by Montse Sánchez-Oro Pérez, Spain
Travel
to different countries gives us the possibility to learn new things,
which makes us grow up as a person and as a group. It allows us
to meet people living with the same problems and situations as
we are.
From my point of view, representing Spain at the international meeting
of young people with rheumatism held in Berlin on July 98, was a great
chance for me.
I would like to comment on the activities we developed during the
week. Every day there was a main theme:
- Sunday 5th July; Me and arthritis.
-
Monday
6th July; Me and my life.
-
Tuesday
7th; Us and IOYR.
- Thursday
9th; Me and the others.
- Friday
10th; Me and work.
We didn’t wake up really early in the morning, had breakfast around
9:30 and met at the Auditorium, where an introduction on the theme of
the day was given. During each morning we had talks from doctors and
experiences about our own lives reported from Holland, Denmark, Germany
and Spain. It was interesting to see a person confronting his fears
and speaking to a lot of people about his life and daily problems.
Lunch was around 12:00 and in the afternoons we had discussions about
practical aspects and adaptations (for daily use). We also had team
workshops on education, profession, transport, living, social surrounding
and holidays. In each group everyone told each other about the situation
in their country; in the discussions I understood that Spain has a long
way to go.
We also had creative exercises in the afternoons directed by Pablo Ruiz,
so we had to walk in the room or dance, etc. In the beginning I was
a little bit shy but soon it disappeared and I enjoyed every day.
The dinner was around 5:30, and we went to the Auditorium again for
a short summary and conclusions about the day. After that, there were
different kinds of activities like theatre, a barbecue, prét a porter
or a little party.
One of the most important things we did on Tuesday, was the election
of a new Board made up of Lucinda Blauw (Holland), Catherine Gibb (United
Kingdom), Georg Hodnefjell (Norway), Dorte Rřnsler (Denmark), Elena
García (Spain), Anna Talaska (Poland) and Vilma Bandzeviciute (Lithuania).
Also on Tuesday we began the Partnership project for those countries
that were interested. This project will bring us the possibility to
help and to be helped by people in other places with new ideas and more
experiences in the same way.
The feelings that I experienced in that week taught me so much about
my life. I think all the new ideas and perspectives that this meeting
offers us are a great thing for my country.Published in Newsletter
no. 3, July/August 1999
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