The last day in the Netherlands |
Then, we visited the house of Anne Frank. Firstly we had an introductory workshop and learnt some things about Anne’s life during the Second World War… It was so emotional to see closely the places where Anne was hiding. We heard some excerpts from the diary of Anne and felt like we were there that time. In case, anybody doesn't know about her, here is some info: Anne was a Jewish girl who along with her family went hiding for 2 years from the Nazis. At the end, they were betrayed, arrested and sent to concentration camps where almost most of the died. |
After that we went to the Rijksmuseum where we were divided in 4 groups. Each group had its own tour guide. There we saw the most well-known painting “The Night Watch” and learnt many things about it. The tour guide told us to find 3 paintings that describe Dutch tradition. This tour lasted 1 hour and after that we went to the Rijksmuseum’s shop and bought some souvenir for our families.
Unfortunately we had to go back to school… Fortunately, there we had a pancake party which was fantastic. We ate a lot of pancakes with some syrup and some Dutch treats. We were "rewarded" with extra 2 kilos... We danced for a while and had fun. We learnt a lot of Dutch songs and new dance moves.
But, all good things must come to an end and we had to return back to our boring routine..
by the spanish team
On Wednesday, We arrived at the highschool where we kept going with the project that we had to present on Friday night, after that, we went to the Zaans museum where we enjoyed with our exchange partners. In it, some older students explained us the history of the Netherlands factories and then we tried some biscuits and chocolate.
Then we went again to the highschool to rest and later we spent a really good time which literally flew playing typical and dutch games organized by a group of pupils which name is Spectra. When this had finished, we went back home with our host families, we had dinner and we started preparing ourselfs to go bowling where we met all together. To finish the day some people went to a party and we had a lot of fun.
Then we went again to the highschool to rest and later we spent a really good time which literally flew playing typical and dutch games organized by a group of pupils which name is Spectra. When this had finished, we went back home with our host families, we had dinner and we started preparing ourselfs to go bowling where we met all together. To finish the day some people went to a party and we had a lot of fun.
BY THE ITALIAN TEAM
On Wednesday 27th international groups of students, from the 5 Countries partners, met for discussing about differences/similarities between Dutch culture and their own culture. The proposed themes concerned were school, homes, celebrations, environment, cultural heritage. New friendships were born from the meeting.
Students discovered they live in different countries but many things are similar among them: they discovered the real meaning of being European citizens, they discovered to have same ideals and shared the same civil rights such as respect, tolerance, understanding, education and so on.
Dutch students study three foreign languages and this give them the chance to have more possibilities to communicate and above all to have an open mind towards other cultures. Many stereotypes have collapsed.
Dutch people feel themselves as a free people, everything is super organized, proud of their Country, their studies of 3 languages give them the possibilities to know more of European lifestyle than other people do.
In the afternoon there was a tour to Zaans Museum. Dutch students from upper level show the two aspects of Netherlands. The rich modern industries of today and the poverty of people in ancient years. Although it is forced to import almost all raw materials it needs, the Netherlands has a highly developed industry. The country imports cheap resources and exports abroad high-quality ready-to-use production. The Netherlands actually produces almost everything it needs. Much of the Netherlands is below sea level. For this reason, Dutch engineers are facing much more unprecedented challenges in comparison with engineers from other countries.
Dutch students study three foreign languages and this give them the chance to have more possibilities to communicate and above all to have an open mind towards other cultures. Many stereotypes have collapsed.
Dutch people feel themselves as a free people, everything is super organized, proud of their Country, their studies of 3 languages give them the possibilities to know more of European lifestyle than other people do.
In the afternoon there was a tour to Zaans Museum. Dutch students from upper level show the two aspects of Netherlands. The rich modern industries of today and the poverty of people in ancient years. Although it is forced to import almost all raw materials it needs, the Netherlands has a highly developed industry. The country imports cheap resources and exports abroad high-quality ready-to-use production. The Netherlands actually produces almost everything it needs. Much of the Netherlands is below sea level. For this reason, Dutch engineers are facing much more unprecedented challenges in comparison with engineers from other countries.
Trying to protect their country from the rising sea level, some of the best scientists in the world create a bunch of miracles in the Netherlands.
One of them is the movable barriers that protect from floodings.
The system is so perfect that it is able to react by itself without the need for human intervention. In case of raising the sea level of the North Sea, the system automatically decides whether to close the protective barriers or not and calculates the risk of flooding.
In the late afternoon the department of SPECTRA organized extra curricular activities. Students enjoyed themselves to play funny games while teachers enjoyed their Art lesson and knew more about local painter and brown cafè.
One of them is the movable barriers that protect from floodings.
The system is so perfect that it is able to react by itself without the need for human intervention. In case of raising the sea level of the North Sea, the system automatically decides whether to close the protective barriers or not and calculates the risk of flooding.
In the late afternoon the department of SPECTRA organized extra curricular activities. Students enjoyed themselves to play funny games while teachers enjoyed their Art lesson and knew more about local painter and brown cafè.
Eleanna
On Tuesday we did a lot of things such as we cooperated with children from other countries and learned about similarities and differences among the countries. After this we attended an art lesson with students from France, Spain and Italy. It was amazing. We walked to the train stationed we arrived at the city hall.
While we were walking, it started raining. It was annoying.We arrived at school and we went to the homes of our host families. After that we went to a party. It was different from Greece, but it was also amusing and perfect. It was a great experience!!!!!!!!
KAZ
At Tuesday morning we started in groups. We had to ask questions to each other about school, home, celebrations and environment. We were group 6. In this group we had to tell the difference and similarities. We did that the first two hours.
After that we had Art & Design and economy. After a 25 minutes pause we continued with physics. I went home and had to come back at 16:00 to pick my 2 boys up. After school I went with my greek boy to football training. When i was done i showered and made ready for the ‘’party’’. A lot of us came to Guusje’s house to party. It was really fun. |
lea
Tuesday i attended a presentation of Erasmus+ .I wrote about similarities and differences between dutch culture and french culture in the group 6. We then went to art class and we painted a windmill.I went to the town hall in Zaandam and the director of urban development told us about the development and presented us cutural heritage of The Netherlands. After that we came to the school in train and once at school we waited to go home. |
SUSANNE
Yesterday started the day with an introduction. The headmaster of our school came to tell about the project. Then we had to get to know eachother. We have also discovered the differences and similarities between our countries. It was very interesting. After that we (the dutch students) had school lessons. First Ard&Design, than physics and after that economics. We could go home sooner than the exchange students, because we were done at 14:20. The exchange students were in the town hall around this time. We had to pick them up at 16:00, but they missed the train. We had to wait for an our before they finaly arrived at school. Than we ate something Dutch, Patat. It’s like thick fries. After that we went to a party. There were a lot of people and it was very fun .
ANDREA
I went to school by bicycle, I arrive and I went with my friends, and there, there were 8 groups, with 5 people each one, then we talk everyone about our high school, celebrations, etc. It was cool, because I learnt new facts that I did not know before about this countries. Later we went to art class, we painted windmills, and there were some that were really nice. After that we had lunch, we went to the town hall on foot and y train. The town hall was amazing. It has a lot of bright colours such as green or blue. Also it is very big. We went out of this building at 4 pm, more or less, and we arrived at the school at 4,30 pm. We went back home by bike and we had dinner at 6 pm. Later at 8 pm we went to a party until 10,30 pm. It was really fun, we had so much fun and we spent a very good time all together. It was a great opportunity to meet the people of other countries better. And finally my day ended when I went to sleep at 12.
MORGAINE
Yesterday morning we wanted to go to school cycling, but Rebecca has a mountain bike at home so she couldn’t ride a regular bike. We left with the bikes but then we decided to walk. We placed our bikes next to the Albert Heijn, and we walked further. That’s why we were very late at school, and missed the opening. When we got there, we had to sit in groups and then we talked about the differences and similarities between our countries. We talked about school, at home and holidays.
After that me and my classmates had class, and the others went to the city hall of Zaandam. We finished earlier so we had to wait for them. They were supposed to be back at 4 o’clock but they were there at 5 o’clock, so we had to wait for 2 hours. In these hours I walked to the Albert Heijn with Aafke and Alicja, and we brought our bikes back to my house. We walked back to school and waited for the students.
When they arrived Rebecca and I went to my grandmother and we ate there with my brother and my cousins. We ate fries with kroketten and frikandellen and we ate pea soup with rye bread with bacon. Rebecca liked everything. My grandmother came up with the idea to do Bingo and she bought prices. Rebecca won. Then my parents came to pick us up and we went home. When we came home we watched the Grinch.
After that me and my classmates had class, and the others went to the city hall of Zaandam. We finished earlier so we had to wait for them. They were supposed to be back at 4 o’clock but they were there at 5 o’clock, so we had to wait for 2 hours. In these hours I walked to the Albert Heijn with Aafke and Alicja, and we brought our bikes back to my house. We walked back to school and waited for the students.
When they arrived Rebecca and I went to my grandmother and we ate there with my brother and my cousins. We ate fries with kroketten and frikandellen and we ate pea soup with rye bread with bacon. Rebecca liked everything. My grandmother came up with the idea to do Bingo and she bought prices. Rebecca won. Then my parents came to pick us up and we went home. When we came home we watched the Grinch.
From Greece to the Netherlands and how it is staying in a host family
My trip to the Netherlands was very good and I enjoyed it. We started at 6:25 from Thessaloniki to Athens and we arrived to the Athens airport at 7:30 because the weather was too bad so we were late. We started from Athens to Amsterdam at 9:20 and we arrived to Amsterdam 12:30 . Then we we went to the school with a car and there we met the host family. |
After this we went home and we ate dinner and then we went to a beach. Then we returned home and we played games with the family . The day ended with a film in Alicjas room and when the film ends, we went for sleep.
From Spain to the Netherlands and how it is staying in a host family
My trip is really good because I’m travelling with my friends. We arrived at the airport in Spain at 4 am and we took the plane at 6 am. We arrived at 9 am on Sunday, then we spent all the day in Amsterdam.
When we were arriving at the high school we were really nervous, but when we met the host family we all calmed down. I’m staying in the same house as my friend Andrea and also a Greek girl called Marilena, we are staying in the house of Jasmijn. Our host family is really nice and we have so much fun together.
When we arrived home we unpacked our suitcases. At 6pm we went to dance classes and it was really cool, we went home and we had pasta for dinner. Then, we had a shower and we went to sleep.
When we arrived home we unpacked our suitcases. At 6pm we went to dance classes and it was really cool, we went home and we had pasta for dinner. Then, we had a shower and we went to sleep.
From France to the Netherlands and how it is staying in a host family
-we arrived in the airport of Nantes at 10h30, and we took off at 12h. We were very excited and happy!
-we landed in Amsterdam at 14h, we went at school at 14h30 and we went in our family at 15h. I was a bit stressed and tired.
- I settled, we watched a movie and we ate at 18h15 (we had vegetables, potatoes, and meat spicy and for the dessert, we ate a cooked pear).
-we finished the movie and we I went to bed because I was tired.
-we landed in Amsterdam at 14h, we went at school at 14h30 and we went in our family at 15h. I was a bit stressed and tired.
- I settled, we watched a movie and we ate at 18h15 (we had vegetables, potatoes, and meat spicy and for the dessert, we ate a cooked pear).
-we finished the movie and we I went to bed because I was tired.
how was it with an exchange student in your house ?
Brett: I was very excited to do this project. But i didn’t know what I was expecting from this project. First the plan was that I got 2 French people in my house, but one of them has allergies for cats. First he exchanged with another french boy, but finally he goes to another person and now I got just 1 French. It’s very pleasant at home with the student, we have a lot of fun the only thing is that he does not always understand what I say. Because he got only one year lessons of english
Julia: I had first a long school day before the exchange students came, but I was very excited to see them. I didn’t know what I had to expect from the project, but so far I like it very much. It is funny to show everything in your town, because for you it is normal but for the exchange student every thing is new. It’s nice to be guest family and its very pleasant.
Vigo: I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this project. But it is fun. On Monday the exchange student arrived at school. I had 1 Greek in my house. First he was with me by my grandparents. He was calling a lot with his friends and parents. 5 a’clock my mother came to pick us up. I showed him the house and my cat. He was tired so he was sitting on his bed. We eat lasagne but he didn’t eat much in comparison with me and my sister. He went early to bed and I went to bed a hour later.
Hurray! We just started working on our new project "diScover OUR Cultural hEritage" which was launched in September 2019. We are five schools from The Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain and Greece and for the next 2 years we will work together, exchange practices and ideas, visit each other and produce collaborative outcomes. Our project is funded by the European Commission under the current Erasmus+ programme. The dutch school St. Michaël college is the coordinating school.
This website was created in order to disseminate our work. We'll regularly publish new posts about the progress of our work and about the whole experience.
Stay tuned!
This website was created in order to disseminate our work. We'll regularly publish new posts about the progress of our work and about the whole experience.
Stay tuned!
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Through this blog we will keep you posted on the progress of our project. Stay tuned!