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Day 1: Thursday 5th May - The EU Parliament & Orangerie Park

  • The European Parliament and Orangerie Park

     

    OBJECTIVES:

    - Showing the students democracy at European level when visiting the European Parliament

    - Meeting MEPs to get an impression of the efforts needed to keep democracy alive

    - Getting an insight to the work behind the Parliament: meeting assistants and listening to the interpreters

    - Supporting species in danger (Orangerie Park)

     

    COMPETENCES:

    - Observation (viewing, listening)

    - Language skills (aksing questions across language barriers)

    - Socialising (moving in a large group)

    - Empathy for species in danger

     

    The students were very excited on the morning of the 5th May because we were going to spend the morning in the European Parliament.

    We arrived at 8:45 at the Parliament as we had  a meeting with the Bavarian MEP, Mrs Angelika Niebler at 9:00.

    After taking some photos, we  went to a conference room where Mrs Niebler explained what her job consists on and answered all the questions from the students.

    She explained that there are many opportunities for young people to get a scholarship, or start working for an MEP, and  to become an MEP like herself.

    After our very interesting meeting with Mrs Niebler, who was kind enough to give a gift to all the students and teachers there,  we went to attend a plenary session of the MEP, where the issue dealt with was: the repercussions of the Ukranian War in women.

    Our students could witness and understand the different positions of the MEPs, see how they have to summarize their ideas in a maximum time of 2 minutes and see how the speeches are translated simultaneously to the 24 different languages of the union.

    To end this very interesting morning, we had a session with the Andalusian MEP, Mrs Lina Muñoz Gálvez, who answered the questions of the students present, this time mostly related to the plenary session we had just attended.

     

    After spending the morning in the Parliament, we had a fantastic meal in an Italian restaurant, but before, and to make time, we visited the oldest park of the city, Le Parc de l' Orangerie.

    There, we could see some storks, which is an endangered species, and have been reintroduced successfully in the park. We could see some flying and even some nesting.

    A stroll around the park showed us its beautiful paths, ponds and colourful gardens full of flowers. It was a great day!

     

  • Tweet about your visit of the parliament.

    Lilja - Germany

    My text is too long for a tweet, so here it is as a document.

    Amine - Corsica

    The European Parliament is an important place to visit because one can learn about the history of European integration and its impact on daily life as well as the functioning of the European Parliament.
    The European Parliament is made up of 705 MEPs who represent aproximately 360 million registered voters participating in the European elections from the 27 Member States and distributed according to rules laid down in the Treaties.

    Ibrahim - Corsica

    The visit to the European
    Parliament was interesting because
    I was able to meet several
    parliamentarians from several
    countries and the German
    parliamentarian and the Spanish
    parliamentarian as closely as
    possible. I liked taking the picture
    in front of all the European flags, it
    was an important moment. I felt
    sadness for Ukrainian women,
    however the European Union
    cannot really help these women so
    we are helpless which is terrible. I
    am not interested in politics but
    rather in the parliamentary security
    service
    I liked the security work they were well dressed they are important in the functioning of the european parliament they are in charge of monitoring people entering and leaving

    Eloïse-Corsica

    I think the European Parliament is an interesting place to visit because it is there that great decisions are taken and important people do so.
    The job I noticed and much appreciated is that of parliamentarian because in this profession you have to talk about important things, give ideas, argued about certain things and also show the hidden side of certain events.
    I heard about women who were raped in front of their children, children who were raped, that a few things had to be done to help them because what the Russian soldiers inflicted on them were inhuman at those times were women who spoke.

    Mélissa Gil Corsica

    women's rights in Ukraine
    The European Parliament is a very important and interesting place, it's very nice and there are many people working there, there were many deputies who spoke about the danger of women in Ukraine, each one said their opinion and spoke each different language
    I would like to share all that women suffer in Ukraine, certainly men are in danger to engage in military service, but women are raped, live hell with men, we heard that a 6 year old girl was raped by 11 men because they detected 11 different types of sperm, that's why we must help them, women are not a toy to play with sexually or otherwise, it is a human not an object or a candy

    Clara, Spain

    Our visit to the parliament was amazing! The way our first day was organized was impressive. The building was huge and I felt really lucky to be there. We were given the opportunity to speak with two MEPs and it was really interesting. But overall, the best thing of the day was to assist to a plenary session, the fact that there were translators translating in live what the MEPs were saying in so many different languages amazed me. Also, the debate was on the effects the war against Ukraine were having on women, so it was pretty interesting to listen to so many different points of view (although I would have preferred to have been present at the final deliberation). We were also given some presents from the parliament. An amazing experience I would definitely repeat!

    Apostolis,Greece

    When I visited the European Parliament Ι was amazed! I learnt a lot of interesting things about the war, about the rape of women and more. The place inside was very nice and unbelievable!! I hope in the future i can visit it again!!

    Orfeas Sigletos Greece

    When we arrived at the Parliament i was really impressed by the building because it was so big and beautiful. After we went inside the parliament a lot of people told us new things that we hadn't heard before.

    Orestis Priovolos-Greece (13 years old)

    The first day when we arrived of our Erasmus trip we went to the European Parliament and heard the deputies talking about the problem of the women in Ukraine. That was very interesting for me because it was a new experience!

    George, Greece

    Day 1: We visited the European Parliament and we got the chance to learn about Europe and their deputies . We also had the chance to attend a debate about the impact of war on the women in Ukraine. . It was astonishing!!

    Marietta - Germany

    On the first day we went to the European Parlament. It was nice and we learned a lot about the war in the Ukraine. There are so many people and from some we learned a bit about the work in the Parliament.

    Katia -Greece

    On the first day of our school trip, we visited the European Parliament. I was very impressed by the modern building. It's unusual to see buildings like that one! We had a meeting with a German member of the European Parliament in which we discussed about some very serious matters, such as climate change and the outcome of war. Then, we attended a debate which was about the impact of the war against Ukraine on women. I learnt many new things and saw a different perspective on important matters. For me, this visit was amazing because I enriched my knowledge with new information about different things.

    Vasiliki F. - Greece

    On the first day, we took the bus early in the morning in order to go to the European Parliament, where we had a meeting with a German deputy. She explained to us everything we needed to know about the European Parliament, how it works, and how voting takes place. Then, we attended a debate based on the matter of Ukrainian women who are sexually assaulted and abused during the war with Russia. It was a truly fascinating place, and I am glad we were able to go there and learn more about the European Parliament

    Aggelos Keranis, Greece

    The first day we visited the astonishing European Parliament. There we watched an actual meeting about the current war between Russia and Ukraine. And surprisingly it was an amazing experience

    Vasilis Greece

    In day 1 we visited the parliament where an expert talked to us about general and important issues such as how to become a part of the parliament, war issues and helped us in general on how to become an active person of the world to make it a better place. Personally, i was impressed about how tall and big the structure was. We also had the chance to listen to members of the European parliament having a conflict while also hearing shocking information. Overall, day one was excellent!

    Tasos Alepous, Greece

    Day 1: We went to the European Parliament and we attended the deputies. Everything was very interesting and impressive!!!

    Fenia, Greece

    DAY 1:
    The first day in the morning we visited the European Parliament where we learned about the duties of a politician and asked them questions. We saw how it is internally and it was very impressive.

    Angelina, Greece

    On the first day we visited the European parliament and learned a lot of things about the politics and their life. It was very interesting, because we've never seen that before and made us impressed. We also have the opportunity to listen a discussion about women in Ukraine.

    Inma, Spain

    Talking about the Parliament, I reckon that most of the things were very interesting. Although at the very beginning , the German MP who gave us a speech was for me sometimes a bit difficult for me to understand.
    Without doubts, the most interesting part was when we were watching the debate in the Parliament, it was very interesting. I really enjoyed watching all the MPs from different countries debating about things so important nowadays.
    Finally, the Spanish MP explained curious things about the Parliament and how all the MP work. I found it really interesting

    Niovi Greece

    On out first day we had the opportunity to visit the European parliament. It was a breathtaking experience. We learned so much and especially about the situation right now in Ukraine. Women and children there are living in a nightmare. With new cases if sexual assaults, abuses and rapes everyday. It was horrifying to hear about these monstrosities. And about the fact that no one is helping. Survivors and victims have to deal with the lack of legal safe abortions and if course mental support. However it was very pleasing that many MEPs were eager to help and save those women and children. I feel so lucky with the opportunity that I had. And overall it was a unique experience.

    Vasiliki Karousou, greece

    On the first day we went to the European parliament and we talked with some politicians and we learned a lot of new information. It was really intresting!!And then we went to eat, and after that we went to the Orangerie park and it was really beautiful!

    Marietta - Germany (II)

    First a security check just like at the airport, but we didn't have to wait so long after it, we went into the Parliament building. We put down our jackets and bags and followed the others into the hallway. We had met some of the MEPs with their little suitcases in the tramway and you knew that they worked in the parliament because they wore so formal dresses and suits.

    Marietta - Germany (III)

    When we entered the hemicycle we had to be quiet because the MEPs were discussing about the war in Ukraine. I felt excited at the moment when we saw that because there were so many seats and it was so immense. It was cool to listen to the discussion with headphones because translators told in all the languages what the MEPs said in no time.
    I think it is important to have a look into the parliament's work because then you know what's happening there and you know how it works and how they make their decisions about the war or some other things.

    Day 1- Cristina Sola from Spain

    The visit of the parliament was one of the most enjoyable activities of the trip in my opinion. I loved seeing such an important place, where significant decisions are taken. As for the both eurodiputans speech and the plenary sessions, I found them all to be extremely interesting. The latter was a unique experience, I was very surprised to see it in person instead of on tv.

    Chiara - Germany

    The visit in the European Parliament was incredible. It was such a great experience to see those many important people. They told us a lot of the Ukraine. Most of all in the debate of the politicians. It was interesting to hear them speaking live in the parliament.