Friends in a Cold Climate: Schiedam-2b

NB This is the second of two interviews with Connie Eggink. Due to GDPR considerations the interview and accompanying visual materials are not open to public review. In 1970, Connie Eggink led a Schiedam exchange program starting in Esslingen, Germany. Esslingen played a significant role in organizing the exchange, which involved three other cities: Schiedam, Norrköping, and for the first time, Velenje from Yugoslavia. Otto Weinmann, a key figure in the Stadtjungendring, was instrumental in involving Velenje and promoting the European idea. The Velenje group stood out for being older and carefully selected to represent their country during the Tito era. Despite language barriers, the Yugoslavian group was intriguing for the other participants. The exchange garnered attention from South German Radio, which conducted interviews discussing perspectives on European unity. In 1971, Connie's group traveled to Norrkoping, Sweden. They were invited to visit the Swedish Air Force, which was proud of its military equipment, showcasing their newly acquired F-13 aircraft. Connie was impressed by the presence of many women in the military, reflecting a more advanced state of gender equality compared to the Netherlands at the time. Concerns about the Iron Curtain were prevalent, with a collective desire to prevent intrusion from communist nations. The group expressed relief that countries behind the Iron Curtain were capable of defending themselves, though there was a reluctance for NATO involvement. Annually, a meeting convened in Esslingen where administrators from various regions gathered to arrange exchange programs, ensuring simultaneous involvement of three groups from three countries. Photographs from these meetings captured the stark contrast between Dutch representatives, characterized by their casual appearance with beards and long hair, and officials from France, Germany, Italy, and Sweden, who appeared more formal and well-groomed. These meetings involved decision-makers such as administrators, councilors, and mayors, who were keen on their cities participating. Despite diverse backgrounds, they shared a commitment to promoting peace, driven by their experiences of war and a determination to prevent its recurrence, marking the ethos of their generation. Connie was 18 or 19 when she joined the community. “You have grand ideas at that age. I've always been interested in languages; I found foreign languages fascinating at school. I've always tried to learn as many different languages as possible because it helps you understand other cultures and people.” Later on, she traveled extensively as a backpacker through South America, North Africa, and Africa to meet people and understand why they do what they do. She also pursued studies in psychology to seek understanding for what motivates people, why they act the way they do, why they stand opposed to each other instead of alongside. She had the idea for many years that youth exchanges did have an effect lasting 10 or 20 years. However, Connie thinks society has changed and that not much remains of what was created back then. She thinks the generations who are in their thirties now are not very concerned with this kind of thing anymore. (Project Friends in a Cold Climate 2023)请注意：本文为对康妮·埃金克（Connie Eggink）的两场访谈中的第二篇。鉴于《通用数据保护条例》（General Data Protection Regulation，GDPR）的相关规定，本次访谈及配套视觉素材暂不对外开放。1970年，康妮·埃金克牵头启动了以德国埃斯林根（Esslingen）为起点的斯希丹（Schiedam）交流项目。埃斯林根在本次交流活动的统筹组织中发挥了核心作用，此次交流涉及另外三座城市：斯希丹、瑞典北雪平（Norrköping），以及首次参与交流的南斯拉夫境内的韦莱涅（Velenje）。城市青年联盟（Stadtjungendring）的核心人物奥托·魏因曼（Otto Weinmann）在邀请韦莱涅参与及推广欧洲理念方面发挥了重要作用。韦莱涅代表团的成员年龄相对偏大，且经严格筛选，代表铁托执政时期的南斯拉夫。尽管存在语言壁垒，南斯拉夫代表团仍令其他参与方倍感关注。本次交流活动受到南德意志广播电台（South German Radio）的关注，该台对参与者进行了访谈，探讨了他们对欧洲统一的见解。 1971年，康妮带领代表团前往瑞典北雪平。他们受邀参观了瑞典空军，彼时瑞典空军正以其新列装的F-13战机为荣，并向代表团进行了展示。康妮对军中服役的大量女性官兵印象深刻，这反映出当时瑞典的性别平等水平相较荷兰更为先进。当时“铁幕（Iron Curtain）”的阴影笼罩欧洲，各方普遍担忧共产主义阵营的渗透扩张，同时集体希望阻止此类行为。代表团成员们对铁幕另一侧的国家能够自主防卫感到些许宽慰，但同时也不愿北大西洋公约组织（North Atlantic Treaty Organization，NATO）介入此事。 埃斯林根每年都会举办一次协调交流会，来自各地区的行政管理人员齐聚一堂，统筹协调交流项目的各项事宜，确保来自三个国家的三支代表团同步参与交流。留存的参会照片呈现出极具反差的一幕：荷兰代表大多留着胡须与长发，着装随性不羁；而法、德、意及瑞典的官员则着装规整、仪容得体。此类协调交流会的参与者涵盖行政管理人员、议员与市长等决策者，他们均积极推动所在城市参与交流活动。尽管各方背景迥异，但他们均怀揣着对和平的共同向往——这份向往源于他们的战争亲历，以及杜绝战争重演的坚定决心，这亦是那一代人的精神底色。 康妮加入该青年交流社区时，年仅18或19岁。“在那个年纪，人们总会怀揣着宏大的理想。我自幼便对语言抱有浓厚兴趣，在校期间就深感外语极具魅力。我始终尽力学习更多语种，因为这有助于你理解不同的文化与人群。”此后，她以背包客的身份游历南美、北非与非洲各地，亲身体验当地风土人情，探寻人们行为背后的动因。她还攻读了心理学专业，以期深入洞悉人类行为的动机，探究人们为何会彼此对立，而非携手共进。多年来她始终坚信，青年交流项目的影响可持续10至20年之久。然而康妮认为，社会已然变迁，当年所缔造的交流成果如今已所剩无几。她认为，如今正值三十余岁的这一代人，已不再对这类活动抱有过多热情。（《寒冷气候中的挚友项目》（Project Friends in a Cold Climate），2023）