Group Mobility to Poland
30/9-4/10/2024
30/9-4/10/2024
Within the framework of Erasmus+ Accreditation, the high school of Hortiati has organized several trips to other European countries focused on renewable energy sources.
The first mobility took place in Poland from September 30 to October 5, where both schools explored wind energy.
The Greek team, comprising six students Aggeliki ans Eleftheria Kolovou, Vasileios Lampadaridis, Nikolaos Papadopoulos, Ioanna Tsakmakidi and Georgia Tsel;epi and three teachers, Dimitra Ntomprou, Chysanthos Agathokleous and Efstratios Tsakiris, departed from Thessaloniki Airport "Macedonia."
After a long journey, they arrived in Nowa Sol, where Polish families welcomed the Greek students.
Monday was our first day in Nowa Sol. We woke up, had breakfast at our host homes, and arrived at the school by 8:30, where we met everyone. Both the Greek and Polish students were friendly and sociable, and we immediately felt comfortable. In the meeting room, there was food provided for us.
An ancient statuette, with the head of Health, the daughter of Asclepius was offered to the headmistress of the school by the Greek team as well as some sweets and a bottle of ouzo with two small glasses as a souvenir from Thessaloniki.
Later, we played some games divided into teams. In one game, we had to draw within a circle in only three minutes, which was challenging but fun. Another game involved creating sentences using two given words, which we also enjoyed.
After a coffee break, we joined an online session to learn about offshore wind farms from mr Krzysztof Wede and attended a workshop.
Following this, Polish students showed us around their school, including the chemistry lab, French classroom, and physics classroom. The physics classroom left a big impression, with some students playing on a PlayStation and others relaxing on a couch. We also visited the gym, where we played ping pong and saw students participating in a dance-based gym class outside. We loved the school; it was beautiful and spacious.
At noon, we enjoyed a meal together at a neighboring school, sampling authentic Polish food and drinks.
Afterward, we had a tour of Nowa Sol, a charming and well-kept city, guided by Polish teachers who explained the sights. In the evening, we all went out for a walk around Nowa Sol.
Tuesday was presentation day, with topics on our countries, schools, and renewable energy. Two Polish students presented first, sharing their customs, events, and cuisine. Next, it was our turn to showcase Greece, and we decided to play two videos, one about our school and the other about Thessaloniki.
After a 30-minute breakfast break, we began research and debate activities on questions provided by the Polish teachers. Around noon, we learned about various renewable energy sources, including hydraulic cars, photovoltaics, and wind turbines, and how they function.
At 2:30, we had lunch at the nearby elementary school, where we tasted Kotlet Schabowy (schnitzel), mashed potatoes, and cabbage salad.
Our next stop was the Physics Park, filled with fun, educational displays like mirrors, pulleys, and music-generating instruments. We concluded the day with a visit to Krasnala Park, where we took photos with large dwarf statues and a bear.
Wednesday was an especially fun day. We woke up early, went to the train station, and took a two-hour train ride to Wroclaw, where we enjoyed a creative time with the Polish students. We visited a Polish history museum, which was fascinating but chilling as we saw many WWII artifacts.
Afterward, we gathered in the museum café before visiting an impressive, distinctively styled church. We then roamed around the city, with our mission being to take five photos with Wroclaw's small dwarf statues. We had a great time eating together at restaurants with our Polish friends.
Thursday began at 7:00 a.m., allowing us to be at school by 8:30. We were tasked with creating a short 2–3-minute video on renewable energy. At 10:30, we took a 30-minute break before splitting into three groups to create posters, with a small prize for the best one.
During this activity, the Polish teachers and a local authority representative awarded us certificates.
Afterward, we finished our posters and enjoyed the school’s indoor climbing wall.
Finally, we took souvenir photos to remind us of the good times we spent at the Polish school.
We had a delicious lunch at 2:00 p.m. before being free to explore on our own.
Friday started with a visit to the University of Zielona Gora, where we saw various projects related to the city and university’s wind turbines. One fascinating project showed how energy can be generated from wax. We toured the laboratories and facilities.
Before heading downtown for some sightseeing, which included witnessing the wine production process and admiring statues of the ancient god Dionysus. We ended the day with a visit to an impressive greenhouse filled with a variety of plants and trees, where we enjoyed a stunning view from the top floor.
On Saturday, students spent the whole day with their host families and took trips to the outskirts of the city.
The teachers visited a small town near Nowa Sól. It was a beautiful town, very clean, with colorful, well-decorated houses. They also visited an old church and its belfry.
On Sunday, very early in the morning, students, teachers, and parents gathered at the train station to say goodbye. The Greek team was about to catch the train to Poznań. Everyone was sad and emotional, but they knew they would meet again in three months in Greece.
The Greek team had the chance to explore the beautiful city of Poznań and admire its old city center.
They spent a few hours sightseeing before boarding the plane back to Thessaloniki, filled with unforgettable memories.
Thank you for everything, we are looking forward to welcoming you!