My God... what a day... to be honest I dreaded the speakers because I feared my students wouldn't understand a thing... But the opposite was true! Inga made an excellent choice!
First was Ingus Palapis from Business Incubator Kurzeme... It's an organisation that helps, supports people with interesting business ideas and gives them the help they need in facilities, networking. They cover the cost of different services needed to start the company. They organise different events for the companies... The major idea was networking. Contacts are the best assets you have in a company.
One of their young starters was Artis Daugins. He came with the great idea of electrical bikes, only 21 years old but with this huge idea and plans. He was trying to find a solution for transport in a city. He studied electrical bikes all over the world and tried to find solutions for producing costs. That worked. To improve the service to his customers he also rents them. Then he was thinking about exporting. He already calculated what they could sell in Latvia. To export he needed connections in potential countries, Latvian people who lived in the country for export and who could work with them. That worked in Portugal, the UK and Norway. Latvia is a hotspot in Europe. By exporting more products the productions costs go down and their turnover increases. They don't stay on one level. They grow... Now they are developing e-bikes for artists, police and postmen. E-bike is a great business story of a young entrepreneur! The big message here was: in business you have do to the impossible thing... find solutions for impossible things and make them possible. You meet a challenge and you succeed.
The third speaker was Martins Vidzenieks. He has a lot of experience in the export business. His big message was "It doesn't matter what you know but who knows you (or you know)". One of his favourite quotes from a book by Robert Kiyosaki was "The richest people in the world look for and build a network. Every one else looks for a job."
Networking is the word. You have to build networks, get e-mails out, phone people, spend time with as many as you can. 3 rules: give, give, give...You look at people and ask yourself "what do they need? What are they looking for?" and then you tend to their needs. You have to listen carefully and ask questions, show genuine interest.
"The one who sows the seed will reap"... in business you constantly keep sowing a good seed....
You also have to devolop your people's skills. Talk to strangers, learn about them, smile all the time (also on the phone) be a nice person... Everybody is in sales, even wives and mothers....
You have to look for people that are where you want to be, like them and learn from them, respect them, be worthy of their trust.
And the last important thing: Never give up. Keep on learning. Whatever your dream is, be persistent....
I had tears in my eyes... these speakers were sooooo good! I wish we could have broadcoasted this on www.businesseducation.be... What a charisma of the 3 of them.... what inspiring words they gave us.... While I was still talking to Martins the students and teachers could take the e-bike for a spin through the halls of the school. I heard that was a lot of fun...
After these speaches there was a little break in which we danced to get warm again.... Then group work began to develop the business plans of their ideas of yesterday.
Befor lunch we also managed to skype with the team in Belgium, the team who is going to Austria... it's a pity we can't take all of the students to share the same experience. I must talk to the national agency about that... This project is so great... All students should be able to benefit from it...
We had a traditional lunch in Barons Bumbiers, served in a earthen pot (I don't know if that is the correct word for it), a mixture of potatoes, smoked fish, onions and sour cream... delicious... except if you don't like fish...but I do and it was yummie....
The afternoon was spend again on working to create the business plans. In the afternoon I "facetimed" with Sandra, my colleague back home... She was at the hairdresser and a little embarrassed but she enjoyed the faces of Elke, Jomar and all of the students...
After the hard work there was free time to shop or to do whatever you liked.... I tried to shop but I couldn't find what I wanted and I really didn't want to go all over town to shop so I took my camera and strolled around the city to catch the atmosphere and to think a little by myself and enjoy the peace and the quiet for a chance....
The students went of to dinner to a place of their own choice and the teachers had dinner in a pizzeria... What a difference again with Belgium... There was only one waitress and she didn't have all the dishes that were one the menu... We had to wait a long time for our wine but in the meantime we had a relaxing evening and some nice chatting and laughing again... It was a pity I had to go back to the hotel because my students were waiting there... I can't seem to catch my breath... I am always so tired in the evening... I wish I could spend the evening with the teachers but then I know I won't be very happy in the morning... I wish I didn't need my sleep so much... I'm definately getting too old...
This morning started with a visit to the City Council. They do a lot of efforts to grow on every level. It was very interesting to see which actions and plans are being made to make the city and the commerce prosperous again....
In the youth house (jauniesumaja - I cannot pronounce it) there were presentations of business success stories of each country. Norway provides us with a very nice break. One of their big success story is the success of a writers - composers duo that already made a lot of hits... the big success now is "the fox" and the 3 blond ladies started doing the fox dance - much to all of our admiration and fun! Also in this place there is no heating... How people get used to this I don't know... and then you should know that I am always complaining in Belgian that it is freezing cold in our school... I wish I had other more warmer clothes with me... or I have to go and buy some...
After lunch in the warm Latvian tradition culture centre (with an cosy open fire place) we are treated to real Latvian folk music and dance. Like in Norway this is heaven... I just love this... These 3 old ladies are so cute. They sing well and they have a passion inside them which works miracles. Every student joins in for a dance. What joy... How fun this is! I sang an old lullaby in Dutch (and I really can't sing), the Norwegian team sang an old song and my female students sang a song for a traditional Turkish wedding... it was soooooo beautiful I got tears in my eyes.... I thanked these ladies and Inga from the bottom of my heart! What a succesful afternoon!
Teachers and students went on a Liepaja city tour on which we visited the Trinity church tower and the Craftsmen House. I now wish I had bought this beautiful hat I tried on... The Trinity church is also very beautiful but needs urgent renovation.... We climbed all the way to the top on scary stairs.... the view was wide and open...
After that a nice warm cup of coffee with some Balsam warmed me again... Dinner was at restaurant Pastnieku maja... and it was a nice buffet... We ended the day in the hotel's restaurant where we celebrated a little bit the birth of the baby son of our colleague Kim... everything was ok but she had a pretty tough delivery... It's a pitty I cannot visit her now... I will just have to wait till I'm back in Belgium!
Jon and Jomar were at breakfast! The only one of their team I know is Thea... The rest look very young... As always Norwegian girls and boys have special looks which is hard to ignore by the others... they enter the room and immediately heads turn... I watch with smiling interest how the other students react to these looks... What will happen this time... I love the suspension...
As promised Latvian students come to pick us up at the hotel. With Klavis we went to buy some bus tickets for this week and then we were off the the Liepajas Valsts Tehnikums... It is what I didn't expect. I had the image in my head that Inga sent me and I wonder how I could have been so wrong about the entrance... There is a cloakroom, which is very convenient... We don't have that in Belgium... There 's a little coffee machine in the entrance hall which is practical... Arriving in the big theatre room the assistant of the principal officially opens this 3rd mobility. Inga also welcomes us. Then we start this very weard ice breaking activity with a story of Joe... Elke filmed us so we will look like a bunch of idiots at the end of the story... Saying hello and meeting as much students and teachers in 10 minutes is an exciting and fun excercise. Then we start time in international groups. You have to find out as much as you can about somebody in your group and then introduce him/her to the group.
In the meantime it starts to get cold in the room so some of the teachers head downstairs to get a warm cup of coffee. After the ice breaking activity each country presents its country. By the time this finishes some students and teachers went to get their warm coats... God, it's freezing... In Belgium it's 10 degrees warming than in Liepaja... so I guess we are not yet used to the cold... The tour in the school is also very different and interesting... although I cannot tell anything about it because I cannot judge a class in electricity or motors or computer programming...
After this tour we have a Latvian language lesson. Thank you very much, Vika for this interesting and quite complete lesson. You are a really good teacher! I wish we had more time to properly practice the pronunciation and the stress in words... Very, very interesting... As I am - yes, or I'm getting there fast - "at age" my memory needs continious practice I'm afraid...
The lunch was held in the school cafeteria and yes, there was already a kind of socialising going on between one Belgian boy and 3 Norwegian students... very cute. In the afternoon we go by bus to Karosta, a sort of neighbour area near Liepaja... When Latvia was still under communist government this was the area where a lot of Russians lived... some still do... You can see a lot of empty buildings or buildings once installed by the government and now there is no money to fix them... people still live in them... It's sad... The Naval Port Prison for "bad Russian soldiers" really is chocking... till 1997 "bad Russian soldiers" were still send here... you cannot image the barbaric, unhuman circumstances they had to live in... and the Russian interpretation of "bad" is not the same as ours... they were not murderers or so... they had to march 4 hours with military precision, run with gas masks for 2 hours, clean the toilets with improvised shovels and more of these "pleasant" tasks... one stupid thing could be the cause of more physical training or work... or even real punishments... The guide acted like one of the supervisors... In the very beginning I wasn't sure if it was a joke or if he was serious... It was really hilarious to follow his lead and act as "bad soldiers". My girls were very scared... although it was acted they thought it was pretty real to them... Elke managed to get him so "angry" that she was graciously allowed to visit the "VIP room" as they called it... "very, very bad soldiers" got the privilege to visit this room with a lot of privacy... unfortunately without a nice view on the sea or fresh air... In went "Sarah" - we didn't know she had an evil twin ;-) - and we were punished as well for her bad behaviour... Thank you, Sarah... I pity all these men who had to go through this terrible ordeal or this unhumanly forced imprisonment... This culture shock, heritage of the Soviet Union, we will not easily forget!
To ease this experience we walked to the St. Nicolas' Marine Cathedral... a magnificent cathedral where I couldn't take pictures but even if I could I wouldn't out of respect. The minute you enter this place you can simply feel the awe, the respect, the believe of the people inside praying... the smell of candlesticks is everywhere... it is amazing...and silently... One of my Islamic students also comes in and acts very respectful... This boy has surprised me this far... I'm wondering if this is the same person which caused a lot of trouble last year... Now he is full of respect, polite... active... I can barily believe it... but I love it... What this project does to people I don't know... it's enlightening...
The trip back took us to the beautiful beach again! Beau - ti - ful !!!! Really, it must be wonderful in summer. What a terrific place to relax... Everybody was tired but we still walked to the ruins of an old fort and back...
The bus brought us back to our hotel and around 7 pm we had a great diner in the hotel... I'm amazed that I'm so quickly tired... Must be from all the walking and strolling around... or maybe still not used to the cold. I get this "I cannot say it in English" "kind of knock on your head" when you enter a warm room after spending all day in the cold... with a full stomach it makes you sleepy... After dinner the students quickly left the room to socialize somewhere else ... without teachers ;-)
My girls are in the restaurant of the hotel taking dessert...I am invited to sit with them so I do that... I must say it is quite a pleasant change from last year... These girls are wonderful... they love it and they participate without objections. They are open, kind, polite... I am happy. And the boys... oh, to my big surprise they have already made friends with the other Belgian and Norwegian boys... I just love it...
Tired but very happy I go - totally exhausted - to bed. End of day one... a very successful one...
This morning started very relaxed. It was nice to meet the other Belgian team during breakfast. Of course the students are still very shy and stick to each other but that will soon change I hope.
In the morning we explored the small shopping mall. It was too small for us so my principal and my colleague Inge went to the beach to explore a little bit... I didn't take my camera because I thought we were going to shop but as it turned out I was now without camera in this beautiful place so I had to take pictures with my iPhone...
After lunch Latvian students Klavis, Arthurs and Klaus took us on a sightseeing tour of the city... and ... luckily for me... also to the beach... What a lovely place this is! What a beautiful beach... In Belgium it would be full of little restaurants and cafés I'm sure of that. Now there were not a lot of people... The sun graciously warmed us as if to give us - litteraly - a warm welcome in this striking city... You can see that the city is doing its best to rise again after the departure of the Russians... There still is a lot of work to be done. It's a pity that grand buildings are left empty because it costs too much to renovate them... Also this in Belgium would not be the case. Some are really gorgious houses... Developers have not yet discovered them I think... In Belgium they would turn into lofts and/or apartements. We took a brake near a small pont.
When we returned to the hotel we waited for the Austrian delegation which was due to arrive. It's great to meet Elke again...
In the evening we all went to diner in a delicious restaurant in the port. After spending half an hour with my students explaining the menu's and deciding on chicken the bar tender told us there was no chicken today... again discussing what we were going to eat... finally the decision was made... I was so hungry by that time but the meal was great... We will come back to this place!
The Norwegian team is going to arrive very late and I am dead tired so I went to bed before they arrived!
At 9 am on Saturday morning we left Antwerp to start our 3rd mobility to Latvia. Parents and students were waiting at Antwerp Central Station. We were all a little bit nervous. Some of the students hadn't flown in their lives yet so you can image the stress... but exciting stress... Every body was eager to start... so much ... that we almost left Ibrahim behind because he was half an hour late! Not a very good start of the trip!
We left by bus to Brussels Airport where we arrived on time. Check in went smoothly and also the flight by a small airplain of Baltic Air. We arrived in Riga in the afternoon but there was a time difference of one hour. From there on we took a mini bus to Liepaja... During this 3 hour trip we had a chance to look at the Latvian landscape and a beautiful sun set... We even saw a rainbow which must mean good luck on this trip!
We were greated by the Latvian teachers Inga and Daina and some Latvian students. Thank you Eleni from providing us with maps, folders and information about the city. It felt so good to see each other again! After our check in they guided us to a pizzeria to have our diner because at that time it was already 07.00 pm!
It was strikingly cold outside. In Belgium it's 10 degrees warmer so... That will take a while before I get used to the cold again! The other Belgian team is due to arrive in the middle of the night. The Austrian and Norwegian team we will see tomorrow evening... I can hardly wait!
This time I only want to focus on the relationships with my European colleagues.
Comenius aims to:
- improve and increase the mobility of students and educational staff across the EU; - enhance and increase partnerships between schools in different EU Member States; - encourage language learning, innovative ICT-based content, services and better teaching techniques and practices; - enhance the quality and European dimension of teacher training; - improve pedagogical approaches and school management.
In my school the mobility of the students is certainly increased during the last two years, because of EWB (Enterprise without borders) and Comenius. My teaching definately got an European dimension in everything that I do. I find that my students are more interested, more motivated to participate when given real, concrete examples and goals.
A very lucky side effect of our Comeniusproject is the relationship with my European colleagues. I couldn't have dreamt it to be this intense, this great friendship and understanding, this great teamwork for which I am very grateful.
We skype regularly and it is always fun. We start seriously with the work to be done but soon we have other ideas and are talking about that and our personal lives... Amazing... It already started in Norway when we visited for the first time (the second time for me and Jef) but exploded in Belgium with bonds I could never have imagined. This is great and this is super.
That's why we are planning a trip to London to meet. Jon (from Norway) is coming, so is Elke (from Austria), Jef and me, Sandra and Wendy with her husband... We are all booked in the same hotel at the end of July to stay 4 days... I quite look forward to this... It was hard for the students to part at the end of the second mobility in Belgium but it was also for us a little sad. The pictures on facebook brought back lots of good memories. Inga almost immediately started to prepare the trip to Latvia in September and Elke was even faster with the mobility to Austria. During all these preparations we felt the need to see each other again. One thought let to another and so we are finally going to meet in London at the end of this month. Unfortunately not everybody could come. That 's a great pity... But we will keep in touch, absolutely.
And now, I'm going to show we what an amazing group of teachers we have to make this project a success! I'm going to let the photo's speak for themselves....
This time I only want to focus on the relationships with my European colleagues.
Comenius aims to:
- improve and increase the mobility of students and educational staff across the EU; - enhance and increase partnerships between schools in different EU Member States; - encourage language learning, innovative ICT-based content, services and better teaching techniques and practices; - enhance the quality and European dimension of teacher training; - improve pedagogical approaches and school management.
In my school the mobility of the students is certainly increased during the last two years, because of EWB (Enterprise without borders) and Comenius. My teaching definately got an European dimension in everything that I do. I find that my students are more interested, more motivated to participate when given real, concrete examples and goals.
A very lucky side effect of our Comeniusproject is the relationship with my European colleagues. I couldn't have dreamt it to be this intense, this great friendship and understanding, this great teamwork for which I am very grateful.
We skype regularly and it is always fun. We start seriously with the work to be done but soon we have other ideas and are talking about that and our personal lives... Amazing... It already started in Norway when we visited for the first time (the second time for me and Jef) but exploded in Belgium with bonds I could never have imagined. This is great and this is super.
That's why we are planning a trip to London to meet. Jon (from Norway) is coming, so is Elke (from Austria), Jef and me, Sandra and Wendy with her husband... We are all booked in the same hotel at the end of July to stay 4 days... I quite look forward to this... It was hard for the students to part at the end of the second mobility in Belgium but it was also for us a little sad. The pictures on facebook brought back lots of good memories. Inga almost immediately started to prepare the trip to Latvia in September and Elke was even faster with the mobility to Austria. During all these preparations we felt the need to see each other again. One thought let to another and so we are finally going to meet in London at the end of this month. Unfortunately not everybody could come. That 's a great pity... But we will keep in touch, absolutely.
And now, I'm going to show we what an amazing group of teachers we have to make this project a success! I'm going to let the photo's speak for themselves....
Tiller
videregående skole has worked together with its partners from Latvia, Austria
and Belgium in realizing the goals outlined in our project application. We have
during our first project year had two mobilities. The first one was in Norway
21.10.12-25.10.12 and the second one was in Belgium 24.02.13-02.03.13.
1st
mobility Trondheim, Norway:
This mobility
had 58 participants altogether. 39 of these came from the visiting schools.
One of our aims
for the 1st mobility was that the participants should get to know
each other better to make a foundation for future cooperation. Other important
aims were:
-Exchange
experiences on working with minicompanies
-Make a
foundation for an international partnership
-Develop
innovative business ideas and form joint ventures
-Learn how to
cooperate on an international level and cultural awareness in an international
cooperation
-Use social
media and web solutions in an international cooperation
-Interviews on
cultural sterotypes
During the 1st
mobility we had speakers who addressed these issues. Kristine Ræder from JA-YE
Mid-Norway talked about their programmes that were useful for us. Sven-Erik
Knoff from Visit Trondheim gave a presentation on how to use web solutions and
social media. Andrea Hosen from Tiller Upper Secondary School talked about the
importance of cultural awareness when working together. Tim Rudi Veiteberg from
Utvikling.org had a session on Management and Cooperation for the students.
The schools gave
a presentation of themselves to their partners. All students presented
themselves for each other with their respective minicompanies and business
ideas.
There were also
various student activities. There were various creative exercises in mixed
groups. There were also speed dating activities so that the minicompanies could
get a bigger network and to find a common denominator for a future partnership.
Some of the students made interviews with teachers and students on Tiller
videregående skole
2nd mobility Antwerp, Brussel and Zandhoven, Belgium:
The first part
of the 2nd mobility was hosted by Sint Willebrord- Heilige Familie
and the second part was hosted by VTI Zandhoven.
-Presenting and visiting the 2 schools
-Visiting Antwerp and Brussels
-Visiting the European Parliament and speaking with a member of the
European Parliament
There were
several international speakers. We were received at the town hall of Antwerp by
the mayor Bart De
Wever, who is also a well known politician. The municipality of Zandhoven
welcomed the European delegation and the hosts parents with a reception.Stefan De Laere is an international business
development manager. He spoke about the strategies to become and to stay a
successful entrepreneur. Koen van den Brandt, international business coach,
gave us tips for selling.
We did an international market research of
chocolate. The students compared their result and prepared the findings in a
nice presentation.
We visited 2
local international companies: Van Hool and All Packing
The outside
activity in the Kempen consisted of visiting the small town of Lier and
Pulderbos. The students and teachers visited an old mill.
The students
informed each other about their business progress and gave tips to improve.
We also had an
E-twinning session so that the students can follow up on activities on this
safe twin space.
Students and
teachers stayed in contact through Skype, facebook, EWB and e-mail. The
results. were put on the twinspace of E-Twinning.net.
The teachers
planned a trip to London to plan the next two mobilities face to face at the
end of July/beginning of August. We pay for this trip ourselves. Its important
to us that we increase the team spirit as well to improve our international
European cooperation.
Own school
Voor onze multiculturele school had dit project een enorme impact.
We hadden de eerste mobiliteit al goed voorbereid door fotos op te
hangen aan de inkomhal van onze partnerschool Tiller Upper Secundary School.
Alle leerlingen kennen de mini-onderneming op school. Ook na ons bezoek werden
fotos en materiaal tentoongesteld in de inkomhal. Ook de persberichten veroorzaakten
prettige reacties.
De voorbereiding van het tegenbezoek aan onze school paste perfect in
mijn leerplan. Mijn leerlingen maakten vergadermappen en bundelden alle info
over de te bezoeken plaatsen. Ze maakten badges en leerden dat nauwkeurigheid
zeer belangrijk is. Ook hun eigen kennis van onze Antwerpse stad vergrootte.
Tot mijn grote verbazing kenden ze Antwerpen toch niet zo goed waardoor ook dit
eerst grondig moest voorbereid worden. Alle pittige verhaaltjes hebben ze toch
op prijs gesteld.
Het bezoek van de buitenlandse scholen in februari was zowel voor onze
leerlingen als voor de buitenlanders (en de andere Belgische school) een
cultuurshock. Alle deelnemers aan het project zijn alle klassen gaan bezoeken
op Campus Willebrord van het eerste tot het 6de jaar. Alle collegas en
leerlingen hadden vraagjes voorbereid en waren zeer benieuwd naar de andere
leerlingen. Ook de leerlingen van 6 kantoor had ik de eerste dag ingeschakeld
om het onthaal en de rondleiding te doen, wat deel uitmaakt van het leerplan.
Het vergrootte hun zelfvertrouwen en zelfwaardering. Ze zijn mee naar het
stadhuis geweest en waren zeer fier ontvangen te worden door de burgemeester
van Antwerpen.
De eerste dag van kennismaking was eigenlijk veel te kort.
Wat ik zeer bevordelijk vond, was het feit dat leerlingen met een zwakke
Engelse kennis werden geholpen door de sterkere waardoor ook zij het gevoel
kregen mee te kunnen en minder zenuwachtig waren. Ook het bezoek aan de
nijverheidsschool VTI te Zandhoven liet een grote indruk achter op mijn
leerlingen. Doordat ze daadwerkelijk in de vaklokalen mochten en daar uitleg
kregen van andere BSO-leerlingen vergrootte dit hun waardering voor technici en
beseften ze dat goede vakmensen nodig zijn in het beroeps- en bedrijfsleven.
De ouders hebben de buitenlandse reis en de mobiliteit in België ten
zeerste geapprecieerd. We zijn van ver gekomen met onze - van Turkse en
Marokkaanse afkomst - ouders. Die zijn niet meer zo weigerachtig om hun
dochters te laten deelnemen aan een buitenlands project en velen van hen
moedigden hun kinderen aan omdat ze beseffen dat dit een grote waarde heeft
voor hun toekomst. De waardering en medewerking van de ouders is dus zeker voor
ons van grote betekenis.
Ook collegas van andere graden namen deel aan de activiteiten in hun
vrije tijd. Dat deed mij enorm deugd. Zelfs nu nog houden sommige collegas met
de buitenlandse collegas contact! Er nam ook een stagiaire deel aan sommige
activiteiten en ook deze studente was zeer tevreden dat ze zon internationaliseringsproject
heeft kunnen meemaken. Het was zeker nuttig voor haar opleiding dat ze de
theorie in de praktijk heeft kunnen ervaren.
It's been a while since I last wrote here. We were very busy preparing the 2nd mobility of our Comeniusproject in our school and at VTIZ. Now it's 3 days left... I think I have everything under control... I hope that it 's not pride before the fall...
Nowadays I'm teach everything: English, Project General Subjects (history, culture, geography...) and my own subjects. Our English teacher broke her right wrist so she had to have an operation and is out until the first of March... that's the end of the second mobility... Unfortunate for her... she misses all the preparations and all the work but also all the fun! So very unfortunate because I still love this project! A lot of our energy is going into the project but it's worth every second! It's a giant step forward for my students. Speaking English in natural circumstances with students of their own age is a great opportunity! 6 Office in my school are also looking forward to meeting the foreign students. Of course the boys are really more interested in meeting foreign girls but I don't mind that! I think it's really sweet and great fun seeing them socialize and working together...
I already did the Antwerp tour with 5 and 6 Office separately. Both times I was so astonished that they don't know basic things of Antwerp. They are of course new Belgians but I was so amazed they didn't know Peter Paul Rubens or the difference between a priest and a monk... On the tour I had to tell them about the famous painters of Antwerp, the famous history of the Flemish people, de Guldensporenslag, de Leeuw van Vlaanderen... Hendrik Conscience... My God... I didn't realize this enormous gap in their own culture... Of course it is not their culture... but they are living in this country... Luckily for me they were very interested and I really got a kick out of explaining them everything. Of course they especially liked the stories about the giants in Antwerp and how Antwerp got his name... We were received in the Carolus Borremues church by a very friendly guide who also explained them a few things and draw their attention to some similar things between the catholic customs and muslim ones... Very, very kind of him... I'm very curious because tomorrow it's a kind of general rehearsel... They are going to show me around and tell me some remarkable things about Antwerp...
They are all very proud that we will be received at the town hall of Antwerp by the mayor himself: Mr. Bart De Wever. To tell you the truth I'm also very eager to meet him... I'm so terribly glad my principal arranged this. It's a big honour for us!
Today my class and I did some really secretarial tasks... We prepared the maps with all the information and made the badges. Hard work... They had to arrange themselves how they are going to receive the guests on Monday, a great practice opportunity for them!
I was soooo very tired when I went to school on Friday. A lot of students stayed home because of the sacrifice celebration so I could do some paper work instead. After that day it was a week's holiday in Belgium.
I gladly worked on all my pictures and finally on Friday I could put them on the website of the school and on facebook.
Now, nearly a week has passed. I'm glad I can teach again although it was a very busy week again. The National Agency had a teacher's meeting so we had to attend. It's nice to talk to colleagues who are also working on a Comenius project. I'm very proud of ours.
Jef and I also tried to make some appointments already for the return visit to Belgium. So far we still have to wait confirmation. Jon is in Belgium this week but has a very busy schedule. Jef managed to meet him in Antwerp together with Gerda and Gert. I couldn't. I was soooo very tired again... and now I'm sorry I missed this little gathering...
I also did some group pictures which are a nice remembrance to our visit of the Tiller Upper Secondary School.
It snowed when we left Trondheim... I secretely hoped we could not take off so we would have another day to ourselves in beautiful Trondheim... so did some of my students... it's very cute to watch the boys being so enchanted by the foreign girls... so terribly cute...
But they also longed for a chicken burger... I haven't had the pleasure yet to taste one but according to them, in Antwerp are the best! Today it is also their sacrifice celebration... that's litterally translated. I really don't know the word in English. It's the day they remember when Abraham tried to sacrifice what was most dear to him, his own son, as a token, as proof for his great respect in God, Allah. Because God was convinced of his loyalty he gave him a lam which he must sacrifice instead... Muslims all over the world celebrate this by slautering a lam and giving a family celebration...
Intensive worksession in Tiller Upper Secondary School
Today the students worked hard on the networking, trying to find a joint venture with a foreign mini company. The others did interviews in school about the different countries. In the evening we had a very nice diner made by the mini company UngiSelskap UB. They prepared a quiz and then a little game... and then the party began... Now that was partying and socialising... All my doubts about this project vanished because now even the girls socialised and enjoyed themselves...
It was snowing a little bit when we left Tiller Upper Secondary School...
Today the minicompanies presented themselves again. Andrea presented a most interesting lecture on "business and cultural awareness in Norway, Latvia, Belgium and Austria". She travelled all over the world and has very interesting ideas on people and how they react. That influences their businesses.
With Jon we made some adjustments to the programme because the students also need to work on the comeniusprogramme. The creative product developments were very intensive. My students needed a lot of encouragement. I had some doubts whether this programme was too difficult for them... So while they had some free time in Trondheim I went to the hotel to work on some things. Some of my students came back early and wanted to talk to me. They were disappointed because it was very hard for them to understand all the presentations. They said "it's like listening to Turkish for 2 hours for you... it is like that for us in English"... I was again a little bit chocked. I tried to get them to understand that English is an important international language, a language nearly everybody can learn and more and more people speak. They agreed with that but they were not convinced that they are going to need English in their future jobs, in their life... How can I convince them? I tried to show them situations in which they could use English... situations in which they would need English... that is, if they ever are going to leave their little Turkish or Moroccan community... if they are going to work in Antwerp for an international company... if they are going to meet foreign people in Antwerp... if they are going to travel to another country besides Turkey or Morocco... I was even more down after that and thought I failed...
With Jef's school we went to see the Tyholttarnet, the radio- and TV tower with the restaurants which turns so you have a beautiful view over Trondheim. Unfortunately we couldn't sit in the restaurant because that was only for people who would eat. Instead we had a drink on the first floor, which also gave us a nice view.
Then we went to a very nice restaurant "Kvilhaugen Gard". My Turkish girls disappointed me again by refusing to sit with other students. Again I had to encourage them and so did Inga. The Latvian students also don't have a lot of confidence in their ability to speak English. We told them to try and talk to each other. It doesn't matter if it's grammatically incorrect. The most important thing is that you get to know each other a little bit and learn more about each other 's life... After a while they did... The meal was gorgious... I could easily have eaten more...
My principal decided to walk to the hotel. It was a long walk all the way down and my girls were very tired so we took the bus. The Belgian boys, my boys and some of my girls walked... it was a nice walk. I would have liked to come with them but somebody had to accompany those who wanted to take the bus...
Again in the evening we had a meeting with the teachers...
I don't have any readers so I just do this for myself... one never knows who will read this some day.
The first day in Trondheim was already very busy! We had a very quick walk through beautiful Trondheim. It's a pity we cannot take more time to just stroll around and enjoy the beautiful colours of autumn, reflected on all the colourful houses in Trondheim.... At least, this time I get to see more than in January!
At the Tiller Upper Secondary School we are greeted by our students. Some of them had a very good sightseeing by the Norwegian students, some of them didn't... They are really very determined to do better when they visit us in Belgium in February!
The presentations by the mini companies are very interesting. Although I was a little bit shocked about my student's English, I know they did their best in presenting their school to this audience. I know how I had to push them, had to encourage them to do their best... it's a nice film so I'm pleased. Their presentation of the mini company was also well! Oguz, the CEO, even joked a little bit and won everybody's sympathy in doing so! Vocational students presenting before a big audience... they are absolutely not used to doing this so I'm again proud.
One minor point was the food. I specifically asked for halal food. In Belgium, in this Turkish and Moroccan society, this is very strict, like the Jewish people want kosher food, they want halal food. Jon underestimated this so we had to go to Mc Donald's to give the students a lunch they could eat. In the afternoon I talked to the mini company who was going to prepare dinner and they assured me they would make vegetarian food so that my students could eat. They were very nice and very polite and quite willing to make the effort. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. I really mean that. We can think what we want about this, it's their faith and their choice and we have to respect that.
In the evening we had a meeting with all the teachers at the hotel. What a long day!
We zijn nu met het Sint Willebrord - Heilige Familie en het Vrij Technisch Instituut van Zandhoven in Trondheim sinds zaterdag. Allereerst wil ik uit de grond van mijn hart EPOS en de Europese Commissie bedanken voor de geweldige kans die ze aan ons leerlingen geven! Ik weet niet of zij de geweldige kracht beseffen van wat hun financiering voor ons betekent, op zo vele vlakken.
Vorige donderdag hadden we oudercontact voor de rapportbespreking. Alle ouders heb ik deze keer ontmoet, al niet direct evident. Alle ouders zouden hun kinderen de volgende zaterdag om 05.00 u 's morgens naar Antwerpen Centraal brengen om daar te vertrekken met de bus naar Schiphol. Dat was ook werkelijk zo. Alle ouders, moeders en vaders stonden daar om hun kinderen uit te wuiven, zo 's morgens heel vroeg, de moeders vriendelijk maar stil, de papa's verbroederend onder elkaar, maar toch ook heel vriendelijk naar ons. Dat onze mannelijke directeur er ook bij was, zal wel een beetje meegespeeld hebben maar toch... Dit zou ik 5 jaar geleden niet hebben kunnen realiseren. Voor mij is dit al een klein succesje in de ouderparticipatie. Het is ook een unieke kans voor hun kinderen, reizen naar het verre Noorwegen... en voor velen de eerste vliegtuigreis. Er waren leerlingen bij die heel zenuwachtig waren omdat ze voor de eerste keer gingen vliegen maar ook omdat ze voor de eerste keer zonder hun ouders op reis gingen, naar het - voor hen - complete onbekende. Vlucht en landing verliepen vlekkeloos en bijzonder zacht... wat een geluk...
Bij aankomst in Trondheim hadden we stralend weer. Noorwegen is een prachtig land waarop ik niet uitgekeken raak. Zo mooi nu in de herfst met al die prachtige tinten, rood, bruin, groen, geel... het water van de fjorden blauw, een heldere hemel, een prachtig landschap... Ik heb al de verkeerde bus genomen van de luchthaven naar Trondheim station. I.p.v. een flybus te nemen, heb ik de bus van Vaernes Express genomen. De chauffeur ging stoppen aan het station... We wisten toen niet dat daar eigenlijk geen halte was voor die bus. In het hotel aangekomen, had onze directeur zijn handbagage met het geld en identiteitskaart op de bus laten liggen. In de busterminal konden we dus geen vertegenwoordiging vinden van Vaernes Express... We hebben er veel tijd mee verloren maar één leerling bleef trouw aan de zijde van de directeur terwijl die al met de politie ging praten. Ik had al aan een andere klantendienst gaan vragen maar de maatschappij had blijkbaar geen mensen die werkten in het weekend buiten de chauffeurs. Uiteindelijk hadden we een oplossing maar de buschauffeur zélf had in de bagage een kaartje gevonden dat ik had gemaakt waarop ik het hotel had aangeduid. Die had dan het hotel gecontacteerd en de bagage daar afgeleverd, met ál het geld en alle kaarten inbegrepen. Super gewoonweg hoe eerlijk de mensen hier zijn!
Terwijl ik met mijn collega Sandra in het stadje was met de leerlingen contacteerde Jon mij. Hij stond ons op te wachten toen we terugkeerden van onze wandeling. Eindelijk zagen we elkaar nog eens! Hij kwam kennismaken met Sandra, onze directeur en de studenten... Dat verliep vlekkeloos en heel gezellig. We zijn zó blij dat we dit kunnen doen. Ik kan het niet dikwijls genoeg herhalen! Moe maar voldaan kropen we tegen 11.00 in bed. De leerlingen waren ook moe dus hadden we een rustige nacht.
Op zondag hebben we samen met het VTI een hele grote wandeling gemaakt in de prachtige natuur naar het volksmuseum, een soort "Bokrijk" van Trondheim. De weg naar boven was heel steil! Ik zeg niet graag "allochtone" en "autochtone" leerlingen. Dat is al zo direct hokjes-denken maar ik weet anders niet hoe ik de groepen moet benoemen. Nieuwe Belgen en oude Belgen klinkt ook zo raar. Onze groep zijn allemaal Belgen maar er is een wereld van verschil tussen hen. Mijn "nieuwe" Belgen hebben een hele andere culturele achtergrond met andere gewoonten. De meisjes zijn niet gewoon om om te gaan met zo'n grote groep jongens, laat staan om er tegen te spreken en iets te vertellen. De jongens waren volgens mij ook geïntimiteerd en maakten niet zo vlot contact. De jongens van het VTI probeerden wel maar ze hadden tijdens de wandeling niet zo veel respons. We lieten het maar rustig betijen en moedigden beide groepen aan om toch contact te zoeken met elkaar. Samen eten 's avonds brak al een beetje het ijs. Iedereen had geweldig grote honger na zo'n intensieve wandeling bergopwaarts en terug naar beneden.
Toen we 's avonds terug arriveerden in het hotel stond de Letse, Noorse en Oostenrijkse delegatie ons al op te wachten. Ik was zo blij dat ik Inga al in Riga had ontmoet. Dat maakt het een pak leuker nog! Maar ik kreeg ook wel kippenvel toen ik Elke van Oostenrijk voor de eerste keer ontmoette! Dit is écht geweldig! De directeur van Inga was ook wel verrast, denk ik, van de hartelijke ontmoeting tussen ons. Ik zag hem zo goedkeurend, lichtjes glimlachend kijken...
Jon heeft ons dan voorgesteld waarna wij onszelf allemaal aan de lln voorstelden en hetzelfde gebeurde met de leerlingen. Daarna werden de leerlingen in internationale groepjes verdeeld en dan begon het echt. Mijn studentjes zitten allemaal in aparte internationale groepjes, helemaal alleen. Ze moeten dus wel Engels spreken om te communiceren. Hier en daar kreeg ik een zenuwachtige opmerking maar de jongens van het VTI stellen zich als gentlemen op en gaan de meisjes en jongens helpen als ze het juiste Engelse woord niet vinden. Andere vinden het superleuk en kijken er vol verwachting naar uit. Spontaan hebben we, toen iedereen weer naar huis was, nog de presentatie van de mini geoefend en ik moet zeggen dat ik heel fier ben op mijn studentjes. Dit is een mijlpaal in hun leven. Leerlingen van een beroepsschool die zichzelf overtreffen en hun best doen om een boodschap over te brengen, voor een grote groep vreemde mensen... Knap hoor! Ik hoop dat dit gaat lukken!
Na de eerste week de wanhoop nabij te zijn door het "trage" herstel (wat eigenlijk niet was maar het ging niet snel genoeg naar mijn zin), ging het deze week veel beter... Dus ben ik vandaag, omdat ik 6 lesuren had in 5 kantoor én omdat we dringend moeten beslissen wie er mee gaat naar de Tiller Upper Secondary School in Trondheim, Noorwegen terug naar school gereden. Het gaat. Het in- en uitstappen doet wel nog pijn maar ik heb meteen ijs gelegd op school. Wat deed dat deugd, weer naar school gaan, kennismaken met mijn klasje, tot mijn grote verbazing, toch blij weerzien met 6 kantoor... Ja, dat was heel leuk!
Deze middag hebben we dan, tot mijn grote vreugde, nog vergaderd met bijna alle betrokken leerkrachten van 5 kantoor: Elke Vanderhoven (Engels), Hélier Distelmans (Frans), Britt Janssens (zakelijke communicatie), Sandra Goyvaerts (logistiek), Jan Claus (directeur). We hebben beslist om toch alle leerlingen van 5 kantoor mee te nemen. Dat zijn er 9. We zitten ver over ons budget maar Jan heeft nog enkele gedachten van sponsoring zodat we toch iedereen deze buitenkans kunnen geven. Sandra en Jan gaan ook mee om kennis te maken met de school en de leerlingen. Sandra heeft vorig jaar de mini al heel actief gevolgd, ook al gaf ze geen les aan hen. Ze kende van 4 kantoor. Nu weer wel en zij kent de leerlingen ook beter als mij. Verder hebben we weer gebabbeld over mogelijke lesinbreng van de collega's. Natuurlijk is het mondelinge gedeeldte voor Engels nu wel heel belangrijk. Bea Theuns, die PAV geeft, was ook in ziekteverlof! Hopelijk is ze ook volgende week weer op post want een grote brok kan in haar les toegepast worden! Er werd een brief opgesteld voor toestemming van de ouders zodat we volgende week onze vliegtuigtickets kunnen boeken. Volgende week donderdag is er infovergadering naar de ouders.
Ik kijk er naar uit met deze groep iets boeiends te maken voor de leerlingen! Ik kijk er naar uit positief te kunnen samenwerken met deze collega's! Stapje voor stapje naar het slagen van dit project! Yes, we can!
