30TH May - 3rd june 2016
SAINT-Lô in FRANCE
Monday 30th May - OFFICIAL OPENING
Warm welcome in the school auditorium by the French hosts - the Headteacher Mr François Clement and the project
coordinators Mrs Mariana Navrotescu and Mr Matthieu Taillefer,
as well as the students presentations about their national traditional and
regional cuisine were the most important elements of the first day of the
A&E international team meeting in France.
There
is no sincerer love than the love of food. George Bernard Shaw
Tell
me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are. Jean
Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
Sharing our national cuisines we learn more about each other.
After visiting the impressive school facilities, guided by Mr Silvan, the teams of students from all partners shools presented their national specialities and gave the examples of the
most typical dishes served at breakfast, lunch and dinner. The set of presentations
from five partner countries situated in different parts of our European continent was titled
'A Celebration of European Food Culture'
French team prepared a surprise. A video memories of our Italian adventure - the first project meeting in FRANCAVILLA FONTANA
Click to watch - Souvenirs d'Italie by French Team
In the afternoon, after a delicious lunch in the school canteen came time to take a physical activity challenge - Badmington Tournament in international teams took place. We had a chance to burn calories .
We did our best to win. All of us have won with Mr Couch Potato. After warming up during sports competitions, tired but still full of positive flow , we stayed active till the evening wandering around our host city. Sightseeing, getting to know its history guided by Mr Philippe Breteau. The tragic war view of Saint -Lô the 'CAPITAL of RUINS'', leveled to the ground by allied bombs on 6th/7th June 1944 will remain forever in our memory.
Photo album - Day 1
tuesday 31st May
TRIP to Mont Saint michel - a world heritage site
The fabulous wonder of the Western world, an abbey perched between sea and sky was our destination. In the gusty wind and the swirling sand, stepping between maddy quicksands we managed to cross an impressive Mont S.Michel Bay.
Fortunately, thanks to accompany of professional guides we arrived at the abbey before the high tide. Then after getting rid of the mud tightly covering our feet, we passed along Grand Rue to climbed to the high medieval walls and to admire as minute by minute the island gradually dipped into the sea waves. Finally after power up by a tasty French baguette in a charming, tiny cafes we toured the interior of the sanctuary built in honour of the Archangel Saint Michel.
Thank you for unforgettable views and life time moments.
wednesday 1st june
celebrating european flavors
We started the day with a seance of videos series POWER UP YOUR MEALS.
Each team presented 3 videos featuring typical dishes served for breakfast, lunch and dinner in their country. Students demonstrated their ingenuity, creativity, providing a culinary journey through the oceans of national tastes, typical regional products and culinary traditions in the partner countries.
The next task was cooperation in international groups to propose healthy and tasty European dishes composed on the basis of the national ingredients of all partner countries.
The teamwork promised to be very good and the results were to meet only at Friday's project meeting summary.
But still the best part of the day was yet to come !!!!!
TEEN MASTERCHEF WORKSHOPS
All teams dressed in tasteful Cooking Aprons in country colors designed and funded by the hosts began the masterful performances of culinary skills.
The School kitchen filled up with tempting aromas and flavors began a real
FESTIVAL OF EUROPEAN TASTES.
After several hours of cooking time to share national tastes and enjoy a common meal has come.
“Laughter is brightest in the place where food is.” – Irish Proverb
Nothing unite better then a common feasting and shared leisure. The evening game at the bowling alley was an active highlight of this unforgettable day.
Another wonderful idea to foster frindship among the students and the teachers in our project team.
thursday 2nd JUNE
A DUTY OF REMEMBRANCE
Visit to normandy american cemetery and memorial in colville- omaha beach
ONE morning in June 1944 . . . .
What would our world be today without that historic D-DAY, when the Allied Forces debarked in Normandy to liberate France?
Being in Normandy you need to remember that it is the place where history was made.
The Normandy Landings began at dawn on June 6th 1944. Thousands of soldiers took part in Operation Overlord, many of them were young people, not much older than our students, yet willing to lay down their lives in order to restore freedom to mainland Europe and overthrow Nazi totalitarianism.
Today, the memory of those soldiers is still alive - our freedom fighters, brothers-in-arms .
To pay tribute to the fallen soldiers we visited Normandy American Cemetery where over 9 thousands soldiers were buried.
Each delegation laid a wreath of flowers in the national colors . Then deeply touched students watched videos and a multimedia exhibition in The Visitor Centre.
After full of emotions visit to the Colville Omaha beach came time to a more recreational part of the tour.
Sightseeing CAEN a duchy town founded by Wiliam the Conqueror - known as the 'TOWN of 100 Bell Towers' due to the number of bell towers and numerous religious congregations.
friday 3rd JUNE
the grand finale of the French meeting
After working in multinational groups the students with lots of creativity and great work presented their ideas on Healthy European Meals Recipes.
In the afternoon THE TEENCHEFS did their best in A&E team football tournament.
In closing the visit the project coordinators were invited to a Cocktail Reception with the City's Mayor at the Town Hall.
Students spent the last moments together on the great fun, enjoying themselves at the farewell party.
This week full of engaging activities, spent in international project team company will stay in memory for life.
Thank you Mrs Mariana Navrotescu, the whole French team and the families for warm hosting and experiences which will last in time and go on beyond learning . . .
'Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much'
