2-15 July 2005 Valkenswaard, NETHERLANDS

Youngsters from 15 to 19 became a part of an exchange in the Netherlands from 2nd to 15th July. There were people from 5 countries: Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Estonia and Bulgaria. There were about 34 youngsters with their leaders. The purpose of this exchange was to share our culture, to know each other and to make friendships no matter our distinctions.

At first there were just games, talks and hidden looks, full with surprise. The second period was when we represent our countries, culture, towns and everything that can be represented. But the biggest surprise was when we discovered that we represent not only these things, but ourselves, too. Anyway, we got to know each other not only in the camp, named “De Hekant”, but when we worked together in the workshops, too. The Director of “Hofnar” (a theatre in Valkenswaard), Leonie van Kan, help us to show our skills in public when we show the story of Jan Klassen and Katrijn. It was a great success. We were together when the rein was falling and we had “Surviving”. There was much laugh when our clothes were covered with grass and muddy spots. But nobody took care, because the party took place. We even slept together in the cars, when we had to travel to Amsterdam, or to the other places, which were far away from our camp. BUT, when the place we wanted to go was near we had to ride bikes. We even saw more than a friendship- an “international” love grabbed the heart of some of us. We saw much laugh, smiles, surprising and fear in our eyes when we had to get into places like “Pegasus”(train), “Bobbaan”(bobsleigh), “Spookslot”(HAHA!!!) and the most interesting and scary thing (in my opinion) the “Python”(the biggest and highest train), and all that in an amusement park named “Efteling”. Mmmm, and the lollies there were super!!! However, I think the most interesting thing was to got know each other in talks for silly things like “What` s the weather in your country?” or even “Do you like some of the camp?”, because we were there to got know the countries of the youngsters` through themselves.