Soon the Agora Salerno stage will be full of candidates who want your vote! For sure you have read all about their programmes in the official booklet, so now you want to find out more about them, their hobbies, whether they can cook and which AEGEE member they would take with them on a deserted island. In short: classic first date questions from the Internet! The GT will take you on a date with the candidates. In this edition: Joan Sánchez Francisco from AEGEE-Castelló, running for Member of Network Commission. Get ready, your date is starting now!

Golden Times: Are you afraid of your candidature speech on the Agora stage? And how will you prepare for it?
Joan Sánchez Francisco: I am not afraid because I have the wonderful Alejandra Piot, who will present my candidature.

GT: Where would you be now if you hadn’t joined AEGEE?
Joan: For sure, crying and eating vegan ice cream.

GT: How did you join AEGEE exactly? How did you find out about it?
Joan: I went to a talk at my university about the Summer University and I got in love with AEGEE.

GT: How long did it take you from the first moment you heard about it until you signed the membership form and joined AEGEE?
Joan: I think three hours.

GT: What’s the typical drink and food you bring to European Nights?
Joan: I bring Cassalla, a typical drink from the Valencian community.

GT: At an AEGEE party where will we find you? On the dancefloor? Talking at the bar?
Joan: If you put alternative music for sure dancing, if not then I am always at the bar.

GT: What was your first position in the local board?
Joan: IT.

GT: What was your favourite event as organiser – and why is it your favourite?
Joan: “Feel the Gaiata Spirit”, that is one in the typical festivities in Castelló, because since that moment I haven’t lived the real gaiata spirit.

GT: Have you ever hichhiked to an AEGEE event? If yes, what’s your favourite hitchhiking story?
Joan: I really want to do it but not yet, maybe to Agora Yerevan? It is only 5052 kilometres…

GT: There is a classic typology of AEGEE members, dividing them according to the three aspects fun member, career member and idealist – to which percentage are you which of these aspects?
Joan: I think I have a lot of all but mostly I am an idealist.

Young Joan

GT: What do your parents think about the idea that you are so active in AEGEE?
Joan: My parents don’t ask me anymore how I am, they only ask me where I am.

GT: What other hobbies do you have aside from AEGEE?
Joan: I love playing videogames.

GT: What TV series do you keep coming back to and re-watching?
Joan: “Doctor Who”, “The man in the High Castle, “The Expanse”… I don’t know, I really love political series.

GT: What are some obscure things that you are or were really into?
Joan (laughing): The most obscure was a cave!

GT: What’s your favourite app on your phone?
Joan: Adventure Communist, It’s a lovely game!

GT: What nickname do or did you have – and why?
Joan: “TheLegendOfVaati”, it is inspired by “The Legend of Zelda” and Vaati, who is the enemy in “The Legend Of Zelda: The Minish Cap”.

GT: What’s never missing in your fridge?
Joan: Hummus, guacamole and orxata.

Sleepy Joan

GT: Did you consider joining a political party or maybe want to do it later?
Joan: This is a hard question, I have really strong political ideas and I want to fight for my ideas so maybe yes or maybe not, but if yes I am sure which will be my party.

GT: What do you study – and why?
Joan: I study videogames because I want to transform my hobby into my job.

GT: What’s your dream job?
Joan: Programmer.

GT: What’s the favourite city or place on this planet you ever visited?
Joan: My favourite city is Barcelona but the landscapes of Galiza are my favourite in general.

GT: And where would you really like to go?
Joan: I really want to go to Japan, Iceland and Ireland.

GT: This Agora is about walls – what was the most difficult wall you had to overcome?
Joan: The moment that I see that the world is not that beautiful place that you thought when you were a child.

GT: What’s your biggest frustration in AEGEE?
Joan: I can’t attend all events.

GT: Please complete the sentence: “AEGEE is for me…”
Joan: AEGEE for me is a family.

GT: How would you describe yourself in a few keywords?
Joan: Crazy, random and fighter.