Marine Le Bloas’s account of the Final Eyeblog Conference in Turkey from Class 3°A - Member of the French Delegation
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009‘My Stay in TURKEY‘, by Marine Le Bloas ( Class 3°A)
First of all before arriving in Turkey on Sunday, our teachers Mmes Paillas and Cross, Théo, Hamma, Elodie and Camille and I took the train to Bordeaux from Dax.
Then on Monday, we started off from Bordeaux to Amsterdam by plane. That was very pleasant in spite of many apprehensions. Once arrived in Amsterdam, we didn’t have to drag our luggage, and so we directly travelled on board a second plane to Istanbul. After 4 hours by bus, we arrived in Bolu quite late. We were very warmly welcomed by our host families. A small taxi, then arrived and he was very polite, and drove us to my hosts’ place.
I met the grand-mother and my friend’s mother. We spent a marvellous evening chatting and exchanging many ideas, it was really great! Their house was not very large, but there was a good environment. One only little problem: in Turkey, they have Turkish toilets… which we are not used to. Apart from this little problem everything went well.
On Tuesday my host and I got ready to go to school, after a susbstantial and rich lunch ( with tea, we had a full meal: salad, tomato, cheese, bread, meat or fish + a dish which looked like a French ‘quiche’ and olives, and then a dish that looked like Chinese ‘Nems’). After a short pause for digestion, and warm embraces from my second family, we went to school by car.
At school, it was still a second marvellous reception. Over there, in their school they wear uniforms ( girls wear skirts and a short sweater, and boys wear suits with ties), and every morning they must stand in rows in the playground, and must recite their national hymn ( it is very beautiful and at the same time very intimidating, all the people in the street shops stop and sing with them).
Every morning and afternoon, we met to work around our Comenius Project, there were at least five pupils representing each country accompanied by 2 or 3 teachers. The present countries were Italy, Poland, Sweden, Iceland and our French delegation.
During those meetings , each country presented some work achieved during the school-year, with power point presentations, the topics dealing with sustainable developement, how to preserve the planet, by the means of new technology. each power point presentation lasted 10 minutes or more. That was very enriching to exchange ideas on important topics.
Our own power point presentation refered to wood and the changes of temperatures over the last years. At the end of this exchange, gifts were offered such as USB keys made of wood. We were also invited to a splendid buffet, and activities of visual art, too. When we made plates and created tables. Afterwards we managed to enjoy meeting again, and go on exchanging many things together.
We went to visit and walk around the Gölcük lake, it was quite simply splendid, a huge forest ( which was still a litlle snow-covered), we spent a great moment there. We spent the evening at our guests’ places.
On Wednesday we got up very early to go to school and observe their methods of working. Then we went to have lunch in one restaurant with very good food. Then in the afternoon, we reached and visited Istanbul and the famous Ayasofya Mosquee ( Sophie’s Mosquee), the Topkapi Sarayi Palace, and went along the Bosphore, and finally we reached a spring with fresh water called ‘ Yerebatan Sarnici’. It was really great! Then once more we spent a great evening together going for walks around. Unfortunately we had to part, with happy tears keeping in mind our stay together.
After our departure to Istanbul from Bolu, we arrived late at night in our hotel, and had a good night’s sleep. On Thursday we met the Italians, the Poles, the Swedes, the Icelanders, and 4 Turkish for one last day in Istanbul, visiting its large bazars all together, its splendid Mosquees, and we spent the evening walking a lot all together.
On the last day: Friday, only the Italian and the French delegations were left with some Turkish friends. We walked around down the streets, then took a boat to sail on the Black sea, it was brilliant! There were many jelly fish in the sea, but they looked friendly. Then when we reached the ground and it meant parting from the Italians. We thus spent the afternoon and the evening with the few Turkish friends left. They made us discover the beauties of Istanbul, those typical markets, and heat, and the usual friendliness of people, some monuments and 2 mosquees… At that point as it was time to say good-bye we all fell in tears, nearly all, except me and Askim as he had not arrived yet, but we were deeply moved and sad. After a very long moment saying good-bye filled with emotion, we went off, our eyes filled with marvellous memories.
After 5 minutes of good sound sleep, we got ready for the plane leaving from Istanbul, then again a plane to Amsterdam, via Rotterdam because of the problem of an old person who fainted. Then another plane to Bordeaux, and the train from Bordeaux to Dax. Again it was time for a very strong meeting, with emotions hidden with our parents!
That trip was fantastic, we will never ever forget it , and if we had to do it again, that would be with great pleasure! I will never forget the reception the Turks offered us , I can only keep in mind that marvellous country. I am happy to have been allowed to discover another culture and way of thinking, and of considering the future thanks to the EYEblog Comenius Project!