Account of the visit to Latvia Workshops in Latvia within the project Socrates Comenius were held from 3rd to 7th December 2007, in which three students from 3a form participated: Agnieszka Strugala, Magdalena Kwarcinska, Sabina Klis and three consellors: the headmaster, Stanislaw Faber, Ms Anna Handzlik, and Ms Janina Kula.

Monday

At the beginning of our visit we went to a chemistry class in a Latvian language. Next we were welcomed solemnly and invited to watch a performance, prepared by the Latvians,we had an opportunity to admire their national dances. After the performance, presentations about schools, from countries, participating in the project were made. Afterwards we took a boat trip on Kandava River and in the evening all young people could play a volleyball “towel”match.

Tuesday

We began this day with an unusual English lesson, in which only guests took part in. Firstly, we learnt the names of the dishes by heart, and we spent the rest of time drawing flash cards with our national dishes. These posters were hunged in the hall and everyone could see them. Most of the time were devoted to water and its research. We were assigned the Latvian helpers. We were travelling for a few hours in Kandava to collect necessary samples of water. After return, we were supposed to prepare multimedia presentations on our research. In the afternoon we headed for an art school, where we were watching pieces of art made by the students from this school. There was a surprise for us. We were divided into teams. Our task was to mould water creatures in plasticine and afterwards we were to throw them into the aquarium, filled with water. The amount of floating creatures on the surface determined the victory.

Wednesday

That day we went on a trip to Jurmail. We did sightseeing in Kemeri national park, where we listened to a lecture about the national park, its resources, attractions and purpose. Next we went to Jaunkemeri Heath reort, where we drank nutritious water and we visited the site. In the afternonoon we were given a lecture about the Baltic Sea.

Thursday

Thursday was one of the most interesting days. At the very begining each of the groups demonstrated their own business plans that were working on for a while. There were plenty of ideas and each of them deserved applause. After a short break went to a recently built gymnastic hall, where children from the primary school were celebrating St. Nicolas day. Next the whole group went to an ecological farm, where we had an opportunity to fry bread and savour home made delicasies, apart from admiring old farmers’ tools or the woodden sauna. In the evening there was a disco for pupils. It was was a day full of great experiences....

Friday

It was the last day, which we spent all together. That day were taken on the boat trip on Ryga. Although the journey was long and the weather was not beautiful the views were amazing. Our destination was the Museum in the open air, which we were visting while solving the quiz, we were to match the pictures to the places, but without the map we would not have manged to do so. Next we went to Lido, a paradise on earth! A luxurious restaurant. Not only did the decoration of the interior make an impression, but also aboundance of food.... In the end we walkied our friends to their hotel and a Polish group went shopping. We witnessed the changing of the guard in front of the Statue in Ryga. After an hour we met with the rest participants of the project. We we were saying goodbye for a long time, crying, even the teachers were moved.....