Borderline

Made for Europe

2008-05-11T03:53:00.003-02:00

"Made for Europe"
National Competition of final products of projects financed by the European Commission

Targu Mures, April 30th- May 3rd 2008

Competition organized by the Romanian Ministry of Education, Research and Youth.
Sponsors: local authorities and institutions from Targu-Mures
Number of projects: 98

Dora Ghita from Mihai Eminescu National College , Baia Mare, won the 3rd prize for the way she presented the “Borderline Magazine".

Her presentation answered the following evaluation requirements:

1. European dimension
1.1 Does the product contribute to the European dimension in education?
1.2 Is it focused on developing key competences?
1.3 Does it meet the needs of the target group?
1.4 Is it beneficial for disabled people?
1.5 Does it assure equal chances and eliminates discrimination of any type (religious, social, cultural etc.)?
1.6 Can it be integrated in the school curriculum?

2. Transferability
2.1 Does the product provide internal and external access to it?
2.2 Is it attractive and easy to be used?
2.3 Can it be transferred into another educational context?

3. Practicality (usage of the educational product)
3.1 Does he product facilitate the professional/school progress of the target group? (Educational soft, website, magazine, optional curriculum etc)
3.2 To what extent is it useful to and used by students/teachers/parents?
3.3 Is the level of competences implied adequate to the target group?

4. Valorization
4.1 Does it valorize the competences achieved through different subjects?
4.2 Does it valorize the interests/talents and qualities of the students?
4.3 Does it mention the name of contributors (students, teachers, partner schools, other partners)?
4.4 Does it offer the opportunity for developing other partnership projects?

Final Report

2007-08-19T13:24:00.001-02:00

FINAL REPORT SOCRATES COMENIUS SCHOOL PROJECT

B O R D E R L I N E
THE FRONTIER: A NO MAN’S LAND, A PASSAGE WAY, BRIDGE AND BARRIER BETWEEN PEOPLE, COUNTRIES, STORIES

SCHOOL YEAR 2006 – 2007

ACTIVITIES
After the numerous activities carried out during the school year 2005 – 2006, many others were accomplished in conformity with the project during the current school year. Each partner school continued studying the border theme and doing researches on it. Everywhere the ‘Comenius’ teams organised in-depth meetings, events open to the public, surveys and interviews, contests and workshops and each activity was documented through photos, videos, reports, essays, the materials which were then to be shown during the final exhibition, the concluding event of the project.
Both students and teachers exchanged individual mails or participated in blogs and e-groups, thus granting communication and the spreading of up-to-date information. The achievements of the project were disseminated by being mentioned in the web pages of the participating institutions, in newspapers, school journals, sometimes in short interviews on local TVs. Worth noticing in connection with many activities is the link established with the territory as a place to investigate and also as a place where to start cooperation, find and introduce new enriching contributions.

TRANSNATIONAL MOBILITY
With no changes to the original plan, the project teams organized two international meetings, the first in Baia Mare (Romania), from October 24th to October 28th, the second in Belluno (Italy), from May 8th to May 13th, travel included.
In Romania the participants came from Liechtenstein, Italy, Slovakia, Vaslui (Romania) while Poland (Tarnow) and France (La Ravoire), for different reasons, were unable to attend the meeting.
No missing teams in contrast were registered in Italy where the last reunion was held in the presence of students’ and teachers’ representatives coming from all the partner schools.
The record of attendance and the objectives achieved in both cases are given in the minutes enclosed herewith. But it is probably useful to state in this context that due to the emotional and cultural impact, the motivational power, the immediacy of results, no other moment of a partnership project is comparable with an international meeting in which students and teachers belonging to different nationalities can communicate face to face, work together, compare their views of life.

PRODUCTS
In compliance with the task they had taken on, the partner schools combined their efforts to create several joint products. As suggested by the school from Košice (Slovakia) the group contributed to the making of a mathematical calendar, available on both paper and on-line format, with questions related to History, Geography and the traditions of the countries participating in the partnership. Also the single issue of an international magazine, BORDERLINE, assembled and designed by the Romanian team from Baia Mare, was the result of the cooperation of the seven schools, all of which sent articles, photos, comments to be published.
The other products, in different shapes, sizes, formats, were exposed in the final exhibition opened in Belluno during the last international meeting (May 2007). The effect was gratifying, widely appreciated for the lively atmosphere of the inauguration, for the quantity and quality of the works on display, for the way the exhibition had been mounted in such a suitable place kindly lent by the Council of Belluno. Computers and screens were available for the consultation of the multimedia material produced, while proper areas were equipped for the display of panels and posters, and large tables were provided as support for the albums and objects chosen to interpret the theme.
There is no point in listing here all of the products shown in the exhibition, since they will be described in detail or sent by each school to its Socrates National Agency or loaded on the site of the European Community through the EST system (European Shared Treasure).
A few ones will be anyhow mentioned as an indication: Liechtenstein for instance brought a video and a large painting giving an original interpretation of the border topic through the language of dance and music; France exhibited several posters, all of which were of great visual impact, on the French-Italian relationship in different fields (e.g. art, economy, former jobs); while from Romania (Baia Mare and Vaslui) came some interesting presentations on the history of the frontiers and on the new role of the country inside the European Community, with the social, economical, cultural consequences implicit in the event.
Some other multimedia material and lots of photos, well arranged in colourful posters with captions, were exposed in the Slovakian stand: they especially visualized such themes as the Holocaust, the commitment of the students in favour of disabled people, minorities and refugees, the historical – and human – vicissitudes of a country, which, after the parting from the Czech Republic is one of the youngest in Europe.
The dialogue with minorities, fostered also through festivals, dances, moments of joyful sharing of experiences, was documented by the posters and CDs prepared by the Polish team, while border images and literature represented the object of many panels devised by the Italian students, who were also the authors of many videos (interviews, meetings, etc) and of a large-size book telling the story of the project, from the origin to its ending phase, through texts and pictures.
Quotations taken from border writers of different nationalities were displayed in panels on the walls and also written on the handmade bookmarks given as presents to the visitors of the exhibition.

LANGUAGES INVOLVED
English was used again as the working language of the group, for communication from a distance, exchanges during the project meetings, drafting of written texts (the products). The students, obliged to put themselves to the test of many different tasks (letters to partners, oral speeches, translations, conversations, essay writing, etc), were given the chance to improve their knowledge of English and their communication skills.
But other languages were practised too, French or Italian for instance, and others. The posters prepared by the ‘Lycée du Granier’ were written in three different languages, the students from France and Liechtenstein participating in the last meeting could express themselves in Italian, a few Romanian girls seemed to be able to understand it, while Slovakian and Polish people could communicate to each other, owing to the likeness of their languages, without having to resort to English. And some Italian girls were proud of their knowledge of German.
What was noticed was an interest, a curiosity about all the languages of the partnership. Before taking leave, each team presented the others with a CD collecting the most famous songs in the language of their own country: it was a nice suggestion from Slovakia immediately taken up by every group.

COOPERATION AMONG PARTNERS
Extremely good. All the participants really believed in the project and showed a positive attitude by sending proposals and keeping to the tasks taken on. Notwithstanding some contrasting points of view, never was it difficult to mediate the differences and reach a satisfactory agreement.
People always kept in touch: the international coordinator and the other partners were constantly informed (individual mails, e-group messages) of what was going on elsewhere, of problems if any and special achievements.
The realization, a bit arduous but finally rewarding, of several joint products (the calendar, the magazine, the final exhibition) should be considered as a clear indication of the success of the partnership, as tangible evidence that the work carried out was really a joint one, not just a parallel one.

FINAL EVALUATION
The project attained the expected goals: it served the purpose of enriching knowledge, developing positive attitudes, overcoming stereotypes and prejudices, making people conscious of problems and possible solutions, promoting international friendship; it was a great opportunity for students to acquire critical awareness and new skills (standing up and speaking in front of a public for instance) and to spread the main message connected with the border theme, a message of cooperation, solidarity, respect among people.
Really motivating on a didactic level too, useful to suggest learning strategies different from the traditional class lesson, it contributed to the improvement of ITC and language competence of both teachers and students, and also to the experimentation of less used methods of study and research.
Finally, not to be forgotten is the influence that the project had on the reinforcement, in the protagonists, of planning skills, together with abilities connected with management, evaluation, budgeting, correct relations with people.
Even if the final result is extremely gratifying it is in fact worth mentioning that now and then the group had to face some difficulties, all overcome thanks also to the tenacity of the participants, to their willingness to reach the objective. It was not that easy for instance to reconcile the ordinary school activity with the commitment required by such a project, so very demanding, and it was necessary to solve with appropriate choices some logistical and financial problems, to overcome the initial resistance of uninformed people and spread a more European mentality in each school.
What remains is anyhow the memory of the final outcome, the success of the international meetings, the colours of the final exhibition, the willingness of teachers and students to be involved again in new experiences which, like this one, could enable them to acquire knowledge of people, places, things and self-knowledge as well.

FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS
Lots of students of the BORDERLINE group have planned or already made visits to their foreign partners (from Poland to Liechtenstein, from Italy to Poland for instance and from or to other destinations too), determined to keep alive the friendships born out of the project. Similar promises of visits and contacts have been exchanged by the teachers belonging to the different teams, ready to take also into consideration new professional ways of cooperation for the future (class correspondence or possible exchanges).
It is already in progress a new form of partnership involving the ‘Liceo G. Galilei’ (Belluno) and the ‘Lycée du Granier’ (La Ravoire) within a ‘Comenius Pilot Project’ of ‘Individual Pupil Mobility’ promoted by the European Community: the application was declared successful last April and starting from next September an Italian girl will be hosted in France while, vice versa, a French girl will be hosted in Italy for a period of three months.

Ms Rosanna Mattia

International Coordinator of the Project

Ms ElenaZaglio
Headmistress of the Coordinating Institution

European School

2007-06-16T16:20:00.000-02:00

Due to the involvement in European Projects Mihai Eminescu College has just received the Certificate "European School 2007".

Here you can see some pictures from the Festivity held in Bucharest in the presence of the Ministry of Education.

Me, a European Citizen

2007-04-17T04:47:00.000-02:00

The European Union - a family of countries which are working together for a better life.
From now on, I am n European citizen and I am proud that we've made it.

Now we all work for good and peace in our life. What makes European citizen to be happy are the relations between tradions, economic relations and social relations. If all these are going great, we-the European citizen could spend our life happier. Instead, now we have to work more and more to get to the level of the other citizens from the countries which are part of European Union from a long time ago. Now we have to make more choices which have to help everyone. The customs and traditions are different in each country. Although problems and contradictions, I am surely proud to belong to my family ,my town ,my nation. Now we have more opportunities,(for example: to learn in the countries of the European Union), we have a strong motivation to learn more languages and through our work we are getting to the level of the rest of the countries which have been in the E.U. for long time ago.
I am sure that all Romanians are proud and they are wishing to work in this direction….

Lukacsovits Xanta 9th E

Robert Schuman Room

2007-03-23T05:03:00.000-02:00

On March 23rd one of the classes of Mihai Eminescu National College, Baia Mare, Romania, received the name of Robert Schuman, one of the fathers of Europe.
Previous to this evnt all our students had been informed about the importance of signing the document considered the founding of the European Union in Rome, 50 years ago (1957).

Carnival in Poland

2007-02-20T18:05:00.000-02:00

No borders among us!

Ancuta's Winter Holidays

2007-02-10T15:53:00.000-02:00

On Clouds!

By Ancuta Kin
12th C

Start for a Better Future

2007-02-10T12:31:00.000-02:00

First of all, I would like to say that I’m proud to be a European citizen and that Romania has finally been accepted in the E.U. We really deserve this, because Romania is a beautiful country with great potential. I think that this potential will be developed as we have much more possibilities now that we are a European country.
The European Union gives us a lot of hope for a better future. Personally, I’m feeling more released because I know that from now on I will have more chances to have a better future or career. This would be possible because our studies will be recognized in every member country and that our working force will be able to find a job and establish a career in its own domain or area of expertise. All these will be possible because there are no more borders and we will be able to travel freely to any member country, but I think that many Romanians will refuse to leave their homeland because of its growing prosperity.
It’s wonderful to know that Romania is involved in several projects with some of the oldest members of the Union and I’m sure that every field of activity in our country will be improved. I feel that I have a larger perspective to become a successful person, because of the numerous youth projects in education.
Romania has a lot of natural resources and intelligent people and it will prove that it deserved to be a member years before the integration took place. Now the economic, social, technological, cultural and political interrelationship between Romania and the other countries will be stronger. It’s not my intention to arouse anyone, but I think that Romania has many to offer, because as I said before, our country is a gorgeous one and has it own personality, its own spirit- so to say. It has got that little ‘something’ that prevents it from being common, that makes it different from other countries. I’m sure that the European citizens will change their bad opinions about our country once they visit it or once they see what great projects Romania has initiated for the European Union. Romania only needed a little support, I mean financially, to develop these projects. I almost 100% sure that we will be more respected as a country, a nation and people by the other countries as they will notice how wonderful we are. They will become open-minded as they should have been a long time ago!
The European Union means unity in diversity, unique market and currency, higher quality, in one word cooperation and support. I’m proud that our country is finally part of it. For me and my fellow countrymen this stands for a better standard of living, new and different opportunities, freedom, security, because knowing that you are not alone in this huge unforgiving world is a really great feeling...

Denisa Fonta
12th C

I'm a EU Member

2007-01-17T17:50:00.000-02:00

When I had my first history class this year our teacher wished us “Happy new year” and said that from 1 January we are considered European citizens.
One of my schoolmates replied that we had been Europeans since ever.
I consider that what my colleague said has a deeper meaning than what we may think first. Despite the fact that Romania is part of East Europe, our history is linked to the history of the other European countries. There is a bond between all of us. We all depend on each other in some sort of way.
Despite that we are the same there are some big differences.
Romania was considered a country with many problems and now, that we are EU members, we “share” our problems with the rest of the EU contries. This is not seen with “good eyes”. We have already had a bad image and this is going to haunt us many years from now . And it’s sure that after all the actions we have made our history is going to be like a scarf .
We have made some big mistakes that only the time is going to erase or maybe we are convicted to carry our burden for good.
I don’t consider myself an outsider and we, the Romanians, shouldn’t consider that we don’t have the European qualities.
We bring something that the others don’t have: a long lasting tradition, we love what we have and we are not going to change just because the others want us to.
We have the courage and the passion which our Roman forefathers left us as our inheritance. This is something that money and time can’t change.
We are outsiders in some points of view because communism has left a big and ugly scarf on all the Romanians not only on the image of the country.
Our only chance is to get rid of all those memories and start thinking in a more positive way. We have to change our way of thinking, of acting because what we say and do now is going to have after-effects in the future. We don’t have the right to put in danger the next generations and we must try to leave behind us something good, which deserves to be appreciated.
Regarding what my schoolmate said we had our rights before becoming EU members but now we don’t have to beg for them anymore.
We must stand upright.
Many Romanians are seen with respect and have changed the course of history in many ways.
Time can judge us, not humans!

Anda Sas
11th E

This project...

2007-01-17T17:37:00.000-02:00

...as to the ways in which this project helped us, I'd say that 10 lines...or even a whole page couldn't catch the essence of what this project truly means to all of us, who are involved in it..

It is that strong emotion in our souls that makes it so special...breaking time and space barriers, meeting new and fascinating people, encoutering interesting civilizations and learning about tolerance and understanding the one that's close or far from us...

In my opinion, these are the most important facts that enriched our souls and minds since we've been in this project.

Here is where we first came in contact with the idea about diversity in a unite Europe, here is where we opened our hearts so that outsiders have the chance to become insiders.

It is also true that-through working for these essays- we improved both our vocabulary and grammar.

But still, I think that the things that make this project unique are the ones I underlined above..and those were not said for a good mark, but they came from a deep place in my soul. And I'm sure all of you feel like that, too.

So we thank you, teacher, for giving us the chance to be a part of this!

Alisia Muresan

12th C

_________________

I'm sure that all have improved their English skills.

Writing and reading messages in English was very useful.

I'm more self confident and I don't always think that others can't understand me when I speak in English.

Now I feel relaxed when I need to make a comment during my English lessons .

I have also got more attached to some of my schoolmates who aren't in my class and during the project meetings I've made a lot of friends and also 3 best friends .

I feel very proud of myself that I'm in the e-group and that participate as active as I can.

I hope you all feel the same.

Anda Sas

11th E

Opinions on the project

2007-01-14T14:30:00.000-02:00

The Borderline project helped me very much.

The project meeting helped me, because:

I learnt how to present a project in front of an audience
I learnt new things about other countries
I made new friends
I enlarged my cultural background
and the most important thing is that I improved my speaking skills because of the face to face communication.

The messages we sent to the e-group helped us improve our writing skills, and of course when we read messages from the e-group we improve our reading skills.

The most important thing that we learnt was how to write an essay and how to communicate via the Internet .

It is also very important to find out that physical borders between countries do not mean spiritual borders.

Madalina

9th E

___________________

First of all I think that the Socrates – Comenius project Bordeline helped us understand that the people across the borders are like us, all with their habits, problems like ours and that the borders don’t make any difference among us.
Trough this project, we all learned some new things about the foreigners, about their countries, their habits, their life in general.
I am happy because I met some of our partners and I think that I improved my speaking skills in English during the project reunion where I talked to the girls from Italy.
I also think that this project was a chance for us to enlarge our cultural background.

By participating in the project activities we improved our English skills and we learned how to write an essay.
In addition, we improved our reading and writing skills in English through the messages sent to the 9th form E e-group and the borderline_students group.
It helped us correct some mistakes and taught us how to keep in touch with other people via the Internet.
I think that this will help us in the future because in our days almost everything is based on English and computers (Internet).
Finally, I hope that in the next projects, more people will be involved and they will take advantage of it because it is really worth it!

Xanta Lukacsovits
9th E

Insiders vs Outsiders

2007-01-13T11:17:00.000-02:00

I think that we, the Romanians, are more appreciated as insiders .
When we were outsiders, how many people, said good things about Romania, how
many of them thought at Romanians as ordinary people, not as gypsies
or disabled people, that bring illnesses and …who knows what
else in their countries?
None... or maybe there are few exceptions, but I think that most of them did not have a very good opinion about us, as OUTSIDERS.
And why?
Because we don’t own the best place in Europe?
What about today?
Today, when we are part of the European Union?
They have to treat us better, because that’s the most important RULE
"Equality" among countries, right?
In my opinion it is.
I am glad, indeed, that we are part of the European Union, but..i don’t know how easy it will be for us to get used to it. Because we have advantages,
yes, but disadvantages too, many disadvantages, and I think that
"older" people, know them better than us .... SO...How will Romania develop
from now on?

Andreea Bindea
10th C
_________________

The Romanian Government has started the collaboration with the European Union since 1995, and considering that it took us 12 years to join the Union it kind of leaves a bad impression to the others and also the illegal Romanian workers who went to the western European countries to work had also left a bad impression on our country.
So, as outsiders we felt left out of the "European Family", but now, maybe with hard work, we can prove to all that doubted on us, that we represent an important part of Europe!
I personally can't say how I feel as an insider because Romania has been a member of the EU for only 13 days. But I am convinced that step by step in the nearby future we will erase all the bad words about our nation!
Finally I will end by quoting Traian Basescu, our president:
"It had been hard, but we finally reached the end of the road. It is the road of our future. It is the road of our joy," and adding that this is exactly how every Romanian should feel!

Visovan Arthur
10th form

Opinions on the Borderline Project

2007-01-13T11:07:00.000-02:00

Well, I have learned a lot from this project.
Of course the main thing was improving my English, and we also learned how the others live, how they think, how they get dressed, how they understand etc, so many things that we have seen, and understood through this project.
I am a bit sad because I have noticed that the girls from Italy haven’t joined the
e-group, and we haven’t had the chance to talk to them and to receive
their impressions and thoughts about all the "Borderline Project".
But I am glad, very glad that I participated, and I hope that there will
be other interesting projects, even though I will never forget this
one.
I was also surprised when I saw how many children took part in
it, and I noticed that only at the end of the project. Anyway, it was
a great experience and I think the Best ever.

Thank you teacher for making this possible.

Andreea Bindea
10th C

My English skills

2007-01-13T11:02:00.000-02:00

Well, in my opinion all the "Borderline project" helped us in different ways, but especially with our English, because we had always learnt this foreign language at school but we had never been able to put into practice our skills in English, until now!
All this experience with foreign students from all over Europe, made us realize that we still have a lot to learn, all of the students including me, sorry...especially ME!
......
Arthur Visovan
10th form

I am glad

2007-01-13T10:58:00.000-02:00

Well, I am very glad that we are now part of the European Union, even
though I don’t know how easy it will be for us to get used to their
life style, because we all know that we have to change a bit our life
style too.

In my opinion we have always been part of Europe, but now,
we all are a family, a powerful one, and that’s the difference.

And I
think that it is a good thing for us, and I hope that our future will
be better than the present .

I really wish that.
As to the facilities offered by the European "Family"

I like most the fact that we can travel easier, only with the ID.

That’s what I have always wanted to happen.
Of course, we have a lot of advantages, but we have disadvantages too.
I am proud that we have passed the gateway to the European Union.

Andreea Bindea

10th C

New EU Member

2007-01-13T10:56:00.000-02:00

Romania has become full EU member on January 1st 2007.
How do you feel about that?

Holidays without borders!

2006-12-23T05:37:00.000-02:00

Merry Christmas!

Calendar

2006-12-09T09:02:00.000-02:00

The Slovakian team has created a Calendar that is a project product.
If you want to see the contribution of all teams please click on the link:
http://www.galeje.sk/calendar/

Romania's National Holiday

2006-12-01T08:04:00.000-02:00

On December 1st the Romanians celebrate their national holiday

Memories

2006-11-26T15:36:00.000-02:00

Roman Brandstaetter

2006-11-15T16:40:00.000-02:00

Agnieszka Ba³ut Class II f III Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace, Tarnów, Poland

On 3rd of November 2006 classes IIg and IIh from a Polish partner school organised another activity connected with Socrates Comenius Project.
The students prepared an academy about Roman Brandstaetter as a celebration of his 100th birth anniversary.
Roman Brandstaetter was a famous Polish-Jewish writer and a poet who was born in Tarnów, and lived near our school. After World War II had broken out he emigrated to Palestine where he had his first writing debut. His works are devoted to religious, moral and historical themes. The academy was attended by students and teachers of our school who were very eager to see the performance. We were delighted to listen to some classical music played by the young pianist and two violinists - students from our school. The music corresponded very well with the theme of the meeting. During the academy students read some information about the writer's biography and others recited his poems. It was accompanied by classical music played in the background. Thanks to the meeting students could become more familiar with poetry by Roman Brandstaetter and hear about various kinds of borders existing between people, nations and his literary works.

Our "Mental Borderline"

2006-11-08T00:51:00.000-02:00

By Alisia Muresan, Eminescu College, Romania

"Borderline - The frontier: a no man’s land, a passage way, bridge and barrier between people, countries, stories”
In my opinion, this quotation resumes the essence of the project: the border that we, humans, have created amongst us, the border created by different cultures, religions, languages or education, and above all – the border that is the most difficult to surpass – the one „born” from our intolerance, from the wall that we have built throughout ages between us.
The most worrying thing is that this wall which surrounds our minds and does not permit us to judge without all these prejudices is not a wall that appears only in relation with other peoples, but in the case of the same nation, too. Humans, in general, tend to become more and more intolerant with each other, more and more introvert and reserved, not being open minded, nor willing to give other people access to their minds or souls. This is, from my point of view, a huge mistake, because it leads to frustration, misunderstandings or even hate.
A peaceful and happy life requires love, understanding, and above all cooperation and respect. If we refuse to cooperate we cannot reach the point where we feel fulfilled, because our happiness depends very often on the happiness of the people who surround us, and one cannot be happy by making other people feel miserable.
This could be very well applied on nations. It is vital for us to understand that we are all very different: we think different, speak, look and live in different ways. But having more money or a more glorious past does not mean that a nation is superior to another. We are all equal from nature; even though the society creates a hierarchy.
Understanding this represents the first step to understanding each other. It is true that - because we have different cultures and other kinds of education - it may sometimes seem difficult for us to get along. But if we do not let ourselves be deceived by prejudices and if we are willing to find out the truth that is hidden underneath the surface covered with appearances I’m sure that we can find the path that leads to breaking this mental border, to a peaceful and fruitful collaboration.
And this is, as I see it, the main purpose of our project: demolishing this wall in our mentality, surpassing the intolerance and all the prejudices.

Workshops

2006-11-04T19:34:00.000-02:00

Feedback

2006-10-30T05:06:00.000-02:00

Marta Giacomel- Italy
When I told my friends that I would go to Romania they told me “Why are you going there ?! It's so far!!”
No one understood why I wanted to come here, not even my parents. This is one of the barriers I destroyed; and it was really difficult.
But I think that this experience will be very important for my life, because it taught me that crossing borders is not as difficult as we think. Romanian boys and girls , their hospitality was a really special one and I hope that we will succeed in organizing a meeting as joyful and constructive as this one.
I want to thank you very much!!!
Thank you! Thank you!!! I am happy now!!!
Crossing border is a great experience.

Andreea Bindea– Baia Mare Ro
I am so happy that this project took place in Romania (this year) and I'm also glad that I took part in it.
This was the most beautiful experience in my whole life, that's how I had the chance to meet new people and to practice my English, and I also want to say that I love PASTA.

Laura Szebeni- Teacher – Baia Mare Ro
It was such a pleasant experience being involved in this project, watching all those young students from different countries communicating together without borders among them...

Iulia Dragota – Baia Mare Ro
This kind of projects must be done more often and for a longer period of time.
It was great! I managed to make new friends.

Manola Panas – Baia Mare Ro
What could I say?
It was a small step for this project , a huge step for me.
An extraordinary experience in the prison from Sighet.
One writer said: „ He who forgets the past is condemned to repeat it”.
So let's hope we won't make the same mistake and remain isolated from the others.
Let's keep crossing borders.

Madalina Stoicovici – Baia Mare Ro
The last two days were full of great experiences and we had much fun. Meeting new people and crossing the borders of our minds has been something I can call the experience of a lifetime.

Peter Fabian- Slovakia
What do I feel?
Mix of every possible feelings, happy, tired, excited, amazed, glad and so on...
I am happy that such a project exists, because it is not only giving us a chance to learn something but also to make new friends, see new countries, which I would have never seen without this project and making us see something from another point of view.
Thanks to the EU, to Romania, to the teachers from every school and to the persons of hosting families and to the students involved in the project.

Larissa Majer - Liechtenstein
I really liked Romania...The pupils in this school are very friendly and I made new friends.
Thanks for all.

Trif-Cosan Maria – Baia Mare Ro
It was the most interesting experience in the last year.
It was all just great.
We should not see the differences between us but we should mostly see the similarities.

Lauran Lorin Gabriel – Baia Mare Ro
I am glad I took part in this event. It was a challenge for me coming into contact with new mentalities, cultures, enriching our cultural background.

Manola Martini – Italy
I'm very happy and proud to be here and to have this opportunity. I think that if you live this experience, to live with the others in their family, you will better understand the concept of this project overcome the barrier, and I have done it.

Dana Campean – Baia Mare Ro
I was very happy to accommodate an Italian girl . It was very interesting to talk different things with her, to discover that she is very nice, very polite and sweet.
It was a pleasure meeting her.
And all this activity was great.

Alina Ciuraru – Vaslui Ro
I am very glad I could participate in this project. I met interesting people. I think this experience helped me learn more things about the other countries, about their culture.

Nemeth Paula – Baia Mare Ro
Well, I think this experience was a very interesting one. It was a journey for a lifetime. Have definitely leant a lot from it. Thank you for having given me this opportunity.

Anca Kin – Baia Mare Ro
I have no words.
I regret being in the last school year here.

Adrian Maries– Baia Mare Ro
After this experience I have realized how much they are like us. And I really enjoyed that.
I just enjoyed being with My Friends.

Cristina Coman – Baia Mare Ro
This was a great opportunity to exchange ideas and to create a multicultural atmosphere these days. I really felt diversity.

Andrei Barboloviciu – Baia Mare Ro
I am glad I took part in this project because I learnt new things and because I met new people. The most important thing was that we all learnt what a “border” is and how we can cross it.

Alexandra Lungu – Vaslui Ro
I enjoyed the landscapes, the new beautiful places I have seen.
I had a great time and it was a pleasure meeting new people and new cultures; and I have achieved to cross “the borders”.

Daniela Pitis– Baia Mare Ro
Meeting people from other countries was something that I have always wanted to do. I did it now and I am really happy. They're different, but also, so like us.
I never would have thought that this experience will turn out being so wonderful, honestly.

Andrea Walch - Liechtenstein
I feel happy for a lot of things, for example that I have made a lot of new friends and I have had the chance to see Romania how really is ( a part of it). And I have to say that it is really fascinating.
Thank you!

Andrada Sas– Baia Mare Ro
I am very happy and pleased that all types of borders have been crossed.

Diana Rusu– Baia Mare Ro
New people lead to new experiences; new experiences lead to fulfilled dreams and hundreds of smiles.

Alexandra Sas – Baia Mare Ro
I am very pleased I have participated in this project.
It is a great opportunity to meet people, customs.
I enjoyed every second of it.

Adriana Molnar – Baia Mare Ro
It was the best experience that I could have !
I like this project and I want to continue to participate in it.
I love the people I met.
I love you teacher and thank you for offering me this chance to get involved in this project. I hope we will meet again.

Alexandra Muresan – Baia Mare Ro
This was a very nice experience!
I like hosting students, foreigners, because I think that Romania, despite its poverty and all the bad things that are said about the Romanians, is a beautiful country!
I AM PROUD OF WHO I AM , OF ROMANIANS, AND I AM PROUD TO SHOW IT TO FOREIGNERS!

Lisanna Solagna – Italy
I Think that this project succeeded in reaching its aim, to overcome the differences among us.
This experience enriched all of us .
This is the proof that young students like us can do special things.

Angela Fortunato – Italy
I am very happy to have spent a lot of time with these beautiful students.
Our project can't stop.
I have received a great hospitality, I love all of you.
I am sad to leave Romania. Dana and her family are really special.
I am happy I had the chance to meet them!

Visovan Arthur– Baia Mare Ro
I think that all the people in this room have seen that the borders can be crossed in one second with the speed of mind.

Michal Galik- Slovakia
I had a great time here in Romania.
I met a lot of new people , and I have made a lot of friends. I would be very pleased to attend such meetings in the future.

Raluca Ceaunica– Baia Mare Ro
To cross the borders is very important and challenging, but it is the thing that you live for in life, because if you do not cross it you will remain with doubt in your hearts.
Bring yourself to cross the BORDERS of the mind and in real life.

Project meeting in Baia Mare, Romania

2006-10-22T10:52:00.000-02:00

October 24th-28th 2006

Tuesday
17 – 00.00 - Arrival of participants

Wednesday
10 – 10.30 – Official opening
10.30 – 11.30 – School presentations:
· Colegiul Naţional „Mihai Eminescu”
· Liceo Scientifico Statale“Galileo Galilei”, Belluno, Italy
11.30 -12.00 Lunch
12.00 - 13.30 - School presentations:
· Gymnasium, Vaduz, Fürstentum Liechtenstein
· Gymnazium Alejova, Kosice, Slovakia
· Liceul Teoretic "Mihail Kogalniceanu", Vaslui, România
13.30 – 15.30 – Lunch break
15.30 – 16.30 – Visit to the Mineralogy Museum
17.00 – 18.00 – Visit to „Petre Dulfu”County Library
20.00 – Dinner in families (students), Festive dinner (teachers)

Thursday

9.00 – 20.00 –Travelling along the borderline - Romania- Ukraine
Baia Mare –„Mihai Eminescu” College, Şişeşi, Şurdeşti, Sighetu Marmaţiei; the Village Museum, lunch, Museum of Communism, The Bridge over the Tisa, Săpânţa, Traveling along the border with Ucraina, Certeze, Negreşti, Baia Mare –„Mihai Eminescu” College

Friday
9.00 – 13.00 – Workshops (CDI) and visits to different classes
1300 – 1500 – Lunch
1500 – 1700 – Evaluation
1700 – Sightseeing and dinner

Saturday

Departure of participants

The First School Day

2006-09-15T15:22:00.000-02:00

September 15th represents the date when all students from Romania come back to school.
We invite you to visit the blog of 9th Form E and to leave some comments for the new students involved in the Borderline project.

Project Reunion

2006-05-19T13:12:00.000-02:00

Poland May 9-14, 2006

France - Savoie

2006-05-08T04:59:00.000-02:00

France- Savoie

Italy - Belluno

2006-04-12T20:14:00.000-02:00

These are some photos of Belluno; it is not a big city and it isn't anything special but the mountains and the landscapes are very beautiful.
What about the town you live in?

Marta

Poland - Festival of Minorities

2006-04-12T19:53:00.000-02:00

On 21st March our school organized a Festival of Minorities living in our country. It was an all day event that involved lots of work and engagement both from the teachers and students. However, it was all worth the effort as we had a lot of fun. It was held in the gym and we invited lots of guests, even the President of our city came. Ten classes made the presentations of one minority living in Poland (Russia, Germany, Greece, Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Gypsies, Jewish, Lemkowie). There were dances, songs, typical traditions and customs presented. We could see for example a Lithuanian way of spending holidays, admire a modern Russian balet show or take a look at Greek's feast. It was all presented in a very attraction-grabbing way with a dose of humour. What's more, each class prepared stalls with delicious food characteristic of each minority.Everyone enjoyed the show. The festival was also a kind of lesson of tolerance towards other nationalities that helped to overcome the cultural barrier between different nations.

Agnieszka

Romania-Virtual Exhibition

2006-04-02T07:08:00.000-02:00

Drawings made by the students from Eminescu College, Baia Mare, Romania:
Ana Susca , Magyar Kinga,Carmen Marosan, Victorita Cureu, Catalin Motoc, Oana Motica, Romana Maxim, Daniela Ciurdas, Diana Jecan, Georgiana Gogea.
Teacher: Cristina Rettegi.

Slovakia - Kosice

2006-04-02T06:50:00.000-02:00

Kosice, Slovakia

Every year at the begining of May, the Kosice celebrates the "Days ofKosice". The year 2006 is a special year for Kosice because it hasmany anniversaries. 7. May - the biggest Kosice holiday. Itcommemorates the day in 1369 when the king Ludovit Velky constitutedthe first Kosice symbol - we call it ERB. We remember this day everyyear since 1995 from the 1st till the 7th May in a week full of funand entertainment. An important anniversary is also the funeral odFrantisek II. Rakoczi in the ST.Elizabeth Cathedral which happenned100 years ago. And also a half century ago the Kosice steam railroadwas built. Today it is an attraction for children. The days of Kosicealso include many other programs, like opening the Kosice ZOO, danceand sing programs, tradition hand-work, historical cars andtrams....and many many more.You can check out some photos in the brochure which is availible onthe internet : http://www.kosice.sk/static/akcie/dmk2006_brozura.pdf

Information provided by:
mgaliksvk@yahoo.com

Exchange of messages among students

2006-03-22T18:00:00.000-02:00

March 22nd marked an important event in the development of our project.
The students from Romania and from Slovakia started to communicate via e-mail.
The messages focussed on spring events and on the way Easter is celebrated in both countries.
Let's hope that the students from the other teams will join them too.
On March 28th the Italian students started to get involved, too.

Meeting a Frontier Writer

2006-03-05T05:14:00.000-02:00

Date: March 4th 2006
Participants:
Guest: Mariana Ilea, writer, accompanied by the team from Axa TV

Teachers: Mariana Hudrea, Camelia Duta, Florentina Tabacioiu
Students (19):
Andrada Sas, Irina Râciu, Erna Cozuplean, Monica Herteg, Alin Suteu, Carmen Busecan, Mirela Câmpean, Diana Pop, Simona Beran, Irina Benzar, Simina Botos, Alina Tineghe, Diana Muresan, Adrian Grigorescu, Alexandra Faje, Ionela Somatiuc, Raluca Popa, Diana Petrehus, Ingrid Traiszta

Topics:
Presentation of the project
Impact and products till now
Discussion with Mr. Marian Ilea on the topic of “being a frontier writer”
Planning the future products
Essays on:
“Impressions on the meeting with a frontier writer”
Presentations of Mr. Mariana Ilea’s books
“How do I feel as an inhabitant of the frontier?”
Impact so far:
-self reflection on themes like Romania seen by us and by the others, Tolerance, Transfrontier Pollution
-acquired knowledge on Romania and on the partner countries
-better skills in using the Internet as a means of communication, documentation and information
-better skills in using the computer

MARIAN ILEA,
Bibliography :
1990 - Desistea - Cartea Romaneasca Publishing House, Winner of the prize for debut awarded by the National Book Drawing Room Cluj;
1993 - Desistea II - Cartea Romaneasca Publishing House;
1997 - Ariel - Cartea Romaneasca Publishing House, theatre, Prize awarded by the Union of Dramatist Writers;
2000 - Povestiri din Medio-Monte - Cartea Romaneasca Publishing House;
2001 - Casa din Piata Gorky –Cornelius Publishing House;
2002 - Vacek- Dacia Publishing House ;
2003 - Medio-Monte Dacia Publishing House;
2003 - "Libertatea incepe in sapte aprilie" (short prose) Dacia Publishing House

Romania's Borders

2006-03-02T06:18:00.000-02:00

The country’s name was adopted in 1862, after the foundation of the national state through the union of 2 Romanian Principalities - Moldova and Tara Romaneasca - in 1859.
Romania, like all other countries has, besides the geographic border, other borders, as well, like cultural, social, political or religious ones.

The idea is that this state, although it’s a medium sized one, holds within a great culture, a great past and, possibly a bright future.

It is one of the most important states in the Balkan region due to its surface and population. Its geographical position eases the access through Europe. On the north and east side, it has Ukraine and Moldova as neighbours, on the west, Hungary, on the southwest, Serbia, on the south, Bulgaria and on the southeast, The Black Sea. Two thirds of the frontier is run by rivers - (The Danube, Prut, Tisa)- and seacoast (The Black Sea). Within these boundaries, people we now call Romanians, have evolved through time. They have, in some cases, outdone themselves, and in others they have disappointed the whole nation.
Romania’s evolution was rather slow, slower than the other Latin countries. The development of written culture, for instance, began in the 16th – 18th century. Even so, the first documents that only have an aesthetic value, can’t be considered literature. The true Romanian literature began at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th. In the year 1848, every writer agreed on the fact that the language needed to be altered. New phrases had to be found. Writers turned to folklore, which they considered a source of aesthetic regeneration. Among the people that believed this were 2 of the greatest pioneers in literature: Vasile Alecsandri (1821 – 1890) a great poet and prose writer and Costache Negruzzi (1808 – 1868) who was not only the founder of the Romanian short-stories, but a model like no other in the writing of historical short stories. Besides these 2 there are lots of other well known writers like Mihai Eminescu, Ion Luca Caragiale, Ion Creanga, Tudor Arghezi, Ion Slavici, Lucian Blaga, Liviu Rebreanu, Mihail Sadoveanu, Camil Petrescu, Eugen Ionescu and many others. From a certain year, there seemed to have been an explosion of talents among the Romanian writers. Many made it to the universal literature, like Eugen Ionescu, but in spite the fact that they were born in Romania, many of them were not acknowledged as Romanians but as French. After this explosion everything came to a stop when Ceausescu and communism appeared.
Luckily communism was defeated and democracy came instead. This happened in 1989 when Ceausescu was murdered and a rebellion, which couldn’t be stopped, took place. Although the system changed and everybody had a right to their opinion, the politicians became worse than 2 decades ago. It seems that all they care for is themselves and money. Of course, this isn’t true for all of them, there are exceptions, too .
Education in Romania has a huge role. Everything that is taught in school till high-school seems to be a lot harder than in other countries. This may be because the Romanians are, truly smart people. Just look at how many representatives in science and technology there are. For example there is Henri Coanda which was recognized until a few years ago as a French flight pioneer. He is in fact a Romanian, the one that discovered the Coanda effect after inventing the first jet engine. Like him, Aurel Vlaicu and Traian Vuia are also great pioneers. Many young, brilliant people leave the country after they finish school. This is a huge loss in one way and a reason to be proud in another.
The Romanians have made mistakes along time but it’s only human. They are too naive; they don’t seem to be fighting for much. They have a long road to walk on but even so they have many things to be proud of. There are more smart people in this country than in many others. The problem is that only a few know it and only a few apply it. The ones that have made commendable things starting with architecture, art or music and ending with math, science or medicine got to be known, if not by the entire world, at least by Europe. Now, modern art seems to be very important. Many Romanian songs, for example, got to be known past the borders as well as Romanian movies like “Moartea domnului Lazarescu” that got a place in the top 10 movies made lately, competing with Hollywood’s best.
The people of this country lack something very important to make progress possible: maturity and will power. For example, everybody has a mind of their own, a personality and a psychic. Yet, when a person is asked if he has a psychologist he answers that he is not crazy. In all the other civilized countries, almost everybody goes to a psychologist once in a while. This proves the lack of maturity, knowledge and experience of the Romanians. Also, people don’t seem to be fighting for anything, not even for their lives, if not for others or for the whole country. This fact is proven, for example, by the folk ballad “Miorita” in which a man could easily escape death. Yet he refuses to do so, thus ending murdered.

Luckily there is something that keeps the citizens united and full of hope. That is God and the church.
Although Christianity is divided in 2 important parts, every Christian believes in God, even if the ways to prove it are different. In Romania 86,8 % of the people are Othodox, 4,7 % are Catholics and 8,5 % are other, rather newly formed cults.
As a conclusion Romania has its good sides and its bad sides like almost everything in this world.

All that it has to respect is its geographical border. As well as the other boundaries are concerned, the sky is the limit.

Student:Radulescu Radu
Form: 11th G
Teacher: Daniela Sitar ( teacher of Romanian)
Colegiul National “Mihai Eminescu” Baia Mare

Invitation to Maramures

2006-01-20T02:39:00.000-02:00

Situated at the border with Ukraine, Maramures is one of the most beautiful places in Romania, a region where the old traditions have been best preserved.

Letter from the French students

2005-12-07T16:21:00.000-02:00

Chers amis étrangers,
Nous avons été très heureux de vous accueillir en France, dans notre établissement scolaire. Nous avons été surpris de la qualité de la langue anglaise que vous parliez tous. Plus particulièrement Ania et Asia nous manquent tellement ! C’était amusant pour nous et intéressant aussi : toutes les deux arrivaient à comprendre quand nous parlions en anglais ! Elles sont vraiment bonnes, excellentes même ! Félicitations !
Grâce à Ania et Asia nous avons appris des mots anglais et polonnais comme : ….. Maintenant nous savons que la capitale de la Roumanie est Bucarest ! En Pologne nous ne savions pas qu’en hiver il fait très froid et en été très chaud. Nous avons été étonnés qu’au Lichtenstein il y ait un seul lycée dans la capitale.
Aujourd’hui nous commençons le travail de recherche sur les différents sujets que nous avons choisis. Nous vous communiquerons les résultats de nos travaux par e-mail.
Nous vous adressons nos sincères salutations à tous.

La classe de 2°10

Partner Institutions

2005-09-07T10:35:00.000-02:00

1. Liceo Scientifico Statale“Galileo Galilei”, Belluno, Italy- Coordinating institution

2. Liceum Ogólnokształcące,Tarnów, Poland

3. Gymnasium, Vaduz, Fürstentum Liechtenstein

4. Colegiul National "Mihai Eminescu", Baia Mare, Romania

5. Liceul Teoretic "Mihail Kogalniceanu", Vaslui, Romania

6. Lycée du Granier, La Ravoire, France

7. Gymnazium Alejova, Kosice, Slovakia

BORDERLINE Project

2005-09-07T10:13:00.000-02:00

BORDERLINE
(The frontier: a no man’s land, a passage way, bridge and barrier between people, countries, stories)

The Socrates- Comenius 1 project, proposes the discussion of the idea of the border, both physical and metaphorical, considering the positive definitions (a bridge towards the new, a place of possibilities), the problematic ones (the frontier as a barrier, limit, obstacle) and even those causing conflict (the problem of choice and belonging).
It touches themes such as the knowledge of those different from us, respect for others, the sense of identity and, whilst respecting the individual characteristics, it aims to introduce as absolute values, integration, inter-culturality and the over-coming of territoriality.
All this through a study course of research that involves different areas and is based on objective data (especially historical, economic and legal), but also on an “interpretation” of life experiences, of stories and of thoughts expressed through different art forms.
The expected results can be divided in terms of acquired knowledge on the one hand and in terms of human and cultural development on the other.
An education towards a Europe without barriers and borders, without obstacles limiting dialogue between peoples is the main objective to reach.