A summer university is a two-week trip abroad to 'see people and show yourself,' to get acquainted with another culture, language, traditions, and customs, and to get rid of stereotypes. All AEGEE members can take part in such an exchange. University participants live with the locals. Participation is not free, but for quite an acceptable price ($100), a rich entertainment and cultural program is organized.
How does a summer university day go? In the mornings – lectures on language, history, dance lessons, etc., in the afternoons – excursions, and in the evenings (often turning into morning) – discos, clubs, pubs... At the evening of national cuisine, one could try more than a dozen different dishes – from shrimp in lemon sauce from Ecuador to hamburgers with bananas, oranges, apples and... herring (that one from the Netherlands). 'Tastes differ' – the English would say (‘there's no accounting for taste’). But I am sure that most 'AEGEE members' did not find anything strange about that (habit, you know...), just as they found nothing strange about the other dishes, whose national origin was often argued about with great fervor. Drinks are a separate question: I counted 16 kinds of wine, rakia, and schnapps products. But what an occasion it was to show off one's favorite toast – 'Kedves megegeszsegesedesedre!' (the Hungarian version of our 'budmo!') But it seems I have deviated from the topic.
'Europe for you, but for us – our native home!' – that is the organization's slogan, and the guys do everything so that these words are not empty. Besides summer universities, the AEGEE guys organize student exchanges, seminars, conferences, congresses, etc. This organization has no 'bulletproof' roof or any patrons whatsoever. The guys themselves arrange visas, buses, excursions, conference halls, accommodation, meals...
And last but not least. This year's sponsors of the summer university are the companies 'Vita-Ukraine', Proctor & Gamble, and 'Slavutych'.
You can find more detailed information and a calendar of events on the websites www.aegee.org and www.aegee.kiev.ua (the site of the Kyiv representative office).