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“The city we live in. The city we want to live in in 2020” Transnational project meeting in Vienna December 13th-19th 2015
Sunday 13.12.2015
Arrival of all the groups and accommodated at the Meininger Hotel Downtown Franz. The groups arrived at different times so we didn’t have the opportunity to meet the first day. The majority of the students were accommodated with students from different nationalities.
Τhe French Group
The German Group
The Greek Group
The Spanish Group
Monday, 14 12.2015
At breakfast we met our partner schools and the students were introduced to each other. It was a great time, many different languages were heard and the students tried to speak English and understand each other. At quarter to nine Mrs. Andrea Lady, the Austrian coordinator, came and took us to her school Neue Mittelschule. When we arrived at the school, we were divided in groups and Austrian students after welcoming us, they showed us around their school. The students said that it was a very well organised school. Then, the students were divided in different classes, and worked the first logo designs in international groups. Many students were puzzled in the beginning and some were unwilling to try but eventually everybody started working and became quite enthusiastic and inspired.
The teachers had a meeting to discuss practical matters and future actions of the project. After handing out their drawings we were offered a delicious lunch and prepared for a scheduled visit to Schönbrunn Palace.
Paying the entrance fee in Schönbrunn was not without complications - for different languages and views delayed this process considerably. Erasmus+ project requires that every penny must be accounted for accurately, and an invoice for everything is absolutely essential. To do so for 5 countries can sometimes be quite complicated. Schönbrunn Palace was great - We were guided by a great English speaking guide who gave us a lot of interesting details. Did you know that Maria Theresa had 16 children? And that she married their daughters despite their will but according to benefit? And that one daughter died of smallpox, and then the next daughter took over her fiancé? She was a very powerful and strong willed woman. She was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg.
We were impressed by the design of the rooms, wonderful tapestries and paintings which we had never seen before. Maria Theresa could never be bugged and spied on in important discussions because no one could enter not even the servants but a ready made table was ascending from the downstairs floor for lunch or dinner during these important meetings.
When the guide tour finished the Spanish and the Germans went in total darkness up to the Gloriette - the viewpoint. Strenuous but rewarding. The rest of the students were given some time to explore the Christmas market in front of Schönbrunn Palace but were advised to be careful with how much money they would spend. It was very interesting to hear them discussing and calculating.
Tuesday, 15 12.2015
Today there were tears at breakfast. Two Spanish girls thought they had got lost the previous evening and some unreasonable fuss and panic was created because instead of calling their teachers first they called their parents but these are life lessons. These things can happen in trips but you have to keep cool and think reasonably. Panic is the worst solution. Also this morning we went to school and again the students were split in international groups and worked in turns the same activities.
One group had to work in the paper workshop (a workshop designed by the Viennese environmental company ) and created colorful homemade paper from waste paper.
And the other group worked in the Theater Workshop. We were introduced to drama techniques. Drama education is a powerful teaching and learning tool that engages mind, body, senses and emotions and most important it enriches the teacher-student relationship. The students enthusiastically participated in acting out short drama sequences in English and playing games with poems. After a very tasty lunch Schnitzel and Vogerl-potato salad, all schools presented their city - just the city we live in and everybody was fascinated and ιnterested to see the partner cities, filmed and presented by the students. You can see all the presentations on the webpage or the e-twinning platform.
All this was possible only through the tireless efforts of the German teacher Mr. Fuchs because each country had a different file format, another program, with some problems arising. About 65 people were sitting in a classroom and were focused and enthusiastic. All the countries had done an excellent work and it was astonishing to see the students overcoming their shyness and fears and presenting their cities in English.
From the Greek presentation
From the French presentation
From the German presentation
From the Spanish presentation
Next we went by public transport to the Austrian broadcasting, the ORF. The Austrian television station. A long way to go (several bus lines, a tramway, a subway) and then we were on target. This was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the time in Vienna. In 2 groups we were given an English guide who gave us a very interesting and informative tour. The students had the opportunity to learn many things happening backstage and how all this works and what it takes to create a TV programme. Not only informative but a great fun for the students because they were given the chance to “work” as a weather forecaster or participate in TV programmes, and in this way to understand how this industry works. If you want to get an idea watch the followimg videos...
In the evening we were all together in a typical Viennese restaurant, invited by the host school. The students sat in different tables from the teachers and that gave them a better opportunity for mixing and matching. The teachers sat at the head table (so at least we did not disturb the students) and got to know each other this evening more properly. The dinner was very good and everybody enjoyed it. Some even had a second helping.
Wednesday, 16.12.2015
Today all had to get up very early! Breakfast at 6:45 o’clock and then went on to "Brotway" the bakery industy, where you could watch the bakers in the industrial production of various bakery products. Most students and teachers couldn’t resist the sight of all these delicious products and had a second breakfast.
With many buses and a subway later we reached the Chocolate Factory, where we were given an English guide. Firstly we were shown a video with how this chocolate factory started and then we were given a guide tour to the Museum where the students learned a lot about this product. From its birth on the cocoa tree up to how they make it chocolate products. We were also offered very tasty delicacies, and after we stormed at the factory's own shop to buy Mozart balls and other candies.
After that we went back to school to enjoy the delicious lunch.
After a short break at the hotel (30 minutes!) We went with the subway to the KHM, the Kunsthistorisches Museum. There we had 2 parallel guides, one in German, one in English. A nice lady showed us around, and the students asked many questions.
We payed a small visit at the Christmas market near the KHM and then by train and bus to a restaurant that had been booked for all. Again, a Christmas market - and finally it was time to eat. Unfortunately, our tables were somewhat in the dark, and the food was quite expensive. Nevertheless, we all had a lot of fun and the students more willing to communicate with the students of the other nations and spoke almost fluent English. Some of the Austrian students were also there and so it was a happy evening.
Germany as a coordinator managed the award ceremony - the winning logo was decided to be a combination of the Spanish and French design, and so the winners were awarded each with a big bag of Mozartkugel, 20 € and a great postcard from Vienna. Our goal (Logo Project) had been achieved and the most important it became possible through the international cooperation of our students.
Thursday, 17.12.2015
The night before there was a mini-revolt: The students felt very tired some were a bit ill and so they asked if they could have the Thursday morning free. The students could wake up a little later and independently explore Vienna, with the Hundertwasser House, the Prater, the Danube, etc. Mrs Stebbing the German coordinator asked politely the Austrian director Mrs Wenzel who was very nice and understanding and then it was clear: We had a morning free !!
After a later wake up most of the groups decided to go to the 1st District, where we visited St. Stephen's Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, the Opera House and the magnificent Town Hall. The Spanish group also went to a Danube.
With the subway we reached the Volksoper. Here, all students and teachers met again and then there were 2 tours in English. It was impressive, we really were able to see everything, touch, and even behind and under the stage. we had not expected so much technology behind the scenes and so many people working for just one performance, as almost every night they have a different one -A great experience. We would have liked to go in the evening in the Volksoper but since none of us had previously thought it wasn’t possible.
In the evening all the teachers sat together in the hotel lobby, discussed and reflected to the week that was coming to an end. The students shared a very good time in mixed groups and bonded even more. It was quite late for all.
Friday, 18.15.2015 Once again, a very early start, because the bus to Salzburg took off at 8 clock. We walked to school and then some students first had to sleep on the bus, because they had an enjoyable but short night.
When we arrived in Salzburg we marched straight to the center. The students decided to independently explore Salzburg in small groups. Some teachers also visited the rock-cut caves in and then took the funicular up to the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Others had a tour around the city since there was not much time. Salzburg is a magnificent place and you feel like you participate in a fairy tale when you are there. It is also Mozart’s birthplace. After a quick lunch it was the time to visit the House of Nature, because by 15 clock the booked guide began. The House of Nature is a great interactive interactive museum, therefore we would have liked more time there. Some people from Spain and Germany withdrew from the leadership to arbitrarily try the interactive world of stars and the life-size Walmodelle to climb inside.
Salzburg is a great city, but we would like some more time to get to know it. But despite the so little time we spent there it was worth it. Unfortunately, we went immediately to the bus - and then 4 hours later we were back in Vienna. German, French and Greeks, besieged a pizzeria and got really good and cheap food. On our return to the hotel it was time for everybody to pack and be sure to pack only their own things, which proved to be not so easy. No one slept early this last night - there was smiling and playing, and goodbyes.
We would very much like to thank Andrea Lady for the great organization for this week, and a big thank you to the Austrian School - the Principal, the teachers and the students for the wonderful hospitality and the warm welcome they offered us, without forgetting the Cooking teacher who cooked these delicious lunches.
Saturday 19.12.2015
Our students are completely done - they have run many kilometers, have experienced countless British guides and had to communicate with other nations. Not much sleep but we enjoyed all the tons of Austrian food. After exchanging goodbyes and farewells we all left for our countries at different times of the day exhausted but so full of images new ideas and most important new friends.
