Students Views

ERASMUS 2018 – Plas Menai

Angela's Story

What did I like the most and why?

It wouldn’t be a lie if I said that I liked everything about this amazing experience. The places we visited, the work we did, the different cultures and languages. However, what I liked the most was the company and the way we worked on the play. I’m happy I got to meet those people, both students and teachers, because we shared a short but precious friendship and learned plenty of new things. In addition, I loved that our teachers in the group valued my opinion and asked for ideas but also guided us on what to do. They weren’t cold nor typical with us, but friendly. And in comparison with last year, this was totally different. I mean Erasmus 2017 was pretty nice, but this time I bonded much more with some people (I think staying at the same place helped a lot) and also the final presentation was a lot more professional, for sure.

Do I feel like something inside me has changed?

Well yes, for sure. First of all I got a lot closer with the Greek team, especially my roommate. Also, I think that the fact I couldn’t stop crying the day we left says it all. I miss everyone and I’m looking forward to seeing them again in the future. What’s more, after this experience I find it very normal to study abroad (I was born in America and I plan on going back), and I didn’t think communicating would be that easy. Finally, I loved this program because I was truly myself there and although I always was a sociable person, it raised my self-esteem more.

Did I gain any useful experience or knowledge and why?

I believe that I did, for sure. I learned that we have to broaden our horizons, accept the differences and travel, because there are amazing people out there and we have more in common than we could imagine. What’s more I learned about traditions and daily life of other countries and, of course, the lovely but tragic story of Macbeth. I also observed the fact that, in the world of theater you don’t have to just pretend you are someone else, but get in their shoes and feel their true emotions. That way, when the audience watches that, they get affected it’s the best thing ever, for real.

Would I do it again and why?

Is that even a question? Absolutely! Not only I had an amazing time and met new people, but also I shared my interests with them, learned plenty of things AND used my English. I also loved the fact that I could talk so easily with everyone.

Would I suggest someone to do it and why?

Yep, it’s definitely something you have to experience. You meet new people and cultures, make friends, practice your English, play interesting games, learn about theater, visit new places.. Do I have to continue?

Do I believe these programs are important, and why?

Yes they are, for all the reasons above, and for the fact that you don’t only meet other people but also get to know yourself better.

My feelings before and after the experience.

Well, I always know how to have fun, but to be honest I didn’t expect this experience to be THIS nice. I thought it would be something normal. However, I was wrong, it became one of the best experiences I ever had. So, at the ‘’end’’, imagine that, for the first time, I hadn’t missed anyone from Greece, not even my best friend. We were just crying because we didn’t wanna go home. In addition, I loved the fact that this ‘’journey’’ helped me overcome some problems I had at this period of my life and when I got back I just forgot about them. A week has passed and of course I really enjoy my normal life but still, I miss everything and I hope I see some people again!

Eleni's Story

I can’t believe it's over ... I do not know where to start mmm. Surely it was one of the best experiences I've ever had ... at first it was best to meet new people, I learned their habits and became friends and I'm sure these friendships will keep for all my life. When I came back to Greece, I felt very fortunate to have experienced an experience like this because we all worked for a common purpose, and with this process we got to know each other better, and at the end we made an amazing result. I was energetic and very self-confident. One of the useful knowledge I took through the program is that no matter which country we are each, we can successfully work together for a common goal as a team. Is certainly something I would have done again if I was given the opportunity because I would like to meet all my friends again (including Alex and Whitney) to meet new people and to relive all the experience. Except that I would have done it again I would be advised to my friends as well because it is a pleasurable and unforgettable experience of life. These programs are very useful because they give you the opportunity to get out and get to know the world. To understand that there are many open doors for you and it is an opportunity to escape from your daily routine. Finally I would like to say that before I came to the Manchester I was very anxious if I would be accepted by the whole team. I would like to say a huge congratulation to the teachers and students who have given us because they made me feel that my view was measuring and incorporating all the ideas we had for the play without rejecting any. Thank you all who were in the program and gave me such a chance!!!

with great appreciation,

Eleni Ioannidou x

Maria's Story

Erasmus+ was an amazing experience that I will never forget. It was the first time being abroad for me and that made our trip to Wales even more exciting. Spending one week with many students from other countries, studying " Macbeth" is not all we have done. What I liked the most was the fact that we worked on a theatrical play but not in a simple way, reading scripts and learning lines by heart. We CREATED based on the play, exploring through groupwork all the aspects of "Macbeth" in such a creative way, talking and discussing, with our leaders from Manchester! Team work helped me to accept the different beliefs of different people. We cannot always do what we want, our opinion and ideas are not the only correct ones because everyone has a different perspective of each subject, after all. I learnt how to live with new people, learn things about them and their culture, let them know things about myself and my habits. The Erasmus+ experience was so unique that I would do it again for sure, in the future if I have the chance. I enjoyed so much the communication with the foreign students, the workshops in which we were completely free to create based on the play of "Macbeth", the evenings we spent all together playing, singing, laughing!

I would suggest everybody to participate in the program as it helps you to learn a lot about an interesting subject, make new friends, visit other countries. You are free to express yourself in a safe area, work with people with different interests and habits and practice your English! Moreover, you forget everyday life and the daily routine by spending a week in a new place, doing something creative and really educational at the same time! I realised through my experience that those programs are necessary to keep on taking place in the European Union. Students are given the opportunity of exploring the world literally and metaphorically by joining Erasmus+ program. They explore the world by travelling, meeting new people from different countries, learning things about them and sharing ideas while they study all together very interesting subjects.

Initially, I was thoughtful and very concerned about visiting a foreign country, without my parents, my friends even though I really loved the topic of the program. For my surprise, when we arrived in Plas Menai, started knowing each other and working I forgot every bad thought and just let myself enjoy the experience.

ZOUBARA MARIA

From

Zeynep Doray:

I want to begin by saying how much I love traveling and experiencing new places I have never been before. Especially if I am going abroad for learning and studying purposes. Erasmus is a very common project which provides us to get information from different cultures and widen our knowledge. Wales was a place that impressed me in so many ways, the atmosphere, nature. It made me so happy that people were very kind and supportive. I felt safe and happy like it was the place that I should be living my life. I am not a city person but more like a town girl who loves hiking and going for walks between the small cute houses. I went to summer schools before and they were no closer to being this hard-working and inspiring. The friends I made from different cultures and the possibility for us to write our own lines and even mixing them with our language was spectacular. It showed how much of a big this projects is. I am very thankful to anybody who made this possible. This is an experience that I would never forget.

I always had interesting hobbies like mixing audios under a trailer of a film, hiking at the young age, making montages. I have been making montages for over 4 years and It has become my dream to be a film producer. So here is a video montage that I made for Wales/UK:

https://youtu.be/z0bIBri_fdM (I also put subtitles for Turkish spoken videos)

by Elif Begüm Koç

Impressions of Wales As a Witness

Being able to go to Wales was a bit surprising.Somewhere I have never been to before.Increasing excitement in my whole body with a courage I need.Feelings have never faded away and I'm sure I'll mention them.

Our road trip started when we gathered at school and took a mini van to get to the airport.Wenapped for some time and by the time we got there,we took our luggage and finished what we had to do in the airport in order to be allowed to travel by plane.We had leisure time till the opening gate so we wandered around,enjoyed the moment.

On the plane,we had our lunch and after that relaxed until we arrived at Manchester.I listened to some soundtracks and watched a film called “Blood Wars”.It was quite nice actually.

Manchester was as beautiful as I expected.Itsstreets,people and so on… Also Trafford Centre was a huge shopping centrethough.We had about 4 hours to explore the place and for shopping which hightened my excitement the most.I didn't buy much from the shops but it literally made my day.Oh,and also a little detail about the dinner I had:I ordered a pizza which had mushrooms on it but since I dislike mushroom I picked every single mushroom and took it away.That was kind of a waste.

Our way back to the hotel was challenging.We could not find a taxi and it was freezing out there.We got on a few buses and walked a bit till we got back.

Next day,we had our breakfast and went to Wales with a coach with our friends from other countries.We stayed at an Outdoor Centre.We had our lunch and got to know each other.First day in Wales was a warm up for everyone.

Second day,we started the day with some games in order to get closer.It was quite fun by the way.When we learnt the group which we were in,we placed in our rooms for the group and played some games and introduced ourselves.All those people I got to see were all amazing.I’m lucky to know them.

Our rehearsals were educational and fun at the same time.Our teachers were so nice and kind and I believe we all loved them all.Our group got prepared for Lady Macbeth's different types of personalities which includes some movement techniques and emotions.Of course we did not just rehearsed,we also explored some new areas in Wales and went shopping J.Romania,Greece,Denmark and Turkey… Different cultures but the same work.I love it! We also had some amusing nights like Karaoke,Quiz,CulturalNights.We sang songs together.We competed and also showed our cultural folk dance.It was such a greatfulnessthat I fell in love with my culture again.

There was also performances.I have got to say,I think ours was the best J But also the others were the ones which got me.We finished performing[ebk1] with the battle scene where Macbeth is killed by Macduff and there is blood everywhere.

I had my maybe the most unforgettable moments in Wales with so many people I love and I still remember how we spent our time together and smile.

Manchester again!! Stayed one day at a hotel in Manchester and did shopping again !! It was again freezing for us and we were all frozen when we got back to our beds.

This was how our trip processed.I seized the moment and wished that It would never end but eventually,we got back to Turkey.I still talk to my friends from other countries and we love each other.What an amazing week in England I had!

The poem written by Elif Begüm Koç

Harmony in Wales

I walked out of the plane With a hop and a flame

Didn’t know what this was Until I arrived at Wales

Shakespeare was our main issue

Amazed by his scourge

Mind blowing emotions

With a mixture of hallucinations

Friendship I adore

Culture I trace

Was locked in a cell

Until I realised there was so much to tell

Take me out of this cell

Free me with your spell

Kill me while I rebel

End this all with a duel

What a blast I had

Performing in a crowd of

lick flocking as I bend

Movements like a mermaid

Comparing our custom

Seeing we all had the same dream

Gathering without our differences

Speculation among our minds

In conclusion to all this

Behind that I have found my bliss

Learnt a few words from different languages

Someday I believe

We meet somewhere prestigious

Written by:Elif Begüm Koç