COMENIUS ACTION

Post Event Report

Eyuboglu Egitim Kurumlari Speculum – an-on-line magazine for transversal policies- Comenius Azione

Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies The Post Event Report Renate from Belgium Going to Istanbul was like stepping into a new world to me. What would the city be like ? Would it be a city belonging to the Eastern or the Western world ? What would our partner school be like ? A modern or rather old-fashioned school ? What would our new Comenius member – Selcen - be like ? A traditional woman wearing a veil or a modern, self-confident woman ? All those questions went through my mind while I was flying to Istanbul. All those questions were quickly answered. Istanbul is a city where East meets West: some parts of the city are very traditional, with traditional food, shops and people. Other parts are ultra-modern. It shows that different parts can easily co-exist. Going to Istanbul was like stepping into a new world to me. What would the city be like ? Would it be a city belonging to the Eastern or the Western world ? What would our partner school be like ? A modern or rather old-fashioned school ? What would our new Comenius member – Selcen - be like ? A traditional woman wearing a veil or a modern, self-confident woman ? All those questions went through my mind while I was flying to Istanbul. All those questions were quickly answered. Istanbul is a city where East meets West: some parts of the city are very traditional, with traditional food, shops and people. Other parts are ultra-modern. It shows that different parts can easily co-exist.

The Partners 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

Working session. Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies Here we are! All together at school… Where is the coordinator? Of course she is working, she is taking the photo.

Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies We as the Dutch delegation have been very much impressed by the school of our Turkish partner. It has so many facilities, foreign teachers, a beautiful and well maintained building and a high quality of education.

Selcen, it is a privilege to work with you within Comenius and to have you in our group. I think many schools will envy this first class high school in many respects.

The meeting happened in a good atmosphere, mostly because we were all overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and warmth of our new Comenius member Selcen. She is wonderful to work with: always good-humoured, very professional and full of energy. Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies Look how well the group work together! The director always attentive and supervising everything. (Director thinking: I would like to know what they are saying.)

Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies In an atmosphere of happy cooperation the team carried out the introduction and guidance for the new partner to assure its success in the project. After a stimulating and wide discussion the group confirmed the subjects for the 3rd and 4th magazines, which are ; -Youth in the school and the city environment (which activities and which initiatives should be undertaken and are currently done to protect the environment) -The position of the disabled and the disadvantaged in the school and the city. It was also confirmed that the editing of the 2 editions would be done by Lithuania and Poland. For the first number, Lithuania summarised 10 different types of activities, which were discussed and positively agreed by the group. All the member countries will produce at least 4 of the 10 proposals.

THE ACTIVITIES Describe an ecological pathway, the interior and exterior of your school. Present typical places inside and outside your school related to ecology. It must reflect the spirit of ecology. You can send photos, comments, descriptions. A description of events related to environmental problems in your school, district, city. It can be presented in imaginative essays, compositions, photos, etc. Pupils’ scientific work on environmental problems, events ( tell about conferences, expeditions, write reports, discuss problems and suggest solutions.) It can be at school or in the city. Recycling at school: in lessons, after school activities. A poem, a song on the topic of environment, ecology. The wonder of nature: what an incredibly interesting or even strange object of nature do you have in your city or district( photos and short description) The most eco-friendly places in your city or district ( photos and short descriptions) Survey “ Your input into ecology( give suggestions for questionnaire) A video film or a spot about an ecological event ( time limit 3 minutes) Ecological logo for this issue. We should create it till the end of December, then voting and choosing the best one follows in January)

And when everything was agreeded… it came the time to explore this wonderful city Today Turkey hits the news regularly and of course for us to get acquainted with this important country is very necessary.

As in almost every country there is the old and the new. In Turkey the old is represented by the Mosques, Castles, Palaces, traditional food, music, clothes and customs. Hugh traffic jams, modern skylines, night life, countless shops for all kinds of things, modern and well educated men and women with equal rights showed us the new Turkey for which a sound basis had been laid by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Unlike many tourists who visit only old Istanbul we were lucky enough to see the Asian part as well which has so much of a new and modern city that it could have been any city where ever in the West.We were amazed by every aspect of Istanbul and enjoyed everything to the full - both the old and the new!

And so we followed the itinerary of the glorious past

Even under the rain. A good umbrella is enough to go on

Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies We toured the Bazaar where we bargained not only to the bone but until its very marrow

we also discovered many other small streets with countless small and authentic shops and old workshops where things were made according to old traditions

…the trips across the Bosporus and Golden Horn were the most unforgettable events. Here one sees Istanbul in all its Majesty while being on the water; many of the landmarks of its history can be seen, the skyline, the intense ship traffic, the bridges, the Asian and European part.. It is all both beautiful and symbolical

There was time for mysticism Speculum-an on-line magazine for transversal policies

And time for belly dancing

And the food? By the time we didn’t imagine the strange things Were about to come to the table. Selcen had a tough job explaining the menu at each restaurant table. Sour yoghurt soup???????

….. the atmosphere in the group has been fine and we enjoyed your company very much.

Atmosphere is something to work at but the natural "chemistry" between all of us is such that we form a good group together.

…… there are quite a few prejudices in the West about Turkey. Many of us consider the country as a typical traditional Eastern country. We saw that this vision is untrue. Of course there are differences with Western Europe. But shouldn’t we consider it a challenge to know that this country will soon be part of the European Union? We should grow closer together, be more curious about other cultures, open our minds and stop considering ourselves as better than others. This is why the Comenius is an excellent bridge: meeting new cultures, learning about different school systems, having discussions with new people, … all this is positive and makes us true, open-minded Europeans… See you in Siauliai