NAMASTE TO ALL

by Jakub Józefczuk
Primary School no. 1 in Bieruń (former Gimnazjum no. 2 im. św. Walentego w Bieruniu)

Coordinating teacher: Anna Wadas

Travel broadens the mind” it is usually said, when one packs his or her suitcase and hits the road, but this time we could become more open-minded people without leaving our hometown Bieruń (Poland), thanks to two guests, who visited our school in May - Kubra from Turkey and Munisch from India. They visited Poland as volunteers of AIESEC, which is the international organisation of young people, who work on global issues and focus on developing leadership skills and student exchange programmes. As one of the goals of this organisation is cross-cultural understanding, our guests’ task was to present their culture to Polish students.
                             

Romania: Looking to the future

By Pablo Rodeiro Rañales, 4th year ESO.

Taking into account its communist past and all it meant to the country, Romania has already travelled a stretch of the road to democracy, and, therefore, a way to modernization, improvements on road infrastructure, education and agriculture... Some towns and cities have been restored recently, becoming attractive spots to the visitor, like Oradea, for example.

ARE WE THE SAME?

By Sergio Dopico, 4th year ESO.

In a recent exchange of students to Romania and Budapest, we met a lot of people, teachers and students from the different countries which are taking part in our project: Romania (obviously), Poland, Sweden, Turkey and Italy. And in Budapest… In Budapest, we met a lot of people, but almost no one was Hungarian... When we arrived there, we were surprised because it was like our city (Ferrol), but much bigger and with really nice buildings.

Life in the Galician mountains: Ancares, Biosphere Reserve.

Ancares, in the north-west of Spain, is an amazing mountainous area located on the Galician border. It shares its territory with with three different autonomous regions: Galicia, Asturias and Castilla-León. It was declared a Biosphere Reserve on 27th Ocotber 2006 by UNESCO under the name: Os Ancares Lucenses y Montes de Cervantes, Navia y Becerreá.

Because of its isolation and location, in a complex orographic zone which mingles characteristics of both the Euro-Siberian and Mediterranean biogeographic regions, it displays an extraordinary and complex biodiversity. Its environment is well-preserved and contains some species in danger of extinction, such as bears or capercaillies.

Polish and Italian calendar

by Martyna Skoczylas
Gimnazjum nr 2 im. św. Walentego w Bieruniu

     My stay in Sicily, during the project, was an excellent opportunity to get interested in Italian traditions. I’ve discovered that there are many holidays in Italy which are celebrated in similar way as in Poland. However, I’ve found also some differences. I’d like to present you my personal overview of calendar and some holidays which are present in both cultures.

Christmas in Poland

Martyna Skoczylas

Gimnazjum nr 2 im. św. Walentego w Bieruniu

Christmas is the most charming holiday in Poland, but there is a large variety of traditions in particular parts of our country. 

An effective protection against enemies: Beautiful St. Philip castle, by Jonathan Varela Fernández.

     The castle of San Felipe is one of the military fortresses in the estuary of Ferrol, a town located in
the province of La Coruña, autonomous region of Galicia, Spain.

 In the photograph on the right, Erasmus + international students on a trip by boat to the castle.

The first European Cultural Route: The Way of St. James (El Camino de Santiago), by Alba Rama Carneiro.

                    THE FIRST EUROPEAN CULTURAL ROUTE: THE WAY OF ST. JAMES
                                                       EL CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

     The Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James, is a route used by pilgrims from around the world to reach the city of Santiago de Compostela, where the relics of St.James the Great are venerated. After the Council of Europe’s Declaration of the Way as the first European Cultural Route in 1987 and the adoption of a common European graphic identification system to guide the pilgrims from any nationality or religion, the route has continued to grow, until The French Route (one amongst several routes) was eventually declared a UNESCO World Heritage Route in 1993.

The heart of the Jewish quarters in Cracow. Part II.

CURIOUS JEWISH SYMBOLS FOUND ON OUR WAY:

INTRODUCTION.
Our teachers had previously asked us to pay attention to any strange symbols to us we might find on our way. They had told us to take photographs because, later on, we would have to investigate if the symbols had any meaning. Below, you can have a look at the conclusions we got after our investigation.

Hamsa (in Jewish), Hand of Fatima (in Muslim):
This is a talisman frequently used for protection amongst Jewish and Muslims. It is a hand-shaped symbol, a sign of protection against all evils and it is potent in deflecting the evil eye. 
It’s also called: Khamsa, Hamsa, Chamsa amongst Jewish while amongst Muslims, it is known as  Hand of Fatima after Mahoma’s daughter, Fátima Azzahara  or The Eye of Fatima (some of them may display an eye in their interior).  

Photographs from Szeroka, Kazimierz, where a restaurant was displaying this symbol (we guess that for protection).

The heart of the Jewish quarters in Cracow. Part I

A WALK FROM FLORIANSKA TO PODGORZE: Deep into the heart of the Jewish quarters in Cracow.
Following some indications prepared by the teachers involved in the visit to Poland beforehand, it was decided that the students would be in charge of guiding our tour to Podgorze in Cracow, with a previous stop at Kazimierz. 

                                 

THE DRAGOBETE

by Sergilia Moț, Xth D grade; Coordinating teacher: Melania-Noemi Egyed; School: Samuil Vulcan National College

A novelty is the sensitive point of a tradition.In Romania this new concept is replacing our traditional holidays with holidays for other countries.

For example nowadays we all celebrate ”The Valentine’s Day” on the14th of February, but  few people remember that on the 24th of February we have ’’The Dragobete’’ ( a specific Romanian 
traditional holiday).

Weronika Urbanik-Pek: A Galician speaker.

Strange as it may sound, it's a true fact. This woman, born in the Lesser Poland voivodeship, can speak a really good Galician to our surprise.

SAINT VALENTINE IN BIERUN

by Bartłomiej Blacha, Gimnazjum nr 2 im. św. Walentego w Bieruniu

Christmas went by and shops’ windows will be soon full of heart - shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. The 14^th February is coming! Valentine’s Day customs developed in England, but nowadays they are spread to many countries around the world. On the 14th of February small gifts and flowers are given not only by people falling in love with each other. We remember about our friends, parents or children. It’s surprising that, according to the U.S. Greeting Card Association, teachers become the people receiving the most valentines!

THE PATH OF TRADITIONAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS IN 'FERROLTERRA'.

By Mónica Gracía Velasco, Music teacher.
Music stands for one of the most important demonstrations of the traditional culture in the region of Ferrol. Along with the History, a great number of performers and groups have transmitted and preserved the musical repertoire as signs of identity more featured in the popular Folklore. In Galicia we keep instruments and forms inherited from the Middle Ages. Now we have added new pieces that have increased our musical and iconographic heritage. Some instruments are combined in different groups, from individual performances to sets as quartets, pandereteiras groups and the modern pipe bands. 
                  

                                                           

THE ATLANTIC DIET

By: Marcos Expósito Bello, Alfonso Martínez Ferreño, Sasha Meg Moreira Paulino, Ángela Rodríguez Fernández, Mónica Márquez Fernández y Andrea Aneiros Sabín.

3ºESO - IES de Catabois - Ferrol (SPAIN)

The Atlantic diet, which is the basis of  nutrition in this part of the peninsula, is recommended by the best nutritionists in the World. Its main ingredients are veal, fish, local fruits and vegetables that are steamed, boiled or grilled.