report from erasmus+ visit in porto, portugal

REPORT FROM ERASMUS+ VISIT IN PORTO, PORTUGAL
"Small explorers in a magic world of European folk culture"
Erasmus+ Project 2015 - 2017
PORTO/2015 NOVEMBER
Programme
SUNDAY 22.11.2015
On Sunday we arrived at Hotel Sao Jose (Our stay between 22-28 November in Hotel Sao
Jose, Address: Rua da Alegria 172, 4000 - 034 Porto) and went sightseeing Porto. The host
families picked up our students at the airport and they went to their homes for the
whole day.
MONDAY 23.11.2015
At 9.30 a.m., we gathered at school Escola Basica de Custoias and watched
presentation about Portuguese folk culture.
We were also listening to traditional music played by Portuguese students. They
showed us many different, typical instruments, folk costumes and told one interesting
legend about the stone soup.
Meantime we saw the school library and Erasmus+ corner (logo works, map of all
participated countries, book exhibition, computers for Erasmus students).
Almost every day we had lunch at the school canteen. We were eating with
Portuguese students during their break. It was the great opportunity to observe their
behaviour, habitats and tasted typical food (fish, chicken, rice, pasta, vegetable soup,
boiled fruit).
Then
we
went
to
the
main
school
Escola
Básica
Irmãos
Passos.
We were shown classrooms, folk exhibition along the halls. We visited its school
library and there we also watched a PowerPoint presentation about European Club
activities. Students played some games about Europe in the official website of the
European Union.
At about 3.00 p.m. we had the Project Meeting (overview the programme for the
week, project establishment, tasks for all participants, dates of the next visits).
During our working session, our students were able to climb the wall and joined other
sport activities.
Tasks:
Poland
-
preparing Project Web Site
Spain
-
recording the film from opening the foreign letters
Turkey
-
preparing Project Drop Box
Portugal
-
preparing the presentation about visit in Portugal (PowerPoint)
Croatia
-
preparing the common Folklore Magazine
Italy
-
preparing Folk Places Folder
Lithuania
-
preparing Project Mascot
During our meeting it was decided that school partners’ coordinators should take part
in every foreign visit provided that they speak English well enough to represent their
schools.
According to the Partners request we have a new schedule.
Dates:
Portugal
22.11-28.11.2015
Turkey
13.03-17.03.2016
Spain
22.05-28.05.2016
Lithuania
02.10-08.10.2016
Croatia
04.12-10.12.2016
Italy
12.03-18.03.2017
Poland
21.05-27.05.2017
Here are the reasons of date changes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Different dates of school breaks
Holidays
School work organization
Weather condition
All partners discussed the cooperation rules modules, evaluation, reports, budget,
website, doing activities according to the project schedule.
TUESDAY 24.11.2015
We visited Porto Wine cellars. We were told about the regional job on Douro river
valley in the north (Douro region): the grapes harvest and the wine making, its
transportation, as well as the different producing techniques throughout the years so
far.
We also crossed on foot an old bridge called “Ponte D Luís” and visited the other
bank of the river Douro. There we could watch old and typical/historical houses.
After lunch we took part in traditional Portuguese folk games (dancing, singing, the
Science Day).
Next we had working session. Every school brought its own project logo (chosen
during their local competition). Then we voted secretly and chose the best one.
It was Italian project logo which reflected the project topic in the best way.
Afterwards we learnt more about Portuguese Education System.
There was also a Turkish Teacher’s Day.
WEDNESDAY 25.11.2015
There was a trip to Vila Nova de Gaia and a visit to a Traditional Bakery The farmhouse bread of Avintes (“Broa de Avintes”).
We were watching the bread baking and tasted it just after preparation.
On our way back to school we had the opportunity to sightseeing the bridges which
connect Oporto to Vila Nova de Gaia. We could also watch the mouth of the Douro
River and the Atlantic Ocean as well as Oporto beaches.
Then we visited Escola da Lavra to watch its folk museum (old tools, household
equipment, classrooms, home decorations). In this museum we could also watch how
the classes were taught before the Portuguese revolution of 1974.
At about 3.00 p.m. we were walking along another beach of the Atlantic Ocean.
There we could see a monument. A commemorative obelisk on the spot where liberal
troops led by Pedro 4th (1st Emperor of Brazil) disembarked in 1832 in order to expel
his absolutist brother, Miguel from the Portuguese throne.
THURSDAY 26.11.2015
We were leaving to Viana do Castelo to see the Hospital Ship Gil Eannes.
We could watch the work of Portuguese fishermen and ship which supported them
during illness.
Then we visited the Costume Museum with many different, folk, regional costumes
and gold jewellery, and salt carpets.
In the afternoon we went to Vila do Conde where we could see the Royal Customs Nau Quinhentista. This is a replica built by shipyards Samuel & Filhos, Lda, Vila do
Conde. It is near the museum center Royal Customs - Shipbuilding Museum. It was
an old cargo ship, which transported different things (cinnamon, flour, grain) in the
fifteenth century.
In the evening we were invited at farewell dinner with host families.
We gathered at school. The traditional food was prepared (mixed vegetable soup,
Salted Codfish with Cream (bacalhau), salad, typical cookies and enormous birthday
cake with Erasmus+ written in the middle). We were also watching the traditional
Portuguese folk dance and listening to its folk music (the band - Rancho Folclórico
Paroquial de Guifões) in multicultural atmosphere.
Everybody was singing the typical Portuguese song Malhao and some joined the
dances.
FRIDAY 27.11.2015
In this day we had the last opportunity to learn more about the Portuguese folk
culture so we went to Braga.
In the morning we went to a place called Soutelo where we visited a certification
organism of products, services and management services. There we could know
different traditional handcraft certified products. We also had the opportunity to talk
to craftswomen and some of us have tried to work with them.
We had lunch at a High School in Braga. In the afternoon, a group of students from
the University prepared a peddy-paper for us. They are studying Tourism. We had to
follow the directions on the paper they gave us and doing so we could sightseeing and
learn about monuments and historical places there. We were divided in groups
representing the visiting countries. The host students were also with their guests. The
winner was the group which spent less time to arrive at the last given point – The
University. And the winner was Croatia.
SATURDAY 28.11.2015
In the morning all the partners, students and teachers from Erasmus+ Project left
Portugal with beautiful memories.
It was a very interesting week, rich in programme and experiences, a week in which
everyone spoke a foreign language and met some new friends.