Comenius Bilateral „Europe,my story “at C.N. “Tudor Vladimirescu”

The beginning of the last school year was the start for our Comenius Bilateral Project „Europe,my story ”.We had had the experience of such a project before ,in partnership with an institution from Istanbul ,Turkey.This time our partners were from Italy,a country we have had a lot in common with.I knew it would be a chance for my students to live an unusual school experience together with the students from Liceo delle Scienze Umane Emanuel Gianturco,Potenza ,Italia,to develop their English and Italian skills ,to make their culture known and meet a corner of our Europein a practical lesson of geography and history.

So,we launched our project in our school having with us local media ,local community ,parents and the coordinator of the project from the partner institution,Mrs.Giuseppina Pino.

Theactivities of the project varied from making and sending Christmas cards to our partners,selecting the most representative stories and translating them into English and Italian,making them plays with our teacher Mrs. Goanță Cristina and Mrs. Calotă Rodica and participating in weekly Italian classes of Mrs. Vilceanu Daniela.

At the end of the school year we welcomed a group of twelveItalian students accompanied by their teachers : Alessandra Mora,Analisa Vicario and Gaetano Triumbani ,who worked with us for the outcomes of our project:a Glosssary of literary terms,and the book of stories.We showed them a part of Romania:the city of Brâncusi,Sibiu, Bran Catle, Curtișoara,Tismana.We

celebrated the Child`s Day with Italian songs and dances.

We,then decide to do our mobility in Italy at the beginning of this school year and so we did .After a holiday of preparation and expectation ,the day of September,14th arrived .For some students it was the first plane journey .

Rome was our first destination and the palce to visit Coloseum ,San Pietro Basilicata and Sant Angelo castle.We followed our next destination , Potenza from Bazilicata region.The guest

families and the teachers were waiting for us anxiously.

The first day at school was special.The headteacher,Antonio Laguardia welcome us and we were presented the school.We even joined a Physics class with interesting experiments .The students: Popescu Anisia,Dragotă Diana,Filip Miruna ,Udroiu Alexandra,Deaconu Bianca,Vînturis Alina presented materials in Powerpoint about Tg-Jiu,Romania,C.N. Tudor Vladimirescu .

The following days passed very quickly as we were involved in school activities ,attending classes,working for the outcomes ,traditional show presentation ,sport

competitions,documentary visits.

Together we wrote a common story ”Europe,ourstory ”.Heroes were Eva and Vito,Masciara and Dracula.Sources of inspiration were the documentary visits from Castelmezzano,the place where we discoveredthe locallegends and the chance of doing The Angel flight beteween the rocks that shelter this beautiful place,Marateea ,where we caught in the arms of Jesus

Statue ,second highest in the world and which guards the bays of the Tirenian Sea.

Matera,with ”sassi”houses dug in limestone will be European city of Culture in 2019.

We have also been honoured to be welcomed by the mayor of Potenza ,who had visited Romania in the past and who appreciated the value of our project and we invited him to come to Tg-Jiu.The local museum bears the name of the Romanian ,Dinu Adameșteanu decorated with Romania Star and who dedicated his life to discovering the archeological sites from Basilicata .

The last evening was full of emotions .We watched the photos taken during our mobility ,we thanked the families for the hospitality and enjoyed the cake with the logo of our project on it.

The final moment ,of certificates found us with eyes in tears .We headed for Pompei, wishing to bury those tears ,in a place impressive through its greatness ,but also sadness ,traces of a civilization we have a lot in common ,fortunately.

As a coordinator teacher ,I appreciated the impact of these projects again ,which make students practise the European values ,which open the gates of schools to collaboration and exchanges of good practices in the field of education,which open the history and geography books ,which bring people and not only teritorries together .Finally,I would like to thank all the European teachers and students , their parents who opened the heart to this project and made it a pieceof our life and share some of students`impressions with you:

„Sharing experience  the "Bilateral Comenius Project"gave me  was one thatI would repeat with great love. Firstly , this experience led me to places I never thought that I will get any one time. The most surprised I was at the Vatican where we saw the Cathedral of S.Pietro, Michelangelo's Pieta, the tomb of Pope John Paul II and many others. Secondly, I realized that no place  like home because you're the master in your own home. I was pleasantly surprised because in Italy education is more casual. Thirdly, I also liked the legend of Castle Mezzano Eva and Vito. In conclusion I would if I could repeat the experience”by Barb Robert

„This experience was an interesting one as I had the occasion to visit wonderful places such as Pompeii,Vatican,Matera,Marateea and I could have for two weeks two sisters:Bianca and Viviana.It was a chance to practise my Italian ,learn about a different culture and see a different kind of educationa at school.

I made a lot of friend who will stay in my heart forever.”by Diana Andreea Dragotă

„In this mobility in Italy I had the opportunity to know new places and civilizations.

During the weeks I spent in Guarnieri family , I had a great time .

On the last day we had a farewell party, where we had fun with everyone.

It was beautiful and I will return.” by Miruna Filip

Project manager,Teodora Dragotă,

C.N”.Tudor Vladimirescu”,Tg-Jiu