written by Leposava Ristić
Some moments in life arrive quietly, without planning or expectation, and yet stay with us forever. One such moment for me was the celebration of a very special jubilee birthday-the kind where numbers are best left to the imagination-marked in a truly memorable way during a gala dinner in Seville, surrounded by colleagues and friends at the joint meeting of all teams concluding the Twinning project SUNRISE.
The evening itself was already exceptional. Seville, with its warmth, history, and unmistakable charm, provided a perfect backdrop for our final gathering. After years of collaboration, shared challenges, and collective achievements within the SUNRISE project, this dinner felt like a celebration not only of successful cooperation, but also of the human connections that had grown naturally along the way.
What made the evening unforgettable, however, was the people. Every guest was incredibly thoughtful, kind, and attentive, creating an atmosphere filled with genuine warmth. I felt deeply touched by the care and affection that surrounded me-something that cannot be planned or staged, but only sincerely felt.
The most beautiful surprise was prepared by my younger colleagues. Those who traveled with me to Seville secretly arranged a lovely birthday cake, while colleagues from the faculty surprised me with a carefully chosen gift delivered by a “courier.” The most touching of all was a video greeting, featuring warm and humorous messages recorded during the simultaneous PhD celebration of a dear colleague in Belgrade. In this way, academic achievement, friendship, and shared joy were beautifully brought together across borders and generations. Seeing familiar faces and heartfelt messages appear on the screen at that moment was truly moving.
Wanting to give something back, I responded in the most natural way-by recording a video message from the dinner in Seville, with the participation of all team members present. It was spontaneous, joyful, and sincere, capturing the spirit of togetherness that defined not only that evening, but the entire SUNRISE journey.
Beyond the photos and videos, what will remain most vividly is the memory written in the heart. This spontaneous, warm, and delightfully unexpected celebration reminded me that professional projects can become something much more-that they can grow into communities, friendships, and shared stories that transcend formal collaboration.
Marking a jubilee birthday in such a setting was not just a personal milestone. It was a beautiful reminder of how meaningful human connections make every achievement brighter, and how gratitude, kindness, and a touch of surprise can turn an ordinary evening into a lifelong memory.