Polish Day

On the Polish Day we had some posters about Poland on the wall. There were also some pictures taken on the trip by students and an exposition in the library.

Taormina and Acireale

Seventh day, Sunday.

This day started very early, we had to be at school by 7 o`clock. It was extremely rainy and also bit chilly. We had to drive about 3 hours and more before we got to Taormina. It was dry and warm in the bus and no-one was too eager to go outside, when we had short break from the driving. Finally we arrived to Taormina, we went to see (the Greek theatre) The Teatro Greco. It was quite difficult to get there. We walked upwards which was quite difficult because of the rain. It was the lucky day for the umbrella-sellers. After the struggle, we finally reached our destination. It was a magical view, it was easy to imagine thousands and thousands of people sitting all together. We made a round around the theatre and saw many captivating sights.

Fortunately for us we were in the right place just for the time when the sun came out. We saw the most beautiful rainbow. It was very clear and very close to us. I`m really sorry that it is not as amazing on the picture. After this we had to get back on the bus and drive a little further to Acireale. This was the place where the carneval was held. We got there just in time, it had just started. There was lots of people in the streets, some of them wearing funny hats or wigs and few of them wearing costumes. Most of the people were just like us, with nothing, but it wasn`t a problem. We saw, how big statues made from flowers were slowly driven in the street. The music was quite loud and played in every corner of the street.

I`m sure that almost everybody agrees with me if I say, that this was the place where your worst enemy is your best friend. Little pieces of paper were thrown everywhere- in people`s hair and face mostly. And also some kind of canned ribbons were sprayed, it was quite difficult to get those semi-wet things out of your hair. Most of us had a good time.

And then it was time to turn back to Palermo. We got on the bus and drive another 3 hours and after that we all were extremely tired and relived when we got back to Palermo, which was about 8 pm.

Palermo 4

The fifth day was the first excursion day. Italian teachers had made the plans for the school trip and had chosen for this day to visit Selinunte, Cave di Cusa, Marsala and Segesta. Teachers also reminded us to be punctual, that we could see all the sites, but still we leaved from Palermo a bit later than 7.30.

The first site, Selinunte was 123 km far from Palermo. During this long drive, students sang together and used this time to get to know each other. Selinunte temple was founded around 650 B.C , so there was a very ancjent and mysterious atmosphere.
The next place which we visited was Cave di Cusa. It is the place, were Selinuntinians took the stones for the constructing their temples.

47 km from Cave di Cusa is Marsala, which is by inhabitants one of the biggest city in Sicily. In Marsala we saw salt deposits and Marsala wine shop. We also had our lunch in Marsala, in " Trattoria Garibaldi".

After the lunch we continued our excursion to Segesta. Unfortunately it was rainig heavily, so we didn`t walk close to the temple and we admired it from the bus. Because of the rain, we didn`t see the Greek Theatre either. Despite of rain, everybody enjoyed the trip and didn´t let their mood going down.

Palermo 3

The first part of the day was dedicated to presentation about the Mafia . First presentation was perfomed by the Italian teacher whose presentation started with the sentence :

"Until less than forty years ago , many people in Sicily still used to say about Mafia:"Mafia? Have you ever seen the Mafia with your eyes? No , believe me: Mafia doesn´t exist"

Then he talked about the history of the Mafia . The most important men to sicily were Falcone and Borsellino they were the national heroes to Sicily because they fought against the Mafia, both were killed by the mafia in a car bomb .Falcone and Borsellino were particulary respected and even loved by common people ,who had learned to appreciate their intelligence ,their rectitude and their courage .The common people had powerful reaction:thousands of citizens participated in Falcone´s and Borsellino´s funerals and many voluntary organizations arase in those days by citizens who wanted to contrast the mafia system and feel free :one of such voluntary organizations is "ADIO PIZZO"

PIZZO - a payment imposed by Mafiosi to the traders - and if you don´t pay the pizzo we will destroy your shop....ADDIO= bye bye .Italian teacher ended his presentation with the sentence

...but in Palermo there are no more shots in the streets and above all nobody says any more "Mafia? What is Mafia? Oh....Mafia doesn´t exist".

And then the students made a presentation about mafia. Mafia is not a funny joke in Italy some of my friends are still afraid of the Mafia its not a joke Mafia is real.

After the presentations we went on a trip to Mondello .There we had a lunch and a lot of free time .The carnival was about to start at Mondello but we went away before the start .Mondello was a amazing place with a amazing view to the mountains .The water was a little bit cold and many of estonians were sick thats why we didn´t go swimming . It was a niice day after Mondello we went home .

Palermo II

Fourth day.

The first part of the day was dedicated to presentations. All the foreigners had to show their presentations. Fortunately for us we were last and had the most time to prepare ourselves.

We had a pleasure listening to Portuguese, Turkish and Polish presentations and their songs. It was an interesting and educative morning. Then it was time for a coffee break, we had no time to relax as we were up just after the break. It was quite busy and stressful half an hour because we had some technical difficulties and at the end we still couldn`t show some videos + we had to sing the first verse of the National Anthem of the Republic of Estonia. Luckyly for us, we had some videos on the flash disk and we were able to show self-made clips about our school and school events. They were the most popular among the audience.After the most stressful part of the trip we had a lecture about Selinute, Marsala and Segesta- the places we were about to visit on the next day.

Then it was time for a lunch at „Focacceria S. Francesco”. The food was good, though we had some misunderstandings at the restaurant.
After eating we had enough energy to deside if we wanted to go home or go sightseeing with the teachers. Only very few of us desided not to go with teachers.

We saw very beautiful places and buildings around Palermo, but most of the students, estonians included, desided to stay behind and spend time playing some "football". Taavi also had lots of good time showing everybody his skateboard tricks, some Italians tried to do the tricks.

We were outside till it got dark and then it was time to say good bye. Some of us went to play bowling and had a great time, but I had to go home as my host`s father needed the motorcycle and we had to take it home..

Then I had delicious dinner, and I guess we all did, and that was it for that day..

Palermo

Third day

We got together in their school around 9 o'clock. The day started with a lecture of Palermos art and history, followed by lectures about carnival's and their traditions, which were very interesting. Then we had a little coffe break, it lasted about 30 minutes. Well, I wasn't able to indroduce me in italian before the Italian language mini lesson, which was made by Italian students.
After the lectures we went out to see the Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele, which is the biggest in Italy and 3rd in Europe. It was really enourmous, with 7 tiers of boxes it seats 1350 people. We had a tour around the theatre, we had a chance to see the vip box and a room with perfect acoustics.
When we left the theatre we went to have lunch. We went with our hosts to taste traditional food, molto bueno ! We really liked it, althought it didn't look so good.
After the lunch we had a little free time to visit market's and then we gathered again in the school to a lecture about Italian national events and celebrations, which were made by the students, and they were interesting to watch. The lecture didn't last long and soon we were off to the homes, where we had, atleast i did, very good meal. And we were off to bed, where i fell asleep immediately.

The beginning of the trip

First day.

The departure from the front of the school was at 5.45, so we had to wake up at about 5 o'clock, which wasn't easy. Fortunately nobody slept in and we reached the airport right on time. Flight to Riga lasted for 40 minutes and from Riga to Rome for 2 hours and 50 minutes. When we reached Rome, a taxi was already waiting for us. We took our belongings and drove to the hotel where we were staying. After we had settled in, we decided to go sightseeing and our primary destination was the colosseum. We didn't have chance to see it from the inside so we did pictures of the colosseum from every outer corner. From there, our direction was Vatican, where we also visited some souvenirshops. Before heading hotel, our teacher wanted to show us Spanish steps and I'm glad that we went there, because the view was very beautiful. When we arrived back to the hotel, everybody was tired, so after taking showers we fell asleep immediately.







Second day.

Our day started with packing our bags together again and then we drove to the airport to fly to Palermo. The flight didn't last long and when we reached Palermo, our tension was at highest point because we were about to see our hosts for the first time. After we had introduced ourselves to everybody, we went to meet the rest of the families. We had some free time before we had to gather again in their school. When we got there, the Italian students made some presentations and after that we had free time. All the students got together in the English Garden nearby, where we chatted, laughed and had very much fun. When it got dark outside and it was about the time to have dinner, everybody left and that is how the second day ended.

Tsce

The improved version of our presentation !

Tsce

View more presentations from merikekk.

Hatay külastus

Vabandan siis minagi oma hilinemise pärast.
Kolmapäeval 28.10.2009 võtsime ette reisi Hataysse, linna, kus arvatavasti kristlus alguse sai ja levima hakkas ( seal pesitseb esimene ristiusu kirik, mis siiamaani seisab ) . Nii, päev algas nagu tavaliselt Türgis - kooliliinid võtsid meid maja eest peale ning viisid kooli. Kooli jõudes oli nagu tavaline koolipäev, ootasime, kuni õpetajad meiega liituvad, kuid neid ei tulnud ega tulnud. Selle peale otsustasime klassidesse minna, kus asi vägagi põnevaks muutus. Järsku avastasime endi ümbert kümneid türklasi, kes kõik vägagi meiega suhtlemisest huvitatud olid. Peaks siinkohal ka ära mainima, et me saime vist kõik oma egodele paar paid, vähemale mina pole elusees nii palju komplimente saanud, kui see päev sain :)
Pärast tundi läksime kooli söökla-vahetunnipidamisekohta, kus oli peasissekäik ja puhvet :D, ise võite otsustada, mis koht see oli. Ühesõnaga otsustasin kohvi osta. Pärast kohvi kätte saamist oli meil jube kiire ning me pidime ruttama, jõin kiiruga kohvi, et ruttu ära minna, kui ka selle aja peale jõudis mulle mesilasparv ümber tekkida. Natuke naljakas, kuid ääretult positiivne, et inimesed nii uudishimulikud ning julged on, täielik vastand eesti inimestele, vähemalt see hetk tundus nii.
Bussi jõudes valisime omale kõik kohad ning hakkasime liikuma, itaalia poisid olid ka, kes teadu pärast polnud just kõige väiksemad, kuid nemad pärast esimest peatust otsustasid direktori väikese autoga minna - pärast, kohale jõudes Mattia rääkis mulle, et see oli suur viga, kuna kõige suurem poiss võttis selles 3 kohalistes autos kahe inimese koha, mis osutus äärmiselt ebamugavaks. Sõit oli pikk ja tüütu, kuid kohale jõudes läksime kohe sööma, mis osutus väga naljakaks. Söögi sai iseteenindusega ja seal sai vabalt võtta oma maitse järgi ka pipart. Mõtlesin siis, et prooviks ära - suu õhetas ja silmad jooksid vett ( õnneks polnud ma ainuke ning sellest zestist sai palju huumorit). Lõpuks olid kõigil tuleleegid suus, kuid elamus missugune.
Pärast läksime aeda teed jooma, kus kõik said valida omale, mis nende soov oli. Seal tegime ka palju pilte, nagu alati ( itaallastele, portugaallastele ja ka türklastele oli piltide tegemine õudselt südamelähedane ja mina, kui nullfotogeenne inimene sain seal kõvasti praktikat ).
Siis algas linna tuur. Esimene koht mida me külastasime oli mossee, kus puhkasid kaks Jeesuse abilist ( külastasime ka nende hauda ), seal oli ka parajasti palveaeg, mida sai kaeda. Sisenedes pidi tütarlastel olema pea kaetud ning sisenema pidi ilma jalanõudeta. Arutlesime seal ka usu vajalikkusest ning mõjust inimesele ning ühiskonnale, kuid selle vestluse jätaks siiski omateada, kuna mõnele võib see tibake ebameeldivust tekitada..Järgmiseks tuli siis esimene kristluse kirik, mis oli kalju sisse tehtud. Peab tõdema, et suveniiri koht kiriku jalamil pakkus suuremat huvi..kuid kirik ise oli huvitav( küll väga algeline ja väike, kuid kindlasti suur kultuuriline pärand).Kirikus käidud suundusime muuseumi, mis osutus vägagi harivaks ning huvitavaks. Sissejõudes, kohe esimene ruum oli väga muljet avaldav, ajalooliselt väga vajalik, seal oli kirst ning selle terve sisu ning kõik oli säilinud. Muuseum ise koosnes tükkidest kirikutest ning hoonetest ( vist Rooma ajast ), mis oli kokku pandud üliväikestest tükkidest. Minule pakkus hämmingut, kui palju vaeva nendega nägema pidi ning selle aja tehnikat jättis see vägagi müstilise mulje. Pärast muuseumi võtsime tee kuhugi kohta, mis minule jäi kahtlaseks, miks me sinna läksime.. Seal oli ääretult ilus restoran, kus kõrval kalad- ja pardid ujusid. Seal oli ka suveniiri koht, mis oli väga humoorikas, sealt võis leida 20 aasta vanustest kokakooladest, kuni Batmani mudeliteni välja. Sellega seoses hakkasgi päev otsa saama, ees oli veel kuulus Hatay magustoit, mis oli väga huvitav. Maitse oli hea ning omapärane.
Tagasisõit oli pikk, kuid see läks kõvasti kiiremini, kuna sain ühe itaalia poisiga hästi jutule, muljetasime Türgist ning ka Eestist ja Itaaliast. Euroopa riigid kõik - kultuuriliselt tundus tema jutu põhjal kultuuriline vahe väiksem, kui vahe Türgiga. Sõit tagasi oli pikk, kuid kindlasti tasus ära ning nüüd on pagasis nii mõnigi teadmine juures ja leidsin omale ka paar välismaist sõpra, kellega siiamaani õhtuti vestlen :)

Turkey- Hatay (Antakya) from Merike Sikk on Vimeo.

Neljapäev Türgis (29.10.2009)
Vabandan hilinemise pärast ka. 29. oktoober oli seal nö iseseisvuspäev - 1923. aastal sai Türgist vabariik. Hommikul kogunesime õpetajate hotellis ning pidime minema vaatama ..mm.. ei tea, kuidas nimetada..rongkäiku? kontserti? festivali? Tänavatel oli päris palju rahvast, ent silma jäid mitmed rahvariietes mehed. Samuti võis märgata sõjaväelasi, hästi palju oli ka poliseinikke ning kotidki otsiti paari kohas läbi. Ent kuna sadas vihma (isegi mitte väga hullusti, minu arvates), läksime edasi kuhugi spordihoonesse, suurde saali. Muide, tänevatel oli väga-väga palju lippe, spordisaal oli seest kaunistatud erinevates suurustes Türgi lippudega.
Spordisaalis oli igat kooli esindamas õpilane, kes hoidis kooli lippu, kokku oli neid mitukümmend.
Seejärel kuulasime kõnesid - kõigepealt linnapea ning seejärel mõned koolipõilased. Meie kooli esindaja luges üsna emotsionaalselt ühe luuletuse, see peaks olema ka videolindil. Pärast kõnesid oli tublide sportlaste autasustamine - kaks väikeste poiste jalgpallivõistkonda said medalid ja karika. Lõpuks saime näha Türgi rahvatantsu ning oligi kõik.
Seejärel sõitsime linnast välja Peugeot' esindusse, sööma. Esmalt saime vaadata autosid (:D) ning järgnes tee joomine, mis oli umbes tunniajase ootamise sisustamiseks. Saime Peugeot' pastakad ja võtmehoidjad endla kingituseks. Siis sõime Peugeot' sööklas ning läksime koju tagasi.

Türgi Vabariigi päev from Merike Sikk on Vimeo.

http://public.fotki.com/birgitrae/trgi/
PILDID!

Esmaspäev Türgis! 26.10.2009

Läksime oma majutajaga kooli. Õpilased alusasid koolinädalat sellega, et laulsid kooliõuel hümni ning siis hakkasid klasside kaupa koolimajja minema. Esimesed kaks tundi olime oma majutajatega koos tundides. Mina võin väita, et tundides õppimisest palju välja ei tulnud, kuna nii õpilaste kui ka õpetajate huvi uute õpilaste vastu oli väga suur. Esitati palju küsimusi ning komplimente tuli lademetes rohkem :)

Vahetundides saime eestlastega väljas kokku ning rääkisime oma muljetest. Samuti liitusid meiega õpetajad, kes meenutasid, et me peaksime tuljakut harjutama. Harjutasimegi kohe ja tegime õpilastele väikese etteaste, mis neile meeldis, ning konkurenditeks sattus meile ka kohe üks teine tiim,kohalikest koolipoistest koosnenud grupp, kes samuti oma rahvatantse hakkasid meile demostreerima.

Pärast teist tundi algasid ettekanded. Alustas Türgi, kus õpilased rääkisid vähe ja suurem rõhk oli pandud videotele, kuid mainin ära, et videod olid tõesti suurepäraselt tehtud. Samuti tegi kooli direktor kõne ning meile lauldi. Järgnes paus, kus pakuti lõunat ning kohalikku hõrgutist- jäätist.
Pärast pausi algas ettekanded Portugalist, kus noored meile laulsid. Slaide oli kerge ja huvitav jälgida ning samuti noorte juttu.
Järgnes kohe meie suurepärane tuljak, mis loomulikult kõigile meeldis:P Saime kõik ilusasti oma ettekanded tehtud, kuigi närv oli sees, sest paljud ikka kuulasid meid ning ennast lolliks teha polnud eriti hea mõtte :D Mõnel ikka hääl värises, või tekkis higimull otsaette ning kes siis värises kui haavaleht(nii enne ettekannet, selle ajal ja pärast).
Ettekandeid saab igaüks näha siit:
http://www.slideshare.net/merikekk/estonian-events


Jagasime siis tähtsalt kingid ning kommid ära ning suundusime oma kohtadele. Nii mõnigi kahtlev türklane küsisi meil, ega kommid ei sisalda mingil moel siga. Meile pakkus see nalja ja siis kenalt naeratades vastasime, et pole vaja muretseda ning nad võivad seda täiest vabalt süüa. Järgnesid ettekanded itaallastelt, kellel olid väikesed tehnilised probleemid, kuid said oma ettekandega hakkama.
Ning lõppu tegid poola õpetajad, kuna õpilased ei saanud kahjuks Türki tulla.

Ning siis oligi aeg omadele nägemist öelda, sest oli aeg koju minna. Otsiti oma majutajad üles, suunduti oma bussikeste peale ja võeti siht kojdu poole. Kes mida õhtul tegi, seda tuleb juba asjaosalistelt ise pärida :)

Top Scent project meeting - opening day in Turkey from Merike Sikk on Vimeo.

Säravaimad hetked meie rebastepäeva retsist on nüüd olemas. ;)

http://pilt.delfi.ee/album/151345/

Teisipäev Türgis. 27.10.09

Kella 8 pidime minema kooli koos oma majutajatega. Enne linna ekskursiooni saime psiut aega veeta tundides.
Kella 9 aeg suundusime siis linna ekskursioonile. Esimese kohana külastasime Kahramanmarashi valitsust. Pärast seda külastasime kultuurimaja, kus toimusid erinevad workshopid. Me nägime kuidas hästi peenetikalisi mustreid linikutele tehti.

Samuti nägime kuidas kauneid pilte tehti.



Pärast mõnda aega kohtusime linnapeaga, kellega me hiljem ka pilti tegime (ainult eestlased). Vahepeal pakuti meile kommi, enne mida me oma käed odekaga puhtaks pidime tegema. Seejärel suundusime mägedesse, kus me nägime kuulsat Ceyhan`i silda.

Seejärel suundusime kohvikkusse, aga kuna vihma sadas tuli väike muudatus kohviku osas. Seega suundusime esimesse tee peale jäävasse söögikohta, kus saiad olid suurtes saiakastides, taldrikud olid mustad, aga söök oli hea :D!




Ja Jaak tegi seal oma tequila ringe. Viimane koht kus me käisime oli kalakasvatus. Pidime ka koobastesse minema, aga vihma tõttu jätsime selle ära. Õhtul läksime kõik koos kohvikusse jäätist sööma v.a Marje, kes käis rockkontsredil.

Turkey- Hatay (Antakya) from Merike Sikk on Vimeo.