IOYR - Meeting of Young Rheumatics in Norway by Romana Lukasova

This meeting took place at a very beautiful spot, in Haraldvangen, about one hour drive from Oslo. The site is situated by the lake surrounded by trees, it is a place where people rest during their holidays.

I was rather worried before I started for the congress, because I knew I was the only delegate from the Czech Republic. But the numerous worries stopped haunting me right at the beginning. I tested my language abilities and began to feel they are non-existent. None of us had an interpreter and so English became our common language during the week. Ingrid and Danka, two nice girls from Slovakia, had traveled with me from Prague. We shared one of the wooden little houses. Our house was somewhat unique, because its inhabitants were of several nationalities. Its temporary dwellers came from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Norway and Slovenia. To be more precise, the cottage next to us was shared by Norwegian called Rystein and 2 Thomases from Slovenia. I stayed with Ingrid and Danka.

The program literarily bulged. The lectures, resulting in common discussions and debates started usually at 9.30 am and continued until afternoon hours. 59 delegates from 22 states came to the congress as well as many assistants and helpers whose business was to take care of us.

The main motto or idea of the meeting were the words “your power” or “power in you”. I must say that the idea never left us throughout the whole week. From the very first days we formed boards and each of us had a chance to present the country he or she lived in. Naturally, there were many opportunities like these. One of them was an international evening party. I was a little worried and rather nervous about the evening. I wished to represent my country well. Our dining room looked completely different from usual. There were various objects on the tables, souvenirs, food, etc., all of which represented the participating countries. The attention focused on those wearing various folk costumes, suits, and dresses. I regarded all of them with enthusiasm and watched how each of them, according to his or her potentiality and abilities, tried to present the customs and life of places they came from. Some of them were dancing, singing, played cassettes.
I had prepared a cassette with pictures depicting South Bohemia and photos from the EULAR congress which was organized this past June in Prague. I had a speech accompanying the presentation of the photos as well. Then I sang a folk song. I was circling among the people, stroking or touching them while singing. I kept telling myself: “You do not understand quite everything, sometimes you do not get what they want to say to you, so open up to them. Show them you are close to them”. My feelings did not betray me. However, it was a load of my heart when it ended and I was sort of glad when this extraordinary evening was over. I think I was not the only one to feel this way.

It was very pleasant that most of the lectures were given by the diseased people. Young people, who have the same health problem as you and I. Who address the issues of inner barriers, ask themselves how to approach someone of an opposite sex, do not know how to talk about his or her disease to other people, who are often unhappy because members of their own family do not understand them, and most important, who every and each day of their lives face the question: how should I live with my disease?.

We tried to solve various issues: “Can I start a family with my disease? Can I have a baby? Can I fall in love? What medicaments can I take during my pregnancy? Should I talk about my disease to my boss?

Of course, some lectures were given by doctors and people working in various rheumatology centers in Norway. I found it good that each lecture was given by a different individual. The course of the lectures and the way of the debates and discussions were everything but boring, although I did not understand everything and had to ask Danka and Ingrid.

What else to say? How do I feel about this meeting? I must say that Norway is a beautiful country. The way I saw it, from high above, all trees and lakes. Amenity without haste or stress. Such was my feeling while I was dealing with the individual organizers of the congress. My gratitude belongs to all who worked for the congress. Some of us may have experienced moments they may never again experience. Moments when we had the opportunity to ride horses, sail, aquaplane on the lake, when we spent a nice evening in an Indian tent listening to legends about dwarfs, trying traditional Norwegian food.

I spent unforgettable moments in Oslo, when during our visit of the town we went on its fjords in an ancient Viking boat. Everything perfectly organized, each problem solved before it could as much as take shape.

I would like to express my gratitude for the time when we stood in a circle, holding each others hands and talking about our feelings and impressions of this meeting, surrounded by a strange silence and day eclipse. It was a very special moment.

I want to say to all of you: the inner strength is within us. Sometimes we do not even realize. “I dare say so and I acknowledge the words I heard in Norway: People with rheumatism are very strong, because each day they have to fight their pain.

A lot of strength to all of you,

More articles about the IYC 2001:

Articles from Newsletter no. 7 - August 2001

Other articles:

At my first IYC, by Halla Hrund Himarsdóttir, Iceland
Youth rheumatics breaking barriers in Norway, by Lars Espen Rath Vestad, Norway
More to come - if you have any articles please mail them to postmaster@ioyr.org.

More about IYC 2001