Compilation of all the meetings, biodiversity presentation of each countrys, and more. Printed version was distributed to each teams members
Monday 2Mar2015 - Invertebrates sampling at Pontido River, with the French Team
Monday March 2nd - Dinner at "Taberna Belga"
PHOTOS ALBUM:
Some photos of the meeting by Cristina Santos (shared by link in g+):
https://plus.google.com/photos/107121006132455029589/albums/6126431256893828241?authkey=COqsz6-dlv_wLQ
VIDEOS:
Cultural Show at Theatro Club, in Póvoa de Lanhoso:
Meeting summary video:
Student Impressions:
I enjoyed everything I saw and lived in these days. I liked your school and the lesson from the biology laboratory which was very well prepared. Also, making the frontpage of the newspaper was a challenge for every team. Thank you Ricardo, you was the best host, with your entire family. You all made me feel wonderful. Ricardo you gave me "the big prize" when you took me to the stadium to see a football match. Nothing else could make me happier. I wish you all the best and many successes in life. "Mult noroc"(Good luck in Romanian language).
Cosmin Doscocil, Romania
Portugal is a beautiful country with many wonderful people,with who I felt extraordinary. I enjoyed the teamwork in laboratory and I appreciated my foreign colleagues who speak fluently English. They are friendly and passionate by science .
Ana-Luisa, you was a marvellous host who knew, like a guide, to show me what is beautiful in Braga and Porto. I had unforgettable memories. Thank you and “ Good luck! ” (Mult noroc).
Marian Răzuşi, Romania
This project brought me a lot of enjoyments including a wonderful week spent in Portugal. I liked very much the big and very well organized school from Povoa de Lanhoso, the students' schedule, the school's rules, the library where they can make homeworks in the afternoon and the possibility to take the lunch in school. We had the joy to meet a Romanian student, Giorgiana. She gladly accepted to stay with us during the first day at school. She told us her story about leaving Romania and her student life in Portugal, so we could saw much easier the reality of Portuguese life.
The activities we developed in first day in school were interesting, in the biology laboratory we discovered microscopic life in river water. We worked in groups and we created a realistic Frontpage of a newspaper. Was funny when we met the little kids from the Primary School, their show, their costumes, what a joy.
Our trip in Porto, the cruise on Douro River, the visit of Povoa de Lanhoso Castle, Andorinhas Dam were unbelievable. I have never seen something as wonderful, in my life.
Don't want to forget to tell about the excellent music shows, the tastes of Porto wines and Portuguese dishes, all these made us to know more about Portugal.
My host family was super nice ... I got along well with all, I was spoilt by everyone and I felt like one of the Vaz family. Thank you for all and Francisco, you are welcome in my home in Romania, whenever you want.
Andrei Toader, România
The meeting in Portugal was a great experience and all the participants were very nice and kind.
When we arrived, we were quite exited but we had a fantastic time with our host families and with all the people from the different countries in the Comenius. Those fantastic days were full of new friends and great things.
I liked the school a lot and I found the activities we did there funny. And I had a great time at the theatre and at the dinner party, it was really enjoyable!
I think Póvoa de Lanhoso was beautiful, but Porto was even better. The cruise in the river Douro was the best part of the visit because we saw pretty things and we had a great time when the ‘tuna’ boarded the ship.
Saturday was a sad day because it was the last time in Portugal with the fantastic persons we met at the project. I’ll miss Portugal and the new friends I’ve made there a lot!
In my opinion, Comenius project is a good thing and it gives us great opportunities of meeting people of a lot of beautiful places and to get to know different countries and landscapes.
I’m really grateful to the project and to all the people who made my stay in Portugal an unforgettable experience! When can we repeat it?
ANDREA DOMÍNGUEZ RODRÍGUEZ (Spain)
The meeting in Portugal was one of the best experiences I've ever had, where I met wonderful people that made my stay comfortable and happy. The first day I met my host family and I'm extremely grateful for their attention, they were very nice and kind.
I'll never forget the people that I met and I hope to see them again in other meetings like this. The activities were good but they didn't give us too much free time to be with the families and see the village with our friends. The best day was Friday because we enjoyed the cruise in the Douro's river, where we saw the best part of the city. I also liked the reception in a primary school because there were a lot of children and they sang us a lovely song.
One of the things that I really liked was the schools way of working because it is different from Spain. The return was very sad and we were only thinking about going back again and see them. We are very grateful to the Comenius project because it gave us this opportunity where we could meet a different city, different people and customs.
I can only say thank you for this opportunity.
Marina Rivas Mariño (Spain)
Well, what can I say? The meeting in Portugal was...fantastic! In only four days I knew wonderful people and I spent unforgettable moments with them: teachers and students from the other countries were very friendly. My host family was lovely and I felt very comfortable with them.
I loved all the places that we visited and I also think the activities we did were very interesting. And luckily, the weather was very good.
It was a great experience for me and I would love to repeat it.
Florencia Lago Torres - SPAIN
The Portugal meeting of the Comenius Biodiversity project was a great experience for me. I had the chance to meet wonderful people and learn about the environment they live in. We had long conversations and deep discussions. We created new ideas and each of us worked really hard to come up with the better ones. Biodiversity was a wide topic for us, so it was not hard for us at all to give an efficient presentation but add to that in my opinion, what we did in there was beyond the academical point of view of the event. We all have became close friends in such a short time and from the bottom of my heart i can say that İt was the best week of my life. I had the chance to see wonderful places with wonderful people right beside me and it was a great pleasure. I am really thankful that i was lucky enough to meet all these wonderful people. I hope i get to see them again.
Beril Arısoy
İstanbul-Turkey
That trip was one of the best experience of my whole life. I meet such amazing people. They are the best friends ever. I know ı have lots of houses to stay and lots of friends to meet in Portugal, Poland, Reunıon Island, Spain, Cyprus... I can't explain how much I miss.
I am very grateful for their hospitality. They made me feel at home. I was like a daughter of my host family and most importantly I am still like the same. I feel like I have another family in Portugal. I hope I will get a chance to see them again. I already miss all of them, especially my sister Angela.
That trip was like a dream I didn't want to wake up. I didn't want to go back to the real world. I will never forget my precious memories. They will stay in my mind forever. It was an unforgettable experience!
I would like to say thank you to my teachers for giving that chance to me. Now, I am inpatient to get ready for Reunıon Island meeting. Beijinhos
Ezgi Durukan
İstanbul-Turkey
It was one of the most exquisite opportuninities in my life. I have met a large portion of friends, or brothers and sisters, so to say. Not including the Northern Cyprus Turkish Republic, it was the first time I left the motherland. I feel visiting Portugal as a first experience was a privilage. The brothers and sisters that had a common purpose with us, the purpose of Comenius, were extremely friendly and warm. The chance to see Beatriz, my Porteguese sister last year, after a long year, made me so joyful. For hosting our humble-selves, and the most lovely time we had, I would like to thank the Comenius crew and the beautiful friends, teachers. Portugal was perfect, and I feel like it will not be the only time that I have gone there. I have missed you a lot already, and I hope to see any and all comenius siblinngs again in the future.Hugs and kisses from Turkey
Buse Küçükbükücü
İstanbul-Turkey
I had a great time in Portugal. My host family was very kind to me, especially Ana Oliveira, my portugese friend. I met amazing people and saw a lot of new places. For me it was an incredible experience.
Agnieszka Tokarek (Poland)
Meeting in Portugal had huge impression on me. Classes at the school was very interesting, especially the lecture of Professor Nuno Formigo then classes exploring water quality. I felt honored when I met with the mayor at City Hall Póvoa de Lanhoso.I think the visiting the castle Lahanso was an important event for me, because I could learn more about the history of the oldest castle in Portugal. Definitely I will remember visiting a primary school Basic School of Taide, where children welcomed us with a song and presented a legend about the creation of one of the rivers. Wonderful experience was participation in a school talent show in heatro Club in Póvoa de Lanhoso and regional music concert performed by a team of Canto Daqui. A trip to Porto will also be in my memory, because I spent a nice time. The ability to flow by boat on the River Douro and eat lunch during the cruise was also great. I liked the hospitality of the Portuguese. From the first day at the host family's house, I felt like a member of their family. For that I am extremely grateful to them.The people I met during this meeting in Portugal, for sure I will remember for a lifetime, because I spent with them a lot of really nice time.
Patrycja Adamczyk (Poland)
7 days, 7 nights, and several new people... I finally did the trip I was supposed to take part in with my 3 best friends and my wonderful teachers! It was so short,but so intense. I mean that during this short period, I've met more people than in the last 7 months! And they were just... I can't explain with my poor vocabulary how amazing they are! Polish, Romanian, Portuguese, Spanish and Cypriot students will always have my door open, and they will always be in a little but full of memories part of my brain.
I also found that the work we did there was really effective, and we will try to continue in that way for the two last meetings, and to take care of our rich biodiversity.
And finally, what may be the most important thing, is that I learned what being a European citizen means... I realized how important is the European Union and that we, the students of today, will be the architects of tomorrow : every young adults as us should have the chance to live the same experience and learn that if we have different cultures, ideals, hobbies, etc... we are not that much different. And we shall work together for a united Europe.
Valentin Metzger
Réunion Island
William I've just spent the best week of my life in Portugal. The organisation was absolutely perfect and Portuguese welcoming was so heartwarming! We met some amazing people and the team we formed with them was awesome. In one week in Portugal I have found true friends, one of the most welcoming people, a new culture to discover, a wonderful country and even Love... I want to thank everyone who has been involved in this project and made it unforgettable.
William Langer
Réunion Island
I honestly think that this journey in Portugal was probably one of the best parts of my whole life! We met extraordinary peoples: Teenagers like us, with different hobbies, passions, personalities, skills, but each one of them were great and kind persons that we will all remember during our lifetime.
There were also great teachers! All funny and experimented!
Of course we learned lots of things in biology such as the bioindicators of the rivers thanks to the macro invertebrate, but we also learned new things about ourselves, the world and life. I will never forget my incredible partner and the moment we went through together! I’ll not forget my friend’s partners too, they were all so unique! And maybe one more than the other, who knows..?
There’s too much things to say about this meeting, so I’ll end my impressions by saying this: I’d like to thanks all the members of each teams (teachers included) for organizing this trip! I thank you all from the depth of my heart! I have no regrets, everything was perfect!
Julien Theroude
Réunion Island
First of all I get a very good welcome in Portugal, the family where I was wanted to make me discover a lot of things from their country. I didn’t have enough clothes for the climate of Portugal in this season but they were understandable and gave me a jacket for the week. However I think that we didn’t have enough time to make all that they wanted to do.
Then I improved a lot my English : I had to speak and to think in English to be understood and to understand the others.
I met a lot of people from Portugal and from other countries and I would like to meet them again in my life. I already have contact via internet with a lot of them.
Antoine Danez
Réunion Island
On the 3rd of March 2015, I, Anna Maria Themistokleous, my friend Christina Xeni, our math teacher Mrs Magda Giakoumi and Saint Anthony’s School Headmistress Mrs Maria Theophanous, traveled to Portugal with the Comenius program. Portugal is a country located in southwestern Europe, situated on the western portion of the Iberian Peninsula. It is bounded on the north and east by Spain, and in the south and west by the Atlantic Ocean.
In that trip, we had the opportunity to get to know different cultures, civilizations and habits. Portuguese people were so kind, generous and hospitable with us. We were greeted with joy and enthusiasm and our host families offered us the best they could to make us feel like home. They introduced us to the other students in their school and they also took us a short guided tour in their region. The Village póvoa of Lanhoso, the castle, their primary school were some of the places we have visited. The most amazing and powerful day was on the 6th of March, when we went a short cruise by the ship, in Porto. It was really exciting and fascinating. Students from all around the Europe, each with a different personality, were mixed together and became friends. We were laughing, singing, dancing and having lots of fun together on that cruise. We tasted their food, we danced their traditional dances and we tried to speak their language! It was a unique experience.
Cypriots have now friends in Portugal, Spain, Reunion Island, Romania and Turkey! I can surely say that, that trip was the best one in our entire life! At the end of that journey, we were all crying with no exception. We promised to meet again one day, somewhere in the world. Even though we live far from each other, we still contact from Facebook or video calls on Skype. No one is going to forget that experience.
I feel grateful that I met those beautiful personalities, thanks to the Comenius program.
Anna Maria
Cyprus
Teacher Impressions:
I would like to thank you for the time we spent together during the working programme in Portugal. All days were full of activities, one more interesting than another. You mixed very interesting the scientific activities like laboratory activities with the teamwork of students or artistic activities on the boat, theatre show, Brazilian dance.
About Porto….What a lovely day we spent together there.
Anabela, you are a perfect team leader who accomplish all you put in your mind. Congratulations to all your collegues from this project “ Biodiversity of rivers” because you succeded to create unforgettable memories. I hope to meet you again.
Dana Bodean
Looking back on those few days spent in Portugal, I can't say what I liked more. Because everything was wonderful. There were many new things to see, to live, to learn, to admire. So much harmony in everything, balance, the activities were well chosen and perfectly placed in the program, so that every day was full of originality.
We had the opportunity to discover the world almost invisible from the depths of rivers in a beautiful lesson held in the biology laboratory but also to discover a new corner of Europe with a fascinating history and culture, generous in castles, cathedrals, museums. Visiting Porto or Gyumaraes cities, towns of a special beauty, the cruise on the Douro River, visiting the imposing castle Lanhoso are now memories for life.
It was a really joy for me to discover the beauty of Portugal through the the traditional Portuguese music. The "Canto Daqui" Group offered us a great show and such a nice music went right to my heart.
I think this meeting revealed the force and benefits of the "teamwork".
Whether it's about students and their work in international teams … they were able to know each other better, to be more open to each other, to overcome prejudices.
Whether it is about the portuguese team, and should I say… what a TEAM ! ... multi-talented, dedicated, professional in all respects, one heartbeat… With a wonderful “conductor”, Anabela, always cheerful and full of surprises. You made everything to be magical and for this .... many thanks.
Laura Filimon,
Back in Santiago de Compostela, when I remenber the wonderful days of V meeting our project team Portugal has given us, I see many moments of pleasant living and a great work of the entire team of Portuguese students and teachers.
On the first each team wrote news on environmental issues in newspaper format. also we enjoyed practices on macrofauna in the laboratory after an excellent lecture on the subject.
The second day will remain in our memory cause the tour of Póvoa de Lanhoso Castle and the beautiful Albufeira Andorinhas area, but especially by the wonderful reception that children of the group of schools Poboa of Lanhoso gave us. In this school the educational community pleasantly surprised with a ornated center focussed on environmental subjets and using very different and ingenious recycling materials. In the evening the musical that preceded the presentation of certificates enveloped us in the sweet and charming traditional Portuguese music of the musical group Canto D`Aqui. This group gave us a delicious dinner musical desktop in the farewall dinner.
At night we could enjoy the monumentality and history of the Guimaraes city.
On the third day we could enjoy the grandeur of the Porto city, especially the boat cruise on the Douro river and the intimate atmosphere of its famous wineries where we could taste a wine of the world's best.
In my view, the Spanish students were integrated perfectly all time with their Portuguese colleagues and their families, having a friendly atmosphere among all participating teams. In summary, we will always remember the enormous work done by the Portuguese team, but even more the affection and friendship we experienced with them. Our hearts remain in Portugal.
Pablo Gómez Segade, Biology and English teacher coordinator
Once upon a time there was a country, where the world’s huge seas ended. That country was a country, where North and South was much more bigger than the East and West. The North of the country was more warm, more vivid, more colorful than the South. Huge big fishes of the huge seas adorned the tables. The meal was accompanied by desserts, sweeter than honey, drinks in the temperature of blood. People were kneaded with the dough of friendship. God, has gifted a friendship glitter and the love shines on the people which were very rare in the world. The people of this country worked in peace and friendship life-long. The people renewed and beautified their country. There was also rivers of each city in this country. Vitality and hope was flowing from the river, instead of water. And the people of this country were thankful to God for the gifts, remembered the beauties given by God, while they were drinking the water and eating the fishes which were provided by that river.
At the beginning of our journey, we didn’t have any impressions about Portugal. We only had some hearsays. One March day we took a step into Portugal, we were accompanied by a delicious Fado in the Duomo river which runs through the heart of Porto and Galia; and while we were reading the life of the Alfama streets the first residential place of Lisbon and greeting the gate of the country, behind the homes that was like the tale city in Guimerans, our minds which were like blank boards filled with enthusiasm. This priceless enthusiasm certainly came from the people of Portugal. We were not in the ocean coastline, we were like in our neighbor’s home. Despite being a new culture for us, we did not even realize how quickly we became accustomed to their beautiful spirits.
And we found ourselves saying “ Here is our Porto ! “ We greatly enjoyed the people and the culture of Portugal, while listening to the story of this ocean country . We want to add one more “superlative” to the country that has the world’s most inspiring bookstores, most beautiful toilets , most unique Mc.Donalds , in the words of our Portuguese friends:
The world's most cordially, welcoming country…
Many thanks for everything, Portugal…
We wish to continue the sharings evermore…
Turkish Team
FMV Erenköy Işık High School / Science High School
A very good balance between the activities for the students, at the school, and the discovery of the country of Braga, Porto, Povoa de Lanhoso.
The meeting provided all the partners many opportunities to exchange ideas and informations, and jokes; we received a very warm welcome; and the shared meals, and songs, and dances obviously contribute to improve english language as an effective language to communicate.
And to visit the primary school had been a very emotional moment: the school was involved in the project "Biodiversity of the Rivers", and the rich, diversified, and complementary work of the young pupils, was particularly highlighted.
Dominique Vandanjon
Réunion Island; Boisjoly Potier Highschool
There were so many tears in this meeting.and here were so many good vibes, Leaving was very painful. The tears were also, joy tears thanks to the great schedule we had for this meeting. I specially appreciate the way Anabela turned the rain into the sun for the first day of the meeting. One of the key time was the lecture of Nuno Formigo, scientist, who reached the challenge to share accurate and rough scientific knowledges while being very clear for all our students. Then, I was very pleased to see the students searching, watching, naming under the binocular in a very good atmosphere ; learning can (should ?) be fun !! Impossible to talk about all the surprises we had for this meeting, but the cruise, the show in the theater, the party were gorgious times.
Whatever we saw and we did the most important of all, is the wonderful links we build between teachers and students, students and students, teachers and teachers. Links full of love, respect and understanding. A great breath very useful especially nowadays!
A wonderful time, where skin colour, religion. ..are not a wall between us, but a way to be interested in the other and becoming "richer" thanks to him.
This meeting was a great success. Thank you Anabela, you're the boss and you have a great team.
Philippe Vandecasteel
Réunion Island; Boisjoly Potier Highschool
Final Report:
Some feedback from local newspaper: