED 340 BREAKFASTS IN BED
74 DAYDREAMS 2 SPANISH SONGS LISTENED TO ON REPEAT
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LIGHTING UP THE SPARK OF AMBITION The crossroad of EYP: Ivana Biga (RS) and Mateu Tomi (ES) introduce the different paths a delegate can take to become an official
EYPers who are early in their career sometimes feel intimidated when they consider applying for a different position other than a delegate. Yes, being an official is a big step to take, but as frightening as it may sound, it’s the only way to climb up the ladder. Being an official lets you see a session from another perspective as you’ll see what’s going on behind the scenes and how the engine of a session works since they are the ones who made it all possible.
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eing a delegate sets the foundations for a solid EYP formation. Many people try to rush through this phase, but most of the experienced veterans that we’ve met throughout the sessions are convinced that one should try to be a delegate as many times as possible before moving onto the next level. By observing how officials behave and work you get familiar with the pattern you should follow when you’ll be an official yourself. The more chairs you have had, the better it is as it allows you to see a lot of different styles of chairing and can thus choose which one you can mould into a shape that fits you. Chairpersons: the first people you encounter at the very beginning of any session, a person or two who make you step out of your comfort zone and think outside the box. Not only do they become people on whom you rely on the most they also guide you and your committee through the session. Although you may think certain activities are unnecessary or simply funny (just like many strangers passing by) it’s all done with a purpose. Even though this may sound simple, first impressions are not always easy. Earning delegates’ trust and respect while at the same time trying to build a functional team out of mostly strangers is far from straightforward. Improvisation is one of the main characteristics every official needs to possess. Many situations can unexpectedly pop up such as having fewer delegates than anticipated. “That moment when you realise the name of your committee (CULT) has more letters than you have delegates”, said the journalist Milica (RS) about one of her first chairing experiences when she had to work with only three delegates in total.
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You probably also have noticed those annoying people waltzing into your committee room and maybe interrupting your workflow. Those are journalists and they actually do more than just taking pictures of you. They also help the chairpersons and, most importantly, they write articles, which can be interesting and insightful for you delegates. Most officials start as journalists, which helps in building their experience and preparing them for other positions. Some people consider it a chill alternative to chairing, but believe us, it can be quite a challenge.
team who is willing to sacrifice its sleep, its time and its mental health to ensure that the session is running smoothly. We’re obviously talking about the organisers, who may seem grumpy and unwillingly friendly at times, which is completely understandable in our opinion. Nonetheless we’d be lost without them.
We know it may be scary, because we have felt the same. In fact, we’re not even that experienced ourselves. The only thing we want you to take from this is that you have to jump to the occasion, which you’ve done before when you decided to get involved in EYP. This What is the core of a session? What makes it come is simply the next step, which may be bigger and more to life? At first glance a session may appear daunting challenging, but the reward is beyond compared. to plan. It requires months or sometimes even years of preparation and this process demands a dedicated
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FRIENDS? Oriol Roche (ES) asks himself about the true nature of EYP friendships.
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ne of the main attractions of an EYP session and one of our main reasons for applying is that we create solid friendships in a short amount of time that can survive the stride of time and distance. At least that’s what we are told. There is the cliché in this vibrant organisation of ours that nearly everyone is friendly and nice at a session. Why? Because that’s what EYPers do. EYPers smile and are outgoing. EYPers have fun together as a big family of semi-strangers. The widespread belief in this idea is heart-warming, but maybe it is time to ask ourselves whether this stereotype is based on any truth. When at a session it is undeniable that there is a flare of excitement in the air that usually turns into a will to meet as many people as possible. Thanks to this “social” momentum given to every participant by their own minds, anyone can create quite an elaborate map of newly made friends in just a few days. Nevertheless, it might be interesting to analyse the topic from a wider point of view. This inner push towards strangers –is it something reserved to EYP events? Normally the answer is yes, especially since although we can feel compelled to meet new people outside a session, we rarely do it with the EYP impetus. In a certain way, this could imply that during sessions we over-exaggerate a trait of our personality: we make ourselves extremely available and let others get inside us easily (inside our souls, you dirty readers). All of the above makes EYP friends slightly different to your “normal” friends. Not only because they might not know your family or your day-to-day routine, but also –and especially– because they have offered you in a few days what normally is offered throughout years. They are somehow similar to a match: they light up quickly through a tiny explosion.
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However, the main drawback of matches is that they are consumed faster than desired. Are EYP friendships quickly forgotten after the session, then? Well, it depends on you. I started this article talking about the stereotypical idea that EYP friendships endure. Now is the time to bust this myth. Yes, if I met you at the Danube Youth Forum and I liked you I will let you sleep at my place if you come to my hometown. I will also grab lunch with you and party. However, I will consider you a friend only if I can sense a willingness to keep in touch and to build from what we might have created at the session. And that is the scary part: letting go of the image one creates when first meeting someone else and accepting their new, ever-changing self.
CONFESSIONS FROM DYF Milica Nektarijevic (RS) dishes out the session gossip.
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I can fall in love with a really ugly boy if he has a cute (foreign) accent.
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The first time I ever cried was when I watched the disney movie Bambi.
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My boyfriend broke up with me on a post-it.
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I always have to go to the toilet at 16:00.
I have the hots for the organiser with red hair.
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I once went skinny dipping and realised afterwards it was on the main square, in front of a bunch of people including my parents.
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I am a man and I really like wearing Uggs.
When I was in Istanbul people approached me and asked for autographs.
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I like wearing a bra and I’m a guy. I once peed in a pickle jar.
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TRIBUTE TO A SPECIAL BUNCH Oriol Roche (ES) examines the challenges that the organising team has had to face.
Time behaves in mysterious ways during an EYP session. Hysterical games, intensive partying and mindboggling committee work have the ability to bend the laws of physics and make six days go by as quickly as an episode of Friends. Ah, we all know the feeling... Nevertheless, nobody experiences this EYP phenomenon more than the organisers. Knackered by the end of the session, having put their body and soul into building a safe, fun and rich environment for every participant. You wouldn’t believe some of the things that the organising team of the Danube Youth Forum 2014 had to deal with in order to bring this session to life.
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nce one decides to organise an event like the DYF, one soon realises that willingness alone is not enough. Usually, and some would say sadly, funding is crucial. Only the sweaty face of Nic Cage in National treasure could aptly summarise the quest for sponsors and donations. So now, imagine being in the DYF organising team. Facing severe flooding in your country, a month and a half before your big project, which triggers the desertion of some of the few sponsors you already had. Restless is probably the mildest adjective to describe some of the organisers’ nights. Forgetting about Novi Sad (the original venue for half the session) and rearranging the budget must have been nightmarish. However, for the organisers the worst was still to come.
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Exactly a week before the session they were informed that, due to a higher bid from someone else, the General Assembly venue was unavailable. And while the whole team was rushing to get a new location for the culmination of the delegates’ work another nerveracking event transpired. Iva received a call from Milica telling her that the ceiling of the school where committee work had to take place had been destroyed by a storm. In other words: shit happens. A lot. However, every cloud has its silver lining. “Going through so much together has made the organisers bond and become a warm little family,” said Dora. On Wednesday, for instance, they all gathered in the same room and experienced the sensation of being tireddrunk (aka laughing about everything and behaving like a bunch of Spaniards after three or four bottles of sangria). Not because they were actually inebriated, but because sheer exhaustion breaks down all personal barriers. Another example of this family-like feeling occurred during the session, when the organisers decided to take up Saska’s workload to allow her to enjoy her one-year anniversary with her boyfriend. Now that you know a little bit more about these hyperactive people constantly wandering around, I would like you to do something. If you meet them again at an EYP session, find them on Facebook or randomly come across them in a café in New Zealand, thank them profusely. Their work deserves it.
DYF 2014 ORGA TEAM
THANK YOU! 13 VAGUE
A FINAL F
Oriol, Mateu, Ivana, Sezen, Milica & Konstantina share some last words with their committees.
EMPL AFET SEDE
Europe is doomed. Its military presence is scattered, divided, and leaderless. It can be described as minuscule and irrelevant, insignificant in today’s military context. An increasingly hostile threat is growing in the East while our leaders just sit and watch, waiting for them to take their chance and usurp our freedom. Can we rely on our allies? The Americans have demonstrated over and over again that they are not to be trusted. Who will answer to this threat? Who is going to help Europe be reborn from the ashes of war? SEDE has the answer. Pondering over it, Ryan Gosling is the only sensible answer. Think about it: he’s handsome, he’s a deep thinker... Basically, he’s fabulous. When Gosling was first proposed, everyone laughed innocently and enjoyed the sound of the ice breaking at the beginning of Teambuilding. But what first started as a joke transformed into the gravitational centre of the committee’s way of working. In one way or another, a man as distant as Ryan Gosling helped the delegates form a strong bond between each other and their chairpersons. I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that the whole Ryan Gosling joke will linger in every single SEDE member’s memory.
After an amusing day of Teambuilding in a beautiful park called Tasmajdan the committee on Foreign Affairs surely became a team. It’s nothing special to become a team after spending approximately 12 hours every day with your committee for 5 days in a row. But AFET was like a big family after hours of intense work led by the best chair pair ever, multiple inside jokes and three really big achievements. The first achievement was the 2 points we won at the end of the ninja competition. Even if we would not have received any points I would still call it an achievement because cheering up for Dragana really did bring us closer together which is the thing that matters the most for me. Secondly, we won the scavenger hunt although most of us were not familiar with the city. Simply because we were so enthusiastic and focused on winning that nothing could have stopped us. Now that the General Assembly is over I am proud to say that our brilliant resolution passed and we won again. After all our biggest achievement was becoming a family. Each and every one of us will miss Danube Youth Forum 2014 as it was an amazing experience.
It may all have seemed like a dream to them. Most of EMPL’s delegates went to an unknown country and experienced Belgrade from a foreigner’s perspective. In the beginning they were all strangers to each other and very different in a positive way. I see them as the hyper-energetic ones. Open-minded towards everything their chairpersons and I put in front of them. More importantly, I think they enjoyed working on a topic of high relevance to them and creating a resolution they believe in. The only thing they did not fully enjoy was the daily wakeup call at 7 in the morning. The feelings they had at the session and the memories they have made are not something you can easily put on paper; it’s something personal and something they will carry with them wherever they go. I guess having a private pool party after Committee Dinner speaks for itself. In my opinion, every committee is the reflection of its chairpersons and so was EMPL. I have never worked with more pleasant people than with the members of this committee. The time they invested in the session itself trying to make it special is something I truly admire them for. Hence, thank you my lovely EMPL for giving me this. All of it. It could not have been any better.
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FAREWELL CULT AFCO LIBE
Our lovely journey has reached an end. While you’re reading this, sitting on the couch, lying on your bed or maybe even chilling at the beach, we are all in different countries again, dealing with annoying relatives and preparing for the end of holidays. However, if you have a minute today –or tomorrow, or next week–, I would like to ask you to do something especial. Pick pen and paper. Sit down at your desk or on the floor, wherever you feel more comfortable. Now, write down LIBE on the paper. Ask someone to take a picture of you and then upload it to Facebook, or send it through email to your committee buddies. Once you’ve done this, you can do whatever you want with the paper. I will probably burn it, for two reasons: one, fire is the most beautiful thing that nature has ever given to us humans; two, I have always found very touching the idea that when smoke gets lost in the sky, it becomes part of the immensity of the unknown. Thus, the spirit of LIBE will keep us under surveillance (pun intended) forever. See you soon! PS: Sorry for the cheesiness, guys. It’s just that I get emotional.
With the map in front of us we started the journey to M’s place. The Afcomobile was parked and just waiting for 7 of us to get in the space for only 5 people, with some of us in the trunk and some of us laying over each other we started the hunt. We had a mission to fulfil and there was no time to waste. The checklist went as follows; break a few laws, almost get arrested by the police, take a picture on the middle of the street, avoid all the other committees, cause a traffic jam, go shopping, have a bite of really old popcorns, and buy an aqua viva that tastes like fruit. But, as it usually goes with mastermind plans at the end we got caught. Since there was no time for brainstorming, and with paparacos on the lose,we rushed to the car and drove ourselves back to the venue and victory.
Unfortunately, another beautiful journey has arrived at its end. I, kind Konstantina, had the honor to be a journalist of CULT committee. So, I met nasty Nikolas, jealous Josip, lovely Lirika, elegant Evaggelia, crazy Chloe, serious Sahar and random Rasmus. But, nothing would be the same without our adorable chairs: mysterious Myrna and victorious Victor. First of all, we built up our committee and the delegates enjoyed a variety of joyful games. Afterwards, they had some hard tasks. In fact, they discussed the current situation in Europe, the cultural diversity and how EU should move forward to develop its European identity. Despite minor disagreements all of the delegates tried their best for the sake of the group. Furthermore, on Thursday afternoon all the committees had to present their topics in a creative way. It wasn’t a surprise that CULT committee reached the second place. This fact was the result of a collective effort. Every single person contributed to each task, which makes clear that eight (delegates) is a crowd and they are able to achieve a lot. On Friday morning CULT committee did sightseeing all over the capital of Serbia. It was my pleasure to be with CULT boys and girls, because I had so much fun with them and hopefully no one got lost in Belgrade. To sum up, it was so nice to meet all these marvelous CULT people. I wish to meet you again in another session!
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