Fall

After all the Mollina emotions, nothing better than a couple of days in Lisbon, spent with good and old friends and Francisco. It is easier said than done, but this year I did it. On Monday I traveled first to Madrid and then to Lisbon, where I was greeted by nice temperatures and warmly hosted by Sara and Zé and their twin little boys, in their beautiful apartment in the centre. It was really nice staying with them, because it felt like going back to one of these places that always feel warm and nice even if you don't use them for a long time. Sara and Zé are exactly like that: friends whose presence brings good memories back, and whose love feels as fresh and new as when it was first expressed, many years ago. It was nice staying with them because of the kids too; not only because they are a really nice pair of little boys, but also because as the main purpose of my visit was Francisco's birthday, it made sense to be with friends who have kids themselves. And on Tuesday, after sleeping, getting a haircut, having lunch with another good friend and wandering around Lisbon, I picked Francisco up at the kindergarden, went for a nice walk with him and, then, in the evening, accepted Sara and Zé's kind invitation to gather some other friends and more kids around a nice dinner and a chocolate cake topped by a 5-shaped candle. On Wednesday, the real B-day, Francisco arrived early in the morning and we spent the whole day together, playing and having fun as I imagine normal fathers and sons do. I hope that it was kind of a special day for him; for me it definitely was. Special and full of emotions. One day to remember that other one, five years ago, when, for the first time, I saw, heard and touched Francisco; but, also, one day to celebrate all the other times I saw, heard and enjoyed him. I wish I could express by words how much I love and miss this son of mine... I wish he knew it... and I hope one day he will... And then, suddenly as usual, we had to say goodbye and part... I stayed in Lisbon for a couple of hours more, time enough to visit the new place of another friend, Marcos, and his beautiful family. On Thursday I came back to Brussels and realised how long I had been away, first in Spain, and then in Portugal. Summer had already gone and autumn had arrived and was fully and comfortably installed. The warm temperatures of Lisbon seem very far away now; but, despite the cold, the days have been sunny, and you all know how much I love Brussels when it is sunny! Tomorrow, a new week will start, and I will be back on the road again: Strasbourg and Paris, for a fully French and busy week. A special week though: it will be Pedro's last in the European Youth Forum... Change, as I said, will be a permanent guest in this blog's next weeks' entries... and who doesn't like change?! I do!

Done!

Wow... it's done! Hard to believe that the week went so fast... and yet so much happened! That's the wonder of Mollina and the University on Youth and Development: it only lasts one week, but the changes it produces are so huge, that even though time seems to fly, when it's over it seems like one year has gone by! 300 young people from more than 90 countries from all around the world, selected by an alliance gathering more than 10 international youth platforms, attended 12 different events, and participated in several and diverse other activities in the CEULAJ. This means hundreds of hours of hard work in the meetings rooms, and almost as many hours of great fun here, there and everywhere, but especially at Paco's. For the ones of you who have never been to Paco's, the only thing I can say is that I can't really explain why we like it so much... I mean, it's exactly one of that kind of bars where I would never feel like coming in after taking a first look at it from the entrance door... and yet, it takes only one visit for the ones who have been there to understand exactly what I mean if I tell you that it is impossible not to feel at home after some minutes only. Paco's is the place. Be it for endless political discussions aimed at saving the world, for meaningless gossipping with no aim at all, for responsible (or not that much) rhum and other alcohol heavy consumption with various and diverse purposes, for loud table-football international tournaments promoting fair-play, or for romantic seduction games involving bilateral and multilateral international co-operation, and the establishment, development and consolidation of many alliances between several civilizations, Paco's is the place. And, at the end of the day, Paco's is a symbol of it all. A good university always has a nice bar, and the UYD has the best in the world. This might have been my last time here, at least in this context. And also because of that, this year's edition will be impossible to forget. As usual, I learned, I had fun, I met old friends, and made new ones. I arrived full of hopes and expectations, and they have all been confirmed and fulfilled. I will therefore leave with high levels of motivation, and with the deep believe in that the world can truly be changed into a better place for everyone. And, equally importantly, that there are many people wiling to assume this task. On an even more personal level, when I arrived here last week, I knew that this year's edition of the UYD would be one small step in the process of change that I am and will be undergoing over the next few months; I was not aware, however, of how much of a giant leap it could actually be.... and I feel fine!

Mollina

After a couple of days in Brussels, focusing on the follow-up of last weekend's YFJ Bureau meeting, I traveled to Spain and spent three more days discussing Media relations with representatives of several YFJ Member Organisations. Parallel to the meeting, I had the opportunity to meet and spend time with some of the many friends I have in Madrid, and this was really nice. Not only because it is fantastic to have such good and old friends, but also because many of them had good reasons to celebrate and it was particularly nice to be able to share their satisfaction. On the top of everything, Madrid is a place that I always enjoy visiting and I couldn't help thinking that it would definitely be a place where I would like living and working at some point... Now, I am back in Mollina and at the CEULAJ. Tomorrow, this year's University on Youth and Development will start. Sitting in my room, taking a rest before it all starts, listening to the birds singing while participants are slowly arriving and filling with enthusiasm and expectations this place that will be theirs for the next week, I can't help thinking that this is probably the last time I will be around... and I feel a bit nostalgic, for this place has become an important part of my life and I know I will miss it... I guess that the next few months will be full of these moments, as the end of my term approaches and I need to start making decisions about my future. I don't feel sad though; I have been priviliged enough to have the opportunity to enjoy a meaningful life, doing things that I am passionate about, and meeting people I admire and love. There's nothing to be sad about, and plenty of reasons to be rather happy. So, let Mollina be once again invaded, let the University start, and let me enjoy, one more time, this unique and magical moment!

Rentrée

Last Monday, September 1st, was not only the start of a new month, but also the end of the summer break, and the return back to school and work of many people all around Europe, and also in Belgium. It happened exactly the same to the European Union institutions: there was a special European Summit of Heads of State and Heads of Government to discuss the situation in Georgia (without any concrete results), and the European Parliament held, for the first time ever, a session in Brussels. So, in a way, it was a historical week (and in the other, it wasn't). I also went back to my jogging sessions, which, somehow, can also be seen as a historical event... my body hurt for two days, but now I feel fine and plan to keep running as regularly as possible. The work in the European Youth Forum also went back to cruising speed, and this weekend the Bureau met and started the preparations for the General Assembly in November. This means that several friends were in town, but also that soon the electoral campaign will start, new leaders will be elected, and a cycle will come to its end. The same thing will happen in the USA, where the two political parties held their conventions, confirmed their candidates and launched their campaigns. Here and there, everyone is talking about change; and it makes sense, because we all need change. At least from time to time. So, November will be time for changes, both at the European Youth Forum, and in the USA. And if everything goes well, I will be experiencing both. That roadtrip to the Grand Canyon might be just around the corner! And it was about time! For now, it will be Spain: first Madrid, and then Mollina. Paco's: here we come again!