2. COMENIUS ACTION 1 2005-06

3. Post Event Report Zespol Szkol Ogolnoksztalcacych 16-19 MAY 2006

4. Zespol Szkol Ogolnoksztalcacych Speculum – an-on-line magazine for transversal policies- Comenius Azione 1 2005-2006 The Post Event Report

5. Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies The Post Event Report Poland…..country with changing borders over the ages….moving from west to east and from east to west again. Sometimes almost vanishing… An amazing history. Different languages. Many sites and places to visit. Large forests…the first thing that impresses you when you get there. You can drive for hours to an excursion site and drive through forests, forests, forests… And again: forests Some were shouting in the bus: “when will this ever end…?” One student we had with us is a licensed hunter…and so with this expert help even looking through the windows of the bus while driving the game was readily spotted…. A country with the only one piece of virgin, pristine forest from times immemorial that is left in Europe and with all the animals who belong there. One of the last refuges for our European wild animals. Also we saw large acreages of country just uncultivated… a marvel for us who practise usury on every square centimetre… Impressing and amazing… So many – almost boundless - opportunities are there for agriculture and nature preservation parks that it certainly will become a priceless corner of Europe in this respect. Poland…..country with changing borders over the ages….moving from west to east and from east to west again. Sometimes almost vanishing… An amazing history. Different languages. Many sites and places to visit. Large forests…the first thing that impresses you when you get there. You can drive for hours to an excursion site and drive through forests, forests, forests… And again: forests Some were shouting in the bus: “when will this ever end…?” One student we had with us is a licensed hunter…and so with this expert help even looking through the windows of the bus while driving the game was readily spotted…. A country with the only one piece of virgin, pristine forest from times immemorial that is left in Europe and with all the animals who belong there. One of the last refuges for our European wild animals. Also we saw large acreages of country just uncultivated… a marvel for us who practise usury on every square centimetre… Impressing and amazing… So many – almost boundless - opportunities are there for agriculture and nature preservation parks that it certainly will become a priceless corner of Europe in this respect.

6. Escola Secondaria Vitorino Nemésio -Lisbon Portugal Zespol Szkol Ogolnoksztalcacych-Gorzow Poland Sint Vincentius- Eeklo Belgium Friesland College-Leeuwarden The Netherlands Siauliu “Romuvos” Gimnazija Lithuania Eyuboglu Egitim Kurumlari Turkey Istituto Professionale di Stato “ Luigi Einaudi”-Palermo Italy The Partners Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies

7. We were very well received at the school of our hosts that first day, with presents, lunch and speeches. The Post Event Report here: our lunch at school that first day the headteacher Marek at the head of the table

8. Of course we came here to work on our theme: “young people and disability”. Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies The Post Event Report

9. Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies The Post Event Report We had presentations and discussions

10. and dance shows by Polish students The Post Event Report Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies

11. And an exhibition at school on the theme The Post Event Report and of course, a visit to the school, their classes and the way they teach Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies

12. The Post Event Report afterwards we went to a local centre for the disabled

13. where our pieces of art were exposed. The Post Event Report Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies

14. The Post Event Report Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies

15. The Post Event Report Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies The local TV was interested in our project and in our meeting

16. Next came the part of the excursions The Post Event Report A very good bite of History we got in the wonderful old city of Torun, the hometown of Copernicus. Of course we checked the Planetarium with the 3D Imax presentation - which was in Polish so we could enjoy the marvellous pictures and some had a good sleep simultaneously. How efficient. here we all pay attention to the explanations at the gate of old Torun the market place with the statue of Copernicus and the church tower with a wonderful view over the city from the top

17. We visited another very impressing site – now a 100 km away from the contemporary German border – where there were the villas of the late general Rommel and the remains of a villa where Marlene Dietrich used to come in the 1930’s and where even Adolf H. (also known as the criminal “A.H. from B.”) spent some days with his friends. Later when this piece of the German “Reich” became Poland Polish people used the attic to distillate alcohol illegally and – unfortunately – the whole villa went on fire. Sic So how mundane greatness goes to rubble. We weren’t even allowed to go in because of the danger of collapsing. But impressing it was to be there. But one can also admire today the new villas that were constructed for the rich, the powerful, the famous and the beautiful in this area with forests and a lake (which you can see here at the background). The Post Event Report

18. And how could we ever forget that marvellous day at the former Russian Army Camp at Borne Sulinowo? Miraculously we managed to get into this very secret camp after passing the stern guards and receiving a military passport. The Post Event Report With the special permission to take and publish pictures of this camp We had lunch in the local army hutment in original communist style and music of the 50ties. Climbing and crawling through a concrete tunnel – that was part of the former defence system. How awful it was for those of us with claustrophobia….and for those who didn’t want to get their clothes dirty… Everything that is American is not appreciated

19. In an old Russian army armoured car and in a jeep we were transported to a real training camp. The Post Event Report here the commanders-in-chief deciding whether to allow us to the training or transport us to the Gulag immediately they decided for the training… and fortunately today ladies can join the army too….

20. In the very stuffy armoured car we were instructed by Wojtek about the use of the old Russian helmets available there: they were there to protect us from bumping our heads against the ceiling. The Post Event Report Driving in an open jeep over hills, through valleys, along trees we were shaken like in a most wild fancy fair attraction. Accompanied of course with the comments, jokes and laughter of Mr. Wojtek. A most fascinating thrill ride which everybody enjoyed. We were all yelling, screaming, laughing and crying for some more action ! Beyond any doubt the highlight of the entire visit. But one of us needed trauma therapy afterwards…provided for by a caring and loving member of our great Comenius family…

21. the old and the new! We also visited the village were the employees of the old Red Army used to live. It was abandoned abruptly after the collapse of the CCCP and everything was left to rumble. Nowadays it is used for army and fire fighters exercises and even an international fire fighters competition in the old buildings…. and here is one of them The Post Event Report and another…. at least…what is left of it. Probably this is one of the last pictures of the original communist wall painting as the building will be torn down soon….. of course Wojtek commands us to stand upright and straight according to the best communist military traditions….on the corner right stands our guide…a former soldier and a man full of stories – which he could going on telling for ages

22. In the historical setting of an old Polish farm in Bogdaniec we were instructed how to make butter out of milk and of course many other things as well. Bread was made in the old way and together with our self made butter we had a wonderful lunch of bread and sausages over a bonfire. Well deserved after all our work and a long walk through the forest in which we almost got lost but thanks to a passenger by we were saved from eternally roaming about in a boundless forest… The Post Event Report Wojtek tries first We all pay attention And after him all the others

23. The Post Event Report Wojtek translates at the bakery site delicious bread is the result of craftmanship After tasting the bread with with sausages in the bonfire We left by train again

24. And then, a special chapter can be devoted to the subject: Students meeting students The Post Event Report

25. and so on…and so forth…and so on…and so forth….there are dozens of pictures like these Again the week proved to be one of breaking down barriers, of removing prejudices, of making friends, of enlarging our views. This can be stated again without any exaggeration. It proves once more the value of such projects within Europe. The students that have been there were all received very, very well by their host families. No single dissonant has been sounded. Friendships were made. Appointments were made to see each other again. Tears were shed when the final moment of goodbye arrived… The Post Event Report

26. After one week of hard work, visits, long bus rides, The Post Event Report discodancings, speeches, kissing and hugging, laughing, crying, dinners, much typical Polish food, lunches and happy bonfires

27. and many, many conversations with each other we had our last day in a country resort in Przylesko where a complete roasted pig was offered to the guests……. The Post Event Report

28. Then finally there was one last farewell dinner, the last speeches, for the last time: Prosit, Saluti, I Svekata, Nasdrovje, Nasdravje, Cheers, Proost, Tsin Tsin, Tsjoch…. and one last disco night and then we all had to go. Not before we all were given a nice set of Polish presents as a token of memory. The Post Event Report

29. The farewell: Our amazing Polish hosts managed to be there at our hotel for each and everyone of us: for saying goodbye, for pointing out the way or delivering a company at the station. As each was leaving at different times our dear and poor Polish hosts had to be present at our hotel from as early as 5 o‘clock in the morning until eleven. After just one or two hours of sleep our poor Agnes, Kasia and Wojtek managed to make this heroic sacrifice for us. Of course we will not fail to mention Ewa especially who was always there too as the coordinator and did so many things in the organisation to make it all possible. Here we also like to mention Marek, the headtecher, for his words and hospitality and allowing this project to take place in his school. The Post Event Report

30. So, Agnes & Kate thank you for your kind presence, for always being there, for always helping and being friendly to everybody. Wojtec, thanks man for your part in the preparation and organisation, your wonderful and amazing cheer, your commentaries and going at great length to make us all laugh all the time so that in the end you hardly could speak anymore. Ewa, mille fois merci encore pour tout ce que tu avais fait comme ordinatrice, tout était très, très bien organisé et c’était une semaine formidable. Merci aussi pour héberger nos étudiants gratuitement et pour faciliter des possibilités de faire amis nouveaux pour eux et de faire connaissance de votre pays. Ils sont très contents et il y a des gens qui retournent cette été. The hotel for us needs to be mentioned in particular as it was a really supurb, superior accommodation with a large swimming, sauna, massage and sport facility next to it. Which of course some of us enjoyed. THANK YOU ALL !! See you in Eeklo! The Post Event Report