The day begins with a visit to the merchandising stand. I finally manage to discuss the conditions for the sale in peace and quiet. The organisation here is really impressive, and the atmosphere among the visitors makes it a special place to spend time in.
The final rehearsal for today’s Trash Evening is scheduled for 10.00 a.m. – this time directly at the venue, in the large hall. We spontaneously decided yesterday to swap the roles of Brad and Janet so that everything harmonises better. The rehearsal runs surprisingly smoothly and without any major problems, a clear improvement on the chaotic beginnings.
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Of course, silent observers sometimes see it differently, but hey – they have no idea how much work and how many laughs are behind the scenes! Besides, it’s a trash evening! Perfection would be out of place here.
After the rehearsal, the show continues with water games and first aid training on the central lawn. For us outside listeners, the whole thing turns into an amusing scene: a German WIMA explains to the Romanian Red Cross staff with impressive determination how first aid measures should be carried out – regardless of national differences, of course. A small intercultural moment that makes us all smile.
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Back at the merchandising stand, I’m busy until around 15:00. The time flies by as there are numerous interested parties. Other WIMAs are on their way to Turda to cool off in the salt mine and ask for forgiveness for our sins (of this evening) in a church along the way. Hopefully successfully.
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In the afternoon, I take part in the informal meeting of national presidents. We warmly welcome newcomers to the group and discuss current topics. It is always inspiring to get together with these impressive women and exchange ideas.
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After the meeting, we head back to the merchandising stand before dinner at 19:00. Immediately afterwards, things get serious: we get ready for tonight’s performance in the dressing room and with make-up. A tattoo is also a must for the sake of completeness. In the end, we are ready as a garish, frightening troupe with – let’s say – original clothing and extravagant wigs.
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Now it’s time to wait. We are number six in the programme, behind the entries from Finland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Liechtenstein and Lithuania. The performances in front of us are consistently strong, and the tension increases with every performance. But our colourful costumes alone are enough to attract the attention of the audience – our WIMAs scattered around the rows of seats are already creating a great atmosphere.
Then the time has come: our performance begins. As soon as we take to the stage, the audience is in full swing. They sing along, clap their hands and laugh. The enthusiasm is overwhelming, and at the end we receive thunderous applause and even a standing ovation. It is an incredible feeling that we as a team will not soon forget. Once again, a huge thank you to everyone who took part – you were fantastic!
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After the performance, we head straight to the disco, where we work off the adrenaline rush of the last few hours in an exuberant atmosphere. We dance the night away until 2 a.m. before finally heading back to the tent.
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The fresh night air is a marked contrast to the heat of the day. It’s getting cool, very cool – the kind of cold that makes you crawl into your sleeping bag and just relax after a long day.