Experiences, Impressions, Curiosities

French students

Monopoli is a beautiful city, the sea is magnificent. I liked visiting Castellana caves, and Alberobello was very beautiful too.The partners were very nice, we met wonderful people.

Of course, there was some small problems, like when our suitcases were lost somewhere between Geneva and Bari.

I really liked the Italian food! We discovered a lot of things about Italian people, their culture, their habits... And the weather was very pleasant too, it was very sunny!

I didn't want to leave and come back to France. I loved my Italian familly, I'll never forget them and hope that I'll see them again.

So it was really a wonderful experience!

Morgane

I enjoyed this stay because it was really interesting and full of emotions. It's great to discover another country, another way of living. I think it's the best way to learn a language.

We saw lots of things and I liked everything like the concert or Alberobello. We met new persons and we met our partners. It's interesting to see differences between all the countries. I was surprised by the food in Italy, because they eat pasta every day and they dip bread on water and on oil for eat.

Charline

Czech students

I liked the stay in Italy. I think that it was very useful and entertaining. I practiced English a lot and i even learned some phrases in Italian. We met many people from different countries. Everybody was interesting in its own way and culture. For example in italian homes people walk with their shoes on. Project Comenius is very smart thing for young students. Written by Boris Karavasilev

What has surprised me in Italy? The Italians usually wear shoes at home. They have smaller coffees than us. They mostly drink water. They don’t use seatbelts in cars. At least one meal of the day contains ham. Written by Daniela Hájková

I really enjoyed meeting in Italy and I certainly did not expect that I will enjoy it so much. The family in which I was staying was very friendly. Despite occasional difficulties in the organization, program was interesting and funny. All participants from all countries were nice and I enjoyed communication with them . I'm glad I took part in the Comenius project.

Written by Jan Bancak

Are you interested in what the Italians do and don´t do? • They don’t fasten their seatbelts in cars.

• They drink just water, not sweet drinks.

• They don’t use zebra crossings.

• They eat cheese a lot.

• They have three courses at one meal.

• They eat their food separately.

• They like to argue.

• At school they have marks from 1 to 10.

Noticed and written by Hana Dankova

Latvian students

In this project I got a new experience and realised that even in Europe, between nations, can be big differences. Like how we see things and how is our attitude to other people. And as every country from this project showed the situation about their demographical situation, I realised that we need to change things in much deeper level, not only laws, we need to look to everything from different aspects, like how would we feel If we would be in someones other place, what would we do, so that will help change our mindsets and not judge others, but help them if it's needed. The things which were unusual for me that in bigger nations than my country, they had so many illegal immigrants that the number is bigger than population in Latvia. And actually I didn't realize that it's still that big problem, I thought that we are not there anymore. It's so interesting that in our minds we feel ourselves very big, but actually if we are looking to us from space, we are so small and there is so many people in world that our small personal problems is nothing comparing to global problems, like wars, catastrophes, hunger and lack of water, so sometimes it's just unfair how we are acting in society and thinking just about ourselves.

GINTA

I learned how to work in team with other people and how to do it in difficult situations, because there were different tasks to do together with them.While I was living in Italian family I learned their culture and everyday life. I also learned how to respect different cultures.

I learned that in Italy it`s normal to have a midday nap. They close shops and get a rest for few hours.

RIHARDS

I understood that in every part of the world I can meet wonderful people and feel great in teem with themIn the begining it was even strange that I could feel equal with people from different countries. All of them are friendly and opened. In spite of cultural differences it was very easy.

Thanks to this project I want to meet again people from family where I lived. And of course, meet my new friends from Greece, Czechia and Poland.

I think it was great honour to be together with such a wonderful people. A lot of positive emotions and motivation not to give up in future!!!!!!

ALISE

The first thing I got is a group work, a great experience working with people from different places and different values. To get ready for this project we had to do A lot of things and spend time for filming and organising everything.I was surprised that in Italy streets are so small and cars too...

VADIMS

Italian students

This experience has been very interesting and interactive. I've learnt a lot about other cultures and improved the knowledge of English.

I ve understood how important is the topic of immigration.

I hope to live this experience again.

FEDERICA

It's been a wonderful experience, very amusing, but also very tiring.

Since my partner left, I miss her so much. I learnt a lot from her, about her habits (for example I didn't have breakfast in the morning or didn't fasten my seat belt in the car, while now I do these things). I really miss speaking English all the time, as well.

CATERINA

It's been a very beautiful and useful experience. My partner and me got on really well even if sometimes we had problems with the language. I can't wait to meet her again soon.

CARLA

I remember I was very emotional the night I was waiting my partner because Im only 12 while he is 17 and I was afraid that he could be bored with me. Instead we had a very good time together and after a week we still talk on Facebook also with the other students.....It s been a good experience to make all these new friends and now I miss them all.

I know they will remember this experience forever and so will I.

DAVIDE

Romanian students

I really enjoyed our trip to Italy. Monopoli is a very nice city. I miss the warm weather and the beautiful sea. Italian food was delicious. I liked pizza, spaghetti, tiramisu, lasagna etc.I liked a lot my host family. They were really kind and welcomed me warmly.

I am really thankful that I could make new friends, especially from Poland, Greece and Latvia. The students made me realize how many differences exist between the nations.

The project helped me to change my mind about the world’s problems. Now I see the world with different eyes and I realize that we shouldn’t judge the immigrants that come in our countries to work. They come here to have a better life.

Also, this project was a great opportunity to know more about other countries’ culture.

Andreea

I gained a lot of experience and I learned many new things which helped me develop myself.I`ve learned about the legend of the fishermen who saved many lives, and the traditional festival when many people gather at the port, no matter how cold or warm the weather is and celebrate.

Everything was so nice and the visiting and finding out about the city history and protector amazed me.

The food was soo good that I insited on learning the recipe from my correspondent's mother. I have already tried it back in Romania but it is not as delicious as the Italian one but I`ll keep practicing until I reach the master rank of spaghetti maker just as the Italians.

The moment when I had to say “good-bye” to my correspondent family was the hardest but I was sure that this was not the end and we would keep in touch .It was a pleasure to meet you, Gabriele, and I miss you!!!

One word? INCREDIBLE!!!

Eugen

It was a unique experience. The program is a great way to interact with people from other countries and learn more about their culture, society and way of life.

One of the things that really impressed me was the truth about the emigration/immigration issue at a global scale. Going deeper into the concept of creating an ideal society with no discrimination, only equality made me realise that despite all the differences between nations we are humans and we should accept the person next to us.

In 3 days I've made some strong bonds with the kids from the other countries making me believe that there is still hope for a better world only if we leave the hatred, the wars, the racism and all those obstacles behind

Bari is a wonderful town with great people. My hosts were really nice and welcoming. During the program we went to visit the city and the Castellana caves and Alberobello, Personally I was very inspired and bewitched by the landscapes Italy had to offer.

All in all, YoUtopia is a really nice program and I felt honoured to be a part of it.

Daniel

For me Utopia project was a good thing, because I managed to meet new people and befriend them. It also changed my point of view in regards to some problems of the world, ones I hope I will be able to do something about someday.What I learned is the fact that most of the people I met share similar views, albeit different some of them.

I will also be careful not to judge immigrants or people in general, not before knowing them.

I really enjoyed staying at my host, since he has a nice and pleasant family. I also liked the city and the pizza and most of the food.

It was a pleasant experience for me and I hope I will be able to repeat it again.

Cosmin

Polish students

Impressions:

A thing, which will stay in my memory thanks to this trip, is a beautiful seaside. I had a chance to look at the seaside not only in the historical part of Monopoli, but in Capitolo and in Polignano too. In Polignano there is a balcony in the rock with a breathtaking sea view. Another thing, which inspired me, is Alberobello. These buildings named "triuli" look like the Smurfs' houses, but in bigger size! I would like to come back to Monopoli to visit these places once again!

Experiences:

Thanks to this trip I got to know the Italians' everyday life. I realized that it looks unlike in Poland. I was surprised that Italians eat sweets, exactly chocolate milk with cake or cookies for breakfast. What is more, as for me, the weather in this part of Italy is perfect to live. If I had a chance to have in Lodz such beautiful seaside and weather like in Monopoli, I would say that's my place on Earth!

Curiosities:

Although this trip was my 6th visit to Italy, then I got to know Italy from another side, which earlier had been unknown for me. I had a chance to find in Italians people, who are happy and friendly to tourists. I, as a Pole, felt proud when Italians shared with me their satisfaction thanks to the most famous Pole in the world - Pope John Paul II. A thing that surprised me most was a picture of him over the blackboard in one of the classrooms in the school. Another thing, which surprised me, was the view of Italians who wore winter jackets when it was about 20 C outside, because for them this weather was just warm, nothing unusual. During this type of weather most of students, who arrived to Monopoli, dreamt about sunbathing!

Ania Wolska

It was my first stay in Italy and I think I will never forget it.

Experience.

On this trip I have learned how to communicate with foreigners. I have learnt about other culture and different ways of adapting people to the environment.

I also had an opportunity to get to know that emigrants are everywhere, in every country, what is something unseen. This is a global problem.

There I have found out some curiosities,

I was truly surprised of Italian’s characters; they are more open-minded than Polish in my opinion.

Italy gave on me a positive impression. It's really a beautiful place, perfect for holidays. Italian food is really tasty, especially “taralli “and “cantucci”. All the people, from all countries were kind, likeable and easy-going.

Marta Pajor

Experiences:

The „Comenius” Project gave me the possibility to meet new people and visit new places. Meetings in Monopoli showed me emigrant's troubles and that changed my mind about them. Emigrants are the same people like us. It is sad that not everybody can understand it.

Curiosities:

I haven't thought that Bari and Monopoli will be such beautiful places to visit, I also didn't know that Italian people are so funny, helpful and very happy. They're very open for the other people. I was quite surprised about it.

Impressions:

I met new friends, it was hard to say goodbye to them. I changed my mind about judging people by the stereotypes. This projects is good to show young people that we are the same and we can change the world for better.

Maria Antczak

Trip to Italy with Comenius project helped me realize how serious the emigrant’s problem is and that we should help and support them, because the most frequent causes of emigration are tough life conditions.

The meeting with pupils from various countries took place without any problems. There weren’t any language barriers. We could understand each other well.

Italy is a beautiful and picturesque country and certainly I could live there. In spite of age difference between Italian students and us we were getting along well. The families who we stayed with were very kind and welcomed us with hospitality. They introduced us to Italian traditions and customs.

The thing, which surprised me most, was that they eat many sweet meals.

I really enjoyed Italian cuisine. I noticed as well that, meals are extremely important part of life. They unite members of the family. I really enjoyed my stay in Italy and certainly would love to go back there again in the future.

Kinga Żądlak

Turkish students

Greek Students