Friends in a Cold Climate: Schiedam-2a

Connie Eggink began working for the Stichting Schiedamse Gemeenschap (Foundation Schiedam Community) and the VVV Tourist Information Office, as they were combined. She was around the age of 19 and had to be knowledgeable about various cultural groups, including music, theater, literature, primarily focused on amateur arts. The Schiedam community was tasked with managing youth exchange programs, supported by the municipality. The community published a periodical that documented these activities. The first time Connie had to organize a youth exchange program, there was a group coming from the three foreign countries that needed to be provided with a cultural program. Over time, Connie attended several meetings in Esslingen, where Otto Weinmann was a driving force. He was likely the director there and was very passionate about European ideals and the European thought. His enthusiasm inspired all involved. Participants in the program were required to stay with a host family for two weeks, followed by another two weeks hosting the participant from the other country. During the day, there was a cultural program, while evenings often featured disco nights, facilitating a different form of bonding. Being together for four weeks, including meals with participants parents, led sometimes to discussions about WWII. Connie’s parents had anti-German sentiments due to their experiences during The war. However, through the exchange program, they recognized its importance in preventing a recurrence of such events and became supportive. Despite these serious discussions, participants also formed romantic relationships during the program. In Velenje during the Tito era, Connie experienced a different culture with language barriers and dictatorial restrictions. Despite feeling a sense of freedom as foreigners, the locals perceived many restrictions as normal. The leader of the first group, a journalist, was involved in a mysterious car accident the following year, reflecting a potentially precarious environment. Connie initially admired WWII resistance as a young girl, but began questioning her own bravery when she became responsible for children. While not inclined towards large demonstrations, she advocates defending democracy to prevent history from repeating itself. Connie finds the current disregard for democratic principles unsettling and fear the consequences of such complacency. (Project Friends in a Cold Climate 2023)

康妮·埃金克（Connie Eggink）曾就职于合并运作的斯希丹社区基金会（Stichting Schiedamse Gemeenschap）与VVV游客信息中心（VVV Tourist Information Office），当时她年约19岁，需通晓涵盖音乐、戏剧、文学的各类文化群体相关事务，核心聚焦于业余艺术领域。斯希丹社区受市政当局支持，负责运营青年交流项目，并出版了记录相关活动的期刊。康妮首次组织青年交流项目时，有来自三个外国的交流团体需要为其规划配套文化活动。此后康妮多次参加在埃斯林根举办的会议，奥托·魏曼（Otto Weinmann）是当地的核心推动者，他当时应担任该机构负责人，对欧洲理念与欧洲思想抱有极高热忱，其热情感染了所有参与人员。项目参与者需入住接待家庭两周，随后需用两周时间接待来自他国的交流参与者。日间安排文化体验活动，晚间则多举办迪斯科之夜，以此搭建不同形式的情感联结纽带。为期四周的共处时光，包括与交流参与者的父母共同用餐的场景，有时会引发关于第二次世界大战（World War II，简称WWII）的讨论。康妮的父母因战争经历对德国抱有抵触情绪，但通过该交流项目，他们认识到其对防止此类灾难重演的重要意义，转而给予支持。尽管存在这类严肃的讨论，参与者们仍在项目期间发展出了恋爱关系。在铁托时代的韦莱涅，康妮体验了截然不同的文化环境，面临语言障碍与独裁管制。尽管作为外籍人士她感受到了某种程度的自由，但当地人却将诸多限制视为常态。首个交流团的领队为一名记者，次年卷入一场神秘车祸，这反映出当时环境的潜在不稳定性。康妮年轻时曾钦佩二战抵抗运动，但在承担起照看儿童的责任后，她开始质疑自身的勇气。她虽不倾向于参与大规模游行示威，但主张捍卫民主以避免历史重演。康妮认为当下社会对民主原则的漠视令人不安，并担忧这种自满情绪可能引发的后果。（《寒境中的友人》（Project Friends in a Cold Climate）2023）