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A Visit to Varna in Bulgaria – the fourth meeting of Comenius
partnership – project “Overcoming xenophobia through a deeper
understanding of the European cultures”, May 30th – June 3rd, 2011
Guests at the main entrance of Peyo K. Yavorov School
May 30th
Our fourth meeting of the project started in Varna at Peyo Yavorov School on the May
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30 . The participants were 21 teachers from partner schools: Slovakia – 2, Turkey – 4,
Lithuania– 1, Poland – 2, Romania – 2, Italy – 3, Latvia– 4 and from the host school Bulgaria –
3. At meeting about 20 students from partner schools were present: from Turkey - 3, from
Poland - 1, from - Lithuania - 2, from Romania - 2, from Latvia – 2 and from Bulgaria - 10
pupils.
The meeting began with an emotional Opening Ceremony at school’s hall where
students, parents, teachers and representatives of local government and Regional inspectorate of
Education were participated.

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Children dressed in national We enjoyed concert and were introduced
costumes, teachers and staff welcomed us with participants from other countries.
to the school. Before came in, we enjoyed
their traditional greeting - a piece of
national Bulgarian bread-pie and spices.
Opening Ceremony of the fourth meeting. At the beginning of the Ceremony we sang
European Anthem altogether- every country in their native language.

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There were many interesting models made by students at the hall. At the
entrance door of the hall there were informative expositions about Comenius Project
participant countries.
Project coordinator Ceren Ugurlu Seyhan from Turkey and headmistress of Peyo
Yavorov School Darinka Bozhinova discussed progress of the project.

4. May 31st
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School headmistress and teachers presented the school to participants: pupils and
teachers at classrooms, library, school museum, swimming-pool etc.
Exposition of the school museum. Comenius room.
Workshop session – teachers and students. Lithuanian students’ presentation -
introducing with national holidays.

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Let’s learn a bit of Bulgarian! An excellent lesson of Bulgarian language for guests.
At the end of the lesson, pupils and teachers filled the small tasks to test their acquired
skills in the Bulgarian language. Everyone received a little Bulgarian vocabulary there.
Bread Day exhibition with tasting!

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Students and their families had prepared a delicious festive treat, it impressed with amazing
creative decorations.
In the afternoon project participants visited the Archaeological Museum in Varna, they
learned about history of Bulgaria there. The students mixed in pairs showed great excitement
working to fulfill study tasks through the exhibits of the museum.

7. June1st
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In the morning participants of the project meeting went to Balchik to see a palace and
Botanical Garden, located 42 kilometers from Varna. In 1940, when Bulgaria regained
Dobrudzas region and Balchik, a botanical garden was founded instead of the Palace park. In the
Botanical Garden you can see rare and interesting species of plants, as well as Europe's second
largest collection of cacti. Garden built in several stages, and offers magnificent views of the
Black Sea. At the time of Balchik and the other Bulgarian regions belonged to Romania, Queen
Mary ordered to build a summer home at Balchik - the Queen's summer residence. Today, in the
palace, you can see the Queen’s Mary’s collection of those times.
We visited the Ecological Park, where we acquainted with various species of trees and
plants. There was also a picnic. Students and teachers friendly engaged in sports activities after
lunch.

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Later we visited the famous Aladzha monastery. Aladzha was a rock-dwelling during
13 – 14th centuries. This is one of the few rock monasteries in Bulgaria, which are preserved
th
until today.
At the Aladzha rock monastery.
A monastery niche. Our international students.

9. June 2nd
There was a folk festival at the school,
where we could watch Bulgarian traditional dances 9
performed by pupils of different ages. Bulgarian
folk costumes are lush and varied.
At the end of the concert all participants had the
opportunity to learn the rather complicated steps of
folk dance horo.

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At closing session we evaluated work we did in the first year of project and defined tasks for the
next stages. Participants received certificates of participation in the Comenius Partnership
Meeting in Bulgaria.
A friendly conversation among the Assurances of esteem to poet and revolutionary
participants of the project. Peyo Yavorov and Bulgarian freedom. The
Bulgarian school is named by his name.
Our meeting with Dobromir Dzhikov - the mayor of Vladislav Varenchik district of city Varna.

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A wonderfull show of pupils’ swimming skills and water ballet in school’s pool.
Barite – a rural recreation centre, where the closing event was held. We saw some
exibitions of Bulgarian farmer etnography here,too.
Farewell evening. Almost everyone tried to master basic steps of Bulgarian traditional dance.
See You in Poland!
Your Latvian friends from Oskara Kalpaka Rudbāržu primary school.