Fordítás - Evening Cruise on the Danube

Having completed our trip to Hollókő, the group gathering took place at 5.30 p.m. on 17 May 2011. We set off to Budapest by bus, and again, being filled with high expectations… 
As riding along Andrássy street, we, although at home, were astonished by the beauty of our capital. After flicking through personal data on arrival at the Pier of Vígadó square, we could all enter the restaurant located on the first floor of the ship. The Danube offered a spectacular view of its own in the late afternoon sunshine as it was glittering through the glass window. 
Shortly after the welcome drink, we could enjoy the mouth-watering selection of buffet table. Even though language difficulties emerged during the day, they appeared to have ceased to exist now. The Hungarian gastronomy along with the fabulous, floodlit sights of Budapest in its international way clearly spoke for itself. 
We headed north first down to the Margaret Bridge, and then we turned south and walked all along the roads of the capital city. Later, somewhere halfway between the Petőfi and the Rákóczi (Lágymányosi) Bridge we turned around so that we could make for the Pier of Vigadó square once again. 
Despite our fears fatigue, after the morning excursion and the plentiful dinner, did not prevail among the cheerful members of our group.  As the exhilarating music of the ship's musicians was caught in the air Polish, Czech, Slovak, Slovenian and Hungarian people all jumped to their feet and began to dance. However, as it seemed this time it was not the so called Hungarian derring-do that played the main role . The best dancers, in our opinion, were our colleagues from Poland. 
The evening cruise combined with dinner, live music and dancing was a great leisure activity and entertainment for children and also for adults.

A Trip to Hollókő

On Tuesday 17 May 2011, some of the students and their accompanying teachers took part in an excursion to Hollókő with our foreign guests. 
For a start, we visited the castle of Hollókő, which was presented by a Hungarian soldier dressed according to that era. The fact that the children could put on the outfit and hold weapons made the presentation even more enjoyable. Getting about in the castle, we found out more about its history. 
Then we headed to the old village and could witness the revival of the past among the houses. The programme continued in the Muskátli restaurant, where specialities of the region (Palócföld) were being served. 
After lunch an elderly local woman wearing traditional costumes gave an exciting and traditional lecture on the clothing of the old days as well as on the habits of the Weaver’s House. The visitors were also involved in her story thus enhancing the experience. 
On the way home we were driving near the raven statue, the symbol of the town, where we stopped to take photographs as to keep memory of the day alive.

Theatre

Fifty students from our school went to see La Fontaine’s Fables, the stage performance of Gárdonyi Géza Theatre in Eger in November 2010. 
Employing school students, younger and older children with learning disabilities were sitting in the audience. 
As for preparation, the curriculum provided us with something to be relied upon as, apart from La Fontain animal characters, Aesop and Heltai Gaspar’s fables are also well-known among our students. 
The elaborate masks represented the classical animal figures while the characters performed with music and dance made the scaredy-cat, the cunning fox and other animals perspicuous.
The striking, seventy-five-minute stage performance absolutely engaged and fascinated our students as well as inspired them to get into acting.

Visiting the Library 
/ October 2011 /

What motivates children to read? Although leading by example would be crucial, unfortunately parents do not read either. Therefore, it is the school to strengthen positive reading experiences. Efforts should be made that if a child enters the library, they are in a good mood being in possession of happy and positive experiences. 
This project has proved to be very good as children like reading fairy tales. From the very first moment they picture themselves into different roles so that their creativity is evolving. 
As a result, it was not difficult for me at all to announce in the morning that our ninth-grade class were going to visit the library. Many of the children had not been to the library before. 
The silence and discipline inside caught them by surprise as we entered the room. They sat down around the tables with their eyes wide open searching for their favourite books. Meanwhile, they enjoyed their photos were being taken. 
Then we chose some books just to run through their images and illustrations. Having read some of the stories, we discussed about them and decided on the most likeable, which were therefore borrowed, and with full of experiences and excitement we returned to school.
Every one of us had a great time there.

Comenius 2011
9-11 November 2010 Slovakia 

Aranyosmarót (Zlaté Moravce) was the first venue for the countries willing to join Comenius project with application. 
After leaving early in the morning, we were excited to step into the entrance gate of the special school. The very warm welcome was further increased, however, by being greeted in our mother tongue since one of the colleagues was Hungarian. During our stay there she provided us with the translations of all the important information. 
After the ceremonial opening and introduction of the project we were accompanied to the neighbouring hotel, where everyone was given a comfortable room.
The next morning, during the brief visual presentation (projector) of the countries participating in Comenius project, we learned something about their cities, schools, jobs, and we could also find out about their lives. 
Then the hosts were to present their school, where young people with learning and intellectual disabilities aged 6-24 years were engaged  in studying. We were especially hooked by the happy and relaxed atmosphere and positive thinking despite the difficult situation which is also present there.
In the afternoon we visited the sights of the small town. It is worth being aware that the town was already inhabited by people of the Paleolithic era. It was part of the Great Moravian Empire in the 9th and 10th century. The modern city was founded around 1050 by Moravian gold miners.
Among its sights the most interesting one to visit was an old, small - and still in operation today -  plant, where passover (unleavened bread) was baked. 
The next morning we were taken by bus to the riding hall of Topoľčiany (Kistapolcsány), the collection of which preserves valuable horse breeds such as the Lipizzaner, the Arabian thoroughbred, the Hucul and the Slovak Warmblood not only for Slovakia but for the whole Europe. We also visited a shrine, near which some fresh spring water runs. The trip also welcomed a few of their students who were of course very similar to ours.
Taking part in the evening banquet, we gave presents to each other helping learn even more about the culture of every nation. The gift we gave them, apart from some brochures illustrating our school, were a doll dress up in folk costumes, an illustrated book about the most beautiful places of Hungary and three Hungarian folk songs performed live. Likewise, we were certainly given lots of valuable gifts. 
On the third and final day, the students presented a tale around which their project of the month was built, and they published it in several versions (prints, puppets, drawings) in the school. The students gave remarkable presentations of their story in magical costumes.
On the occasion of the project closeout lunch, the project manager (the Slovak headmistress) pointed out that the work we all have done so far had been a great success. She also expressed that our society was facing similar problems and educational institutions should play a significant role in solving it but only jointly could we move forward and achieve results in the middle of Europe relying  on each other’s ideas for inspiration. 
Since we met kind and happy people we could go home rejuvenated.