Reported by Maja kovačić, Neža Mastnak, Blaž Pavlič, Tadej Majcen and Miha Vehovar
Friday, 21.10. – the 1st DAY OF ERASMUS+ MEETING(TENERIFE)
Our trip began when we packed ourselves into school van in front of Franjo Malgaj primary school early in the morning. We continued our trip with driving to the Italian airport in Treviso. With a little break we got to the airport at about 10 o’clock. First we got rid of our luggage and then we waited for check in. After long time waiting we finally got on plane with 20 min delay. On the plane we had our seats separately so we all met lots of new people. We were really surprised about the number of Slovenian passengers. Mr. Headmaster enjoyed in company of Slovenian philosopher and his wife, Neža had fun with an Italian couple and their 10 months old boy Diego and also Maja enjoyed in watching cartoons with two kids from Celje. The flight was surprisingly calm with no issues. At 17:35 when our plane arrived our Spanish hosting families waited for us. Then we all got home with our hosts and had a great afternoon with them.
Saturday, 22.10. and Sunday, 23.10.- the 2nd and the 3rd DAY OF ERASMUS+ PROJECT
So today, on Saturday we were depending on our hosts which prepared a plan how we’re going to spend the day. Kathrin and her family took us to a tour of ”El Medano” beach. There we soaked feet into the Atlantic ocean, walked down the beach and felt the charm of volcanic sand. After enjoying the beach we drew back to home where we had lunch. We tried their avocado and something else for what we don’t know the name but both was really great. For desert we also had mango and ice cream. Then we afforded a long break to 7 o’clock and then we drew to ”Las Cristianosa”. There we had fun with shopping and enjoying time with our family. We got home really late at about 11 o’clock so we only had another mango got dinner. We spent our day with a big smile on our faces. But the funniest thing was our accidents communicating with family. ”Buenas noches”
Sunday, we again started separately with our families. We went to Loro Parque to the Northern part of the island. We got there with Kathrin, her little brother and her aunt. In the park we saw a lot of new amazing animals which we aren’t able to see in Slovenia or anywhere near. Giant orcas said hi with special voices but their attraction was spraying the audience with water. We were sitting in the first row so we were all wet and for the excellent day it started raining. But anyway we continued. We also saw crocodiles, Galapagos turtles, sharks, flamingos, dolphins, lots of parrots, medusas, sea whips, black panther, Siberian tiger, emperor penguins and sea lions where we met our teachers which didn’t recognize us because of the raincoats. Despite bad weather we had lots of fun. We bought some souvenirs and of course bonbons. At the end of the day we thanked our family with Slovenian pancakes and they really liked it. After the dinner we fell asleep immediately because we were tired from whole day. But in our minds we were really excited for the next day to meet other students in Erasmus+.
Monday, 24.10.- the 4th DAY OF ERASMUS+ PROJECT
After three days we finally went to school and started to get know other Spanish kids. Luckily Spanish schools starts school the same as we do so we didn’t have to get up earlier. A bit before the start we met each other in front of the school and shared amazing experiences from previous three days. We figured out that Spanish people are not so good in English so we already learned a lot of new Spanish words(pan, dias, tardes, noches…). So we decided to greet our teacher in Spanish when they arrive: Como estas amigos?(How are you?). And we quickly got an answer that the saying practice makes a master if a master makes practice is right. After the teachers came we all merged in main lobby. What we saw there took us a breath. Spanish art teacher made a huge carpet by sand with Erasmus sign. After short instructions from music teacher we went to multifunctional room and waited for teachers to end breakfast. In that time one of the teacher took us to a tour of school where we were really surprised about the number of student’s nationalities. On this school there are about 35 different nationalities. About 10am we started with a greeting from Spanish teacher and a presentation of school activities. They gave us cards with our names and it was really funny because the didn’t say our names correct. Like that Neža was Neisha, Miha was Miaja, Maja was Maha and teacher Niko was Nikola. After that part they called us again to lobby where we had to finish the carpet. They drew on every site names of project countries and we had to fill them with sand. We had 30 minutes but Slovenia was the longest name(in Spanish is: Eslovenia), so we got help from Polish student. When we finished we had a break to eat snack. In Town Hall of Granadilla later their Meyer had a speech for welcome. At the end we got gifts. After a group photo we went to culinary school in Adeje to lunch where we were served by their students. Than after big lunch we went to bus for back to school(it was raining again and only teacher Jure had an umbrella). When we got back they told us we have a meeting dance in the evening too. On the dance teachers Jure and Niko showed us some moves from their age and it was really funny. I have to say it was really nice, we got to know Spanish dance, but think Slovenians can make better parties.
Tuesday, 25.10. – the 5th DAY OF ERASMUS+ PROJECT
Just like on Monday we met at 8.20am in front of the school today too. We were waiting for bus. We drove to town La Laguna. In a researching centre IAC the astronomer Alfred Rosenberg showed us the equipment and work of the astronomer. After that presentation a woman astronomer which showed us important astronomic discoveries and meaning of their telescopes on El Teide. On the roof of scientific and astronomic museum with the explanation of telescopes we also observed sun spots and made a lot of group pictures. In planetarium we watched a movie about formation of the universe and life on Earth. We detailed observed the museum where were figuring different legality of science. In the old part of La Laguna we had traditional Spanish lunch. We got to the bus a little wet because the rainy storm caught us again. For the end of the day we had a lot of free time in shopping centre Santa Cruz(the capital of Tenerife). After that we drove to their concert hall, took some pictures and went back to our town San Isidro.
Wednesday, 26.10.- the 6th DAY OF ERASMUS+ PROJECT
We spent the morning in school with interesting presentation about volcanoes by volcanologist David Calva Fernandez. He presented us the theory of formation of Canary islands which incurred as a result of volcanic eruptions in last 10 million years. We found out that the volcanoes on Canary islands are active now too because the practically erupt on every 100 years. The last eruption on Tenerife island was good 100 years ago but on neighbor island it erupted few years ago. We continued with an hour of relaxation which was guided by and theatre actor Baltasar. In workshops of pantomime had to imitate famous fairytales in 5 pictures. In afternoon, we drove under the El Teide which was for the first time covered with snow. We saw fields of coagulated lava and had an amazing time on volcano.
Thursday, 27.10.- the 7th DAY OF ERASMUS+ PROJECT
The day, we were waiting for such a long time finally came and it started at 5am. After the ride to the airport we flew with plane to an island La Palma. First we saw the caldera of volcano there and then we continued the way towards the main goal, 2300m high volcano ridge Roque de los Muchachos where is the observatory. It’s one of three most important observatories on the world- dream to every person looking to the sky. On serpentine road and lots of fog we drove up there. The air pressure was getting low while driving to the top. When we saw the first one in the string of observatories, the collector of gamma rays, we already felt the excitement. Next was a tour of an object of Italian telescope Galileo, the Scandinavian one and then finally the biggest one, GranTeCan telescope. They allowed to go in to its dome where we saw the telescope. With few meters of diameter and more than 10 meters of length is one of the biggest telescopes on the world. Its view reaches far over our horizon and our perception of universe. It sees past and predicts future. Respect, that a person feels with a machine like that is indescribable. Dream became reality and we can only thank our friends from Tenerife. Full of impressions and excitement we went back to the airport and flew with plane back to Tenerife.
Friday, 28.10. and Saturday, 29.10- the 8th and the 9th DAY OF ERASMUS+ PROJECT
The last day of Erasmus+ meeting we spent half in school and half with our hosts. The day began like every day with coming to school in the morning. When the teacher finished with breakfast we went to main room where we had presentation about famous astronomers and astronomic workshops. Miha made a big impression with presenting his video about famous astronomers. Then all other countries presented their selves. Next was the presentations of astronomic workshops. In the name of Slovenia, Maja did that presentation. After half hour break we only had astronomic quiz made by Polish team. Official end of the meeting was ending with that. We all got our recognitions. We made a lot of group pictures and said goodbye to some students. We were free in the afternoon. A lot of students went to the beach, but we prepared birthday surprise party for Tadej. There we had fun with food and dance for the last time. Late at night we packed last things and got amazing gifts from our hosting families. Then we went to sleep.
We woke up early in the morning and drove to the airport. Maja was already feeling really sick when she woke up so she threw up 3 times what actually didn’t make our way back any better. When we got to the airport we were waiting to our teachers with sad faces. To all it was really hard to say goodbye. We made a lot of photos, cried a lot and the hugs just didn’t end. But we had to say goodbye. We got on the plane at 10.10am and flew towards Slovenia. The flight was calm without bigger turbulences. We arrived to airport in Graz at 4.15pm. Then we waited for our luggage and drove to home with our caretaker Zoran. Our parents were already waiting in front of school and then we went home. With that, our trip ended, but in our hearts stayed new friends and indescribable memories.
