Commotie

1. Who are you?

Where do I start? My name is Niki Akrop… emm wait no Georgopoulos (blame Bo) and I am a 21 year old from Luxembourg. My father is from Greece, hence the name.

2. What do you do?

Well I write, read, listen to way too much Drum&Bass, procrastinate, party, study, walk around parks, cook pasta, complain about my neighbours, make people laugh and feel awkward at the same time, drive, bike and am currently trying to fix an old bike. (Non-exhaustive list)

3. Why are you a member of Commotie?

It’s a great opportunity to get to know people in CIS from any year and nationality. When I look back to my time in Groningen I wanted something to remember and being a member of Commotie is something I can be a proud of.

4. Are you an active member as well?

GO ACTIVICEE. Yes and I enjoy the fact that I can have a bit of influence and accomplish things alongside my friends. Last year I was locked in but this academic year allowed me to really expand my horizon. 

5. How do your friends call you?

Well Niki is usually quite universal. It’s my last name where people get really creative and always have their own original version. If I got a cent from every time someone mispronounced my last name, I could live in the centre of Groningen.

6. To which animal do you relate the most?

Someone said that I look like a Giraffe due to my long neck (he had no friends). But other than that, a cat obviously because sleep is a great thing and they don’t have to worry about rising energy costs.

7. Which activity of Commotie is most memorable?

I believe most activities have one or more memorable moments. For example: Juan at the active member’s weekend. ActiviCee’s first event, the drunken race. Learning how to insult people during the language cafe. The crown probably goes to the 80’s party in October since it was the first time we could gather in a large crowd. It was pure bliss and I really felt in the moment just dancing the night away and feeling sick later.

8. What are you most proud of?

I know I am cheesy, but I DON'T CARE. The moments. Quaint alley ways, amidst a dense sweaty club, amongst friends on someone’s old couch, meeting friends randomly whilst shopping, seeing the sunset and dancing to Stromae on a weird hill, watching my friends hockey game, the times we chatted after class, studying hard in the library, cycling through the center, the reflection of the sun on the water in Noorderplantsoen, spring, sunbathing in front of the Harmonie building, working on my rusty bike, I can go on forever.

9. What is your favorite spot in Groningen?

Depends. I would say the park due to its blinding beauty. Then again, the bars are pretty good too. For me it's more about the people really, any place is just another area, it's the people that bring life to it.

10. What did you want to be when growing up?

Race Car driver obviously. Cars always played a big role in my life and growing up there was nothing cooler than speed and loud noises. However, the closest I ever came was on the Playstation.

11. What is your favourite way of spending your free time?

Free time can be very boring. It’s like a waiting room where you procrastinate until stuff happens again. Conversely Free time can also be the most peaceful place. I enjoy spending time alone listening to music just as much as I like a social gathering. That time I usually would be watching stuff online or trying to refine my carbonara. Literally whatever comes to mind during that exact moment. 

12. What ability do you really want to have?

A super memory that can literally remember everything people told me. Especially when it is important dates, names or people’s birthdays.

13. What is your biggest guilty pleasure?

BBQ sauce.

14. What don’t you like?

Since I don’t want to bore you to death and we all still have things to do today I will keep it short. One: Bureaucracy Two: Condescending people Three: Bad service. Descending order.

15. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Is this a job interview? Well my passionate side says hopefully happy. My rational side says hopefully independent. If in 5 years I can write and keep my hobbies on the side, I will be quite happy.

16. Which Commotie member would you vote for to become president?

Tricky. Nat comes to mind due to her impeccable style and she would guarantee there will be only the finest of fine dining experiences in her territory. 

17. Which two members of Commotie should go on a date?

Ok I don’t know who, but I know what. Imagine this. Your newly found crush hits you up late afternoon. Emojis start flying left and right. The late afternoon sun shines through your window and they hit with the “u wanna come over”. Fully excited you get your keys, jacket and stumble down the stairs. After a sweaty walk you arrive in front of their apartment. It’s 19:32 and you realize you forgot the corkscrew for the bottle you promised. They open the door and the fragrant smell of dinner hits your nose. You sit down and you take out your bottle. You awkwardly tell them you have no way of opening it. They hop into the kitchen and come back with a silver corkscrew. Their faces filled with confidence and yours with gratitude. You eat the best food of all time and just talk until 1 in the morning. You just can’t get enough of them but tiredness overwhelms you. I’ll let you finish the story.

18. To whom do you want to pass the keyboard and why?

Well well well, here we are at the end. I thank everyone who has made it this far (it takes nerves I know). I also would like to thank Bo Bennen for nominating me as her successor. I nominate the one and only, best Swedish person that I ever met, Wilma! Good luck!