NYE: Novi Sad
AEGEE-Novi Sad

Hello, my beautiful younger self

I’m writing to you from the year 2091 and I’d like to tell you a short story about the best New Year’s Eve of our life

It all started a long time ago, on a cold Autumn day. Being bored of the pandemic that was around at the time I was chatting with a friend, complaining about how I missed AEGEE events and all the excitement and fun that came with them. Instead of trying to comfort me they just said be ready on the 27th of December, we’re going to Serbia!

In two months we were there, I still can’t believe how much I miss those 35 smiley friendly faces running around the magical city of Novi Sad. Looking back it was just as if some kind of Winter Madness got a hold of us all. Oh boy, do the memories keep swirling back.

It feels as if it was just yesterday that I was ice-skating through a Frozen Forest drinking mulled wine and thinking about what I needed to prepare for the EU night.  And what a night it was, I could say it was the best party of my life, but I’d be lying. The truth is I can’t really say which of the parties was the best, The Pub Crawl, EU night, New Year’s Eve Serbian Night Welcome Party, Karaok, or The Day Party. How I would wish to be back at any of them. In case you’re wondering, yes I was there for 6 nights, but we had 7 parties, something you can only get in Novi Sad. And one party was a charity event meant to gather presents for the children in need so I’m proud to say we made their New Year’s merrier as well.

But it wasn’t just the parties that burnt themselves in my memories. It was the lovely streets of the city, the amazing Serbian people and their warmhearted spirit during the holidays, the most delicious food  I ever tried, the taste of the wines  I tried in those historic wineries, the stunning Fortress overlooking the city the smile on the faces of those children we delivered gifts to and so much more. Heck, it was even the time while I was waiting to get in the shower in the hostel, just chatting with my newly found friends, reminiscing about the day before. A hell of a comfy hostel, where we decorated the Christmas tree and rested eating popcorn while watching that movie all of us saw a thousand times but still died laughing too.

Come to think about it, there’s nothing else in my life I remember so vividly. Coming to the point of this story, don’t hesitate on that 27th of December, I will be your living proof that you won’t be making a mistake. Now start planning, take your holidays, pass your exams, book your tickets and get going to Novi Sad.

I promise you the time of our life.

P.S. In case you’re wondering, 70 years later we are still all going strong. In fact just after I finish writing to you I’m booking my own tickets for a reunion with those 35 loonies getting ready for another Winter Madness!