First of all: what a gift to be able to experience this! We met exceptionally friendly people, we were always welcomed extensively and pampered as guests! In Piraeus we met the children and teachers our German partner school from Steinheid. Together we went along this week. The first school was a school in Athens, the 10th Primary school of Palaio Faliro , where the children gave their first presentation in English. We arrived and our children could immediately participate in the sports lesson that was given in the schoolyard; a nice ice breaker. The staff, coordinator Mrs. Stavoula Koundraou and the director Mr. Ioannis Papazoglou were very enthusiastic about the visit, they really want to cooperate in future. They will try to get an Erasmusplus contract next year.
The next day we arrived at the primary school of Vathi on Aegina island where the children stayed with host families for 5 nights and 4 days. This welcome was also very warm! The children were brought forward 1 by 1 and they were allowed to introduce themselves in English. This was followed by a play about a Greek story and then the children’s presentations for the whole school! Compliments to our children, because all in all it was a very exciting day for them that ended in the first night with their host family. The following days we made several excursions: we visited a pistachio factory, we visited a temple, we made a trip to Agistry where we also visited the primary school of Milos. There was a nice welcome by the director Elli and the coordinator Kiki (Kyriaki). All the children went to the beach to make “landmarks” with material they found near the sea. The school system in Greece is quite different from what we have, without any value judgment, just an observation. The great common good is the love and warmth that both countries have for the subject and for the children.
Ulrike de Ronde Openbare Dalton School De Plantage in Houten.
