DigitalMagazineSWIM

Saint Kliment Ohridski
Comprehensive School
2018-1-HU01-KA229-047936_3
Strengths and Weaknesses in the Media

Strengths and
Weaknesses in the Media

OUR SWIM

TEAM

THE COLOURFUL FACE OF DOBRUDZHA

Dobrich is located in the Northeastern part of Bulgaria, 35 km far from the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. The
population of the city is around 83 000 inhabitants. The area is 109 km2. Dobrich is one of the ten largest towns in
Bulgaria - an important cultural, economic and administrative centre in the country.
There isn’t almost industry in the region, so that the land and the air are clear. Many agricultural crops such as
wheat, sunflower, corn, lavender and etc. are grown here. That’s why the region is also called “Golden Dobrudzha”
and "The Granary of Bulgaria".

Along the coasts of Dobrudzha are located some of the most beautiful resort towns and villages - Albena, Rusalka,
Balchik, Kavarna where tourism develops. There are long beaches, undeveloped and unpolluted by human activity.
Another reason for the development of tourism are the large number of historical and archaeological findings . Here
are some of the most important wetlands in the country - around the lakes Durankulak, Shabla and Ezeretsko. There
are protected habitats for many species of birds that breed, nest or overwinter in these zones. The area of the cape
Kaliakra is also protected - there is located the only nature reserve in the country, which covers territory and
aquatory.

Dobrich region has a rich cultural and historical heritage- from Roman times to the 20th century the area offers
attractions from different ages. Cultural tourism is highly developed, as is the maritime one. Dobrich is a town that
keeps its traditions and history alive. Many battles have been fought in the territory of the city for the liberation of
Dobrudzha and Bulgaria. The significant cultural institutes in the Dobrich are: The Drama Theater, the Art Gallery,
libraries, The Museum of Modern and Contemporary History, The Open-air Ethnographic museum "Old Dobrich",
sport complexes and etc. Here it is one of the oldest city gardens in our country - park Saint George and the one of
kind monuments of Khan Asparuh, founder of the Bulgarian country in 681.

The Bulgarian folklore is very rich. The main themes are the relationship between man and nature, agriculture, love
and marriage, rural life, the image of the hero and the damsel.
What’s more Dobrich hosts many conferences and international festivals for Music, rt and Dance.

The decoration of the Dobrudzha costumes is impressive - they are made of blue and silver jewelry, and the color
combination is typical only for the northeastern parts of the plain.
The traditional women costume consists of a red pinafore with embroidery (it can also be skirt and a vest), long
white cotton shirt, black wool apron with embroidery, yellow cloth with silk fringes for the head and a belt.
The men’s costume is black and consists of black trousers, potours , a white cotton shirt with embroidery on the
bosom, a red woolen belt, a special cloth for the head and thick calts.
Most Dobrudzha dances start slowly and gradually become faster. Dancers play freely, with a lot of emotion and
confidence. Most movements are directed towards the ground (squats, sits). This symbolizes the relationship
between the Dobrudzha people and the land and its fertility, providing their livelihood. There are also many arm and
shoulder movements.

The Bulgarian cuisine developed its richness over the centuries. Thracians, Greeks, Romans, Bulgars, Slavs and many
other tribes lived in the area, affecting not only the Bulgarian household but also the cuisine. Typical dishes include
lots of vegetables cooked in pottery (Gyuvetche), with plenty of garlic, onions and spices. Some of the most popular
traditional Bulgarian food is banitsa, tarator and yogurt.

Banitsa is a baked product of pastry crust/sheets/, filled with different products like cheese, which is milk product
made in Bulgaria. It is made from cow, sheep or goat milk, which is fermented and stored in brine

Tarator is cold soup prepared with yogurt, water, chopped cucumber, olive oil, salt. Also you can add other products
such as dill, garlic or walnut.

Yogurt is a food produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. The bacteria used to make yogurt is known as
Lactobacillus bulgaricus.

Bulgarian students
present

CULTURAL
HERITAGE

of the town of Dobrich
and region

The territory of Dobrich town is a unique mosaic of natural and
archaeological sites of interest. Preserved remnants of ancient Greek

colonies and Thracian cultural centers, medieval citadels and

ethnographic landmarks are all places of cultural interest.

The area is also where one of the two major birth migration
routes passes - the so-called "Via Pontika". Kaliakra Reserve is
the only one in Bulgaria, which extends over sea area. The
furthest northern riparian dense forest at the Black Sea coast in
Bulgaria is located in Baltata. The Lake of Shabla is one of the
biggest habitats of water lily and yellow pond-lily (Nuphar lutea)
in Bulgaria.

The Museum
of Modern and Contemporary History

It is located in the beginning of the City Park "St. George". And was created in
1860 and is declared a monument of the Park-art. The museum is an object of
the Regional Historical Museum of Dobrich.
The museum has two exhibition halls:
- In the first hall is displayed an exhibition "The Nature of Dobrudja" - based on
the principle of dioramas, there are panoramic panels where different
landscapes with typical representatives of Dobrudja flora and fauna "come alive".
- Other hall is used for temporary and guest exhibitions and for meetings and
educational programs. There are held various museum events, educational
programs, auditoria, extracurricular activities, readings, children's workshops and
competitions.

Regional historical museum Dobrich

It was created in 1953 but its first museum exhibition was organized in 1960 in
the building of the former casino. The museum collects, studies, preserves and
presents cultural and natural heritage of Dobrudja region the first exhibition of
the museum was opened in the former casino building in 1960. The world's
largest prehistoric necropolis on the west coast of Durankulak Lake was
discovered and studied. It stores over 180 000 exhibits, including - one of the
richest prehistoric collections in the country and the Balkans, made up from finds
from the archaeological complex near Durankulak (5300-4000 BC); one of the
largest collections of medieval weapons in Bulgaria; the collection "Revival icons
from Dobrudja" with the most numerous number of icons, depicting "St. St. Cyril
and Methodii "; the richest in Bulgaria funds, named after the world famous
Bulgarian writer Yordan Yovkov and others.

The museum organizes educational programs, scientific forums, archaeological
research, temporary exhibitions and other cultural events. It is a leading
institution for studying the history and culture of northeastern Bulgaria.

The open-air ethnographic museum "Old
Dobrich"

It is located in the center of the modern city of Dobrich, over the former Odun
bazaar. Here are stored and presented Dobrudjan crafts from the late XIXth and
early XXth century.
Masters, who have inherited their craft from their fathers and grandfathers -
tailors, knitters, woodcarvers, goldsmiths, potters, blacksmiths, coopers, etc., - do
their jobs in the restored workshops in front of the visitors' gaze. The old clock
tower built in the 18th century rises in the middle of the compound, and its
chimes resound over the entire town. The boza workshop offers boza, a
traditional beverage made of fermented wheat, with a thick consistency, a
pleasant aroma, a dark yellowish colour, and a low alcohol content, made using an
old recipe, while the bakery gives off the smell of freshly baked gevrek (Turkish
bagel), and the coffee shop invites people to sample the flavoury Turkish sand
coffee that uses a hot bed of sand to heat the coffee.



Balchik Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden is the main attraction in town of Balchik. Its 10 hectares
surround the small summer palace of the Romanian Queen Marie. The gardens
are set on a steep hillside, and descend in 6 terraces to the sea - supposedly one
for each of the Queen`s children. There are over 3000 varieties of shrubs, roses
and flowers, set among streams, waterfalls, and ornamental channels.



Temple of Great Mother Goddess Cybele

This temple of Cybele had been discovered near Balchik in the spring of 2007
during excavations for the construction of an on-site hotel. The construction had
been stopped by the municipality.
The archaeologists are adamant that the Temple of Cybele is the largest discovery
in recent years because it is a public building and not a private tomb or mound.
This temple of mother goddess Cybele is unique not only for Bulgaria but also for
the Balkans. The archaeologists consider it is the most well preserved temple in
the world and it might become exceptionally important one.
The temple was active for 700 years. There are performed rituals even 100 years
after accepting of the Christianity. Based on the found inscriptions, documents
and coins it was defined that the temple of Cybele was built in the III-th century
BC and is a part of the ancient city Dionysopolis, which was located in the borders
of present town of Balchik.

Cape Kaliakra

The architectural reserve on its territory are located 12 km southeast of Kavarna.
It is an oblong, narrowing rocky peninsula that juts out about 2 km into the sea.
The rich history, the well-preserved landscape, and the beautiful panoramic views
make Cape Kaliakra one of the most attractive tourist spots on the Black Sea
Coast.
The slopes of the cape take a 60 - 70 m plunge straight into the sea. The waves
have carved caves and arches at its foot that can be approached only by the sea.
In the past these tunnel-caves were connected to the fortress and were used for
loading and unloading ships.
Kaliakra is a nature and archaeological reserve. It stretches over 687.5 decares
and comprises wild steppes and incredible coastal rocks. More than 400 plant
species can be found in the reserve. A total of 310 kinds of birds live on the
territory of Kaliakra and 100 of them require special measures for their habitats
preservation. 106 of these bird species are protected at European level. The
European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) nests here. The region is extremely
important for migrating birds because Via pontica, the second biggest migratory
route in Europe, passes through it. Every autumn between August and October
thousands of birds fly through the reserve. This includes more than 29 000 storks,
pelicans, and cranes, as well as over 3000 birds of prey, including the globally
endangered Pallid Harrier /Circus macrourus/, Saker Falcon /Falco cherrug/ and
Eastern Imperial Eagle /Aquila heliaca/. Dolphins can be spotted in the seaaround
the cape.
The first records providing information about the people who lived on the cape
date back to the 4th century BC, when the region was inhabited by Tirisis, a
Thracian tribe. This was probably the reason why the first name of the cape was
Tirisis. Later the fortified wall that was initially laid by the Thracian tribe was
restored and another fortified line was built. The remains of many buildings were
discovered on the territory of the outer town. A large building that used to be a
4th century the name Kaliakra, which means “beautiful cape”, was first
mentioned in the 13th - 14th centuries. In the 14th century the Bulgarian state
was divided in three, and Kaliakra became centre of its eastern-most part and
established itself as a big international harbour.

There are many legends related to Cape Kaliakra. The most famous one tells the
story of 40 Bulgarian girls led by the beautiful Kaliakra who jumped from the
rocks and into the sea to escape from the Ottomans. They braided their hair
together to

Articles in the local
media about us

''Strength and Weaknesses in the Media''- First
mobility

The first mobility of the project ''Strength and Weaknesses in the Media'' by
the program ''Erasmus +'' was held in Koszeg, Hungary in the period -20-
25.01.2019. The participants had the chance to see and explore that amazing
country and its history.

On the first day students were warmly welcomed by
the team of Hungary and the Headmaster of the school.
All of the participants from Bulgaria, Germany, Croatia,
Iceland and Hungarу joined the ice-breaking games which
were really creative. After that the students from the
different countries showed their schools, town and
country by presenting posters that they had to prepare in
advance and arrange in Hungary.

Everybody was amazed by our girls’ musical
performance of the song „Hubava si moia goro“. Despite the fact that no one
understood the lyrics everyone felt the emotion and got excited. After lunch the
participants visited the Town Hall where all met the deputy mayor. He told about
the ancient history of the town and also about what Koszeg is going nowadays.
Later we went sightseeing where the guides were Hungarian students. They
showed some historical and cultural monuments around.

The second day started with a workshop '' The role of
the media '' - or how the media affect our lives, to be
more precise. Students were divided in groups and each
team made mind maps. The evening began with a
presentation of traditional cuisine and finished with a
dance workshop. It was extremely fun!

Participants spent their third day in Budapest - an
amazing European capital. There are a lot of places you
must see - castles, bridges, towers, the Parliament. The
atmosphere
was unforgettable and everyone created a lot of great memories.

The next two days went by very fast. With a pre-selected criteria students
developed a model of a school magazine, calendar and video reflecting their
experiences over the past days. They had interviews with the guests - teachers
and students, drawing comics on the topic '' Erasmus + '' in their lives, including
interesting facts about partner countries, some gossips and fun facts.

The whole magazine and a video that combined all kinds of photos from the
week was shown at the farewell dinner.

We were able to touch the culture, history and spirit of not only Hungary,
but also all of the other participating countries. We felt the spirit of Europe, and
last but not least-we made lifelong friendships.

Bulgaria

From 7th to 13th April the second meeting from the project “Strengths
and Weaknesses in the Media” took place in Dobrich, Bulgaria

We were prepared to welcome our guests from Hungary, Croatia,
Germany and Iceland. There was a surprising welcome at the airport after
which they were in awe. In the evening the guests had

the opportunity to know each other better.
For the whole week there was a program
prepared so we could familiarize our guests
with how life is here.

On the first day, they had the chance to try
from our traditional and Balkan cuisine. The
food was something new for them and we
think they liked it. On the second day was
yet to come to visit the local radio and city
hall, so we could interview them and get to
meet our mayor.

The most interesting day,
we think was Wednesday because then we visited different historical
destinations such as Cape Kaliakra, Balchik and the Sea Capital of
Bulgaria-Varna. The next day, the task for each country was to show its
traditional dances and music. The last day we made evaluation of the
stay. After that we had some free time and then we gathered at school
for our farewell party.

Croatia

From 30th September to 5th October the third meeting from the
project “Strengths and Weaknesses in the Media“ took place in Rovinj,
Croatia. Seven Bulgarian students and three teachers had the
opportunity to visit this Croatia and to get closer to its culture. Of
course let's not forget about the experience the students got of
manipulative media.
In the beginning of the week all the participants in the mobility got
the opportunity to get to know each other better doing some ice-
breaking activities. In this way they learned more about each other
and became a team.

During their stay in Croatia except
communicating with
people from other nationalities, they also
learned more about manipulations in the
media and how to recognize fake
information. The participants in the
project did a lot of workshops in
international groups and they presented
projects on which they worked together.
The students had a tour around the
school and the town and visited many
landmarks around the area like National
Park Brijuni, Fazana, the Red Island and
many more.

This whole project, in particular the meeting in
Rovinj taught the participants to be more
independent, to believe more in themselves
and learnt to them how to build self-
confidence. Most importantly they learnt a lot
about the manipulative media and
disinformation.

Germany

From 9th to 13th December the forth meeting from the project
Erasmus + „The strength and weaknesses on the media " took place in
Schweswig, Germany. A group of sevenstudents and two teachers
visited the city. They participated in various workshops with other

groups from Hungary, Croatia, Island and
Germany. Teachers and students gathered and
talked about the structure and the influence of
the media as well as the fake news. Every group
had prepared a short video about "Truman
show" movie.

The participants had the opportunity
to see the school of the German
group. It is professional gymnasium,
separated in different buildings. There,
the young people have cooking,
business administration, building,
carpentry, turnery and language
lessons.

The group toured the city and visited a lot of famous tourist
attractions like the St. Peter's Cathedral and The Viking Museum.
There were represented ancient viking traditions. It was interesting for
the students and teachers to walk in the dark holding torches that lit
their path in front. Everybody was
amazed by the archery and ax throwing
lessons.
The groups visited the second largest
city in Germany - Hamburg. They were
happy to see the new symbol of
Hamburg- Elbphilharmonie, a really

impressive building, on the Elb river coast. The students had the
opportunity to feel the atmosphere of one of the biggest Christmas
bazars. Every single house or building was decorated with
Christmas
lights.
At the end of the week the hosts and the guests cried for each
other.
They developed strong friendships for this short period of time they
had spent together. The students developed their tolerance and
improved language skills. Moreover, all participants felt more
confident.

Iceland

The last meeting from the project Erasmus + „The strength and
weaknesses on the media" took place in Reykjavik, Iceland. A group of six
students and two teachers visited the city. They participated in various
workshops with other groups from Hungary, Croatia, Island and

Germany. Teachers and students
took an active part in the work
process with tasks related to the
strengths and weaknesses of the
media. The main work topic
there was the film
"Nightcrawler", which presents
the pursuit of success at any
cost. During the visit to
Reykjavik, Iceland, the students
held a workshop and discussion,
dedicated again to fake news and the influence of the media on people
and also faced the traditions and culture of the host country. The group
toured the city and visited a lot of famous tourist attractions. All projects
under the Erasmus Plus program gave children many opportunities not
only to learn, but also to compare themselves with children in Europe, to
see that differences do not divide us, but bring us closer. They also
acquire many social skills that are extremely useful to them.

“I was extremely impressed by the different culture in Iceland, the

way of thinking of the people there, as

well as the good level of English

proficiency of the students. What is even

more impressive is the observance of law

and order, the discipline of the people

living in this country. The project gave an

experience that is very enriching”,

twelfth grader Enislav Enchev said.

“The project taught me to communicate with people with whom I do
not have many common interests and to work in a team. The topic of the
project helped me to understand the problem of the strengths and
weaknesses of the media, to expose the roots and problems, as well as
ways to deal with it. During the last mobility in Iceland, we had the
opportunity to watch a film about the manipulation of the audience”,
said Taissa Kulciar, also a participant in the project activities.

Reflexions

of students’ exchanges

The Erasmus+ Experience in
Koszeg

An experience which holds a special meaning to me was the opportunity
to travel to Koszeg, Hungary. I had a chance to travel with the first group in an
Erasmus project. Being a part of the first mobility in Hungary was one of the
most enjoyable experiences so far. I have been taking part in different projects
for a long time. But taking part in an Erasmus project is the best way to
cooperate, develop yourself and to practice languages in real life situation.

What stroke an impression at first, was the school. It was very old, more than
300 years old. While entering the building, you feel both the spirits of past and
present. This wasn’t the only thing charming about Koszeg. The town itself was
small, but romantic and formidable. It has managed to retain its gorgeous
scenery and alluring architecture. I liked its cobbled streets with dimmed lights
and colorful little houses.

Going through my photos, taken of this place, I can still remember the scent
of a small café at the main square - Ibrahim Café and Restaurant, where my
colleagues and I gathered together for a chat, tasting local wines and having a
laugh.

My colleagues were outgoing and always open for new ideas. Being from
different countries made the exchange even better because I got to see
different cultures and yet how similar we are. We weren’t the only ones who
became friends. The students also made friendships which they will cherish
forever. During this week they all did their best and worked hard. For example,
producing wonderful projects - a school magazine, calendar and a video. One
night there was an event where each country presented their national type of
dance. We were all gathered at one place and danced until late hours.

The exchange provides you with the opportunity to see the wider picture.
Exchanges are not just a matter of education in the narrowest sense. The
Erasmus+ experience helps you to realize that you have to improve yourself. To
learn, feel discover, that there are more curious, skillful and more persistent
than you, and you should surpass them

Detelina Georgieva-Kartelova

-a teacher

An Unforgettable Experience

Erasmus. Perhaps the most exciting thing that happened to me. It's hard
to get out of my comfort zone. But these 7 days were the most memorable
days in my life. When I realized I was going to Hungary, I was very excited and
surprised. nd I tell you straightly that I didn’t know much about thecountry.

Just one year ago, I would never have guessed that I would talk to some
strangers for a whole week and that I would actually make some wonderful
friendships. That I will learn so much about the different customs, characters
and routines of people from other countries. And, of course, I will learn so
much about the media. I felt as though I was at home. I wasn’t like hundreds of
miles from my hometown. I was like in my own town, except that it was much
colder.

I went totally out of my comfort zone. I’ve tried things I’ve never tried. I
used to have a way of life completely different from mine. And actually ...I liked
it much. I'm not sorry for one thing. It was exciting! I have seen such rich
culture, history, architecture; I have entered into the customs of the
Hungarians. I understood that we are actually very similar and very different at
the same time.

I am grateful that I dared to participate in the project. I'm grateful I went
to this country, I met those people. I improved not only my English, not only my
vision of many things, but I changed my whole life.

Genoveva Gocheva

The perfect week

It was finally the day, when we would meet our long-awaited guests
and get to know them better in person. We held onto our self-made
posters with the names of our guests and took off to the airport,
feeling ready for the upcoming fun times. We waited for a bit, not
minding the fact that the airport security took a little longer than
expected. As our guests came out, we proceeded with our plan. We
came out of our hiding spot, running in slow motion, as we desperately
waved around the signs in the air and jokingly pushed one another, like
mad reporters, wanting the best witnesses only for themselves. It may
have looked weird to the other people there but our “brilliant” idea
definitely made the atmosphere less tense. In fact, it made it warmer.
Because, let’s be realists here. Who wouldn’t be tense, if not stressed,
about going to a completely different place, another country? Who
would not be worried about going out of their comfort zone and
meeting new people? But, that’s what the point is of being in this
project - going out of your comfort zone and experiencing new things.
After we met our guests, we got onto the busses and started
conversing. Some were more open than others and made the first step,
while with others, we did. But nevertheless, we enjoyed each other’s
company and talked almost the whole ride back. All of us ate, got some
rest and met that same night, having fun and conversing. My guest and
I talked throughout all of lunch and dinner, my big brother and I
translating things to our parents and our guest from time to time. The
point is, our first meeting may have been a tad hectic but we enjoyed
every bit of it. The very first day, we had several activities and got to
know many different things through workshops that were quite
entertaining! We had fun learning, which is actually, let’s be honest,
quite rare to be encountered in any kind of school. Every single day,
from morning till night, we would have something occupying us. Sure,
it was indeed tiring but it was also fun. It showed us how the world is -
busy. It let us learn different things that even we didn’t know about our
own country. It let us learn different things about our guests’ countries.
It let us be free with our decisions. It let us decide whether we would

make this project a success or not. We had ups and down while
preparing it, we made mistakes too but learnt from them. We gradually
got close to each other and didn’t want to leave when the time came.
One of the moments that warmed my heart happened at our farewell
party. Let’s just say that tears were rolling slowly on our cheeks as we
were hugging each other, not even wanting to think about the next
day. About the moment they leave. I was glad it happened, though. It
proved to me how close we got to each other. How happy we were
with being together. I may be the youngest so far in this project and I
may have felt a little out of place about this whole thing. But. That’s
what the project is for. Leaving your zone of comfort behind and
running into the world that is awaiting you.
I am glad I was accepted. Because, as I said, I was quite uncomfortable
and sceptic about the idea of the project but I do not regret it a tad bit. I
am happy that I met many other people and made some friends. If I get
another chance like this, I will be sure not to miss it. Definitely. So, I hope
to see you next time.

Yoana Dimitrova

My Erasmus+ Experience in Dobrich

From 8th April to 12th April 2019 our school hosted a meeting as part of the
Erasmus “Strengths and weaknesses in the media” project. During this time,
I had many incredible and memorable moments.
During the first night of the mobility all participants gathered together at
one of the popular clubs in Dobrich. This helped us to get to know each
other and to "break the ice" between us.
Throughout the week we had problems with the organization, but I
think that our overall performance was on a high- level. We have risen
with the workshops related to recording a radio program. The “Ice-
breaking” activities were very fun and interesting. On pril 10, we
travelled to some places of our historical heritage. That was my favorite
day of the week. Despite the bad weather the day was filled with
positive feelings. We took a lot of photos that will always remind us of
this incredible day and week.
The saddest and hardest day of the week for me was the last day of the
meeting. At the Farewell party we presented the radio program we
worked on over the past few days. Despite the problems we
experienced with the technique, we managed to deal with the hard
situation. This once again showed that we could work together and
deal with the problem even when we were under pressure. After the
Farewell party, all the participants in the project gathered for the last
time at one of the popular clubs in Dobrich. We were all crying,
laughing, playing and singing for the last time together.
Participating in such a project allows you to look at the world in
different ways, teach you to communicate and create memories that
remain for a lifetime. I meet many people, which gives me the
opportunity to get to know the culture and traditions of other
countries. I am so happy and grateful that I have the opportunity to be part
of a project like this.

Aleksandra Dralcheva

Croatia

We got our suitcases from the car and patiently waited for our hosts to
arrive. The teachers were already there and ours got the chance to
converse with them. I met with my host, Ana, and she was incredibly happy
from the very beginning. She hugged me and was all smiles. I got to meet
with her mother, a nice and witty person, telling jokes and surprisingly able
of speaking in English. The first day was tiring but we got new energy for
the second one and started off with a good time and presenting our videos.
In Rovinj, we got to see many different places, go on islands and look at
them from their best viewpoint. It was beautiful and I noticed how clean it
is in the little town right off the bat. I got to know, that that place is a really
popular tourist destination, so it was well preserved, thankfully. We
wouldn’t want to miss such a beauty, after all! Every day was filled with
activities, giving us some free time at the end of each one as well. It was
never boring, that’s for sure. We didn’t get as much sleep as we need but
this was only because we stayed up late with the others and had fun.
Almost everyone in the project was new to everything happening but there
were no awkward tension and moments. It was like they knew each other
from the beginning! Of course, I felt a bit left out in the start, because they
were all older than me. But it became no longer a border, when I got
comfortable and talked with more people. From the very start, I felt pretty
skeptical of this project. “Go to other countries and meet up with people I
don’t know? Someone I don’t know living in my home? No, thank you.”.
Okay, maybe not this dramatic but you got the point. And this project
entirely changed my way of thinking. I actually had fun! I didn’t want to
leave at all! I made friends and talked with others, keeping in contact with
some of them now as well! I loved this project and how it changed me. I
didn’t want to leave my comfort zone but now, I feel more open for new
things and changes.

Yoana Dimitrova

THE FAIRYTALE CALLED A WEEK IN ROVINJ

From 29th September to 5th October I was privileged to be one of the students in
the mobility in Rovinj, Croatia. We were there with three of our teachers and six other
students from the project in my school.

This was my first time in a project like this one and I was so afraid because I
didn’t know what to expect. My fear instantly disappeared when we arrived in the
town of Rovinj and saw our hosts – we were so happy to meet each other again. On
the very first day we saw the beautiful town and took a walk around its narrow streets.
We were fascinated of how a small town like this one could be so lovely.

We did a lot of interesting workshops, including making a posters, short movies
and others. On the last day we saw their traditional dances, music and clothes. My
favorite parts of the week were when we gathered altogether in the evenings and
spent them talking and getting to know each other. We were in a different place every
evening so we saw where and how people can have fun in this town.

We had two trips to different locations including and an island. The nature there
is unique so I saw a lot of adorable views. On the island there was something like a zoo
and there we saw species that we don’t have in our region because of the different
climate in Bulgaria – zebras and elephants. It was an amazing experience.

We also ate some of their local foods. Something that made me a very big
impression was that people there cook so delicious even when they aren’t master
chefs or cooks in a restaurants. I was ready to spent all my money to try absolutely
every their meal.

Last but not least, I’m so thankful to Gala and her family. I was really lucky to be
their guest. They was taking care of me the whole week without stopping and I really
appreciate it.

Thanks to the Erasmus+ project I met new people, saw different cultures, tried
and learnt new things like how to make a video (short movie), how to find out if the
media is lying to us or not, how to protect ourselves from being manipulated by the
media, etc. There is nothing in the world that can makes me regret my participation in
this project.

Daniela Dimitrova

A week in Germany

Do you know that feeling before traveling? You are the happiest person in the
world but also worried at the same time. While preparing your luggage you think only
about what is going to happen. Although your heart beats very fast, you love these
moments. And if you travel one hundred times more, the feeling will never change.
That is why I love trips. However, this was not an ordinary trip.

The project meeting took place in December, so we could feel the Christmas spirit.
The beautiful house decorations and the Christmas street markets were everywhere.
In spite of the cool weather outside we felt the warmth of the upcoming bright
Christian holiday. Nevertheless, Christmas was not the only reason that kept the heat
inside.

During the meetings we meet people that we have never met and probably will
never meet again. They are from different regions with their own history and culture.
Anyway, that is not an obstacle for developing friendships that will last whole lifetime.
People with similar interests can find their friends during this one week and keep in
touch long years after the end of the project. Also, the host families can become as
close as our real ones.

My host and I spent our nights together at a house I have never been at before.
We got to know each other, learnt about each other’s dreams, hobbies and
perspectives incredibly fast. We watched movies, played board games and bowling,
visited local museums and other landmarks. These moments remain in mind until the
last day on the Earth and one day we will talk about them with our grandchildren.

In conclusion I can say that it was an amazing experience. Nobody is able to
describe with just simple words the feelings, shared not only by a small part of the
participants, but all the teachers and students. The usual travelling cannot be
compared with these emotional weeks, spent with strangers that turn into friends
forever.

Dobromir Kostadinov Xa

A memorable week in Germany

Our mobility started with landing on Hamburg′s airport. We were very excited to
meet our hosts and start the week. We were surprised by running people with posters
in their hands, we hugged each other and were extremely happy to meet again or to
meet somebody new.

The week we spent there was unforgettable. We met a lot of new people, with some
of them we had so much in common, with others we were completely different but in
some way we were alike. We improved our English skills, we were presenting our
presentations, which we have done on workshops with people from other countries.
This was very helpful, we had different opinions about some topics but we found a way
to understand each other and work on groups, as a team. I think that this is a very
important skill, which can help us in life. We learned a lot about the media, how
shocking news can affect us, how to make a difference between fake news and the real
ones. How global problems make feel each one of us and what we can do to help. We
discussed everything we have done in front of the team. We learned about Germany′s
culture and traditions. We had a walk around Schleswig, we visited Christmas bazar and
we were really impressed. We had a trip to Hamburg, we visited Elbphilharmonie,
which was extremely impressive and we made a lot of photos there. We went to the
Christmas bazar and we had some free time with our friends.

One of the best part of our experience was the visit of The Viking′s museum. It was
very interesting and informative. We had a walk with torches to the restaurant which
made us feel like we are from another century without mobile phones and technology.
I am impressed about that walk because I am sure that it would never came to my
mind to walk through the forest with torch. And this was one of the most exciting
things that week, we were talking and laughing all the time.

In conclusion I can say that it was extremely helpful experience. We developed our
English skills, we learned a lot about the media, made a lot of new friends and with
some we still communicate. We were close to Germany′s culture and History. And no
matter how different we are there is always somethings that we have in common.

Anastasya Gocheva

A Memorable Adventure

The time I spent in Iceland during the project was a truly eventful one.
Right out of the airplane, I was exposed to a completely different climate
and flora than what I am used to in Eastern Europe. I also quickly learned of
the Icelandic people’s lifestyle and caught glimpses of their way of thinking
through casual interactions. Then I met the Hungarian group, with whom I
found a surprising amount of similarities both in culture and ideals. We got
along great and shared quite a lot of engaging conversations.

After the introductions had passed and we had settled in, a few once-in-
a-lifetime experiences happened to all of us - the geysers, the waterfall, and
especially the volcano left all of us with everlasting memories and awe at
the radically opposite sites that Iceland offered compared to our
homelands. The guide, given to us by the hosting school’s teachers, was
also informative and well-presented.

After all that, the time we spent working on the concerning topics raised
in the movie, Nightcrawler, was productive and enriching. We had
discussions about the characters’ personas, the social problems, and the
injustice that were presented in the film. Some debate sparked when there
were different opinions on one matter. It all helped us practice not only our
English grammar and vocabulary but also how we contemplate sensitive
issues and then present our views on the subjects with confidence and well-
thought-out arguments.

All things considered, I think I speak from the name of everyone in our
group - our visit to Iceland was a total success!

Enislav Enchev

Experience that I will never forget

I am extremely happy that the project was realized and that we
could share our experience with a very interesting country,
radically different from the home one. The program prepared by
the Icelandic school combined work on the project and getting to
know the country. We were able to see amazing sights, as they say
once in a lifetime, we learned a lot of facts about the country, the
people and their way of life, we were able to see a very different
system that actually works quite well. The Bulgarian group
performed excellently in each task assigned by the project. We had
a video prepared, which managed to amaze both teachers and
students. We presented our school and the country in the best
light, we managed to combine fun and learning new things. We
came home with a lot of positive emotions and a desire for more
similar projects.

Dragomila Stoyanova