VISIT TO GERMANY

Three teachers and three students were the team who represented our school, 1^st Junior High school Galatsi, Athens at the second meeting of the Comenius programme, "Foreign mirrors for a domestic Europe", in Germany. The visit took place in Aschheim, a beautiful town near the capital of Bavaria, on November 18^th 2012. The weather was foggy and cold, but the atmosphere in the hotel was very warm as people who met for the first time in Turkey a few months ago, met again.

The first visit to the school of Aschheim left everyone amazed. The architecture of the building, its simplicity and functionality in shape resembling a ship, and the classrooms equipment, laboratories, offices and even the auxiliary spaces were the way each one of us would like to have at our own schools.

During the tour of the teachers at the school premises, Antonis, Charalambos and Kostas, the three students, joined the German pupils in Chemistry and Biology classes. At noon everyone enjoyed the traditional Bavarian meal which was offered by the teachers of the Aschheim School.

The reception was continued at school at that night, with genuine Bavarian folk programme! Everybody danced the cheerful dances of Bavaria, and had the opportunity to enjoy the dances of all countries participating to the programme. The Greek pupils danced ‘’Syrtaki’’ and naturally they roused the crowds! After  being cheereded they undertook to teach the others how to dance the most famous Greek dance.

The next days were filled with visits and activities. We visited the Museum of BMW, the Olympic village, the Allianz Arena, a monastery where beer is prepared, Schloss Neuschwanstein, the castle of Louis, and even a farm. We visited the centre of Munich, the Aschheim Energy Geothermal Station and participated in environmental games in the woods of Aschheim. We even met the mayor, who gave us lots of information about the area of his ​​competence.

Our last night in Aschheim was more relaxing. We stayed at the lobby of the hotel until late, chatting amicably and singing songs familiar to everyone. We renewed the appointment to Portugal, where some of us will meet again in March 2013.