10/07/09
In the evening of 28th September all of the travellers gathered to the Pärnu Youth Centre, to look over what we have prepared for the trip, and at the same time to avoid sleeping-in and missing the bus. We enjoyed ourselves eating pizza,singing and packing everything useful into the suitcases.
The bus arrived at 3 in the morning, to drive us to Tallinn to the 6:40 plane to Copenhagen. After an hour and a half of flying we landed, and from there we took the train to Nyborg.
The next day we gathered at the schoolhouse, where we had a health-themed role playing game. Everybody got their own job, For example Grete was the CEO of the Coca-Cola company, Jaanika was a photographer for a magazine, Diana was the journalist for the magazine, Karl was a supermarket owner, Erko was an health inspector, Amalie was part of the European Parliament social group, Tauri was part of the Estonian IT branch advisement, and Miko was part of the Estonian parliament. Later they sorted us out in groups, 2 Estonians, 2 Danish. We discussed about the similarities and differences of our cultures and made nice posters.
The next day we had a trip to a town called Odense where we visited the H.C. Andersen museum.
Now we know more about this wonderful writer. After that we walked on the streets of Odense and searched some places in an orienteering game.
October 1st the day started us with our students singing a song we had prepared for the morning singing. We held a seminar between the Estonian and Danish. Youngsters had prepared reports about freetime, traditions, folk music instruments, folk clothes.
In the evening we had a workshop of national food . Danish people made special food called „piksemel“ and cakes called „aebleskiver“. Estonians' national food was small herring sandwiches and dessert made of whipped cream, grated bread and cowberry jam.
2nd of October started with waking in the schoolhouse, at 8 o`clock in the morning, during the morning singing, teacher Heli said our last thank you to the school, and we headed out to the Ferristlev freeschool.
In the evening we had a workshop of handicraft where Estonian youngsters showed how to make Sun Circles.
The next day was organised by host families to different sightseeings. Youngsters had interesting discussions in English.
October 4th, we went to the train station to get ready for the trip back to Estonia.The weather was stormy.
09/17/09
Since the creation of the Freeschool, we have had thick contacts with other freeschools from Denmark. Our school was actually based on Danish freeschools, we have visited each other several times.
This year, at the end of September, it's our turn again to visit. We wrote a project, to The Youth in Action, to request funding for our project, under the name „Cultural Diversity under the Common Sky “. During our programme we have planned many activities. There will be a workshop, where we will discuss about the EU, arts and crafts room, national foods, movienight, a disco introducing both countries, a visit to the A.C. Andersen museum, orienteering game, and a seminar about different folk themes.
In our group thereare 4 9th graders and 5 8th graders, the instructors will be, Heli Lank- a foreign language teacher, and the Pärnu Youth Freetime Center manager, Annely Reile.
On the1st of September was our groups more serious meeting, where we handed out, who's going to do what in Denmark. Erko got the assignment of introducing some of the Estonian folk instruments, Amalie will introduce Estonian folk clothing, Jaanika and Grete will collect pictures about the freetime of Estonian youth, Merliti will make a Power Point based on our school traditions, and with the collaboration of Karl and Erko, there will be a introduction about the music young people of Estonia listen to. Miko`s job will be the main-introduction.
You can read about our activities in our blog: www.taaniprojekt.blogspot.com