Virtual Meeting Eger – 5 May 2021

The final student exchange program of our project had to be organised virtually because of the restrictions implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The meeting was organised at 16:00 Central European Time on 5th May 2021 using Microsoft Teams. The link to the meeting was posted on the project blog.

The program of the meeting

Welcome by Ms Éva Rozmán, principal of Andrássy György Catholic Business Academy
Description of the Virtual Mobility by Mr Norbert Schmidt
Presentation of Andrássy György Catholic Business Academy by a student
Watching the videos created by international student groups about Hungarian World Heritage Sites
Online voting on the videos with Ms Vera Tóth
Intermission: Hungarian music
Kahoot! on the meeting
Results of the Virtual Meeting tasks with Mr Norbert Schmidt
Final words by the representatives of the partner schools
End

After the meeting, the participating teachers and students filled in a short evaluation form.

Poland – February the 11th-13th 2020

Poland showed us what it has to offer on this short mobility to Liceum Ogólnokształcące in February 2020. Gdansk with its contrasts – old buildings and new industry – was fascinating. The mighty castle in Malbork with its own world, like a giant in the old sand dune landscape. It was great to finally get to visit our friends in Poland.

The greatest thing was to get to know the people better. The first day at school was a true experience. It was a pleasure to watch students gather together in international groups and work on different tasks. It was a mind opening activity, this first morning to see how well the students cooperated and had fun. Gave a good hope for the next few days.

And of course the farewell dinner came too soon. Again new bonds were made and some got stronger. This is what makes a project like this unique and should be made possible for everyone to experience.

Thank you Poland for now!

Greetings from Iceland

Polak, Węgier — dwa bratanki

Impressions of the Polish student exchange by the Hungarian Team

We had a wonderful time in Poland. The Polish organizers created a diverse program with fascinating visits to places that are located nearby Szubin, but they are very different from each other.

“Exploseum” the Nazi explosives factory located in the forest gave us a sinister look into the dark history of Europe and World War II. Malbork Castle – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – was also captivating. Hungarians are used to castles, but this brick walled fortress was something else!

We also visited a mint, where we created our own ‘coins.’ We tasted ‘pierogi’ and made our own Polish-style gingerbread.

We had the chance to visit the European Center for Solidarity in Gdańsk which is again, very important for Hungarians as we also lived under a Communist regime at the time when Solidarity came forward.

We visited Bydgoszcz, Toruń and on our way home we had a day to visit the capital, Warsaw. Although the weather was not favourable, the Hungarian team visited Zamek Królewski, the Royal Castle.

Italian impressions of the Polish exchange

Many thanks to Magda Piekarska!!!! Thanks to her and her school we had the chance to know Poland and appreciate their Unesco prides. It has been such an beautiful and intense mobility. Our experience included both the sorrowful memories of World War II at the Exploseum of Bydgoszcz as well as the important scientific discoveries in Torun. A very pleasant surprise was the laboratory of gingerbread where we got particularly involved. Even more enjoyable was the final gala night. Touching were the goodbyes. The students and the teachers of the school IPSSAR Paolo Borsellino will always carry in their hearts these moments. See you all in Eger!

Cettina Catalano

Mobility in Poland: I think it was a fantastic experience. We have seen many museums, but what particularly struck me was the Copernico’s house. Niccolò Copernico was a Polish astronomer, mathematician and presbyter; graduated in canon law at the University of Ferrara in 1503.

He is famous for defending the heliocentric model against the geocentrism so far supported in the Christian world. We visited this building where he lived; it is very large, with 4 floors with many rooms (because it was very rich), where inside we could admire various works and scientific instruments that he used to look at the space or that he used for his research.
It was also very nice to meet guys from many different countries in such a short time. I hope to meet them again

Alessia Cardovino

I am very shy girl and I supposed to have problem to spend so many time with foreign young people. I was wrong, because I have understand that to known new guys is important. Thanks to this experience I did also a dip in the past by visiting many things, for example the Malbork Castle. The castle is a classic example of a medieval fortress. It is the largest Castel in the world built in brick, since 1997 it has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Thanks to the auto guide service, I traveled and visited the different rooms of the castle, perfectly rebuilt after the bombings of the Second World War. It seemed to me to relive in the medieval period between horses and riders.

Paola Traietti

I will never forget this Erasmus experience and I hope to repeat it soon. Perhaps if I improve my grades at school, this possibility will be given to me again….

I had a good time with everyone, even though the first day I felt a little homesick. The next morning, however, everything was already over because Hubert’s family, very attentive, perhaps understood and pampered me with particular attention.

Thanks to the Erasmus project I had the opportunity to visit the famous city of Gdansk, where the Solidarnosc center is located, a museum dedicated to the history of the most famous Polish union and civil resistance movement. This visit allowed me to become aware of what the Polish workers were forced to undergo. In fact, I saw the original document where the 21 workers’ requests were written. This was very exciting because it made me touch a sad reality, as well as having observed it closely with the original workers’ helmets and lockers.

The first request was the right to create independent unions.

The union leader who led the movement was Lech Walesa.

I think he was a great hero!!!!

Gabriele Bono

Thanks to the Erasmus + project I had the opportunity to participate in a mobility in Poland. Here we were hosted by a school which organized many interesting visits including one to Malbork Castle. It is the largest and oldest castle in the world built in bricks, and part of the UNESCO heritage. It was built in 1270 by the Knights Flag of the Grand Master of the Order Teutonic, which is an ancient military monastic order that arose in the Holy Land in 1191 at the time of the third crusade by some Germans. The castle was finished building in September 1307. They explained to us that between the 16th and 15th centuries a part was added called the low castle in which there were other houses. In 1945 it was destroyed by the bombings of the Second World War. How strange ….. the Germans had built it and the Germans had ruined it… Fortunately, they managed to restore it with great care.

I bonded immediately with my host, the only problem was that she did not speak much English but thanks to the translator we spoke easily.

I hope this mobility wasn’t the last one for me!!!

Francesco Chinnici

I would like to pay particular praise to our Polish colleagues for their impeccable organization, for the choice of the proposed locations, for having identified refreshment facilities able to offer the best guarantees of quality, for the absence of “downtime”, and for having developed with particular attention every detail of design and organization.

Let’s not forget the fundamental opportunity of all the activities for us teachers and for our students to consolidate the preparation of the English language.

Thanks Erasmus!

Doriana Ingrasciotta

I have always wanted to participate in an Erasmus mobility. I participated in the one in Poland. Among the many opportunities that this experience has given me, I could visit the gingerbread museum in Torun. It is a particular dough obtained by mixing a series of spices, flour and honey. It is particularly known all over the world because it is used during the Christmas period also as decorations for trees. I really liked this museum because it is connected to my future profession. This will enrich the quality of my work.

One day I will be able to offer this international product in my future laboratory.

COSIMO STAGNO

Poland – our neighbouring country, similar and known, different and unknown… – Latvian team impressions

Our project partner school Stanislaw Wyspianski Secondary School in Szubin welcomed Erasmus+ project members very sincerely, we were introduced to each other, the school and its activities. To get to know each other better, the students were divided into mixed groups. They were informed about the aims of the project and the tasks to be performed.

Impressive history classroom portraits, drama and music performance…

The first trip was to the nearby town of Bydgoszcz, which boasts its ancient architecture, cathedrals, where you can still find hidden treasures, museums and sculptures.

“Man crossing the Brda river” sculpture, granaries, gold of Bydgoszcz mint…

On the way we visited a nearby museum hidden in the forest and underground – the Explosion Factory, where explosives and nitroglycerin was produced for war during World War II. The area of the museum exceeds 19,000 m2.

Gloomy, sinister and tragic page in the European and Polish history…

On the second day we visited the Crusader Castle in Malbork, which was built for almost two centuries. In 1997, Malbork Castle was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Next, we went to Gdańsk to see another very interesting object – the European Solidarity Center, created in honor of the 1970s workers’ movement “Solidarnošč”. The giant building is made of pink and rust-like metal, which echoes the history of Gdańsk Shipbuilding. Students were introduced to the history and significance of the building. In the evening there was an opportunity to get acquainted with Gdańsk’s Old Town.

Ancient and modern history, significant langmarks in European Solidarity history…

Glittering shadows of rainy Gdansk Old Town. So beautiful and promise to return once again…

On the third day we went to get acquainted with no less significant city – Torun, which is one of the richest cities in Poland in the field of cultural and historical monuments, in 1997 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The first object of interest is the house of Nikolai Copernicus. Lots of information and viewing opportunities – both historical materials about N. Copernicus’ life and audio-visual materials about ancient events. The museum is located on 4 floors of the house.

Terra autem stat in aeternum- But the earth remains forever

In Toruń we visited the Gingerbread Museum. Everyone was surprised by the museum managers, who talked about making gingerbread in an attractive way. They also had the opportunity to create a decorative gingerbread from the dough.

Traditions, glamorous and tragic history, sincere hospitality, mouth-watering pierogi, and awareness that we have seen only a million part of all the treasures the Polish land can offer.

Thank you Magda and Ewa!

Amazing Poland by Spanish Team

“If the previous mobilities in the other countries were fantastic, Poland has been also another amazing mobility. All participants could learn about a great part of the historical heritage of the north of this country, visiting shocking museums such as the “Exploseum”, located in an old Nazi explosives factory during the Second World War, camouflaged in the forests of Bydogoszcz, to other museums such as the Mint, where treasures were found buried in religious buildings of the city. We visited Malbork Castle, the largest Gothic castle in the world, and which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. We learned about the birth movement of unionism in Poland at the European Center for Solidarity in Gdansk. This site is dedicated to the history of Solidarity and the rest of the dissident movements that emerged in communist Europe. The idea of constructing this building came up in 2005 to create a “world center for the ideas of freedom, democracy and solidarity”. In Gdansk, the whole group strolled along its Royal route, the main street of the historic center, full of buildings with beautiful and colorful facades. We also visit the city of Torun, the hometown of Copernicus, where we enjoy the interactive science museum located in what was his residence. In Torun all participants learned about the Milky Way and its planets with a screening at the Planetarium. Torun is also famous for gingerbread, all of us participated in a workshop to make gingerbread cookies, obtaining even a certification!

The Spanish participants of IES Gabriel Miró also had the opportunity to visit the city of Wraclow where we were amazed by the Leopoldina room in the Wraclow University museum and learned the history of this beautiful city in the museum located in the Royal Palace.

Thanks to Magda, Ewa and rest of Polish teachers that prepared this agenda plenty of learning and enjoyable time for all of us, and also thanks to the Polish families that hosted our students so nicely. Looking forward to meet the European family we are in next mobility in Hungary!!!” (Victoria Hernández, teacher)

“This has been the best trip I’ve ever done in my life. I had a great time.
I like that Poland is so different from Spain. The sites we have gone to and those we have visited have been awesome and the people were very kind.
Thanks to all the teachers and the families for making this possible. We should make more trips like that.” (Elena Sáez Vilella, student)

“The Erasmus+ experience in Poland was able to wake up a thousand feelings in any moment during the fantastic trips and activities.
Our Spanish team members, both students and teachers, are now authentic Poland ambassadors. We are in love with all the places we visited.
Whether we have improved our chances of learning about Poland History and Heritage, developed fresh perspectives on European steps towards freedom, learnt words in Polish, found a new passion for Science and the Universe or gained new friends for ever: Erasmus+ Project National Prides in a European context has produced many success stories” (Carmen Gaona, teacher)

“I’m very blissful of travelling to such an amazing country. Going to Poland has always been a dream for me. This experience was one of the best I had, I really enjoyed its culture which is very different from Spain. Thanks to all the people that have made this possible and also thanks to all the fantastic people I have met during this trip. I’m sure I will return to Poland again” (Olivia Sae Ferrández Ueba, student)

“I will never forget the great experience that I had in Poland. We visited a lot of beautiful sites, such as Gdansk, Bydgoszcz and Torun. But my favorite one was the trip to Malbork Castle. The best thing about the trip was to meet new people from other countries. Also my partner Maja treated me very well. I recommend this experience to every student and I don’t why more people of Spain didn’t get into this project.” (Heriberto Montesinos, student)

“A few months ago we went to Poland in an Erasmus project, it was a fantastic trip, we arrived two days early, so he had time to see Gdansk, a beautiful place where we enjoyed walking around the city and getting to know the history of the city, then we took a train and we arrived to Szubin where we met our family for a few days.

In my case, I was with Marta, she is so friendly, she tried to teach me how to speaking Polish, we laughed a lot with his family and it was fantastic staying at her house, and met her friends. We made a very good group with the others students of Poland, and then, to that group they came the Italian students, those were crazy they would be singing every second and trying to make laugh doing jokes, and also the Hungarians came to our group and they were fantastic!!!!.That week we made a lot of trips to Gdansk (again), Bydgoszcz and Torun, a really like the last one!
I really recommend this project, because you get to know people of all around the world, you have the opportunity to travel to different places or host people in your house, and practise your English and learn more!” (María Botella, student)

(N)Iceland – Team Hungary

We spent three wonderful days in Iceland and we all agree that it was an experience of a lifetime. Iceland is of course an exotic destination for us, Central Europeans, with its breathtaking scenery and geographical wonders. We very much enjoyed visiting Geysir, or the enormous Gullfoss waterfalls as well as the place where the European and North American tectonic plates meet.

The people of Iceland are also fantastic! The president even included us in his monthly newsletter after our visit to his residence. Our partners are equally kind – Anna, Ester and Harpa did everything to make us feel welcome at school. The international student groups had the opportunity to work together on Icelandic wonders and created heartwarming videos with the Quik application. Students had a wonderful time in Iceland and enjoyed the ‘fun night’ organized at our Icelandic partner school.

Our visit to Reykjavík was also great: we could taste some delicious lamb dishes and visited the architectural wonder, Hallgrímskirkja, with the statue of Leif Eriksson.

Impressions of Iceland by the Spanish Team

“The 4th school exchange of “National Prides in a European context” project, has been a very enriching experience for all participants. We have learnt about national heritage places in Iceland, like the UNESCO national park Pingvellir and the Global Geopark in Reykjanes. We have discovered wonderful waterfalls like Gullfoss, volcanos like Kerio, Geysir, and old places in Iceland, like Skálholt. We were not lucky to see any northern lines during our stay, but we learnt about them in Perlan museum, where we also could feel the frozen cold in an ice cave. We enjoyed a delicious tomato soup in a real greenhouse of tomatoes. We visited the capital of the country, Reykjavik, and we had the honour of been received by the president of Iceland, Guoni Th. Jóhannesson, in his presidential residence at Bessastadir. The live music in the farewell dinner and the spontaneous dancing of our students was the culmination of a wonderful mobility. Students and teachers have enjoyed a lot every second of this exchange. Congratulations to Ester, Ana and Harpa for the great organisation of this meeting. And many thanks to the families that host our students!!! Thanks a lot for everything!!! You are great!!!” (Victoria Hernández, teacher)

“This meeting has enabled all of us, students and teachers, to know firsthand the culture of our partners and the extreme beauty of Iceland. We have learned a lot about how much we have in common but also about how our differences are a source of cultural wealth. On the other hand, strong links have been established between schools, teaching staff and students, as shown in this picture of the emotional farewell between Icelandic and Spanish students just before leaving Iceland.” (Ricardo Cánovas, teacher)

“Unbelievable experience, wonderful scenery and lovely people. I wouldn’t know how to express my feelings regarding to this trip. First of all, I have discovered that Iceland has as many wonders of nature as you want to visit. I really enjoyed the view in Thingvellir National Park, the Kerid Crater and Gulfoss. However, I had never felt so cold before visiting those waterfalls! I am not at all used to those low temperatures. Despite the crazy weather, it was worth it. Some other activities I liked were the visit to the president of Iceland, who was very close and kind; the meal we had at Fridheimar, a tomato greenhouse, and the walk tour around school. I must say that I was impressed with your highschool. In addition, I am very pleased with my host family because they treated me so well. The very best thing of this trip is the people I have met and the wonderful time we spent laughing and playing together. I am looking forward to see you soon! It is incredible all the knowledge you can acquire by knowing other cultures and travelling!!” (Nuria Murcia, student)

“The trip to Iceland has been a wonderful experience. I can explain with words my feelings. Iceland is a beautiful country quite different from Spain; not only the weather but also the nature. I felt amazed when I saw all the natural areas we visited. I learned a lot of culture. I enjoyed also spending time with the Icelandic people, they are so funny and charming. It was also new for us the way of living there: the timetables, food, weather… So it was like a challenge for us. I will always remember this unbelievable experience and the incredible people I met not only from Iceland but also from other countries, I feel so lucky to have this opportunity to get to know this part of the world and also to share te world that we have inside of us.” (Teresa Marco, student)

“The days I spent in Iceland are days I will for sure never forget! It was amazing getting to know new people and new cultures. I made a lot of new friends and I really enjoyed discovering the beautiful Icelandic nature specially Gullfoss waterfalls and the Kerid Crater. I’m also so grateful to my hosting families for being so nice and making me feel like I was at home. I’m looking forward to see you soon” (Valeria Babkova, student)

“We had a great time in Iceland!!, it was really nice. We met amazing people, we lived with natives, learning from different cultures. It was a unique and unforgettable experience. I would repeat it thousands of times.” (Diego Pardo, student)

“This time in Iceland has been something unique. I’ve seen breathtaking landscapes and everything was very beautiful and different from what I was used to. But by far, the best of all have been the friendships I have made, I enjoyed every minute and I really hope to see them again someday. So my Icelandic friends, remember that the party has to go on this summer in Spain.” (Jesús Miguel Colón, student)

Polish group in Iceland

Our visit to Iceland began with the presentation of the school. We were impressed by its didactic base.

Another exciting part of the day was the meeting with the President of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, who turned out to be a very open and warm man. He willingly answered all the students’ questions, took part in a photo session, and finally invited everyone for afternoon tea at the presidential residence.

The last point of the day was visiting Perlan – Wonders of Iceland. In the planetarium we watched a movie about the formation of the northern lights, visited the ice cave, and from the observation deck we admired the beautiful panorama of Reykjavik. Icelandic nature is awesome!

On the second day of our stay we went to the most beautiful places in Iceland. We started with Þingvellir, the venue of the oldest parliament in the world. Then we saw the extinct volcano Kerið and Skálholt, the oldest Icelandic church. The surprising point of the day was tomato soup, which we ate in a restaurant located in a greenhouse. How extraordinary! However, the Gullfoss waterfall and geysers made the biggest impression on us.

On the last day of our stay in Iceland, we were in America with one foot, in a place where two tectonic plates meet: Eurasian and American. We also visited the UNESCO Global Geopark. The last point was a walk around Reykjavik, where we could admire the Protestant Hallgrimskirkja church, the parliament building and the glass concert hall, which glimmered like crystals in the land of ice.

Iceland is a very unusual country!

Discovering The Fifth Element of Iceland by the Latvian Team

In Iceland we spent three memorable days. Some of us had our first time flying in the sky, it was amazing experience. Huge “Thank you” to FS students and teachers who welcomed us with kind words and took us to amazing places. Special “Thank you” to the guest families for taking care of us and making us feel at home. The ocean was beautiful. Every day was an adventure starting with sweet welcome ceremony at school and ending with wonderful dinner with other country students and teachers. You not only took us to meet the President of Iceland, but gave your best to make this project special, by showing Reykjavik and Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark, Perlan, Kerið volcano crater, Skálholt church complex, Gullfoss waterfall and many other wonderful places. Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark taught us much about nature and its simpliness which made it even more interesting. Perlan showed us the things you won’t see everyday but it is important to know that it is once in the life time thing and if you get to see Northen Lights you are a lucky person.

Thank you again for teaching us and showing us the beautiful side of Iceland. From the bottom of our heart you are more than welcome to Latvia!”

Evija Ungure, student, Latvia

Iceland – a land of four classical elements seen every step. Earth – the land of lava fields with the surreal feeling of Moon landscape. Water – the island surrounded by waters of the oceans, lagoons, the powerful Gulfoss waterfall, geysers surprising unexpectedly and thermal waters. Fire – snoozing volcanos, evaporating springs, aurora lights. Air – winds from all compass points. High cliffs, lava fields, craters, caves, bird species diversity, high geothermal activity and black beach sand. But the most important thing is that you also find the Fifth Element in Iceland. And these are people- strong, beautiful, hospitable and smart – knowing how to master the Four elements of Nature. Meeting the president of Iceland Guðni Th. Jóhannesson will remain as one of the most impressive mobility activities.

Thank you Iceland team- Harpa, Ester, Anna!

Daina Tentere, teacher, Latvia