Tuesday 14 March 2017

2nd Teacher Training Event, Spain 2017

Day 1 - Monday, March 13


We landed after light turbulence at Barajas airport in Madrid. It was a sunny and windy day, and we were drinking coffee and tea before finally seeing a familiar face. Actually, she saw us. It was Francesca, whom we met last year at a meeting in Spain. We were introduced to her colleague Andrea and we liked him at first sight. When the Turkish team arrived, we hugged and kissed and met their headmaster, a nice man who likes football (Fenerbahce)!
The highway led us through fertile fields full of olive trees and vine. We arrived in Tomelloso at 21.30 and having seen a smiling face of our host Ana Maria made the tiredness disappear. Soon we were enjoying in warm and delicious dishes of this fertile region Castilla-La Mancha. After dinner we fell asleep very easily in a comfortable hotel Altora.

Our enthusiasm could not be affected even by a rainy morning. A welcome speech was held by our dear host, the headmaster of Colegio Sto. Tomas de Aquino La Milagrossa, who is called Casanova by Vesna, and unfortunately there is not enough space here for his full name. He was followed by other speakers, local and regional politicians, led by a kind mayor. It was time for a coffee break. It is always nice to have a cup of coffee and a chat with old friends. After a short break it was time to focus on work. To commemorate the 30th anniversary of Erasmus projects each partner and some guest schools presented their projects .  We enjoyed the presentations and it turned out again that we have a lot in common.  The beauty is in diversity.
We would stay and chat but the schedule is unrelenting. Ana Maria is telling us it is time to visit Vigen de las Vinas (Wine Cooperative). It is an immense vinery, one of the biggest in Europe and in the world. Some facts made us stare in amazement, such as the fact that they buy 10 millions (yes, MILLIONS) kilos of grapes in one day from Tomelloso vicinity only, and they fill 3000 bottles of wine per hour! In the vinery there are also an ethnographic museum and a modern art gallery which makes an interesting synergy. 

If you think this is the end of today’s programme, you are wrong. Back at school we participated in the most interesting activity of the day: drama games. Who says adults are not able to relax and play like children? Somebody was acting a chair, another an astronaut and we all jumped, clapped our hands, sang counting rhymes, played other games and enjoyed it just like children do. Therefore, we are looking forward to next days of camaraderie, learning and games with childlike curiosity.

p.s.  having so much fun we don’t need the sunshine, but if it is possible, dear Lord, send us some sunny moments for others to keep warm. Everybody knows we are from Hvar island and used to unreliable weather conditions.

Yours,

Vesna, Božana and Duje

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