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Campaigning at Universidade do Minho was different. I am from Braga and I studied here — Management Engineering and Information Systems, back then. Standing in the middle of an academic Wednesday talking about BananaSplit was not just another place. It was home.

We know the city, the university and the bars. So we picked Tuesday and Wednesday, 15 and 16 September: the day it warms up, and the day the whole student side of Braga is out on the street.

Tuesday, above the Gota

We started in the afternoon on the open ground above the Gota, where a lot of the praxe hazing happens. There was a constant flow of people going up and down. We set up there and the spot did the rest: people stopped, came over, asked what this was.

We talked about BananaSplit and handed out drinks. The drink opens the conversation. What stays is the person who wants to understand how the app works, talks about their experience with rival apps, and leaves ideas and feedback.

People did anything for a drink. Talking above the Gota, coolers within reach. End of the first afternoon.

A special thank you to the Management crowd. They were there with support, tips and backup.

At night we still went to the bar area. Everything was quiet. People were saving themselves for the next day.

Academic Wednesday and Caloiro de Molho

The next day was academic Wednesday and the Caloiro de Molho party, run by AAUM, at the Rodovia pools: an afternoon of activities, praxe and noise.

The pools are close to the university. On the way you cross the Rodovia park. We went in the late afternoon and stayed on the route the students walk.

Leo with the sign, in the Rodovia park. On the way from the pools to the university.

The weather did not help. It was windy and getting cold. Even so we caught lively groups, swapped a few ideas, and kept pointing towards the night.

About an hour later, with a lighter cooler, we went for dinner. We wanted to reach the UM bars early.

Night at the Carpe

At 9.20pm we were buying ice at the Lidl in Lamaçães. Less than half an hour later the campaign was on the ground.

We settled near the Carpe, on a crossing point between the inside and Rua Nova de Santa Cruz, the street that ends at the university. It started slowly. Every minute the density went up.

At the UM bars. The street, full. Nuno with the sign. Leo and me running the coolers.

The offer was simple: who turns down a drink on an academic Wednesday? But what really interests us is the person who stops to get to know BananaSplit.

The night filling up around the Carpe. Cold drinks. Packed streets.

There are always people like that. And there is always someone who feels for us because we go out on the street to meet people.

Coming home, with friends

Being in Braga was special. Thank you to everyone who stopped, asked and stayed to talk.

Thank you to Ana, Drumz and Nuno for showing up, rolling up their sleeves and making this campaign what it was.

Talking to the first-years from LEI. Ana and Henrique.

BananaSplit is not just Leo and me. It is this too: friends, coolers at the Carpe, and an academic Wednesday in the city I was born in.

We hope to come back.