Travel notes

Thursday, March 22^nd

As the last preparations for the campus setup are still on the way, the delegations arrive, one at a time. In wait for the official activities to begin, the "off-the-record" ones start: the 5-a-5 soccer tournament ties begin, with the first surprises and the first "mile wins" (such as a memorable 9-1 score inflicted by Terra del Fuoco to the Red Cross team...); Radio Phoenix begins broadcasting, with music and entertainment; the bar opens...
At night, Aunt Nancy, alias Trigun and NiZu, alias Torty and Zubbo, enliven the night with a spectacular audio/video performance (three screens contemporaneously project video clips and animations in tempo with the music mixed by Trigun... but telling it this way does absolutely not do justice to what it is. Aunt Nancy's blog is at auntnancy-vj.blogspot.com). The concert transforms itself into a big party that draws late. Who already knew each other since Krakow has the way to see the friends again, who didn't know each other yet... meets each other!

Friday, March 23^rd

While the tournament ties go on, and the favourite teams begin emerging, the machine of the Campus starts grinding activities. In the morning, a meeting of the staff with group leaders opens the door to works, that start officially with the first plenum assembly, where the programme is presented.
In the afternoon, first workshop session. The first six delegations present the themes prepared in the previous weeks. Despite the difficulty represented by certain topics, the participation is very good, also under the point of view of quality, and some discussions come out really "hot". Below the summary table of the first session.

In the evening, the first voting session is open with a delay due to technical problems, fortunately solved in a short (enough) time. Meanwhile, in the meeting room a special feature takes place: the Party of the Nations, enlivened by the delegations themselves with typical food, beverages and animation...

Saturday, March 24^th

A cold day as for weather, but really hot for activities: a real tour de force for our guys.
In the morning the second workshop session is held, while still the questions emerged by the first one are being voted, in the computer rooms set up in the Campus thanks to the courtesy and helpfulness of CSI Piemonte, that lent us two servers and thirty laptops.
This time again, the workshop rhytm was really fast. Here is the summary of the day's matters:

In the afternoon, a short happening in Piazza San Carlo, where our proud young people, wearing the T-shirts with the motto "I'm from Europe", to say hello to the city... and to offer a moment of happiness ina rainy afternoon. After which, the guys had some free hours to visit Turin.
But this very long day was not over yet, because at night we all get on six buses that departed toward Rome, where we arrived on Sunday morning (a bit tired, but luckily greeted by the renowned Roman sunshine).

Sunday, March 25^th

On the day of the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, a crowded agenda awaited the guys.
At 9,30, about 200 of us were at the Fosse Ardeatine park to attend the commemoration of the slaughter occurred in 1944. Together with the press and with the relatives of the victims, together with the President of the Italian Republic, Mr Giorgio Napolitano, there were 12 out of the 18 delegations participating in the campus.
And what about the others?
The others were already at the Imperial Forums to officially inaugurate the celebrations for the fiftieth anniversary of the EEC.
We participated in the unveiling of the European Youth Forum and the stands of the EU representatives, with the praiseworthy Oliviero Alotto attending the ribbon cutting.
At noon, before "setting the guys free" to allow them to pay a visit in Rome, we held an assembly, at the Imperial Forums, to worthily introduce ourselves to the city of Rome too. The assembly was participated by the Hon. Sandro Gozi, master of ceremonies of the Roman celebration, and among the audience there was Mr Pier Virgilio Dastoli, minister plenipotentiary of the EU delegation in Italy.
In the evening, tireless (but not that much at that point) we got back on our buses to travel back to Turin.

Monday, March 26^th

Back in Settimo after another night on the bus, we granted ourselves some due rest hours.
But we did not remain through-and through idle: the morning featured the semi-finals of the soccer tournament, which launched Portugal and Slovakia to the well-deserved final. And meanwhile, the second online voting session was opened, centred on the workshops from Saturday.
In the afternoon the workshop resume with the third, and last, session. Below is the "menu":

At night, the Fratelli Sberlicchio gave us as a gift (literally: they played completely for free!) a live music prime.

Tuesday, March 27^th

After all this work, a moment to sum it up was due. And so, on Tuesday 27th there was a final assembly where we summarized the work done. Some of the results of vote were presented (for the complete presentation of results, see Vote results); there was the award ceremony for the soccer tournament, won by the Portuguese team, with Slovakia at second rank, and at the third... Terra del Fuoco! Our guys, dragged along by Daniele Ardengo (top-goalscorer of the tournament), although decimated by injuries and hangovers ;-) , brought home this gratification as well.
The assembly was closed by Davide Mattiello on account of Libera. Davide gave all participants a brick taken from Cascina Arzilla (a farmstead confiscated to mafia in Volvera, near Turin: see Libera Piemonte and Cascina Arzilla), to symbolize the common commitment to build a different future; and to every delegation he gave a bag of soil taken by the lands confiscated to mafia, where we hope the seeds of hope can sprout from.
And with this, the moment for goodbyes had arrived...
...TO BE CONTINUED...