Meeting in Lithuania
The Project Meeting in Naisai, Lithuania, started on 26th April 2011. The participants were teachers from partner schools: Slovakia – 2, Turkey – 3, Bulgaria – 2, Poland – 3, Romania – 2, Latvia– 5 and from the host school Lithuania– 3.There were no representatives from the Italian school. For the first time the students from partner schools were present: Turkey – 2, Bulgaria – 2, Poland – 2, Romania – 1 and Latvia– 2. On the whole 20 teachers and 9 students participated in the meeting.
On 26th April we all met at the airport in the capital of Latvia, Riga, and started our journey to Naisai in Lithuania by coach. In Naisai we met the families who offered to accommodate our students. The children spent the rest of the day with their hosts.. The teachers were taken to the hotel in Bubiai. We were greeted by the headmaster of the Lithuanian school Mr. Vytautas Simkus and had a welcoming dinner there.
On Wednesday, 27th April, we went to the Naisai Primary School and met teachers and students who prepared a welcoming reception. Then we had a guided tour of the building, visited classrooms and observed the lessons. After the coffee break we were invited to the Naisai Culture Centre where the students presented the Lithuanian Easter customs and traditions. We were impressed by everything, especially by the egg rolling competition. Then we returned to school and our students participated in Easter egg colouring activities where they learnt the old Lithuanian traditional methods. The teachers started the work session. We discussed the following issues: completing the official website of our Project, presentation and exchange students’ letters about peace and friendship, presenting national games, discussing the first online lesson “School life” between Bulgaria and Poland which took part on 18th April 2011. After the work session and the lunch at school we had free time in Siauliai city. The rest of the day we spent in the Culture Centre with the students presenting the national games and enjoying ourselves.
The following day was a very interesting one. We went on a guided trip to Vilnius. The capital of Lithuania is a very beautiful city. We also visited amazing Trakai castle and Kernave. We returned to our hotel late at night tired but full of unforgettable impressions!
29th April was a working day. The students enjoyed themselves in the paintball club and the teachers had their second work session. We discussed the following issues: new ideas concerning our Project, the next meeting in Bulgaria and organization of Comenius Day in all partner schools. Then we went to Siauliai city and were received in the district local government council. After lunch in the local restaurant we visited a very special place in this region – The Hill of Crosses. Over 100 thousands of all types of crosses are gathered here – and people still leave them on this Hill. In the evening we participated in a very touching Mother’s Day concert and the farewell dinner during which we thanked our Lithuanian friends for a wonderful and perfectly organized meeting.
Saturday, 30th April, was a packing and departure day. We went to Riga airport by coach, said goodbye to one another and left… only to meet soon in Bulgaria during the next Project Meeting.
See you soon Comenius friends!