Teacher impressions - Spain

    The portuguese team felt like being at home. Besides the hospitality, organization and friendship, the weather was fantastic. We were surrounded by a profound sense of love and fellowship. Meeting new people, making new friendships and renewing old ones was especially pleasing.
It was a moving experience. The visits to the historical centre of Santiago with such a special guide, to Fragas do Eume and the natural Park of Corrubedo was a very satisfying experience and worth the effort.
                                                     Anabela Dalot, Ana Teixeira, Elisabete Silva, Fernando Fernandes , José Queirós

    It was my first time in Santiago and its area, and it was a wonderful surprise.
Pablo, Isabella, Leopoldo and their friends did their best to show us the wonderful treasures of this place. Of course the old town with its stones smelling good the history, but also the wild areas like Fragas do Eume wood “Corrubedo” natural park. The outdoor activities were very interesting for teachers and students, watching birds, walking and feeling free in such a pure landscape were very intense time of happiness.
The sky was also with us, spreading summer weather.
When we left the hotel to reach the Porto’s airport, I could feel the strong relationship that has been built for 5 days between my students and their new friends: a very moving moment! And I could check this feeling, when I learned the activities and the places they visited with their family.
For Comenius teacher’s team, this meeting was a way to make even stronger the links between all of us… I already miss all of you, and waiting for 4 months to see you again will be a too long time.
In two words this meeting was a great success.

                                                                                                                                                            Philippe, Reunion

     If I should use just one word to describe the meeting in Santiago, I would say "unforgetable". One single word but so many nice memories behind it.
First that came into my mind is the joy of seeing our dear friends Pablo and Isa and their warm reception from the airport.
Each day of our short period spent in Santiago was special.
In the first day, the students were in the spotlight, showing us their works. The theme from this meeting was generous and each country's presentation about the biodiversity of rivers was captivating. In the afternoon, we took a guided walk with on the cobblestone streets from the old town, the same streets crossed by the pilgrims since the middle ages and admired the outstanding architecture of the historic buildings. I must say that I didn't know much about the historical and spiritual importance of the Way of St. James and I am glad that I had the opportunity to find out about this treasure of european culture. I was impressed by the imposing cathedral and the holy and unique atmosphere of the old city.
Next two days spent in the middle of the beautiful nature of Galicia were marvelous.
In Fragas do Eume Natural Park besides the nice and long walk on the banks of the river Eume we took part to an interesting outdoor lesson about the main botanical species from this zone.
Another lesson was the birdwatching in the Vixan freshwater lagoon. I never participated at something like that before, so I can say that it was „a true lesson” and its value exceeds any lesson held in the classroom.
The most unique lanscapes that I have seen and are still fresh in my mind are the moving sand dunes from Corrubedo Natural Park and the beach from the coast of Atlantic Ocean. It was a pleasure to see for the first time the ocean and walk on its shore.
This meeting had all the "ingredients" to be one of the best: good programme, natural beauties, science, culture, history, legend, atmosphere, good weather and above all this, an excellent organization.
Thank you Pablo and all Spanish team, for everything you have done to make us feel so well, thanks for the nice and unforgetable days spent in Santiago.
Thank you Isabel for all the support you gave us, to resolve our unexpectable problems.
Thank you, parents and students hosts, our children were very pleased of all you did for them, and how you made them feel welcome, appreciate and important.

                                                                                                                                                Laura Filimon, Romania

   I am glad that I could participate with you at the so well-organized activities from this meeting. I was impressed by the various forms of nature. The weather was very good, so I had the impression that I am in vacation. I had the pleasure to go and see the Atlantic Ocean. Santiago is a beautiful city with old and new buildings which impressed me, but most of all, impressed me the Cathedral. I enjoyed various kinds of sea-food served at the meal. My opinion is that this project was succesfull and the pupils could enrich their historical and geographical knowledge.
For Isabel,Pablo,Leo and the other teachers all the best wishes. I thank you for all that you offer us in Santiago de Galicia.
                                                                                                                                                  Dana Bodean Romania

    After an unforgettable week I felt sadness as I left my family. It was really long, adventurous and formidable trip for us but after a warm welcome and meeting such kind of warm blooded, hospitable friends, we got rid of our stress and tiredness. Both the students and teachers of IES de SAR school showed a great hospitability during whole trip. All the planned trip was extremely well throughout and fascinating.
Santiago de Compostela…. This city has captured me with the narrow streets; fascinating monasteries, wonderful parks, exquisite dining and friendlier people…I really wanted to get lost in the narrow streets of this city. And Spanish team… I will never forget your high performance and your friendship. Isabel, my angel, thank you so much for your support during whole journey from İstanbul to Santiago. You solved all the problems with a smiling face. After 3 tiredness day, you were full of energy during certificate ceremony. I really fascinated from your dancing. Pablo, thank you very much, you planned a wonderful meeting and you did everything to make us happy. You were always with us although you were sick. I also would thank to your brother for his guidance and to your son for his brilliant collection. It was really fantastic. Leopoldo, because of you, I learned lots of things during whole trip. You are the best teacher in my dreams. Antonio, polite man, I always felt peaceful with you. And thanks to music and art teachers for the wonderful performance and gifts.
I am so lucky that I had a chance to spend such wonderful time in your city. If I could I would come again…

                                                                                                                                                        Elife KÖSE, Turkey

    After a long trip to Spain, we were very happy to see Anton in front of our bus. Finally we were at the school and saw our friends all waiting for us. It was exciting to see all of them. Pablo, Isabel and Spanish group were very hospitable and made an impressive welcome. The presentations were very nice and showed us how students were well organized and studied much. Santiago de Compostela is a small and pretty city. The history of the city affected all of us. The trips were very interesting. We had much enjoy while trekking, observing, searching and living the nature. Days passed quickly and the last day we were sorry to leave our friends. The party was enjoyable and I was very surprised with the song that Fernando sang to me, Elife and Ezgi?��He was a great singer. At last Thank you to all of you worked in the organization and our friends made our days amazing.

                                                                                                                                      Oya BÜKÜLMEZER, Turkey


    To going Spain would be a different experience….this was my thought just before going to airport. Then, we started our adventurous trip and felt excited about our trip. After we reached Santiago de Compostela, we were so happy to see our colleagues. We realized that we missed them all. Not only the teachers but also the students were so happy to come together after the Turkey meeting. Spain team was so kind and hospitable. The city was small and has historical streets, buildings that reflect its past times. They were amazing. We learned some about history of the city. Also, we had small trips to observe and experience the nature and biodiversity. These were very important details for all of us. We had enjoyed with them. You are very polite and solve the problems that aroused in an unexpected time. Thanks for all of you that made our time valuable and also for your sincerity and friendliness

                                                                                                                                             Ezgi KORKUT, Turkey

  During the period from 28/10/2014 until 30/10/2014 was held in Spain the Comenius Biodiversity in which Cyprus participated. Leader of the Cypriot team was Mr Nicolas Nicolaou, accompanied by Mrs Evanthia Andreou escorting two female pupils, Charalambous Nicoleta, and Gavrielides Melana. The team, set off from Larnaca on Sunday 26/10/2014 at noon and reached Madrid through Milan. It arrived in Santiago de Compostela next morning at 6.30 and accommodated the “Nest Style Hotel” which resulted as a very pleasant stay. The hosting families came in the afternoon to get the pupils.
The morning of Tuesday we attended a welcome meeting at the school where we exchanged presents. We offered them Cypriot delicacies like “pastellaki” and “haroupomelo”. The seminar hosted several countries, among them Poland, Turkey, Romania and Portugal, which showed national promotional video. We completed the day with lunch and a tour around the old town. The following day we were engaged in several activities during a visit to “Fragas do Eume”, one of the best reserved Atlantic woods and had lunch in the Pontedeume village. On Thursday we visited the “Corrubedo” natural park and had a walk at Pedra de Ra. At dinner party in the Monte de Condesa a giving ceremony was held in which all participants were given certificates. On Friday afternoon the pupils returned from their hosting families and we arranged the return journey. We started the journey on Saturday and we arrived in Larnaca Sunday at noon.
All in all it was a memorable experience in which I enjoyed the hospitality of the Spanish people, loved the Spanish homeland scenery and had the opportunity to meet and interact with other cultures. I returned home richer in experiences and I would gladly repeat the experiment in the future.

Evanthia Andreou, Cyprus

    The 4th meeting of Comenius in Santiago de Compostella was really a nice experience for all students and teachers from Cyprus. We would like through this note to thank all the organizing team of the meeting in Spain. The program was perfect and we all had a wonderful time in Spain.

Nikolas Nikolaou, coordinator of the team