Día 6 - Excursión a Bremen e ao Weserstadion

Hoxe tocou madrugar un pouco! Ás 8:50 chegamos á estación de Haste para comezar a nosa viaxe cara a Bremen.

Chegamos sobre as 10:54 a unha estación de tren moi bonita. Desde alí, camiñamos ata a parada do bus, onde collemos a liña dez para un traxecto duns dez minutos en dirección ao Weserstadion.

Sobre as 11:30 comezamos un tour guiado polo impresionante estadio do Werder Bremen. Explicáronnos que está adaptado para persoas con mobilidade reducida e ten unha capacidade de 42.000 espectadores, situándose no "top 8" dos estadios máis grandes da Bundesliga. Unha curiosidade é o seu céspede natural, que reflicte unha cor máis escura ou máis clara dependendo da luz que se lle aplique.

Dirixímonos ao interior do estadio, pasando pola zona mixta onde se fan as entrevistas, e despois visitamos os vestiarios: tanto o dos xogadores e equipo médico como o dos árbitros.

Tamén nos ensinaron a zona VIP, que é a máis antiga (construída en 1992) e unha das máis pequenas de Alemaña.

O club está moi involucrado coa sostibilidade e o coidado do medio ambiente. Na súa última reforma (2008-2009) engadiron placas solares, creando a maior instalación deste tipo integrada nun estadio en toda Europa. A enerxía que producen non a utilizan para o estadio, senón que lla venden á compañía enerxética. Ademais, usan un sistema similar ao dos foguetes para non perder a calor, o que reduce a perda nun 23%.

Puidemos ver fotos sobre a evolución do estadio, onde se apreciaban as diferentes obras e como pasou de ser un recinto multiúsos a estar dedicado exclusivamente ao fútbol. Para rematar, finalizamos a visita no museo do club, onde vimos moitos premios e artigos históricos.

Despois do tour, tivemos tempo para comer e gozamos dunha visita guiada polas rúas de Bremen, na que vimos a famosa estatua dos músicos de Bremen. Di a lenda que se a tocas, dáche sorte!

Day 6 - Trip to Bremen and the Weserstadion

Today we had to get up a bit early! At 8:50 AM, we arrived at Haste station to begin our journey to Bremen.

We arrived around 10:54 AM at a very beautiful train station. From there, we walked to the bus stop, where we caught line ten for about a ten-minute ride towards the Weserstadion.

Around 11:30 AM, we started a guided tour of the impressive Werder Bremen stadium. They explained that it is adapted for people with reduced mobility and has a capacity of 42,000 spectators, placing it in the "top 8" of the largest stadiums in the Bundesliga. A curious fact is its natural grass, which reflects a darker or lighter color depending on the light applied to it.

We headed inside the stadium, passing through the mixed zone where interviews are held, and then we visited the dressing rooms: both for the players and medical team, and for the referees.

They also showed us the VIP area, which is the oldest (built in 1992) and one of the smallest in Germany.

The club is very involved in sustainability and environmental care. In their last renovation (2008-2009), they added solar panels, creating the largest such installation integrated into a stadium in all of Europe. They don't use the energy produced for the stadium; instead, they sell it to the energy company. Additionally, they use a system similar to those on rockets to avoid heat loss, which reduces heat loss by 23%.

We were able to see photos of the stadium's evolution, showing the different works and how it went from being a multi-purpose venue to one dedicated exclusively to football. To finish, we ended the visit at the club's museum, where we saw many awards and historical items.

After the tour, we had time for lunch and enjoyed a guided tour through the streets of Bremen, where we saw the famous statue of the Town Musicians of Bremen. Legend says that if you touch it, it brings you luck!

Día 5 - Un domingo coas familias

Despois duns primeiros días intensos, o domingo 16 foi un día moi especial e necesario: o Día de Familias. O plan era sinxelo: que cada un de nós compartise o día coa súa familia anfitrioa alemá, unha oportunidade perfecta para coñecer de preto os seus costumes, estreitar lazos e, en definitiva, vivir unha inmersión total.

E, polo que nos contaron, as experiencias foron de todo tipo!

Unha das actividades estrela do día foi o patinaxe sobre xeo. Varios dos nosos estudantes, como Naiara e Manuel, calzáronse os patíns e gozaron dunha tarde divertida xunto con outros compañeiros do grupo Erasmus e as súas familias.

Outros optaron por plans máis caseiros ou deportivos. Enma, por exemplo, pasou a mañá con xogos de mesa e, pola tarde, foi a Hannover a descubrir o "Golf de Neón". Pola súa banda, Daniela e Erika tiveron unha xornada de pizza e vicio ao MarioKart, mentres que Santiago e Luís se retaron ao bádminton e ao FIFA.

Por suposto, a comida foi unha parte importante do día. Houbo tempo para todo: desde almorzos familiares con waffles, ata ceas en restaurantes, como as que gozaron Daniela, Erika, Santiago e Luís coas súas familias.

En resumo, foi un domingo perfecto para descansar, cargar pilas, rir e crear recordos inesquecibles fóra da rutina escolar. Unha auténtica experiencia de inmersión antes de comezar unha nova semana do proxecto.

Deixamos algunhas instantáneas:

Day 5 - A Sunday with the families

After an intense first few days, Sunday the 16th was a very special and necessary day: Family Day. The plan was simple: for each of us to share the day with our German host family, a perfect opportunity to get a close look at their customs, strengthen bonds, and, ultimately, live a full immersion experience.

And, from what we've been told, the experiences were of all kinds!

One of the star activities of the day was ice skating. Several of our students, like Naiara and Manuel, put on their skates and enjoyed a fun afternoon along with other classmates from the Erasmus group and their families.

Others opted for more homemade or sporting plans. Enma, for example, spent the morning playing board games and, in the afternoon, went to Hannover to discover "Neon Golf". Meanwhile, Daniela and Erika had a day of pizza and MarioKart addiction, while Santiago and Luís challenged each other to badminton and FIFA.

Of course, food was an important part of the day. There was time for everything: from family breakfasts with waffles to dinners at restaurants, like the ones Daniela, Erika, Santiago, and Luís enjoyed with their families.

In summary, it was a perfect Sunday to rest, recharge batteries, laugh, and create unforgettable memories outside the school routine. A true immersion experience before starting a new week of the project.

Día 4: Almorzo alemán (con sorpresa!) e obradoiro sostible 🏠

Bo día! Hoxe, 16 de novembro, o día na escola comezou cun auténtico deutsches Frühstück (almorzo alemán)! 🥨

Tivemos a oportunidade de probar cousas que vemos nas pelis, como os pretzels xigantes, acompañados de zume e... si, pepino! 🥒 (parece que aquí é moi normal para almorzar).

Pero o momento máis... interesante... foi cando nos presentaron o Mettbrötchen. 😮 Isto si que non o vemos todos os días: un boliño de pan con manteiga, cebola picada e... carne de porco crúa! 🐷 Chámase Mett.

Foi a proba de lume para os máis valentes do grupo. Unha experiencia gastronómica total! Algúns repetiron, outros... non tanto! 😂 É incrible descubrir estes contrastes culturais.

Despois de poñer a proba o estómago, puxemos a proba a nosa creatividade! 🧠 Tivemos un obradoiro súper chulo onde fixemos maquetas de casas sostibles 🏡.

Usamos materiais totalmente naturais, como madeira 🪵 e arxila, aprendendo como se pode construír de forma máis ecolóxica e respectuosa co medio ambiente. Unha actividade xenial para pechar a mañá! 👋

Day 4: German Breakfast (with a surprise!) and Sustainable Workshop 🏠

Good morning! Today, November 16th, the day at school started with an authentic deutsches Frühstück (German breakfast)! 🥨

We had the chance to try things we usually only see in movies, like giant pretzels, served with juice and... yes, cucumber! 🥒 (it seems that's a very normal breakfast food here).

But the most... interesting... moment was when they introduced us to the Mettbrötchen. 😮 This is definitely not something we see every day: a bread roll with butter, chopped onions, and... raw minced pork! 🐷 It's called Mett.

It was the ultimate test of courage for the brave ones in our group. A total gastronomic experience! Some asked for seconds, others... not so much! 😂 It's amazing to discover these cultural contrasts.

After testing our stomachs, we tested our creativity! 🧠 We had a super cool workshop where we made models of sustainable houses 🏡.

We used completely natural materials, like wood  and clay, learning how it's possible to build in a more ecological and environmentally friendly way. A great activity to wrap up the morning! 👋

Día 3: Descubrindo Hannover! 🚂

O noso terceiro día comezou cedo! Collemos o tren cara a Hannover (só 30 minutiños). Ao chegar, fomos directos a explorar!

Visitamos a igrexa luterana ⛪ e descubrimos algo moi curioso: ten a cuncha  do Camiño de Santiago na porta, porque os peregrinos tamén pasaban por alí! Tamén vimos a famosa Universidade Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz 🎓, coa súa estatua do cabalo branco (o Niedersachsenpferd).

Despois, fomos á Hauptmensa (o comedor principal da universidade). Quedamos impresionados co seu plan de sustentabilidade ♻️. Teñen tres piares: ecoloxía, economía e sociabilidade. Ofrecen menús variados (vexetariano, baixo en carbono e de carne) para 10.000 estudantes! 😳 O mellor é o seu obxectivo de "residuo cero": usan moi poucos envases (os menús vense en iPads!) e a comida que sobra repártese en comedores sociais. ¡E por suposto, comemos alí! 😋

Pola tarde, vimos as "Nanas" 👩‍🎨. Son tres figuras enormes e coloridas (Sophie, Charlotte e Caroline) que representan a alegría e a loita das mulleres. Tamén paseamos pola Praza do Baile, un lugar con moita historia da Segunda Guerra Mundial, e vimos a espectacular Ópera de Hannover 🎼.

A última parada foi o Bauern Markt (o mercado de agricultores) 🍓🥕. Alí explicáronnos como máis de 1000 granxeiros locais 👨‍🌾 traballan xuntos para distribuír os seus produtos frescos por toda a cidade.

Foi un día súper intenso e cheo de cousas novas. Cansados pero contentos, voltamos a Bad Nenndorf! 

Day 3: Discovering Hannover! 🚂

Our third day started early! ☀️ We caught the train 🚆 to Hannover (only 30 minutes). As soon as we arrived, we went straight to explore!

We visited the Lutheran church  and discovered something very curious: it has the shell from the "Camino de Santiago" (St. James's Way) on its door, because pilgrims used to pass through here too! We also saw the famous Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University 🎓, with its white horse statue (the Niedersachsenpferd).

After that, we went to the Hauptmensa (the main university dining hall). We were very impressed with their sustainability plan ♻️. They have three pillars: ecology, economy, and social responsibility. They offer varied menus (vegetarian, low carbon footprint, and meat) for 10,000 students! 😳 The best part is their "zero waste" goal: they use very few containers (the menus are shown on iPads!) and any leftover food is distributed to social canteens. And of course, we ate there! 😋

In the afternoon, we saw the "Nanas" 👩‍🎨. These are three huge, colorful figures (Sophie, Charlotte, and Caroline) that represent the joy and strength of women. We also walked through the Praza do Baile (Dance Square), a place with a lot of history from WWII, and saw the spectacular Hannover Opera House 🎼.

The last stop was the Bauern Markt (the farmers' market) 🍓🥕. There, they explained how over 1,000 local farmers 👨‍🌾 work together to distribute their fresh produce throughout the city.

It was a super intense day filled with new things. Tired but happy, we returned to Bad Nenndorf!

Our second day began with a visit to the school, where the students from Gymnasium Bad Nenndorf (gbn) gave us a presentation of the week's plan and some ice-breaking activities to get to know each other better. After that, a bus picked us up to go to Hamelin. Once there, we attended a talk by Dirk Diekmann-Tirre, who is in charge of the restoration of over 900 protected buildings, in which he told us about his daily work and ways to have sustainable energy in the traditional houses of the city, integrating it perfectly. He told us a bit about his most common jobs, acting as a kind of "doctor" of construction. He also mentioned the big problem that traffic represents, as it devalues the traditional houses of Hamelin. As a curious fact, Germany has programs in which people can volunteer to try to help and improve the restoration of these.

If you want more information, you can visit this expert's blog at Stadpunkte.blog . His work can be really difficult and, above all, long.

After the talk, they guided us through the city, looking at houses under restoration, focusing especially on one that burned down centuries ago, showing us its interior and some objects found inside it (like stone molds for plates and jugs). At this information stop at the house, we were accompanied by an expert on the subject and an archaeologist.

Afterwards, we had some free time for lunch and to see Hamelin, where everyone went off in groups with their exchange student.

After lunch, to finish the visit, the German students gave us a tour of the city, highlighting historical places and facts about it. When it was over, we got on the bus back to Bad Nenndorf, where everyone made different plans with their partner.

Comeza a aventura! De Santiago a Hannover

A primeira etapa da viaxe de Erasmus+  de 3º de ESO completouse con éxito! Foron unhas horas longas e cheas de emoción, pero xa podemos confirmar que todo o grupo se atopa perfectamente en Alemaña, listo para comezar esta incrible experiencia.

Queremos compartir con vós un pequeno diario destas primeiras 24 horas.

We are pleased to inform you that the first stage of the Erasmus+ trip for your 3rd Year ESO sons and daughters has been successfully completed! It has been a long and exciting few hours, but we can now confirm that the entire group is well in Germany, ready to start this incredible experience.

We want to share with you a small diary of these first 24 hours.

5. Chegada e encontro coas familias

E por fin, chegamos a Hannover! Alí estaban agardando as seis familias anfitrioas, que recibiron aos nosos alumnos con moito agarimo, hospitalidade e algún que outro cartel de benvida.

Queremos tranquilizarvos a todos: os vosos fillos e fillas están xa instalados nas súas novas casas, sans e salvos, e listos para vivir esta experiencia ao máximo.

Manterémosvos informados de todas as novidades a través deste espazo. Grazas pola vosa confianza!

And finally, we arrived in Hannover! The six host families were waiting there, receiving our students with great affection, hospitality, and a few welcome signs.

We want to reassure all of you: your sons and daughters are already settled in their new homes, safe and sound, and ready to live this experience to the fullest.

We will keep you informed of all updates through this space. Thank you for your trust!