NEWSPAPER GREEK EDITION

Mother Nature –
Mother Language
The beginning for a new school newspaper
today. A newspaper with European
orientation dedicated to climate, nature and
culture. A newspaper created with vision,
imagination and creative thinking. Our aim,
both students’ and teachers’, through this
European program is to improve our level of
knowledge in various issues and ourselves,
as well.
There will always be a question shadowing
not only our programme but also
every similar effort, though. Will we manage
to protect and improve the environment
we live in and nature in general through all
these projects and actions or is it just another
opportunity for learning? Is it an effort
concerning ourselves and returning to ourselves
only? I believe we have to answer
this question now, at the beginning of our
programme and we should never forget it.
The answer is one and is unnegotiable. YES,
we can protect and save the environment.
Because if we change ourselves, nature will
change. We only need to understand that we
are one.
And how can this newspaper project
assist to this effort? The main goal of the
newspaper is to promote other projects and
the way they proceed. Also, it is very important
to awaken the participants as far as
environment preservation is concerned as
well as to make people from different background,
age and culture come closer to each
other. Apart from knowledge on human and
environment, knowledge of the function of
nature will come, too. From North to South
and from East to West, people and landscapes
vary across Europe. Therefore, we
are going to meet new, different people in
addition to new, different places.
We carry in our body our land, our
social relations, our culture and mentality.
All these are depicted in language. So, the
newspaper project is first of all a linguistic
project. With language as our basic tool we
are going to discover nature. Language is
not only a tool. Language is a living organism
like nature. Every day something dies
and at the same time something is born in
language just like in nature. All this changing
process is both a linguistic and a natural
characteristic. This similarity will be portrayed
in the newspaper. Our newspaper is
going to merge nature and language. Because
after all, we exist in the places we live
in and in the words we speak.
Haven’t I convinced you about the
nature - language connection? Well, browse
our papers to find out.
We wish you a pleasant reading…
Gianna Borboudaki
1st edition February 2013
CCN PROJECTS HAVE STARTED :
Weather Data From Bulgaria
Climate of Samokov
Samokov has a humid continental climate -
cold, long winters, and not too hot summers.
The city is located at an altitude of 960 metres.
The average annual temperature is 7.5 C.
The town sets and climate - not too hot sum
Meeting Memories
Comenius Project – Greece, December 2012
Makrigialos, Creete, Greece. Our hosts became a real view. A Greek family received us as a
new member of their family, hosting us in their homes for a few days. The experience had just
started. Cultures were connected and a lot of things in common started to be shared. At that
moment nothing like what we were just going to live was even a glimpse in our minds.
The experience.
They were “only” 3 days, I say “only” because what does time mean when all you’re doing,
living and seeing is different from all you have ever done, lived or seen? That’s the point. Time
wasn’t relevant at all, because it had lost its meaning. (page 10)
mers and cold, long winter. Long is sunshine,
with a few exceptions of fogs. The climate is
moderate continental, but with a strong
influence of high mountain. It stops stormy
winds and snow. (page 6-8)

I don’t mean to
complain. And I really enjoy
it when people have fun,
whether it’s because they
just finished the construction
of a coal-fired power plant or
because they just planted a
tree. But I don’t think that I
can ensure humanity’s happiness
much longer.
Hello, I am the
planet you’re at right now.
I’ve been around for some
time now and I endured
many terrible things. But you
guys have been harassing my
balance for about 200 hundred
years now and I think
the time has come for me to
tell you how I feel. I am concerned.
My concerns aren’t
related to myself, I’m concerned
about you and your
species. Regardless how
much you destroy of your
essential surroundings like
water, a balanced climate
and clean air, I will be fine.
You won’t be, though. I have
been watching you since the
existence of your species
now and you humans never
were a group of peaceful
mammals. Nonetheless, you
only destroyed yourselves
and many other species to
provide yourselves with
nourishment, but never were
CCN NATURE
Earth Monologue
you capable of destroying the entirety of species living on
me. Until now.
You humans were somewhat my favorite kind of
thing existing in the place that I offer. You are different. You
build huge lairs and call them “cities”, you construct complex
systems to automatically provide you with necessaries
and you do that with the most important feature you have:
Your rationality. You are the species that can abstractly reflect
and that is exactly why I am deeply disappointed by
you. You know that you’re wrong, but you continue to build
and use harmful things. I have completely lost hope, when
you build a venom that irreversibly extinguishes any life
from a huge area that I gifted you. You call it “nuclear weapons”.
Why would you want to destroy place even though
you need much more by
now? I know that I am not
enough anymore; you need
more space to fully live and
ensure your life quality. But
we both know that you
could’ve lived in outer
space now if there had not
been any wars, which cost
much time and many resources.
Resources that I
cannot guarantee to provide
you with because
nothing on me is endless
but the atoms you and I are
made of. The increasing
speed of your technological
development doesn’t influence
how fast your life will
be almost completely digitalized,
it influences how
fast all my resources will be
depleted and thus, how fast
you will be in the most gigantic
crisis your species
ever witnessed. Just remember,
I will be fine,
whatever you do. But some
of you are venturing the
security of your species and
many others, too. I won’t
lose anything but a scourge
I have been carrying a long
time.
Tamara Schink

White and blue
dreams
Two different pictures
, two different sceneries
. From the north to the
south, Europe has so many
beauties. In the most northern
countries of Europe, like
the picture from Latvia in
here, the landscape is full of
snow. A magic capture and a
combination of the white
snow with the blue sky. All
you want is just to get in this
picture and just wait to live a
fairytale. On the other hand
the sun and the sea. The
CCN NATURE
Pictures of the month
place that I live.
Crystal blue water
and the sun almost
the whole year
here in the southern
most place on
Europe, in the island
of Crete.
They asked to me
to comment my
picture and the
Latvian one. I could
only put a title on
both pictures.
The place I am living
and the place I
am dreaming.
Magda Fotinaki

How crisis affects the environment
I will tell you.
� Cause : Greece is in great economical
crisis. Within this crisis the government
has greatly increased the taxes for
oil about 500% ! Due to this a lot of people
have turned to the comfort of the
fireplace rather than their radiators.
� Problem : Photochemical smog. The
excessive use of fireplaces have sparked
a variety of new problems especially in
Athens, which a huge cloud of smoke
How crisis affects the environment
In Spain, before the economic crisis,
our wastes were collected every day,
and taxes were lower than now. Our
government in order to reduce the
expenses and to increase the incomes
has modified both things. Rubbish is now
collected only three days a week while
taxes have increased 120% in two years,
not considering the unemployment situation.
Moreover, some municipal governments,
like Granada, don’t pay for the
Breathless, speechless
service. So, after several months without
salary, the employees decided to go on
strike. Streets were plenty of rubbish and
this fact affected directly not only the
environment but also the health. Luckily
after some weeks of negotiation the
Town Hall of the city reached an agreement
with the employees.
On the other hand, crisis has influenced
not only on the rubbish but also on a lot
has covered our capital. People burn in
their fireplaces whatever can be burnt.
Plastic, wood with chemical colors so the
whole atmosphere is full of CO2.
� Results : This phenomenon has
caused a lot of heart and respiratory
problems and people can’t breathe.
Moreover people have begun rampantly
searching for wood to feed their fires. A
lot of forests are being cut down, fences
are being torn apart and there were
even rumors of Plato’s olive tree (a century-old
tree which was said to be in
of environmental issues like pollution.
Due to economic crisis, factories earn less
money and they need to buy cheaper
energy resources. Usually the cheapest
resources are the most pollutant, so this
decision damages the environment, because
factories produce great quantities
of CO2.
Clara García Maroto 4A
Plato’s academy ).
� Emotions : It is sad to see Athens
to be so desperate and in so bad condition.
I would recommend a solution but
in the bottom line there is none. Either
they continue with this and end up not
being able to go out or to turn back to oil
which they cannot afford
they can take our money but not the sun and
the smile from our faces
Article by Stefanos Tsabanakis
Recent consequences of climate’s changes
Talking about Germany, we are definitively
able to feel something like a
change of climate. This change has been
particularly reflected in the weather of
the last few weeks. After the month of
December has certainly been too warm
for us – for what we are used to, at least-
considering that we spent Christmas with
temperatures around the 15°C which is
unusually warm for that time of the year.
Τhe snow, which appeared more than a
week ago in our area, is lasting too long.
Since we know from the past, having in
mind that it was called “one of Europe's
hardest winters “ just last year, it is nei-
CCN NATURE
ther randomly appearing nor does it only
effect this year. The exact opposite is the
fact, it is a change that is happening in
our area, in the entire country of Germany
as well as in Europe and all over
the world.
While the winter is getting colder and
people here have to deal with being
stuck in a chaos of snow, thus, trouble at
work or school because of late arrivals as
well as non-working public transport
systems, it is also the mood which is fading.
Kids, and still some of us teenagers,
have good reasons to enjoy having fun in
the snow, playing, building snow-men or
going tobogganing. But honestly, who
likes that mushy, brown so called “snow”
that is created by the circumstances of a
life within a city after the first few days of
winter-wonderland have passed? No one
does, and after a while it not the Winterwonderland
anymore that it might have
been at the beginning of it all.All this,
only shows us that there is something,
something grave happening to our
weather, to our planet, to our world and
thus, to us. Even if there still might be
people who try to deny all this, the
change of climate is a matter of fact, as
we experience ourselves .
Jennifer Zirener

Marine litter is a global concern, affecting all
the oceans of the world. Every year, millions
and millions of tons of litter end up in the
ocean worldwide, turning it into the world's
biggest landfill and thus posing environmental,
economic, health and aesthetic
problems. Unfortunately, the persistence of
marine litter is the result of poor practices of
solid waste management, lack of infrastructure
and a lack of awareness of the public at
large about the consequences of their actions.
Generally, it has noticed 500% increase in
marine pollution. The main sources of marina
litter mostly come from land-based activities,
which cover approximately 80% of
these litters. Another important and dangerous
source is industrial outfalls. People, due
to economical reasons, don’t care and throw
trash to the oceans. In addition, marine pollution
could be a result from ships, especially
in North Sea, which nets, fishing gear and
many containers fall into the sea, after severe
storms. Lastly, responsible for this
situation are also the smokers and the tourists,
who are blame for the 68% of beaches
litters.
Ηave you ever thought what the consequences
of this pollution are? How long does
it take to photo degrade plastic in the envi-
ronment?
First of all, elements, which are useful to our
life,have been destroyed. The air, the water
and the ground are polluted and this has
affects to the animals and in ourselves, too.
All these are responsible for the disturbance
of ecological balance and as a result many
kinds of animals disappeared, because they
CCN NATURE
A Lost World
can’t live in these new conditions.However, the answer of the second
question is on the picture below!!!
To sum up, the environment is on
our hands. If we want to save it, we
can save it. It is our choice and our
responsibility. Let’s give again life to
our world. Each one alone or in
teams, we can protect our places.
Then, we will not have any economical
or health problems. All will be
perfect, full of colours and life, because
nature is our life!
Maria Proistaki.
Reasons why we love nature
� it is full of colors and wherever you see nature is like a live painting.
� Of the natural and beautiful sounds
� It keeps us calm and relaxed
� Of its unique and different seasons that make us feel unusual senses
� It provide us food ,water and shelter and have all that energy we need
� It inspires us to renovate and create
� Of its perfection
� And its lessons that teaches us and we become a better person
� it is full of surprises
� It provide us with elements (sun , wind, water ect) and we create
energy and art at the same time.
Maria Proistaki—Peph Proestaki

CCN Climate
Climate Data from Boulgaria
How well do you think do you know Bulgaria? Well, lets take a look to our fellow country and the climate
data they collected since the beginning of the programme.
Geographical position
Samokov valley lies between several mountains - Rila, Plan, Vitosha, Verila Ihtiman forest - 950 meters above sea level, at
the core flow and the Iskar River and its tributaries. The shape of the valley is irregular and binary, Palakari Iskar to the
west and the east. There are over 185 km 2 .
Samokov is located in the eponymous valley close to famous cities and places - 55 km from the Capital Sofia and 10 km
from the winter resort Borovetz, 8 km from one of the entrances of the Rila National Park, 29 km from springs in Sapareva
Baths at 14 km than the Belchin bath, 27 km from the spa complex in Dolna Banya and 12 km south of lake Iskar.
Samokov (Bulgarian: Самоков) is a town in Sofia Province in the southwest of Bulgaria. It is situated in a kettle between
the mountains Rila and Vitosha. Due to the suitable winter sports conditions, Samokov, together with the nearby resort
Borovets, is a major tourist centre.
BULGARIAN TEAM
Profesionalna gimnazia po turizam, Samokov
Since the beginning of November, our students have start working
on "Measuring climate elements" project. We already gathered the
needed weather information for November. We collected data
about the temperature, pressure, humidity and amount of rainfall
during the project period. We have data for the period 1970 - 2001
year. On this basis, we will make comparisons with past periods.
We do measurements every day except Saturdays and Sundays,
because the school is not open on weekends.
We mesure and reserarch climate elements everyday in: 07.30 am,
08.00 am, 09.00 am, 10.00 am, 12.00 pm, 13.00 pm, 14.00 pm,
15.00 pm, 16.00 pm.
Location of Samokov
Coordinates: 42°20′N 23°33′ECoordinates:
42°20′N 23°33′E
Country Bulgaria
Province
(Oblast)
Government
Area
Sofia
• Mayor Vladimir Georgiev
• Total 128.982 km 2 (49.800 sq mi)
Elevation 960 m (3,150 ft)
Population (2012)[1]
• Total 27 653
• Density 220/km 2 (570/sq mi)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal Code 2000
Area code(s) 0722

CCN Climate
Climate of Samokov
Samokov has a humid continental climate - cold, long winters, and not too hot summers.
The city is located at an altitude of 960 metres. The average annual temperature is 7.5 C.
The town sets and climate - not too hot summers and cold, long winter. Long is sunshine,
with a few exceptions of fogs. The climate is moderate continental, but with a strong influence
of high mountain. It stops stormy winds and snow.
Weather Normals in Samokov, Sofia, Bulgaria
Elevation: 960 m
(1971 – 2000)
Climate data for Samokov, Bulgaria(1926-1970)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°
F)
Average high °C
(°F)
Daily mean °C (°
F)
Average low °C (°
F)
Record low °C (°
F)
Precipitation mm
(inches)
15.7
(60.3)
1.1
(34.0)
−3.4
(25.9)
−7.6
(18.3)
−28
(−18)
45
(1.77)
18
(64)
3.1
(37.6)
−1.6
(29.1)
−6.1
(21.0)
−24
(−11)
37
(1.46)
Month Mean Temp
°C
27.4
(81.3)
6.4
(43.5)
1.5
(34.7)
−3.2
(26.2)
−19.2
(−2.6)
43
(1.69)
26.4
(79.5)
12.4
(54.3)
7.2
(45.0)
1.9
(35.4)
−10.4
(13.3)
61
(2.4)
Mean Min
Temp
°C
30.4
(86.7)
17.2
(63.0)
12
(54)
6.4
(43.5)
−2.7
(27.1)
82
(3.23)
32.8
(91.0)
20.9
(69.6)
15.3
(59.5)
9.6
(49.3)
0.4
(32.7)
89
(3.5)
Mean Max
Temp
°C
34.4
(93.9)
23.5
(74.3)
17.4
(63.3)
11
(52)
2.9
(37.2)
67
(2.64)
36.8
(98.2)
23.8
(74.8)
17.1
(62.8)
10.3
(50.5)
0.8
(33.4)
46
(1.81)
34.5
(94.1)
20
(68)
13.3
(55.9)
7.3
(45.1)
−4.7
(23.5)
48
(1.89)
Mean Monthly
Prec Days
30
(86)
14.3
(57.7)
8.4
(47.1)
3.5
(38.3)
−7.4
(18.7)
52
(2.05)
25
(77)
8.4
(47.1)
3.7
(38.7)
−0.2
(31.6)
−14.7
(5.5)
52
(2.05)
Mean Monthly
Days with
Thunder
January -1.5 °C -4.9 °C 2.2 °C 7.0 n/a n/a
February 0.7 °C -2.9 °C 5.0 °C 5.0 n/a n/a
March 4.8 °C .3 °C 9.8 °C 8.0 1.0 n/a
April 10.4 °C 4.7 °C 15.3 °C 9.0 2.0 n/a
May 14.6 °C 9.4 °C 20.1 °C 6.0 8.0 n/a
June 18.0 °C 12.4 °C 23.5 °C 4.0 9.0 n/a
July 19.8 °C 13.8 °C 25.9 °C 2.0 8.0 n/a
August 20.7 °C 14.3 °C 25.7 °C 2.0 7.0 n/a
September 16.1 °C 10.6 °C 22.6 °C 4.0 2.0 n/a
October 10.7 °C 5.7 °C 16.6 °C 7.0 1.0 n/a
November 5.1 °C 1.3 °C 9.6 °C 9.0 n/a n/a
18
(64)
3.5
(38.3)
−0.9
(30.4)
−4.5
(23.9)
−23.6
(−10.5)
December 0.6 °C -2.7 °C 4.0 °C 6.0 n/a n/a
48
(1.89)
36.8
(98.2)
12.9
(55.2)
7.5
(45.5)
2.4
(36.3)
−28
(−18)
670
(26.38)
Mean Monthly
Sleet/Snow
Days

мм
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
ст.Самоков
надм.вис. 950 мм
ср.год.валеж 670 мм ср.год.Т 7,5 о С
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
месеци
CCN Climate
20
15
10
5
0
-5
Т о С
Here's the analysis that we did
for November 2012:
Average temperature: 7.92 at a
rate of 5.1 degrees Celsius
Average minimum temperature:
4.11 at a rate 1.3 degrees Celsius
Average maximum temperature:
10.67 at the rate of 9.0 degrees
Celsius
Average number of days with
precipitation: 6 days at the rate
of 9 days
The data clearly show that the
month was unusually warm November
'2012! Rainfall also well
below the norm!
Analysis of climatic elements
December 2012:
Average monthly temperature:
0.69 at a rate of 0.60 degrees
Celsius
Average minimum temperature:
minus 2.4 degrees at a rate of minus
2.7 degrees Celsius
Average maximum temperature:
3.06 at a rate 4.0 degrees Celsius
Average number of days with precipitation:
5 days 6 days at a rate
Absolute minimum temperature:
minus 12.6 degrees, measured on
14/12/2012
Absolute maximum temperature:
10.0 degrees, measured on
25/12/2012
No major deviations on the air
temperature, wet days are also in
the norm; big difference between
the lowest and highest temperature
- 22.6 degrees, which is not
typical for the period. Over the last
decade were recorded high temperatures,
while in the first and
second decade was unusually
cold !!!

Bulgaria is a southern coun-
try and it is famous for its
friendly people and worm
hearts. Everyone who comes
to our town is impressed by
this friendly people. Bulgari-
ans are very hospitable. They
can share with absolutely
unknown person not only
their table but their houses,
too. With big smile they help
neighbor, friend or just trav-
eler. Visitors think that our
country is really beautiful
with friendly people. But as
you know every rule has
exception.
Our town – Samokov – Is
popular for its cold weather.
Samokov is located in Rila
mountain – the highest
mountain in Balkan Penin-
sula. You know what I mean -
our town is different. People
are different, too – antisocial
and closed. They define us
with one word – cold. There
is connection between
weather and people. In our
beautiful Samokov, we have
eight months of winter, but
the snow doesn’t retain all
the time, only the cold
weather. Because of the
winter, people stay at home
and of course because of
CCN Climate
Weather and people in Samokov

CCN Climate
that they can’t communicate.
My parents are from Ruse – the first European town in Bulgaria – 400
km from Samokov. But let me say something – I can’t see the differences
between people there and here. I think that they are similar – laughing
and polite. Because of this I think that this connection between people
and weather is myth. This is one weird myth but we are proud with it. I
don’t know maybe it isn’t only a myth…
Samokov is small town and as you know it is near the biggest Bulgarian
winter resort - Borovets. In fact we are proud for our climate. We live in
a breathtaking place and you probably can’t understand what I am talk-
ing about – you should see it. And of course you will find out if the myth
is true or not. We open our houses and hearts for you and we look for-
ward to welcoming you in a year.
Gloria Nikolova 12 class – Bulgaria

EARTH
ILLUSTRATED
CCN Climate

(Continued from page 1)
Those three days were very intense; we
didn’t stop moving, learning and commu-
nicating with our friends, from morning
to night. Days weren’t 24h. There were
visits to plants, funny bus trips, and
walks on the beach, eating and talking
with friends, learning something about
anything, spending time with your new
family, and having fun with your mates!
Since the first day, all of us became
friends, true friends, no matter where
you had come from, your culture, relig-
ion or customs. We were all at the same
situation, everything and everyone was
new. So, we could start from scratch.
That’s why we got confidence with each
other so quickly. We all had things in
common and we realized at the very
moment.
CCN CULTURE
COMENIUS MEMORIES
The harmony of Crete lay in learning and
having fun at the same time. Everything
was very cosy so you felt free to be your-
self and just enjoy the experience you
were living through.
Finally, as a member of the Comenius
Project, I have only thankful words to all
who made possible the experience we
lived: coordinators, Greek families,
teachers... And of course thanks to all of
my project mates who made those days
unforgettable.
I think I speak in the name of all the
Comenius members if I thank you for
giving us such a good opportunity, time,
memories, and friends!
Hanna Grande Plum. Spain
Giulia's Comenius
Thoughts
Hi, I’m Giulia! I’m from Italy and I’d like
to express my feelings about the
Comenius adventure I lived in Greece
in December 2012. It was an extraordi-
nary experience as it gave me the pos-
sibility to know a new country, its cul-
ture and traditions, its monuments and
fascinating landscapes and a very an-
cient, ancient history. But, above all,
thanks to this trip, I had the chance to
meet new friends from different coun-
tries of Europe.
In Greece we stayed in Koutsouras, a
small city in the east part of Crete, a
land of sun, sea, rocky coasts and
greenhouses.
I was hosted by Magda, a delicious girl
I got on really well with. I stayed there
only four days but they were enough
to feel like at home, to create a good
relationship with my host-friend and
her warm family and to feel sincere
affection for them.
On our way back home, to make our
trip unforgettable, we visited the fa-
mous Knossos Palace in Heraklion. It
was so exciting to walk on places of
those very famous myths and legends
we knew about only from books at
school!
But our teachers reminded us that we

had to stop dreaming of ancient heroes
and battles, we had to leave Greece and
fly to Sicily. Our trip was going to finish.
We felt a double feeling: a sense of sad-
ness and at the same time a sense of
richness for the memories and emotions
we would save in our heart for a very
long time.
Giulia Rosalia
Ilenia's Comenius
Thoughts
Sun, sea, culture and hospitality
……these are the features
of this fascinating country
where the sea alternates
to the mountain, creating a
mosaic of colours of incredible
beauty. Cradle of a unique
civilization, Greece is without
doubt a fascinating country……..But
what really attracts
a lot of travellers of all
ages to Greece are its enchanting
islands. Greece is a
land of sun, beautiful places and history.
Travelling to this beautiful peninsula
means to return to one’s own cultural
CCN CULTURE
roots, to start a journey to the land of
the origins of the western civilization. I
think of the sea and ….I think of a Greek
island. I think of the whiteness of the
houses, nuts of lime dazzling whiteness
in the blinding blue of the sky and the
sea. I think of the coloured doors and the
straw chairs in the small squares. On the
chairs thin, lazy, sleeping cats . White
and blue nuances, postcards images and
tsatziki stereotypes. This is the tale of a
travel giving birth to memories, the only
one able to create emotions. And it is a
considerable revival of distant events, of
fleeting situations, of characters mostly
belonging to a corroded mythology, perhaps
never completely understood,
which still delights me and makes me
breathless too. Maybe that’s what I like
most of Greece, scanning less frantic
time, the still vivid sense of hospitality,
the ease of the human contact, never
satisfied curiosity, love of freedom, its
rocky and rough feature, so deeply experienced.”Panta
rei”, everything flows,
the Greeks say, everything slips away, it
is lost in the sands of time, leaving
memories, sensations. It would be pleasant
to hold the moment we are fond of,
leaving it suspended……….to live it, to
live it again and to “sew” it on us.
Ilenia Russo
Simona's Comenius
Thoughts
My trip to Greece was a fantastic
experience because it allowed me not
only to improve my English, but to
make new friends too. Greece was a reall
discovery! Its culture, and tradition are
so beautiful and they date many
centuries B.C. I couldn’t imagine that it
was a country so similar to Italy, so tied
to the family and tradition but also open
to the future. What particulary attracted
me was especially the traditional dances,
music, and typical costumes. The family
that hosted me was very pleasant and
warm and I established a familar
atmosphere with them. The guys were
very friendly, affectionate and funny; it
was nice to meet people coming from
countries so different from ours, sharing
our own interests. These days were
wonderfoul and unforgettable. it was an
experience that I would do again and I
suggest to everyone.
Simona Caramagno

A HEART CALLED IERAPETRA
Bulgarian team
The second mobility,
part of the Comenius project happened.
From 01.12.12 to 07.12.12 four Bulgarian
students - Adelina, Christian, Sylvia,
Adela leaded by their teachers Elena
Kovacheva and Deyan Petrov spent one
week on the island of Crete (Greece).
In the early morning of the first
day of December we took the long way
to the island of Crete by bus. During the
trip we laugh and smile like never before...
students and teachers started to
get each other better outside the school
class room. We were all so exited to
meet people from all over the Europe...
and all the people around us in the bus
noticed this... we acted too crazy I
guess :)
After one crazy and long day on
the bus we finally reached Athens with
one goal – to catch the ferry to Crete.
The trip was filled with colorful emotions.
Our faces look so sunny during our
first night in Greece. The journey on the
ferry was not less exciting - we organized
a small outdoor party on the deck showing
the results of the Music project :) We
were the only visitors but that was our
way to say buy to Athens.
The next day Sunday faced us
with smile and the fresh sea air of Ierapetra.
The great Michalis and Gianna
(the engine power of the Greek team)
took us from the bus station and showed
us the wonderful streets of Ierapetra.
The girls were placed in the home of
Gianna. Christian was a guest at Nikos
Papadakis, also participating in the project.
Deyan and Elena was accommodated
in a hotel “El Greco” together with
the other teachers.
Monday we went to the partner
CCN CULTURE
COMENIUS MEMORIES
Greek school for the first time and we
found so many friends that day. All participants
were brought to the attention
of the Greek students walking around
the school. We all worked together in a
special class room where each country
presented different ICT. For training we
had three rooms where everyone had a
chance to see different workshops and
presentations. After the morning work all
participants joined incredible cultural
event, like a small music and dance festi-
val, organized by the school. The parents
of the students
voluntarily prepared traditional dishes
for us... it was so delicious, actually the
food was really close to the one that we
eat in Bulgaria... but the atmosphere
made it the best. Our team was really
happy to talk and meet the deputy
mayor of Ierapetra.
The second day the organizers
prepared for us interesting visit to the
best agriculture companies in Crete. We
went on a trip to few greenhouses,
where we had a lection about how Crete
firms grow vegetables. We visited one of
the largest greenhouse complexes for
growing fruit and vegetables. We were
able to also to enter the work fields inside
the greenhouse where plants bred
in different rooms depending on the
reached stage of development. We even
participated in a real process of hybridization
mixing two varieties of tomatoes
into one better new hybrid sort. We
were really surprised to meet a lot of
Bulgarians working for these companies.
The feeling were really great.
The last work day was really
interesting and important for our team.
It was the day that Mrs. Kovacheva and
Mr. Petrov presented the Bulgarian Idea
for Comenius Internet site. The presentation
was successful and the idea was
accepted from all partners. Mr. Petrov
made a small and funny game that made
all the people inside the classroom to
laugh. The game includes questions and
answers about European Union.

We tough that we already had the best
moments, but we were wrong. After the
work part of the meeting we went to
another educational excursion. This time
we visited a olive plantation and olive oil
factory. Olive three is not typical plant
for Bulgaria and it was really great for us
to observe the real production of oil. The
final afternoon we spent in a small village
near Ierapetra, where we sat in traditional
restaurant where we were able
to try many traditional dishes and to see
how traditional drinks like wine and raki
are made generations after generations.
Talking about the days we for-
got to mention evenings. Teachers had
working sessions but after that they enjoyed
great moments in small and nice
taverns talking about cultures and educational
issues. Every evening students
were able to get together at Internet
coffee place owned by the father of one
of the Greek students and have a party.
These moments were more than having
fun, these moments opened our hearts
to each other. We were able to taste and
feel more of traditions, lifestyles and
habits of European people. The opportunity
to see so many different cultures
expands your consciousness. Knowing
CCN CULTURE
that we are different but still friends and
open to each other, showed us the way
that we can unite and achieve better
horizons. We had only four days together,
but became really close. At the
end of the evening came the saddest
part, we had to say goodbye.
We all were very happy because
we found friendships that we'll
remember all of our lifes.This project
enables all participants to not only improve
their language skills, not only to
exchange experiences with fellow humans,
but also to create new friendships,
and allows to explore the cultures, customs
and traditions. Thank you so much
CCN – Comenius.
Authors:
Deyan Petrov
(Teacher of Social Sciences)
Adelina Kyuncharska (17 years old, student)
This world that changing
Finally what’s this that unites
us? We, the people, have divided
the world with imaginary lines, in
West and East, North and South. However,
this has as a result the distancing
of people. So, all refer to different perceptions,
attitudes and cultures, different
mores and customs. Different, but
simultaneously so same. The people
want to differ from each other, although,
we don’t manage it. The only thing we
manage, is putting obstacles
between us.
Although we are same, ‘yes’,
this is what we are. I realized
that within the school program
Comenius. The meeting was
with children at my age and
teachers, who came from seven
different countries of Europe, in
my country, here in Greece, as
the first host country. All this
European atmosphere made
me to review some of my previous
ideas and opinions. Besides
this, that’s the aim of the program.
My enthusiasm was keeping
me awake. All of us during
the school sessions worked together
for the best possible
result and I believe that we
managed it.
Students and teachers came to Crete at
the Sunday night on 2 nd of December
and they left at Thursday on 6 th . We met
each other at the same night. All the
students, we were very happy and we
learnt each other when we started playing.
We began by learning them some
traditional children’s games and then,
because we were exhausted, we sat all
together and started talking.
The next day, in the morning, we already
felt familiar with each other.

We guided the children to school and
their impressions were probably good.
Later, all gathered to a class and each
country presented its work and after
finishing all the parallel sessions, we had
a lunch with traditional foods and tradi-
tional dances. We were all satisfied and
excited.
The days were going by very fast, with-
out realizing it. We went to agriculture
and local greenhouses and the children
learned how local fruit and plants are
growing and when are ready for produc-
tion and consumption. We learned them
how to dance Cretan traditional dances
and they taste raki, after witnessing how
CCN CULTURE
COMENIUS MEMORIES
we produce it in a local distillery first. I
felt that we show to our European mates
our culture but at the same time we
learn many things from them and their
culture as well. It was a great mixture.
During the day, when we were
at school, in the parallel sessions we
learnt many thing about the new tech-
nologies . I felt that I expand my knowledge
on computers and ICT tools in general.
We were informed about the internet
and its uses but the most impressive
was how we can make animated cartoons.
The whole process was very enjoyable,
we had never seen something
like this before and we will never forget
it.
To sum up, what I understood was that
these experiences define our life and our
thinking. We have to smile to every difficulty
and feel that every day is unique,
such as that week. We hope you were
satisfied by staying here and had fun. I
hope the second meeting in Italy will be
pleasant and constructive as well. Actually
, I don’t just hope , I am SURE that I
am going to have the best time of my life
in Italy not only because I am going to
meet again the friends I made here but
also for the new friends I am going to
have there. See you in Italy …
Maria Proistaki

I truly believe that Comenius European
week was one of the most perfect experiences
I have ever had. By participating
the Comenius program I learnt
many things about European countries. I
learnt about the climate, the culture,
the traditions and of course I can even
say that I learnt, too many things for the
place where I was borne and raised. The
aim of this program was to connect the
students through the hospitality, to
make them sensitive and set them think
about the environment. Also it was a
nice chance for all the countries to show
their culture.
The first day of the program we welcome
the children and the teachers
from the European countries. We drove
them to our homes and we let them
take a rest after a long flight to the hosting
families. Finally the students we
were hosted, had the chance to meet
our family better by eating a traditional
meal. After a while all the children from
the program met at a local cafeteria and
then we had the chance to meet each
other.
CCN CULTURE
The second day we woke up early, we
ate breakfast and we left home for
school. There we met all the teachers
from seven countries and after a small
guide to our school the meeting
started. There, Greek teachers welcome
all the participants and the official
opening of the program took place. At
the conference every school could show
us their project, which they worked
hard at their countries. At the end of
the meeting, our school had organized a
special dancing performance with traditional
dances and food, at the auditorium
of our school, presenting a sample
of our culture.
The third day we went to the school
again. There was a bus which was about
to drove us to Ierapetra, the closest
town from our village Makri gialo. When
we get there we guide our guests to a
green house. Our target was to not only
to show them the production and the
variety of the vegetables, but the scientific
side around the fast growing and
the great taste of our vegetables. Furthermore
the bus drove us to a capital
restaurant, where we ate and then we
could entertain our shelves to the city of
Ierapetra . After a tiring but enjoyfull
day we came back to our homes. We
relaxed for some hours and then at the
night we guide the children in our village.
The fourth day and the last of all the
children from the other countries could
attend with us on our lessons. Then we
left our school with the bus and we visited
a field with olives. There the children
and the teachers from European
countries learned how we collect the
olives and how we grind them till to
acquire extra virgin oil. After we went at
dam of Bramniana, where we enjoy the
breathtaking view as much as our
guests. Moreover we went mountainous
to a small village at Schinokapsala,
were we ate and we walked all over the
village. When we finally reached to our
homes and we charged our batteries.
We met all together at night, without
our teachers of course, to a cozy traditional
restaurant were we ate, we
drunk, we dance and we all said the last
goodbye to our best friends from the
other countries.
The fifth day we drove our friends to
their teachers and then they left with
presents for their countries. In other
words the Comenius week brought us
closer to the other countries, smite racism
and it gave us an unforgettable
experience.
Manos Douloumis.

CCN CULTURE
Gabby: three months in Sicily
So, I have been asked to write an article on
my stay in Sicily, Italy. A month passed
since I came here. Actually, I thought it was
going to be harder. Of course, there have
been some “ups and downs”. Yet still all
good covers the bad. Who, What, How,
When? I am going to answer all those questions.
In my article you will be able to read
about it all.
Let us start from the very first question:
Who? A sixteen-year-old female, student
from Lithuania's harbor town's (Klaipeda)
German high school (H. Sudermann high
school), named Gabija Norkute (as known
as Gabby). What did she do? Went to Sicily
to study for thee months. How did she do?
By individual exchange program COMEN-
IUS. When did she do it? From December
21 st to March 21 st .
When the main questions are answered I
can start telling about experience, some
“ups and downs”. If talking about “ups and
downs”, on one hand are downs. Mainly,
they are about holes in communication. For
example I will take one thing that I had to
face. First when I came in Sicily I noticed
small amount people who can have a normal
conversation in English language. And
when I came to school I noticed that even
English language learners, hardly speak.
But, please, don't make false impression. In
school I have also met some people who
can speak and communicate in English very
well. Also I did not have a chance to get
basics of Italian language in Lithuania. That
made communication even harder. Of
course, time passed by and I have started
my Italian language studies and now I can
understand some things that are happening
around me.
On the other hand are “ups”. Most of them
are because of weather, culture. If talking
of weather, I am enjoying it here, because I
do not feel winter here as I do in Lithuania.
There is no snow in Sicily and the temperature
is not low as in Lithuania. Secondly, I
have mentioned culture. What I really like
about it is that the places that I have visited
were rich in medieval architecture. It might
look strange to you but I am very interested
in medieval times, so it is a pleasure to see
something medieval not just in pictures but
by my own eyes.
Last but not least are experiences. There
were a lot of first times. First time flying,
first time in Sicily, first time in Italy, first
time abroad for three months, first time
alone without friends and family, first
Christmas without family and the list goes
on. Also I had a chance to compare studying
in Sicily and Lithuania. Even the system
of school differs. The way of learning differs.
I was surprised when I saw how every-
thing differs. For example the fourth level
in my Italian school in English grammar
lesson learns what I have learned in fifth
year of school. In my real school we do not
have separated English grammar and literature
lessons. Mostly we are concentrating
on grammar. And the amount of lessons is
bigger in Lithuania. I cannot compare other
lessons because in Italy for now I am just
attending in English lessons. Of course, I
can say every country has it’s own system
for everything.
All in all I can say that I will not regret this
exchange. Everyday I get to know something
new. Everyday I learn something interesting.
And it will not stop when I will
get back to Lithuania. I is going to continue.
Everyday. Forever!
Gabby

CCN CULTURE
One day after a long time, I was told that my father had been fired, but this wasn’t
the worst thing. My father had been working and he had not been paid for his job.
Moreover, his boss ran away and nobody heard of him anymore.
Those days I changed my way of thinking. Everything is different now. I didn’t feel well
like I used to in the past. My parents cannot give me any money. I know that they don’t
make ends meet.
From those days on, every time I bought some clothes, I checked the price first, no matter
if i like those or not. Before buying a game, I tried to look for a cheaper one.
However, this didn’t turn out to be so bad, because it’s a good thing looking for some alternatives
to spend less money. From that day, this is my concern and for sure it was the day I
changed not only my way of thinking but also the way of living.
Marcos Mateo Fimia (2º E.S.O.) Spain
Nature and Human Nature

C.P. CAVAFY
Morning Sea
Let me stop here. Let me, too,
look at nature awhile.
The brilliant blue of the morning
sea, of the cloudless sky,
the yellow shore; all lovely,
all bathed in light.
Let me stand here. And let me
pretend I see all this
(I really did see it for a minute
when I first stopped)
and not my usual day-dreams
here too,
my memories, those images of
sensual pleasure.
Translated by Edmund
Keeley/Philip Sherrard
CCN CULTURE
LITE(N)ATURE
"Love responsibility. Say: "It is my duty, and mine alone, to save the
earth. If it is not saved, then I alone am to blame." N. KAZANTZAKIS
THE FISHERMAN
by: Johann Wolfgang
von Goethe
HE water rushed, the water
swelled,
A fisherman sat by,
And gazed upon his dancing
float
With tranquil-dreaming eye.
And as he sits, and as he looks,
The gurgling waves arise;
A maid, all bright with water
drops,
Stands straight before his eyes.
She sang to him, she spake to
him:
"My fish why dost thou snare,
With human wit and human
guile,
Into the killing air?
Couldst see how happy fishes
live
Under the stream so clear,
Thyself would plunge into the
stream,
And live for ever there.
"Bathe not the lovely sun and
moon
Within the cool, deep sea,
And with wave-breathing faces
rise
In twofold witchery?
Lure not the misty heaven-deeps,
So beautiful and blue?
Lures not thine image, mirrored
in
The Fresh eternal dew?
The water rushed, the water
swelled,
It clasped his feet, I wis'
A thrill went through his yearning
heart,
As when two lovers kiss!
She spake to him, she sang to
him:
Resistless was her strain;
Half drew him in, half lured him
in;
He ne'er was seen again.
John Storer Cobb's
English translation

AVATAR :
CCN CULTURE
Ok ladies and gentlemen this is Stefanos and I present
you MOVIE REVIEWS. I know I know I am too excited
buuuuuuut I have a small restriction, I have to present
you movies that have to do with nature .BLEEEEEEEH,
boring. But anyway.
Hmmmmmm the
first movie that
popped in my mind
was Avatar. Yes peo-
ple Avatar!!! Ok. This
meh movie was di-
rected by James Cam-
eron and won
the 82nd Academy
Awards for Best Art
Direction, Best Cine-
matography and Best
Visual Effects, and was
nominated for a total
of nine, including Best
Picture and Best Direc-
tor. But who cares
about the American
critics think you are
reading this, because
you want to know MY
opinion on this com-
mercial movie. I have
to say that the sci fi
were pretty cool ,although it annoyed me that everything
was made in the computer, but it was pretty cool. The
story was ok and thank god it didn’t have a lot of stupid
dialogues or completely retarded catchphrases like “ see
in you in hell” or “ die mo#####er “.The more deeper
sense that the movie portrayed was pretty nice but a
NATURE FILM
little cliché . The movie depicts the concept of the noble
savage which can also been seen in Pocahontas, Dancing
with the wolves, John Dryden’s play The Conquest of
Granada (1672), etc. With this depiction you almost im-
mediately relate this movie to the native Americans and
their corruption of the land and their nature by the Euro-
peans when they came. Avatar gets a 7/10 in my opin-
ion... no I give it a 7, 5/10 only because James Cameron
did the only smart choice of killing Michelle Rodriguez.
But at the end Avatar is a really good movie that truly
depicts nature and suggested for true cinephiles and not
the kind that liked the movies twilight bliaaaaaks )
thank you all for reading this dam thing.
Stefanos Tsabanakis

CCN CULTURE

CCN CULTURE

CCN CULTURE