Learning how to cook paella.

Paella workshop where Greek and Spanish students learned how to cook a paella with chef Antonio. He was great!

Panellets de coco

Bread with tomato and ham

Hotel Badaloní

Hotel Badaloní map

This is where your teachears are, in case you want to know

Day 10 - Sunday

It had been snowing in Athens. Bags of presents and suitcases we strewn all around. We met in front of the school, before setting off for the airport. All of us, students, teachers and parents were wishing each other well and saying goodbye in “Departures”. Very emotional, especially Randa´s “new” little sister, who was crying at the thought of letting her go.

Athens-Rome and Rome-Barcelona. Four small hours, and two different worlds. Two realities that have been ours for 10 days. Now we have to learn how to deal with them whilst carrying on with our lessons, exams and so on, but with the feeling of having gained a new thing …perhaps we all understand now a bit more that line Riba wrote : “ric del que ha donat, i en sa ruïna, tan pur”.

Carme

Day 9 - Saturday

Terribly cold. We were driven to Thessaloniki in the morning, where we met Caterina. Imagine this; Mercè and myself running like mad around the harbour, so as not to feel so frozen?! We did, and we laughed and laughed… again. We visited the food market in the Jewish quarter of the city. The shouts of fisherman filled a space that doesn´t belong to my present, but that I assume as something of my own.

We had a lovely lunch. All decided on fish dishes, except Amy. Katerina offered the best of herself to us, and played the perfect host. We had a fantastic conversation about Macedonia and all the oral languages that are being left apart. I was amazed about the sheer amount of things that I still don´t know, and am aware now that travelling means offering, sharing and exchanging our opinions with others. We´ve been lucky.

… final party. No words could possibly describe it. We couldn´t have hoped for anything better. The students amused themselves and showed off one of their best qualities: feeling good just for the sake of it! In the end, they were trying to make the night last longer. But with only a couple of choice words and they accepted their fate willingly! It was bedtime! There are many things to think about and to consider, but one fact remains, and that is that this exchange has been a complete success. Congratulations Mercè!

Carme

Day 8 - Friday

Woke up with a cold shower brrgghh! After morning prayer, we were told that a German teacher from another school, along with some of her students was going to come and visit us. It seems as though we have become the main attraction for the people of the town! The coach was waiting to take us to visit the museum and tombs in Vergina. Great tumult hiding beneath the tombs of Philip ІІ, Alexander the Great´s father, and his late wife. (She actually had to die , because he had – it was what was expected of her.) Magnificence from more than 2000 years ago. Exquisite vase portraying figures, quite amazing, due to its modernity. And the crown, how could they weave those leaves so intricately and perfectly into a crown that has retained all of its splendor? The urn where the ashes were put into a golden box had made me think of many different concepts such as respect, importance, the desire to be remembered, knowing your past, feeling alive, sharing feelings and loving.

We spent the evening at Edessa, a waterfall that pounded out thousands of litres of water a second, making it a pretty site for taking photos. Want to see them?

Lots of songs on the coach, both Greek and English, and one special one, …. – can´t remember the name, ask Sheila. We arrived back in Lagadas around 8. This was the first time I realised that the exchange was not going as smoothly as I had thought - difference of age? different ways of life?). Fotini asked all the students to go home directly. Our students wanted to go out and have a drink. They wanted to be together and chat. Our students had to learn a lesson about the different frameworks there - age, country, customs and ideas.

We went for a drink with the teachers. Mercè was falling asleep. She is a morning girl, I can tell you, but when she starts…nobody can stop her!

I was feeling like listening to some Brad Mehldau’s soft piano songs.

Carme