The Incontro Culturale Erasmus (ICE) in Rome is an annual event by ESN which celebrates cultural diversity and European integration. This year’s 16th edition happened from 8th to 10th November. 1,300 Erasmus students from across Italy participated in activities like guided city tours, a nighttime museum visit, a flag parade, a themed disco night, and social events promoting cultural exchange and unity. Supported by organizations like the European Parliament and local authorities, the event underscores ESN's mission to foster a shared European identity and cultural understanding.
20 of us went to ICE, guided by volunteers Ami and Ludovica, while our treasurer Nicola was part of the organising committee. We asked some of them a couple of questions to have an insight of the event.
Among the activities offered during the cultural meeting, which was your favourite? Why?
Yara (Germany): From the cultural things probably the night at the museum, because it was a cool experience to have a museum for ourselves at night.
Martha (Ireland): Capitoline museum—unique night tour and really interesting towards my studies and meeting new people.
Justine (France): The visit to the Vatican Museums because it is one of the most beautiful places in Rome and it has extraordinary pieces of art!
What is the most beautiful memory you will take with you from this event?
Martina (ESN Udine president): The flag parade and getting to share this experience with our erasmus students.
Yara (Germany): The trip as a whole, exploring Rome with friends, having lots of time together.
Martha (Ireland): Getting closer to people, exploring the city with friends and seeing the Colosseum at night.
Justine (France): The best memory I’ll keep is the flag parade, singing all together in the streets of Rome was very beautiful.
How do you think this cultural meeting enriched your Erasmus experience?
Dora (France): Well, ICE was an unforgettable event for both the visits and the festive events. We visited some of the most beautiful places in the city, met a lot of people and were able to make friends from many parts of the world, saw beautiful works of art (and walked a lot). For me, going to Rome was already enriching itself, but being able to do all these things was just brilliant!
What were the biggest challenges in organizing the trip to the cultural meeting?
Ami (section responsible): Thanks for your questions! The biggest challenge for me was trying to include as many people as possible, keeping the fee low while providing an enjoyable trip. Having to adapt to the schedule that was provided to us meant we sometimes had to walk more than we would have liked to so our priority was to leave as much choice as possible to participants. Unfortunately that hasn't been possible all the time and it has not been well received for which I apologize.
If you had to describe the ICE in one word or phrase, what would it be?
Dora (France): I would describe ICE as an incredible experience where you learn a lot, walk, party, and sleep very little.
Martina (ESN Udine president): one of the best ESN events so far!!
Ami (section responsible): I'll answer with a bit of a cliché but it really was a recurring theme of my experience there and that is "beauty", be it past beauty with Rome's statues and ruins, be it present with the food and the rich program or future beauty for the people I've met and hope to see again.
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