Experiences, Impressions, Curiosities

Polish students

Comenius is a program that gives broad prospects for young people to get to know the social situation in the countries, which are different from each other culturally and historically. At the same time, it provides opportunities to mention the reflections and the real facts about the problems of these countries. Thanks to meetings, we-the youth learn what to do and what to avoid in order to make life in society better. We are at the stage of forming our opinions, so this is a great chance to create our own points of view.

The trip to France, where the theme was the equality between women and men in society, let me look at this issue in a new and interesting way. And also understand that gender equality is very difficult to achieve, but not impossible.

Monika, 18 years old

This project will stay for a long time in my mind. Opportunity of meeting with teenagers from almost all Europe was an amazing experience, which resulted in established contact, but above all the possibility of associating with different cultures. The topic of a meeting in Champagnole was gender equality. During the presentations of the countries taking part in this project, we had a chance to hear about attitudes of citizens and authorities to gender roles in each of these countries. We could also see beautiful Champagnole and some sights of region Franche-Comte. This place is known for many kinds of cheese and white wine.

The result of many hours of conversations and workshops was presenting the scenes, which showed a contrast of attitudes in the topic of gender equality. These scenes were made by the students from international groups. At the end of our meeting the verdict of the competition for the official logo was announced. This competition won a group from Italy, the second and the third place went to a Romanian group. In the evening there was a final meeting with karaoke. This evening was a great enclosing of the whole meeting in a beautiful and snowy Champagnole. Next day at Geneva airport we had a long goodbye. We promised to keep in touch and to meet in the near future.

Natalia, 18

Last week I participated in Comenius programme in France. It was a meeting of young people from Latvia, Italy, Czech, Greece, Poland, Romania, France and Turkey. We were hosted by our partners from Champagnole, France. We took part in many group activities, classes and lectures. In my opinion Comenius project was great opportunity for meeting new, interesting, young people from many countries of Europe. Thanks to this program we could practise our English skills. Thanks to presentations and conversations with our peers we learnt a lot about living in other countries and situation of men and women in many societies. Classes and workshops taught us how not to give in to stereotypes. I think it was a valuable and eventful trip. Personally, I really appreciate the fact that the French family hosted me. They were very nice and hospitable. I learnt many traditions and made friends with my hosts.Marcjanna, 16

I had pleasure to participate in Comenius project in France. I had great time while working in multinational groups on gender studies material. It was a great opportunity to make new friends with my peers from other countries and learn many interesting things about their daily life and culture. For me, the most incredible thing in this event is teaching young people how to cooperate and change our world for better. Comenius program educates us how to live in unity, peace and equality. It is important to remind us about this in world full of stereotypes and prejudice. I count on more projects like this and I hope this is not my last time I was part of such affair.

Weronika, 16

Romanian students

• • In Champagnole, in a traditional shop, there were more than 200 types of cheese. The French eat a lot of cheese 

  • Near Champagnole there are vineyards where the Wine of Jura, very famous in France, is produced.

  • French people eat a lot of pancakes, even at dinner

  • Their school, named Paul Emile Victor, has the shape of a ship.

  • The school has this name because Paul Emile Victor was a famous French explorer.

  • The pupils are not taught all the subjects in the same classroom but, for each class, they go to a different classroom. In Romania it is the other way round.

  • Almost all the French pupils involved in the project live near Champagnole, and usually their parents bring them to school.

  • All the pupils let their bags on the hallway, where there are some special places for bags.

  • The highschool from Champagnole has also a professional branch, where students are trained to become a nurse, how to take care of a baby, or mechanical stuff.

  • They have labs for every class.

  • The teenagers from Champagnole have a lot of piercings.

  • Every day the classes finish at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, except on Wednesdays when the classes finish at 12 o’clock.

  • The people from Champagnole are very friendly and good hosts

BIANCA BALUTA, 18 YEARS OLD, ROMANIA

Latvian Students

I really liked in France. I enjoyed the process when we got ready for this visit and every work we did together. I was surprised how different where our language skills. The best thing was role plays about gender role and streotypes. I liked the family where I lived. They were so kind and sweet.

Kitija

For me the best day was when we did the theatre and I was Patre Cornelius. And singing karaoke was great. It`s like we were one for all and all for one. I liked the trip to vine yards. It was snowing, we made some snowmen and having a snow fight. Viktorija

David and Tomas, Czech Republic

My experiences in France

It surprised me:

- There was snow unlike the Czech Republic

- Almost every food was with cheese

- At school they did not even change the clothes and children footwear needed

- Are in school until evening

- School at Champagnole looked like a factory

- People are lovers of cheese

- They eat breakfast bread toast with jam and orange juice

Written by Iveta Bartková

Italian Students

The experience in France was awesome!! I missed it so much. I really loved meeting new friends from all over Europe and talking English with them was absolutely amazing! I honestly think that this was the best journey I've ever had. I hope I can meet my Czech, French, Latvian, Romanian, Turkish and Greek friends again one day!

Greek Students

Turkish students