News from Belgium

News from Belgium
“Fort Bosco”: a day for leisure activities

Every year, “Saint Joseph-Saint Raphaël High School” organizes a big game. Each class of the school participates in the activities.
So there are +/- 900 pupils and 100 teachers.
In the morning, each team faces another through 10 activities. They play with pictures or dominoes, they put key in padlock, push a car slaloming, recognize a star or the title of a song … and they build a pyramid with cardboard boxes.
The teenagers have a great time and a disc jockey plays background music.

All the pupils like this day very much and the winners receive train tickets to go on an excursion.

Four Belgian students’ diary about the meeting in France

Cédric
21 st January 2009
We arrived in Château du Loir at 16.00. In the evening we were welcomed in the town hall by the friendly French students. They had prepared cookies, brownies, and drinks for us. We talked to the French students while the Spanish and the German ones were arriving. Cassandra, my corresponding member arrived at the middle of the “ceremony” and after that we went home, in Aubigné-Racan located 10 km far from Château du Loir. Then, I became acquainted with my family, we ate a pizza. Then we played with the wii and we watched a film. To finish the exhausting day
I unpacked my suitcase and I went to bed.

22 nd January 2009
I’m got up at 6.15 a.m. I got ready for a day in a French school. I took the bus with Cassandra to go to school. She introduced her friends and we talked to people in relation with the Comenius project. We attended a sciences and a mathematics lesson. It was boring. After that we ate and we were got dressed for the “Sarthe international badminton tournament”. The Belgians are the best. They won. We played volleyball and futsal too. After that, we went to the pub for another sport: “Drink”. Once again Belgium was the best, with its star Nick. There I talked to the French and the Spanish students. Unfortunately, we had to go back home. When I arrived, my new family had prepared a typical regional meal: snails. I loved that. After supper I immediately went to bed.

23 rd January 2009
I got up at 6.15 a.m to go to school by car. The programme was the visit of the castle of Amboise and a walk in Tours. In the morning we visited the beautiful castle where Leonardo da Vinci died.
Because of the bad weather the visit was somewhat marred. After that, we went shopping in Tours. With Nick, we went to a pub and we found France was very expensive. After this walking afternoon, we returned to Château du Loir by coach. There we went to a pub and we played snooker.
It was very funny because nobody could play. To end the day we went to a pizzeria. The food was not exceptional but it was edible. We went back to home and I went to bed because I was totally shattered.

24 st January 2009

It was our last day and we went to Le Mans by train.
We had to wait for the train for more than two hours thanks to our French friends who were well informed about the timetable!!! In Le Mans we took the tram to the city centre and then until the skating rink.
I didn't stop falling and people laughed a lot at me. It was a disaster. We went back to the Château du Loir and we went to a party organized by Camille, we played with the Nintendo and the Wii, ate a pizza and watched a film. Unfortunately, I ended the evening in hospital with Sophie and Cassandra because Améliane had hurt her hand at the skating rink.

25 st January 2009

This trip to France was a success for me. It allowed me to practice different languages, to know other cultures and new people. I hope I'll be selected to go to Bremen. I’d like to improve my English and learn a little Spanish.
Cédric from Belgium



Sophie

FIRST DAY:
After a long journey we were welcomed received by the French. They had prepared a snack for us. We stayed two hours with them and they let us visit their school. It is well equipped for leisure activities for young people. After that we met the Spaniards and Germans and we went together to the town hall. At the beginning, it was difficult to communicate. I wasn't always self-assured but with time the communication got better. At the town hall we met the mayor, who welcomed us with a small speech. We also met our families. It was great!
I had a very nice family and they did everything to let me feel comfortable.

SECOND DAY:
Arrived at school we started the day with a meeting of the participants and we were welcomed with a small speech in English. After that we attended the courses with our corresponding member. It was surprising because during the physics course nobody answered the questions except the foreigners. At noon the French offered us a “bio lunch”. In the afternoon we took part in badminton and volleyball tournament. It was a different way of seeing and knowing each other. In the evening we returned to our corresponding member. I was very comfortable in my family and I got on well with everybody. It was very pleasant.

THIRD DAY:
We went to visit Amboise: the castle and the town. It was very beautiful. Everything was very well planned. After that we went to Tours. We could visit the town freely. It was nice to have a little free time. In the evening I had a meal in my friend’s father‘s restaurant. It was delicious. I was very spoiled.

FOURTH DAY:
We were free to do what we wanted with our family but our new friends had arranged everything to go together in the afternoon to Le Mans. We had a drink before taking the train to Le Mans and it was pleasant. In Le Mans we went shopping and then we went to the rink.
It was great; it was very funny even if a pupil hurt herself. After the rink we went back to go shopping. We spent the evening at Camille’s, a French girl. We ate a pizza, played on the Wii and watched a movie. But Améliane had hurt herself at the rink and she had to go to the emergency. I went with her, Cassandra and Cédric (a French girl and a Belgian boy).
We spent the evening in hospital but we had a good time because her injury was not serious.
The next day we went back to Belgium.

I have a very pleasant recollection of this experience and hope to live another one.
Sophie from Belgium


Nick

Our travel to France for Comenius started early on Wednesday morning. We took the train from Liege to Paris, from Paris to … (…) and finally we arrived at the close of the afternoon in Château du Loir where we were welcomed on well by the French students in their own establishment.
After many cakes and good orange juice, we left the school to go to the town hall where we met the mayor of Château du Loir. The parents of our French corresponding member were there. After that, we had supper with our new family. It was charming and not very different from our habits. We were tired, so we had a shower and went to bed.
On Thursday, we went to school in the morning. The lessons were rather funny. In the afternoon, after a tasteless organic lunch, we played sports: first, badminton and then volleyball. The Belgians won the cup. It was a good way to talk more with the other corresponding members.
On Friday, we woke up early. Unfortunately, the weather was not good, so we put on as many clothes as possible. We took coach and two hours later we arrived in Amboise where we visited a Castle where Leonardo Da Vinci died. There was a lot of wind. After that visit, we walked in Tours where we had lunch and went shopping. At 5 p.m., we were back in Château du Loir. Then, we ate in an Italian restaurant. There was no Italian in the place, but they cooked pizzas. To tell the truth, the food was disgusting! But we had a lot of fun with everybody. Thanks a lot to the cook.
Nick from Belgium



Lara

Wednesday: we left to France by train. The travel was tiring because we had to change three times. It was an advantage because we could spend some time in Paris. We didn’t leave Paris without having a drink in the “ Montparnasse Tower”. In the afternoon, we arrived in Château du Loir, a little town near “Le Mans” famous for its car race. Two French teachers were waiting for us at the station. They brought us to the school. Our corresponding members had prepared cookies for us. And then we met a Spanish girl and a German girl. It was very interesting to meet people from different nationalities and to discover other cultures. In the evening, we went to a reception at the Town Hall of the village.

Thursday: after a good night at our corresponding member’s, we spent two hours in the classroom. I was shy because I didn’t know the teacher. In the afternoon, we played volleyball and badminton with all the teachers and students who took part in the Comenius Project. We won the golden cup and we were happy. That competition was a good idea to meet and talk to other students.

Friday: in the morning, we visited the castle of Amboise where the famous Leonardo da Vinci died. After that visit, we went to “Tours”. We went shopping and had a drink.
In the evening, we went to a restaurant with some new French and Spanish friends. The meal was horrible but we laughed at it the whole evening.
Lara from Belgium

Château du Loir in January - personal experience

by Anna-Lena

We arrived at Château du Loir, a small town near le Mans, after a stormy flight and a long trip by train. I was very impressed, because we took the very fast TGV.
I think it’s faster than the German one, called ICE.
I was cordially received by the French students in their school. First, nobody had any ideas to speak about but after a few minutes we ate cookies together and everybody had fun. At this first afternoon, we had a greeting with the mayor of Château du Loir. And later, all students were at their families but I was at a boarding school.
When we arrived there, we ate a little bit and before we went to bed, five Frenchgirls and me sat in a room and they all spoke French very fast. So I couldn’t understand anything.
The next day, we had e.g. a badminton and volleyball match with all European people from four countries. So we got to know the other students better.
Friday, we made a trip to Amboise and Tours. In Tours, we stayed there for a while with our French girls and we went shopping and saw many little streets inside Tours. On this day, I liked most the special castle of Amboise. It was very interesting, e.g. the grave of Leonardo da Vinci and the beautiful view of the nature and the village next to the castle.
Friday afternoon, I met the parents of my French student Fanny. They were all so nice and very hospitable. I was fascinated, because the food was so tasty! I think in France, there is the best food of the world!
The next day was the best I had. In the morning we drove to le Mans and met the other students for iceskating. It was very funny with all of them.
But above all, the best was the citycenter of le Mans. We saw the big church and we bought some presents for our families in Germany.
In the afternoon we drove to our home and we ate fondue. Of course it was different to Germany but I liked it very much!
Shortly after the food, we went to a bar. We laughed the whole time and enjoyed it much. Janin, another German girl with her French student was with me. It was better because I could converse in German with Janin and we could help each other if we had problems with our English to talk with the French girls. It was a succesful last evening in France!
The next day, we went back to Germany. =(

My personal profit of this trip is firstly to advance my French language skills because I want to speak and write it fluently! Secondly, I’m not so afraid any longer to speak French and English to foreign people, like before my trip to Château du Loir. Finally, I became more self-confident. Before I went to France, I was not very self-confident.
All this goes to show that I can simply say that the trip to France was very full of new positive experiences!
This exchange came up to my expectations because I gained lots of new positive experiences.
Anytime, I would do an exchange again, to meet new exciting people!


Anna-Lena

ICE-Skating

Source/Quelle Photo: www.wkipedia.org/wiki/Datei:KEK.jpg

Parad-ICE Bremen

Do you want to do leisure sport activity while listening to chilling music?

Then go to the Parad-ICE. It's the right place for you. It is a beautiful ice-skating rink in Bremen-Walle not far from our school. It has got a huge surface (3500 m²) which is split in two big ice-skating rinks where you can skate to the rhythm of the great music.

Every Saturday there is an irresistible disco for youngsters on the one ice-skating rink and on the other there is an amazing disco for adults.

Need to warm up in between?
Then go to the nice bistro with two wonderful areas and eat or drink something delicious.

We can personally recommend the Parad-ICE without reservations.
Why ? You can have a lot of fun with your friends or you can go there on a trip with your family or even your class. In addition, the location of the Paradice is very central, you do not need a car to reach it because you can also reach it by tram. So, it is ideal for visitors.

Yours,

Monja & Hannes

Weserstadion

Source/Quelle: www.wikipedia.org

Hello Football-Fans,
I want to present you the most important place for all those who love this sport in Bremen, the Football-Stadium of the "Bundesliga"- Club Werder Bremen. The Stadium is called "Weser Stadion", because of its position right besides the river 'Weser'.
The "Weser-Stadion" is close to the city-centre of Bremen and easily reachable by public transport, car or bike.
Every two weeks you can go there to watch a football-match of "Werder Bremen" - our famous football club.
That is not all: You can also go there to visit the Fan-Shop, go to the Werder Museum "Wuseum", a museum showing the history of the place and its players. You can even watch the players while they are practising.

I personally love to visit the Weser-Stadion because of the good atmosphere among the fans, and of course I love to see my favourite Football-Club playing.

Yours,
Niklas

Youth Centres Bremen

Interested in an alternative activity, in getting to know new people from all backgrounds and different nationalities, discussing and talking ?? (-:
Then a youth centre is the perfect place for you to go!

In Bremen there are many youth centres located in the "Viertel" – a very cultural district. We’ll show you !
Concerts, workshops and other activities are regularly performed in Bremens Youth Centres and make everyday life way more exciting. The best thing is: all this is included in the program for every month, so you don’t miss out anything! You can even promote your own band, perform something on stage, which is very popular and a unique opportunity.

To come over spontaneously is absolutely no problem, on the contrary – we would love to welcome you!
Most of the Youth centres have little bars where you can buy drinks for little money, nice music to party and the air is filled with an inspiring atmosphere, to debate about political events, like facism and racism.
It definitely is an awesome place to go to, to fresh up your life!

See you there in May !!

Yours,
Anyos

My France Experience - a diary

by Charlene

Wednesday (1st day)
After a relaxed trip we arrived in Château du Loir which is close to Le Mans. The students Our “Corres” (the French students where we stayed) received us in their school. I think they were happy that we arrived, because their receipt was very warm and welcoming. We went with our corres to the city hall and the mayor delivered a speech, but it was a little stupid because the mayor only talked in French. After this speech we got some gifts, it was a very nice surprise for us. At the beginning, however, we were a little confused about all those new faces and different languages (-:
Next thing, I met the girl I was staying with, her name is Alice. She and her parents were very nice and welcoming to me (thank you again!). After the reception we drove to their house and I met her Dad. He was very friendly, too.

Thursday (2nd day)
On Thursday we went to school with our “Corres”. We had chemistry and physics. What a difference compared to Germany. An interesting observation I made: The pupils are more disciplined than in Germany, the school is very clean. But sometimes they talked much and do personal things (for example they played with their mobile). After the school we went to their gym and played Badminton and Volleyball, it makes a lot of fun. At home we watched a DVD in English, Alice and her mother heven tried to get English, so that I could understand something, but it did not work out. This is only one example of how my host family cared about me , it was very beautiful :).

Friday (3rd day)
On Friday we visited an old castle, it was a very impressive thing. The castle was very big and beautiful, the only drawback was that the weather was so bad. After the visit we went shopping in Tours. The Spanish and Belgian students could go alone in Tours, but we (the German students) had to go with our Corres which led to some differences of opinion, because we were so many pupils and everybody wanted to go in another shop.

Saturday (4th day)
On our last day on Saturday we went to Le Mans together with the French students where we could go shopping again. It was good weather and we all had a lot of fun. After shopping we went to an ice skate-rink where it was funny, because it gave also there program. :)

On Sunday we flew back to Germany.
Not only was it beautiful in France (despite the rain) - I could also learn a lot about French culture and customs and I could really train my English. Even if it is sometimes difficult to talk and to listen when there are different languages everywhere around you. I am very excited and happy when the students come to Bremen to visit us in May :).

Charlene

By Bicycle in Bremen

We have the headquarter of the German Bicycle-Club in Bremen (Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad Club). The ADFC Bremen offers many different one day tours and extended bicycle-tours to all kinds of destinations. You can borrow a bicycle at the ADFC-Station which is located at the central station and explore the city of Bremen by bike. There are particular signs on the streets posted by the ADFC in order to give cyclists orientation. Very beautiful destinations can be discovered by bike, e.g. the Ochtumpark, the Bürgerpark and, moreover, the area around the Werdersee and around the little river Wümme (the Blockland). These bicycle trips offer a great outdoor experience.
Furthermore we have wide and for children safe bicycle tracks in Bremen.


by Andre

Photos taken during the meeting in France

Château-du-Loir

Press release - meeting in Château-du-Loir (France)

Here are some extracts from the local press:

Minutes of the Comenius Conference in Château-du-Loir

21st to 25th January 2009

PARTICIPANTS

Aywaille (BE): Collette Franck, Jacqueline Vanstalle, Christiane
Château du Loir (F): Chrystelle Capdecomme, Stéphane Duarte, Patricia Guitton
Ourense (ES): Elisa Álvarez Fernández, Raquel Pato Lorenzo, Almudena
Alonso García, Roberto Fernández López
Bremen (GER) : Andrea Holzinger, Christian Braun, Frauke Eitmann, Christel
Spielhoff, Irene Janoschek

AGENDA

- Final presentation of the program

- Final Result

- Visit to Germany

- Europass


Final presentation of the program

Chrystelle Capdecomme and Stéphane Duarte presented the program (see individual file).

Final Result

Elisa Alvarez pointed out that the final result will be a CD /DVD containing the blog.

She explained that each country works on their own on the main topic. This is due to individual possibilities of each participating school.
Then each country presented their plans:

SPAIN
They are going to create a series of short films, explaining different possibilities of leisure activities in Ourense, including interviews with English subtitles, short documentary films, and so on.

GERMANY
Andrea informed about their plans. They will proceed with writing texts on leisure possibilities as already started and seen on the blog.
They have also already distributed the questionnaire on leisure activities. A group of students will evaluate them and create a presentation. This will as well be available on the blog.
For the future they might also make interviews. The form of presentation is yet unknown but the idea of creating a video is likely.

BELGIUM
Colette tells us that interviews and a questionnaire have been done, but texts on them have to be created.
She presents their plan of creating a small book on the negative aspects of leisure time, focusing on 3 main questions, including drawings and a photo report.
Topics:
1 - Abuse of alcohol
2 - Abuse of TV
3 - Abuse of new technologies (computers)

The positive aspects, such as basketball, horse riding, swimming, dancing, going out and shopping, will appear in a photo report.

Jacqueline talks about her collaboration with the science teacher of their school respecting the physical consequences dealing with this topic. Related to this activity they plan to visit a Museum in Liège, where they will get information about former leisure activities, their history and traditions.

FRANCE
Chrystelle informs us about the workshops they have set up in France. The students work in different workshops and later presented their work themselves involving the partners (students and teachers). They are going to create a newspaper on current leisure activities and during the workshop we got extracts of what was already initiated, articles written by the participating students and teachers as well, concerning their leisure activities, as for example TV series, weekend or holiday trips, sports, computer and social networking websites (e.g. facebook), expectations of the COMENIUS project, etc.

Visit to Germany

Germany proposed the partners to arrive on Tuesday 12 May in the evening to make it possible to start with the programme on Wednesday 13 May in the morning. Departure will be on Sunday 17 May.
France and Spain can make this possible. Belgium might just be able to arrive on Wednesday. We still decided on this arrangement and Germany will keep this in mind when setting up their programme.
It is possible for France to bring along 7 students instead of 4. For 2 student we can not yet guarantee 100% a placement in a family of our students but we will definitely accommodate them privately (e.g. Irene’s house).
They presented as well the possibility to accommodate teachers at Townside, a low-budget backpacker-hostel in Bremen (http://www.townside.de/english/).

Europass

For Germany it is possible to get Europass mobility certificates for the travelling students. This information has already been passed on to all partners by email. The Spanish national agency does not accept Comenius for Europass mobility. So each country has to check on their own whether they will get this for their students (see email on EUROPASS).


We would furthermore very much like to thank all the French people involved in this visit for making this a succesful and inspiring visit and exchange. All the more as this was the first time with students meeting each other.

by Elisa and Andrea