Galder Aguinaga

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself – who are you, where do you come from and what are your hobbies?
I’m Galder Aguinaga, from Bilbao. I’m 24 and currently study telecom engineering, though mathematics has always been my thing and I plan to switch careers in the future if I’ve a realistic chance and the time is right. As a child I was rather outgoing and cheerful, read from an early age and went on to become a huge bookworm, mostly hero adventures, the neverending story for instance, hobby number one. Speaking and walking weren’t my favourite things in the world, because I soon discovered pointing at things, mostly food, which I ate nonstop (I was huge back then) and mumbling “uuu” as in “I want, give me” or getting my parents to carry me around was easier, and fundamentally I was quite lazy (you may ask Kim, since I promised to write all of this yesterday).

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​As a kid, the next big thing for me was hiking, which was excellent for someone who had suffered from asthma but was now pretty much cured, and I was damn good at it. My parents and I picked a different place to hike every weekend. Hiking is a popular activity in Biscay due its geography, mainly the mountain ranges. I adored my grandpa who got to go around the world as a captain in the merchant navy and would tell me stories about this place or the other. He was a really well-travelled person and brought back many things from abroad, which kickstarted my desire to collect items, same as he did. It was him who introduced me to mathematics as well, and to this day I’ve yet to meet a more gentle man. I do miss him dearly. 
I’ve always been rather competitive, and I mean it in a positive way. Since the age of 5 I loved playstation and as I got older I took an interest in board games and would play casual chess with friends, as well as strategy games and wargames when I got older and computers started to be more common, but I gradually lost interested and I don’t anymore, except for chess and a game or two on my computer now and then. A few years ago I picked up sports, which I had always neglected in my childhood and teen years and they have become a hobby of mine I very much enjoy. Nowadays I teach mathematics and try to learn on my own. History is another hobby of mine.      

How/why did you discover AEGEE?
Aegee Bilbao sent an email to the engineering school students speaking about the summer university experience and it caught my attention.

Can you sketch your AEGEE-career for us? What was your ultimate highlight within your time in AEGEE?
It’s been very brief, 7 months since I attended my first summer university in Leiden first, then Aachen and Dresden. I went to Tenerife last year before Christmas for a European Event and I’ve done a few things with my local Aegee but not much. I’ve applied for the agora this year so that would be my first serious Aegee experience. Highlight may not be the right word but I enjoyed showing Aegee Delft around Bilbao when they very kindly came to visit us earlier this month. I think that’s what Aegee should be about.

Are there any specific plans or goals (within AEGEE) you strive towards?
Sure, I’d like to give back! So far I’ve had a great time in Aegee and I appreciate the work others have put in to make it happen, now it’s my turn to do so. Come over to Bilbao anytime soon.  

Do you have a message for the members of AEGEE-Leiden?
You guys rock! Hope to see you all sooner than later to meet the rest and greet back the organizers. Do not change one bit.