Journal of bulgaria meeting 2011

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A Visit to Varna in Bulgaria – the fourth meeting of Comenius

partnership – project “Overcoming xenophobia through a deeper

understanding of the European cultures”, May 30th

– June 3rd

, 2011

Guests at the main entrance of Peyo K. Yavorov School

May 30th

Our fourth meeting of the project started in Varna at Peyo Yavorov School on the May

30th

. The participants were 21 teachers from partner schools: Slovakia – 2, Turkey – 4,

Lithuania– 1, Poland – 2, Romania – 2, Italy – 3, Latvia– 4 and from the host school Bulgaria –

3. At meeting about 20 students from partner schools were present: from Turkey - 3, from

Poland - 1, from - Lithuania - 2, from Romania - 2, from Latvia – 2 and from Bulgaria - 10

pupils.

The meeting began with an emotional Opening Ceremony at school’s hall where students, parents, teachers and representatives of local government and Regional inspectorate of

Education were participated.

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Children dressed in national

costumes, teachers and staff welcomed us

to the school. Before came in, we enjoyed

their traditional greeting - a piece of

national Bulgarian bread-pie and spices.

We enjoyed concert and were introduced

with participants from other countries.

Opening Ceremony of the fourth meeting. At the beginning of the Ceremony we sang

European Anthem altogether- every country in their native language.

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There were many interesting models made by students at the hall. At the

entrance door of the hall there were informative expositions about Comenius Project

participant countries.

Project coordinator Ceren Ugurlu Seyhan from Turkey and headmistress of Peyo

Yavorov School Darinka Bozhinova discussed progress of the project.

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May 31st

School headmistress and teachers presented the school to participants: pupils and

teachers at classrooms, library, school museum, swimming-pool etc.

Exposition of the school museum. Comenius room.

Workshop session – teachers and students. Lithuanian students’ presentation -

introducing with national holidays.

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Let’s learn a bit of Bulgarian! An excellent lesson of Bulgarian language for guests.

At the end of the lesson, pupils and teachers filled the small tasks to test their acquired

skills in the Bulgarian language. Everyone received a little Bulgarian vocabulary there.

Bread Day exhibition with tasting!

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Students and their families had prepared a delicious festive treat, it impressed with amazing

creative decorations.

In the afternoon project participants visited the Archaeological Museum in Varna, they

learned about history of Bulgaria there. The students mixed in pairs showed great excitement

working to fulfill study tasks through the exhibits of the museum.

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June1st

In the morning participants of the project meeting went to Balchik to see a palace and

Botanical Garden, located 42 kilometers from Varna. In 1940, when Bulgaria regained

Dobrudzas region and Balchik, a botanical garden was founded instead of the Palace park. In the

Botanical Garden you can see rare and interesting species of plants, as well as Europe's second

largest collection of cacti. Garden built in several stages, and offers magnificent views of the

Black Sea. At the time of Balchik and the other Bulgarian regions belonged to Romania, Queen

Mary ordered to build a summer home at Balchik - the Queen's summer residence. Today, in the

palace, you can see the Queen’s Mary’s collection of those times.

We visited the Ecological Park, where we acquainted with various species of trees and

plants. There was also a picnic. Students and teachers friendly engaged in sports activities after

lunch.

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Later we visited the famous Aladzha monastery. Aladzha was a rock-dwelling during

13th

– 14th

centuries. This is one of the few rock monasteries in Bulgaria, which are preserved

until today.

At the Aladzha rock monastery.

A monastery niche.

Our international students.

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June 2nd

There was a folk festival at the school,

where we could watch Bulgarian traditional dances

performed by pupils of different ages. Bulgarian

folk costumes are lush and varied.

At the end of the concert all participants had the

opportunity to learn the rather complicated steps of

folk dance horo.

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At closing session we evaluated work we did in the first year of project and defined tasks for the

next stages. Participants received certificates of participation in the Comenius Partnership

Meeting in Bulgaria.

A friendly conversation among the

participants of the project.

Assurances of esteem to poet and revolutionary

Peyo Yavorov and Bulgarian freedom. The

Bulgarian school is named by his name.

Our meeting with Dobromir Dzhikov - the mayor of Vladislav Varenchik district of city Varna.

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A wonderfull show of pupils’ swimming skills and water ballet in school’s pool.

Barite – a rural recreation centre, where the closing event was held. We saw some

exibitions of Bulgarian farmer etnography here,too.

Farewell evening. Almost everyone tried to master basic steps of Bulgarian traditional dance.

See You in Poland! Your Latvian friends from Oskara Kalpaka Rudbāržu primary school.