Dear readers, Welcome to the second issue of BAF magazine created by the International BAF TEAM from Italy,

Germany, Turkey, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Poland. Many thanks to the teachers and students who decide about the shape and contents of the magazine. We hope you will enjoy reading our magazine. Best wishes, Project coordinators: Pawel Posnik (Poland), Peter Ferrari Demski (Italy), Maria Zographou (Cyprus), Derya Gulunay (Turkey), Ulrike Peterhoff (Germany), Verginia Veselinova Rakadijeva (Bulgaria) MANY THANKS TO BULGARIA FOR PREPARING SUCH A MEMORABLE FIRST COMENIUS VISIT. With appreciation to all the Bulgarian students and teachers who were our hosts and guides.

(DEAR VERGI, NOW WE KNOW WHAT BULGARIAN HOSPITALITY REALLY MEANS. THANK YOU)

Great Achievement of L.O. Grjec

Polish Ministry of Education, Katarzyna Hall, announced a contest called Citizens School on April 22nd 2010. The contest was named after Anna Radziwill, the former Ministry and a person of great merit for Polish Education. The purpose of the competition was to promote and popularize the right attitudes towards building civic society, creating school traditions based on patriotic values, school cooperation through different projects and programmes together with institutions and organizations active in the local community. The commission appointed by superintendents of education nominated the winners in the following categories: primary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools. The winners in all the categories and provinces were announced in mid-January. At this stage, the winner in the category of upper secondary schools was our L.O. in Grojec.

Out of more than 4000 schools participating in the competition, our school qualified for the national finals. At the gala ceremony, held at the Ministry of Education in Warsaw, school principal Zbigniew Krawczak received the award from Katarzyna Hall, the Polish Secretary of Education. The great achievement in this contest is our great success not only in the province but also nationwide. Angelika Gwiazda

Teachers vs students football match.

The last day before Chrstmas holidays there was a match between all the classes C of our school.The winner team of the students played with the teachers team... And the winner was the teachers team....

My school in Bad Reichenhall

The name of our school is Karlsgymnasium Bad Reichenhall. Bad Reichenhall is a little city in the Alps. The scenery of the Bavarian city is magnificent. Our school has its own gymnasium and is very big. It is popular because of its old history. The school has many classrooms, so each class has an own classroom. The teachers are nice but if the pupils misbehave, they will be a little bit angry. They can send letters to the headmaster or to the parents if you've done something very bad. In our school, pupils will get the chance to choose between languages they want to learn. They can choose between English and French or English and Latin. But if anyone doesn't want to learn more than two languages he can also choose Mathematics. The Karlsgymnasium is trying to do a lot of projects. For example the "project-day" at the end of the year. The "SMV" who has been elected by the class representatives, will choose the topic for the year's "Project-day". Every class will present their own project. Pupils, teachers, parents and friends will be invited, to see the activities by the students. Moreover, our school organizes a sports competition every year. The school does also exchanges with France, America, England and other foreign countries. As you can see, the school which offers you lots of activities is definitely worth a visit. Violetta

. The Turkish National Home Products Day

Annually,the pupils of the district schools cheerfully celebrate the Turkish National Home Products Day with both students and the teachers. The students and the parents- especially the mothers- carefully prepare special meals. The originality is that as preparing the foods ingredients are to be preferred from local grains, cereals,seasonal fresh fruit, dairy products, dried pulses, vegetables or plants. The elaborately dressed dishes are served to the friends and teachers in great joy. At the same time, the students prepare colourful hats and they wear these ornamented and decorated hats during the celebrations in great enthusiasm. Final and the most expected moment is sharing the meals. Delicious stuffed wine leaves, salads, pounded wheat balls, lentil balls,snacks,desserts, cakes,appetizers, pies, pastries, cookies and beverages are appetized in great merriment.

Popular winter activities in Bavaria

We want to give you a short information about winter activities that you can do in Bad Reichenhall and the surrounding area.You have to know that there`s a lot of snow in our region in winter ;) At first there is snow tubing.Tubing on snow performed on a hill is a winter activity that is similar to sleeding.You need a rubber tyre filled with air.It looks a little bit like a donut and it`s really funny =) Another popular wintersport is cross-country skiing.For this you need skis, poles, boots (and fitness) and you do it on a special course (loipe).There are two kinds of cross-country skiing: classic, and skate skiing Biathlon is a combination of skate skiing and rifle shooting. In Ruhpolding which is near Bad Reichenhall the worldcup takes place every year. Here are many ski resorts as well where worldcups take place.Skiing is running a downhill course on skis.It`s the most popular wintersport in Bavaria.Almost everybody is doing it. Snowboarding is like skiing but you stand on one bigger board.It`s similar to skateboarding. Ice skating is similar to inline skating. In Inzell which is near Bad Reichenhall they are building a new speed skating circuit for the worldcup. Figure skating or Artistic skating is a wintersport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps and other moves on ice skates. At the Knigsee there is a toboggan run where worldcups take place,too.Tobogganing is sleeding in an ice ring. Maria and Corinna, Bad Reichenhall, Germany

Sports of "M. Pellegrini" middle-school, Massarosa

My names Silvano Babici and teach gymnastics in Secondary School of 1Grade from Massarosa. In our School there are two Gymnastics teachers, Me and Mr. Landi Sandro. I teach in nine classes for eighteen hours a week, Mr. Landi teachs in four classes for eight hours a week. I would like to introduce you to the sports activities that are performed in our Institute. Sporting activities take place both at the Institute and extra-Institute. Sporting activities of the Institute attended by all students, those extra only representative of the best students in different sports. The principal sports of Institute are: athletics and volleyball. The athletic specialties practised by the students are : sprinting, long jump and high jump, shot put, endurance racing. Everyone does the testing for this specialty. The best, 2 boys and 2 girls of each class will also face a race of the Institute to determine the best of all; they will be Institute representative team in the extra Institute-races . Each class participating in the volleyball tournament. The tournaments are three, one for first classes, one for second classes and one for third classes. The class team that plays should be formed by three boys and three girls. Are allowed to play all the changes, boy with boy and girl with girl, in the field must always be three boys and three girls. I would also like to organize competitions for the students of the schools of the Comenius Project during the next meeting.

Really together , integrally together When we pronounce the word integrated we immediately have a feeling of satisfaction and relief; unfortunately this sometimes results in the erroneous belief of having completed our task; but of course one thing is theory, and another one is practice: the practical application in everyday life. We must keep away from the idea that the school integration process of a student affected by a severe disability simply means bringing him into a classroom, letting him to attend Mathematics or Italian lessons and waiting for the teachers or the students to involve him in all the activities. But even with all good will, the result will be always an artificial situation, regulated by forced situations and feelings of guilt. Do we really think that integration mean let the seriously disabled student to take part in a school trip with the class? Doing this, obviously we will have to face exhausting trips in coaches, management difficulties and physiological needs to accomplish. Now, lets try to think what a real integration could mean. The answer is INTEGRALLY INTEGRATE, that is, try to make a rational and reasoned integration process, tailored to the needs of the student in trouble. That means to stay together within a strategically planned environment, where the actors play with the greatest ease and naturalness, feel at home and act according to their possibilities, respecting the student with disability who, obviously, having less resources, will put himself into play, relyingcompletely on our hands and expecting the world. In this way we will not finally be only actors, rather aware operators that synergically work together, each with its own professional culture, to the LIFE PROJECT built around its active character, the student with disability. For all these reasons, it is not the student that must adapt to she school but rather it is the school that must adapt to meet the needs of the student. The school must be able to BE SPECIAL and TO MAKE in order to flexibly plan a series of activities functional to the disadvantage students needs. As result, the making special of the school, will bring a feeling of cohesion, sharing and personal enrichment in both the single operator involved in the students life project and in the didactic offer of the school, with a benefit for the whole social and scholastic community. This journey toward an authentic and integrate group will go through all the stages, from A to Z: starting wit the conquest of the student autonomy (physical, functional, social, personal, of movement) to get to the partial or total removal of the BALLAST (in Italian ZAVORRA) that the student brings with him, passing through phases where DIVERSITY, this wonderful word, can change its semantic meaning, becoming not more an obstacle, a cause of separation, rather an ATTRACTION POLE for CURIOSITY, ENRICHMENT and FUSION. In this way, the limiting and devastating effect of disability on the students life quality will be reduced and, in fortunate cases, even deleted. Only then will be we able to pronounce the word INTEGRATION and we will be REALLY and INTEGRALLY satisfied. Elisa Rossi , teacher of "M. Pellegrini"-School, Massarosa, Italy

I won the Regional Championship How I won the regional championship?

Hello, my name is Carlotta Domenici and for some years I'mve been practising archery as a sport. I go to the training two times a week, sometimes even three. This year I had the chance to part in the Tuscanian regional championship. I was very happy because the regional championship can offer you the possibility to join the National Championship. When the day of the Regional Championship arrived I was very nervous. We were at Pescia (Province of Pistoia) with some athletes from my team. After I'd mounted my bow I started with some stretching to be prepared for the competition. The referee called us for the final contest and I was so agitated. I took my bow and went on the line and started to concentrate. The initial whistle My only chance was to make more points than my oponent and so I pulled my bow I won the first vol (round) She won the second, but my score was o.k. There was a break of ten minutes and then we had the second part of the match. With concentration and a bit of luck I won the second part Regional Champion of Tuscany!!!!! I jumped around and was afraid of getting mad. My trainer was so happy and I was nearly expired thinking about the jump on the podium. An ufficial of the confederation acclaimed: First classificated GF/AN Domenici Carlotta. Like weired I jumped on the podium where I received a medal and a ribbon with the text: Tuscanian Regional Champion. I congratulated myself with all my friends and called all my parents, relatives and friends at home. It was a perfect day. Carlotta Domenici, Massarosa, Italy

About your hometown festival

The Reichenhaller Stadtfest Every year in the summer there is a big event in my city Bad Reichenhall called Stadtfest (city festival) many of peoples went on this day to the city and celebrate with each other. This event takes place always in every year in July. On this event there are many of different bands for example a rock band or a traditional Bavarian band. Actually on this day you can eat the typical Bavarian food too. And of course most Bavarians drink a beer on this day. On the 4.July.2009 they celebrated the 850 Stadtfest. Last year was special too because there was the world championship in soccer at that time. So there were many people who went to the city to watch the football matches on big screens outside. Afterwards this people celebrated the goals of our teams on the streets.

Nicosia
My town is Nicosia . Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus . It is one of the most worthseeing places in the world. It is an interesting city with history starting from the ancient time until today. Nicosia is the only divided city in Europe . The Green line runs through the city since 1963. There you can see the Famagusta Gate, one of the three entries to the old city. It has been restored and is now the Nicosia Municipal Cultural Center . It is used for performances, conferences, exhibitions and other cultural events. Nicosia is worth visiting not only because of its historical places but also because, of its commercial and shopping centers, like the City Plaza and the Capital Center . It has a variety of places of entertainment for visitors. They can find cafeterias nightclubs and if they want to eat cheaply there are very good taverns and restaurants. There are bigger and more beautiful towns than Nicosia but Nicosia is unique. It will stay in our heart forever. Someday I hope I will see the other part of Nicosia and Cyprus free. Written by: George Procopi

Calendar of Events
Calendar of events: Volunteer week in our school 03/12/2010 Friday: Mr Penintaex from the union Make a wish informed the students about voluntary organisations. 04/12/2010 Saturday: Students from our school cleaned the natural history monument of Kakkaristra in our city Latsia. 06/12/20110 Monday: Students from our school collected clothes for the union of Green shield and they attended a lecture from commissioner of environment Mr Theopemptou and the theme was about the environment and the quality of life. 07/12/2010 Tuesday: Priest Michael Efthymiou showed to the students a movie with theme the missionary work of Kenya. Also the students collected clothes and school supplies for children in Kenya. 11/12/2010 Saturday: Christmas bazaar at Lobby of City Hall of Latsia. 21/12/2010 Tuesday: Students from our school presented music program at school with special needs Nea Eleousa. 22/12/2010 Wednesday: Students sang the carols at City Hall, at the Bank of Cyprus, at the Popular Bank and at Cooperative Credit Society. Antri Stylianou

The dessert of asure

According to a common belief, a-well-known event in the Anatolian Region from the period of Adam, a kind of sweet dish prepared on the tenth of Muharram and this dessert is served out to the neighbours, friends, acquaintances or to the people that have never met before. The Turkish women or men, who are talented in cooking, start preparing the dessert by choosing the most fragrent, the most ecologic and elegant contents. Haricot beans, chick peas, boiled wheat, raisins, currants, nuts, figs, apricots, cinnamon and sugar are stirred to get tasty and delicious dessert.

The doers are very willing to serve out the Asure dishes to the people in all ages and to the people in all statues. It doesnt make any sense whether they are friends or not, theyre acquaintances or not, theyre children or adults, poor or rich. Everybody can come and join to taste the asure. Theres no materialistic expectation, because asure dessert is a means of CHARITY, BENEVOLENCE and GRATITUDE among the Turkish people.

Local government election in Grojec

On 28th November 2010 the national election to the local councils took place in Poland. The inhabitants of Grojec could vote for the representatives of district and town administrative units as well as the mayor of our town. There were many candidates. The competition between the candidates was very serious and nobody could be sure who would win. The next day the results of then elections were announced . The previous Mayor won in the first round. I think he achived his goal. Many honest and responsible people were also chosen to the town council. I hope that they will take a good care of our town and contribute to its development. During the next elections I will be old enough to vote for my own candidate and I hope it will influence the future of Grojec. Maciek Warpechowski

The Befana brings us presents or coal

The night between the 5th and the 6th of January, when the Christmas-time is almost finished Italian boys and girls are waiting for the Befana to pass. This old Lady rides on her broomstick and brings sweets and little presents to them, normally put in the socks fixed near the chimney. The witch is a typical figure of folklore in our region, however, is most celebrated in Italy. Alessia wants to talk about the Befana: This figure is from pagan tradition and the name comes from Epifania. Often been described as an old witch who flies on a broom but it is really a witch, smiling, with a bag full of lots of sweets and gifts. The evening of 5th January, that epiphany in the night the witch comes into my house to put in my stockings that I left hanging on the chimney, candy and chocolate, and sometimes I also found in coal, because I had not behaved perfectly. I celebrate with my family and my relatives in my grandparents' house. To make the house more suited to the night of epiphany it will be furnished with hand-made socks or small plastic witches smiling. The evening of the 5th me and my friends, costumed in the Befanian style, go around in the neighboorhood singing the Befana and asking little gifts. Alessia Cortopassi, Massarosa, Italy One of the most popular children's rhyme: The befana comes by night with broken shoes, patches on her skirt, long live, long live the befana !

Digenis Akritas
Digenis Akritas was the most famous warrior. Digenis Akritas father was an Arabian and his mother a Greek. Their son Digenis Akritas born of two races and two religions grew up in all the heroic characteristics of the time. According to the legend, people in Cyprus believe that Digenis was very tall, strong with very big hands. He came to Cyprus trying to catch a Saracen pirate. Digenis Akritas sawing that the Saracen was trying to escape, he put his fingers on the Cyprus mountain, and his fingers were sunk in the mountain. Thus the mountain took his hand form and the mountain was named Pentadaktilos (Pente in Greek means five and Daktila mean fingers, = five fingers mountain). Another legend says that Saracens were about to escape Cyprus and they got in their ships. The ships were just near the place that according to the Greek mythology the god Aphrodite was born, on the south coast of Cyprus. Digenis Akritas, with remarkable force, threw an immense rock on their ships, thereby destroying them. The location now called The rock of Romiou. Georgia Miliotou Marilena Pittara Krokou Marina

Spanos and the Fourty Dragons I never thought and expected that a folk tale would have made so much impression to me. Last week I was informed that a group of teachers, most of them from the elementary school I graduated, would participate in a theater play, the traditional tale Spanos and the forty Dragons. The lights go off and the show begins. The story takes us many years back at a Cypriot village were forty dragons (My teachers were disguised as the evil dragons) were holding the water to enter the village, so all residents stayed thirsty. Then a petit young village man, the hero of the story, manages with his intelligence to defeat them and release the water. This proves that mind may win muscle strength. During the whole act the action was intensive, the performances exceptional and the costumes stunning. At the end of the act we congratulated our teachers for their excellent effort. The folk tale has also a symbolic message. The forty dragons are none other than the various enemies Cyprus had and still. Strong and horrible enemies responsible of steeling/holding our land and deny our freedom. In the same way as Spanos the petit young village man fought against the forty dragons and finally won, Cyprus has the ability and its people heart, soul and power to fight any enemy believing in the dream, our souls and our value until you achieve freedom. Nasia Kelepeshis, C3 Ferhat And Sirin Once upon a time, in one of the countries there lived a handsome man called Ferhat. He was a poor frescoer. And there lived a very beautiful, rich and attractive young lady called Sirin, who was the daughter of the Sultan- the ruler of that country. One day while Ferhat was embroidering the walls of the palace, he saw the daughter of Sultan and fell in love with Sirin. After a while, the Sultan became aware of the fact that the poor man was in love with his beautiful daughter. In order to dissuade Ferhat from this love, the Sultan provided some cruel and tough conditions which will in fact never be actualised without supernatural power. Ferhat was obliged to drill the tremendous mountains to lead water to the country. On one unfortunate day, as Ferhat was trying to make hole in the rocky mountains, accidentally he fell down from the rocky cliffs and died there. Whenever Sirin had the news about Ferhats death, she came to the cliffs and she also leaped from the cliffs. This is the tragic ending of two lovers. Today, there is a little fountain flowing in sorrow and it is said that the rocks are still shedding tears for this tragedy.

Buttnmandln a Bavarian Myth

The so-called Buttnmandln are young men, who are wrapped in long straws. Their job is to drive evil spirits. They additional wear heavy cow bells, which are fixed around their hips. The Buttnmandln hide their faces behind masks made from wood or pelts. These masks are called Larven. The guys try to hit the audience and visitors with rods from plaited willow or with horse tails. Since the 17th century this traditional rite has been celebrated and it is still shown in the Berchtesgadener Land and its surrounding. The actors have been changing it during all the time: Driving evil spirits isnt the most important part anymore. Today the Krampus and St. Nicholas visit the families at home, escorted by angels. The children then sing songs or perform poems for these visitors. The Krampus tries to scare the bad children to make them a guilty conscience, so that they become better in the next year. Each group (called Pass) consists of: 1 St. Nicholas 2 - 3 Gankerl (very fast, wear fleece, small bells and a mask made from pelts) 5 - 10 Krampus (slowlier and heavy, wear fleece, big bells and a mask made from wood or pelts) Several Buttnmandl (the principal part of the group, described before) 1 2 angels It takes 30 minutes to wrap one single Buttnmandl, so the whole group needs hours to become ready for the show.

The legends of Aphrodite and Digenis Akritas

Every year I go on summer holiday in Pafos with my family. On the way to Pafos, there are lots of interesting things to admire, such as the baths of Aphrodite and Petra tou Romiou-Rock of the Greek. When I was a child, my grandfather used to tell me mythological stories, but I was really amazed with the legend of Aphrodite and Digenis Akritas. Here are more details Aphrodite is known as the goddess of beauty and love. In Cyprus, it is said that Aphrodite was born from the foam of the sea next to Petra tou Romiou-Rock of the Greek. It is mostly believed that her father was Sky and her mother was Sea. When Aphrodite came out from the sea flowers grew on the beach to welcome her. Her husband Hephaestus was the god of fire. Aphrodite was so beautiful and everyone was in love with her, so she cheated her husband quite a few times. She was the most adorable goddess in Cyprus and the inhabitants offered in honor of her their animals. In Cyprus, there are many statues and ancient temples of her. The birthplace of Aphrodite is related with another mythical person, Digenis Akritas. Akrites were soldiers at the frontiers of Greece. Digenis Akritas was the most famous, powerful soldier and thats why people make up this legend about him. The legend says that Digenis Akritas was like a giant. Once, he was being chased by his enemies-Sarakinous, he was running to escape, he stepped on a mountain in Crete, he grabbed a huge rock with his giant hand, threw it to them and he placed his other hand on a mountain in Cyprus Pentadaktylos which means five fingers-the five fingers of the hand of Digenis Akritas. The Petra tou Romiou-Rock of the Greek was that huge rock that the Greek, Digenis Akritas threw to his enemies. Nowadays the rock is placed in the sea where Aphrodite was born. Demetra Charalambous Eleftheria Christou

Legend about Bulgarian mountains

In ancient culture the mountains is a holy place. Ancient people believed that mountains got closer to Got. There is a legend about the Rodopa Mountain and the Balkan Range called Hemus by the ancient Tracians. There dad was a sea God. One day they decided to mock the Gods. Hemus let down kis white beard and Rodopa let down her long blond hair. That way they infuriate the old God. That way Rodopa was turned into a big mountain. Seeing his sister, Hemus petrify, To make punishment more severe, he devided the two mountains with Tracian plain. Nikolai Hristov, 7kl. Ancient people believed that mountains got closer to God. There is a legend about the Rodopa mountain and the Balkan Range called Hemus by the ancient Tracians. In this legend the Rodopa is the youngest sister of Hem. One day they decided to mock the old God. Hem made beard white and long. Rodopa let down her gorgeous blond hair. The God infuriate and made Rodopa into a mountain and made Hem mountain, too. Rodopa became a big mountain. He divided Tracian Plain between them. Elena, 7kl.

Mummers - a traditional Bulgarian ritual

Mummers (Kukeri) On New Year's Eve and Zagovezni in Bulgaria special rituals called Mummer's games take place. The Mummer's games are performed by men only. They put on special masks hand-made by each of the participants. Most of the masks are constructed by wood. Different colored threads are glued on it as well as pieces of multicolored fabrics, mirrors and other shiny elements. The masks representing a ram, a goat or a bull are considered the strangest. Their necessary part of the Mummer's games proves the thesis that the origin of the mummer's games is connected to the ancient Dionysius' games. The impact that the masked mummers make gets even bigger by the sound of the copper and bronze bells that hang on them. Some of the masks have two faces. On one of the sides the nose is snub and the face is good-humored and on the other the nose is hooked and the face is ominous. Those masks symbolize the good and the bad which coexist in the world and are inevitable. A very important thing for the symbolic of the masks is the color of the decoration. The red is the most used one - a symbol of the fertility of the reviving nature, of the sun and the fire; the black color embodies the earth and her goddess mother and the white is a symbol of water and light. The mummer's games aim to scary and sweep away forever the evil spirits and the weird sisters with the help of the special magic dances and the scary masks, so that the crops for the next year are rich.

Legend of Warsaw Mermaid

Once upon a time two mermaids from the Atlantic swam to the Baltic Sea. They were sisters and both were very beautiful women with fish tails. The sisters lived in the sea depth. One of them chose a magnificent place in rock near Copenhagen City, whereas the other siren stayed in a Polish town of Gdansk. Then she swam along the Vistula river and reached the Polish capital - Warsaw. She liked this place and she resolved to stay there longer. Most of the fishermen who saw the wonderful woman did nothing dangerous to her because she had beautiful voice and sang amazingly. However one rich merchant kidnapped her for money. He wanted to earn much. The merchant kept her in a wooden shed without water. A few days later a young farmhand set the mermaid free. She was very grateful and she promised that she would always help him. Nowadays this mermaid is a symbol of Warsaw and her statue is in Warsaws crest. The s wo r d and shield symbolize the strength of our capital. Monika Krajewska

A legend about Michael, who signed a pact with a devil (a local legend).
It was Thursday and as usual there was a market in Grojec. There came all merchants to sell their harvest or buy something. Michael came there too but he didnt have much to offer. He was sitting in his wagon and he was sad. He thought about being poor, which he couldnt help. Then an unknown man approached to him and asked what his problem was. Michael didnt think too long and said he was sad because he had no money, but he could do anything to be rich. No problem, said the stranger. You just need to invite to your home at midnight the guest who will knock on your door. But you must have a candle and sign the document which newcomer the newcomer will have. Michael was pondered, and when he wanted to ask when it would happen, he saw the unknown leave. What could he do? He had to come back . When the midnight was coming he lit a candle, sat by the table and waited. Then someone knocked. Into the house entered a creature in a black uniform, with horns and a tail at the back. It was a devil. He presented a document and a sharp goose feather. Michael had to sign the document with his blood. When he did it, the devil said You will be rich, you will be rich and he left. In the morning, he didnt know whether it was a dream or reality but he saw jab in his hand. Michael started thinking about breakfast but he remembered he didnt have much to eat. At the same time he smelled something wonderful. In his kitchen, on the table there was turkey and wine. He ate all the breakfast and thought the devil had made his first dream come true. Since then, all his dreams came true. In his house there appeared new furniture , in the stable - beautiful horses, and the cowshed was full of cereal. Michael didnt work but his pockets were full of money. One day Michael wanted to have a wife. Suddenly there appeared a beautiful, young and nice girl. He married her. Justyna (that was her name) was a good wife and gave birth to two healthy boys. Time was running fast, Michael and Justynas sons got mature and left home. Michael was old and got ill, his wife started to search the way to make him healthy. Her neighbour said she could pray for his health. When she started to pray Michael screamed so loud that everybody ran away. Then, under his bed, the floor was broken and the fire started. There was a terrible storm as well. A lightning hit Michaels house and destroyed it. The neighbors thought it must have been a devils job. Personally, while reading this legend for the first time in my life, I was wondering whether it was worth making a deal with the devil. Isnt it better to accept what happens to us in a course of time? Michal Palka

The legend of "Ponte della Maddalena" at Borgo a Mozzano (Lucca), Italy

The Devil's Bridge is a work of art that has always inspired artists for centuries and is resistant to many floods of the river Serchio. Its a construction of the devil, indeed! In support of the origins of the infernal bridge, is the fact that, despite studies and research, still retains its well-secret data source to the point that some scholars trace it all'XI century. Here's the legend: "Once upon a time in a village on the banks of the Serchio, a good and respected master builder to which the villagers had turned to do to build a bridge linking the two towns divided by a river. The skillful foreman immediately set to work, but he soon saw that the work was not progressing as quickly as he'd promised his fellow citizens, and being a dutiful man and timely commitments, fell into deeper

disarray and despair. He continued to work day and night so as to finish the task for the day of the contract, but work slowly, and while the days flew by. One evening, while the builder was sitting alone on the banks of the Serchio to watch the work and thinking of the shame and dishonor that would suffer for not having completed it in time, he saw the Devil in the guise of a respectable man of 'business. He went straight to the builder telling him that he would be able to finish the bridge in one night. The man did not believe the words of the Devil, but listened and finally accepted his proposal. Of course, the opponent would have played a part: the foreman would have to undertake to give the soul of the first person to cross the bridge when finished. The foreman agreed and the day after the village had its beautiful bridge, as can be seen today in Borgo a Mozzano. The people were stunned disbelief and went to congratulate the talented craftsman who not to cross the bridge before the sun had set. Meanwhile, the foreman rode on his horse and went to Lucca, a bit 'worried to be honest, to consult with the bishop at that time was San Frediano. The saint told him not to worry and to let the devil take the first soul to cross that bridge, but I would have to make his first pass for a pig. This was done, and the Devil, furious at having been defeated, and fell into the waters of Serchio and from that day was never seen there. " written by Nicola Venturi, Massarosa, Italy

Orpheus and Eurydice

The beautiful Rhodopi mountains lie in the south of Bulgaria, stretching from the Thracian plain to beyond the Greek border. With spectacular gorges, alpine meadows, underground caves and rich archaeological sites, it's a land steeped in myth and antiquity. For this was once part of ancient Thrace, and it is the place where Orpheus and the Orphic cult may have originated. The mythology of the legendary singer, musician, magician and healer, Orpheus, dates back 3000 years and probably has much older roots. Much of what we know comes from the writings of the ancient Greeks, but in fact Orpheus was a native Thracian born, according to local legend, in the Rhodopi mountains. Orpheus sang and played the lyre, and his music was so beautiful that he could charm the birds and the beasts. When his bride, the nymph Eurydice, died from a snakebite, Orpheus went to the underworld to plead for her return. His music so captivated Hades and Persephone, the king and queen of the land of the dead, that they agreed to his request on one condition: Orpheus must not look back upon Eurydice until they had both reached the upper world. But Orpheus looked back a moment too soon, before the sun had laid its eye upon Eurydice. At once she slipped back into the land of darkness and was lost to him forever. The heart-broken Orpheus went on a fearful journey to the underground kingdom to convince Hades to give him devil's throat cave back his beloved. He went down the path witch end faded into the darkness. Orpheus touched the strings of his lyre and started singing about his search for his beloved that left the world before her time. In his song he praised his love come back to life. All of Tartar waited for the answer together with him. In the end Hades raised his head and said: Orpheus, take your Eurydice and bring her to the world of the living. But you must walk ahead and leave her to follow you without you looking back even for a second, your beloved will be lost here again and forever. With great joy in his heart Orpheus took Eurydice. They walked up the dark path. The first sunbeams already caressed their faces when just after they stepped onto the earth Eurydice tripped and cried out with pain. Orpheus turned back to help her. In this moment she was taken away from him. He saw her white hands reaching in vain towards him and heard her heartbreaking cry for farewell. The singer went back to the earth with a broken heart and the joy forever left his life. From that day on his only consolation was to sit on some peak in Rhodope Mountain and to sing about his lost love. Besides the magic of music, Orpheus left behind him also a flower that grew from his drops of blood- Hberlea Phodopensis, a symbol of eternity. The Rhodopi mountains are saturated in legends about Orpheus and Eurydice. The crystalline rocks that can be found in the mountains are called by local people "the tears of Evredika", and the earth itself is her body. Go to the Rhodopi to enjoy wonderful scenery and to soak up the landscape where Orpheus roamed. Verginia Veselinova

The crest of Grojec presents a man standing at the gate. But very few people know why it looks so. So, here is the legend which will possibly explain why. Once upon a time there was a very rich and beatiful city which was located on a high hill. That city was Grojec, which was also called Grodziec at those times. People who lived there at those times were very happy and proud of their city. They lived quietly in peace with other cities.But suddenly, the time of great sorrow came. The Prussians, a tribe which was living to the west of Poland invaded the country. They were looting the cities and abducting people. They were attacking cities one by one. Then they came to the neighborhood of Grojec. They had heard that it was a very rich city, so they decided to attack it. Unluckily there were no soldiers in the city. Nobody knew where they had gone. There were only women with children and elderly people. Vast majority didnt want to fight, but there was a young, beautiful woman, who came up with a great idea. She said, that all the people gathered in the city should dress up as soldiers, in hope that enemies wouldnt recognize them. At dawn the Prussian army gathered in front of the city, and then thousands of people came out of the city. They were dressed as real soldiers. They had armors, swords and shields.

As the Prussian army was not big enough, they withdrew. Everyone enjoyed the victory, as well as the fact that they didnt have to fight. And so the legend begins. Thats the reason why Grojecs crest looks like this today. To commemorate this event, in the crest you can see a man who is standing at the gate and holding a sword. Probably, that man is the young woman by whom the city was saved. I think it is a very interesting story, and worth reading by many people. Micha Komarnicki

Legend about Kaliakra Kaliakra Kaliakra is a beautiful place on the Northern Bulgarian Black Sea coast. It is 60 km northwest of Varna. Many tourists go there every year to enjoy the wonderful sea view and learning more about the history of this amazing place. Kaliakra is also a nature reserve where dolphins and different kinds of sea birds live. Geographically, Kaliakra is situated on a cape a high point of land that goes out into the Black Sea. When you look down from the high sea rocks, you may feel really scared. In clear weather, when the sea is quiet and friendly, you can see the horizon and the endless sea waters. But when the weather is stormy, the waves crash angrily into the rocks. They bring black legends from the past. Probably the most popular legend about the place says that 40 Bulgarian girls tied their hair together and jumped into the Black Sea. They did not want the Ottomans to catch them. There is a small monument at the entrance of the cape. People call it the Gate of the 40 Girls. Another legend tells the story of St Nicholas. He was running away from the Ottomans and God was making the earth under his feet longer and longer so that he could escape. In this way god made the land which went into the sea and formed cape Kaliakra. Finally, the Ottomans caught St Nicholas. On the place where he died there is a small church in the rocks. Elitsa Muntyanova

Avgi
My name is Avgi Iosif. I am fourteen years old and I live in Latsia. My birthday is on the 10th of April. I have one sister and one brother, who are older than me. I attend the Latsia Gymnasium. I like playing the piano, and dancing too. The kind of dance I love the most is the ballet! I enjoy drawing and generally creating. Thats why one of my favourite subjects at school is art! I dont like animals so much, especially if they are at home. In addition, I like trips and vacation. Two of my favourite food is pizza and pasta! However, I dislike beans and football, but I like playing tennis!

Hristiyana
Hello, my name is Hristiyana Despotova. I'm from Sofia, Bulgaria. sofia is the capital of Bulgaria. I'm 13 years old. I haven't got any brothers and sisters. In my free time I like to play football, read a book or stay in front of computer and play games.My school is named 122nd primary school Nikolai Liliev. I like to go there, because I learn new things, meet my friends and we have fun. Every day in my school is very i nteresting. I live with my mother and my father. We have a pet - a cat named Shosho. I like to play with him. I have many friends in and outside school.I like to travel around and in my country. For now I didn't go anywhere abroad. I am really happy to join this project! This gives me the chance to speak in English, to meet new friends! I am chosen to take part in a workshop in Italy. I am very happy that I am going to go there! Because of the trip, of meeting new friends and see the world! When some teachers from partners' school came here, in Bulgaria, I visited some landmarks in Sofia with Cyprian and Polish group - with Maria, Pawel and Magda. I was very happy. I translated them from Bulgarian to English! That was very important for me, because I trained my language! I was very happy that I succeeded - I could cross beyond language frontier. I am very excited for going in Italy! I hope I meet new friends and become better in my English! Hristiyana Despotova

Kalina
Hello, friend! My name is Kalina. Im ten years old. Ive got a long brown hair and brown eyes. My favorite colours are black, blue, white, yellow and green. My favorite food is fried potatoes. Ive got a cat. Its name is Terro. Its colours are black and white. Its eyes are yellow. It got a long tale, short ears and very, very long whiskers. Its very sweet. The name of my school is Nikolay Liliev. Nikolay Liliev is a famous Bulgarian poet. Im in the 4th grade. My class is big. But our classroom is not big. Ihave many friends. My family is not big Me, my mother, my father and Terro, of course. Im from Bulgaria. I live in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.

Evgenia
Hello, My name is Evgenia. I am 10 years old. I am from Bulgaria and I'm living in Sofia. My family is not big, but i feel happy with them. I like to spend my free time with my friends. I love to sing a song and dancing. I want to be a signer. I love sunrise and sunset, I love mountain and sea, I love chocolate and fruits. I love animals. I had a great dog. I would like to find many friends her.

Teodora
Hello dear friends, My name is Tedi.I'm 10 years old.I've got short brown hair and green eyes. My favourite animals are dog and cat,because i have a cat and I had a dog 2 years ago. My favourite food is spagetti and my favourite drink is tomatoe juice. Ive got a brother and sister.Their names are Sasho and Kate. My e-mail is tedi.avdjieva@gmail.com

Letter about our school

Hey boys and girls, This time we talk about Karakorum-Project of our school. We support some villages in the moutains of Karakorum (Pakistan). People there are very poor and sometime even dont have water and schools. Because of that fact we started campaigns against this and we a lready collected so much money, that they could build a few schools and they have clear water now- just because of our s chool! This money was collected by arranging concerts, danceshows and selling self made products from these villages. We have already taken part in one of the danceshows, Here is a picture: We are very proud to help poor people who do not have so many possibilities and we are thankful for everyone who is supporting this project. Nelly & Aleks

Students impressions from Sofia

A smile on my face Bulgaria is a beautiful country. We had great joy there and I will always remember Comenius which left a smile on my face. Thanks to everybody Furkan Urcan Songul and Bulgaria Im very happy because I went to Bulgaria. Ive got two families now one is in Turkey one is in Bulgaria. I had the chance to get on a plane for the first time. I miss my host family very much. My Bulgarian sisters name is Iveda.:) I love you Iveda. Songl ALIKAN Being aware of different religions and cultures My friends and me went to Bulgaria via Comenius Project by the help of which we had the chance to learn different cultures, different religions, places and different meals. Our flight was very nice, it was a great fun for me. I enjoyed my host family, they are really very hospitable. We had very good friends there, in Sofia. It was very entertainig. I would like to say thanks to everybody who has participated in this Project. Again and again Thank you Bra BAY Emine in Sofia When we went to Bulgaria, seven students welcomed us in Sofia.Then we went host houses and we rested. The next day we went to the museum and saw lion statues. I asked the meaning of the statue and learned that it is the Symbol of Bulgaria. And also, I saw a priest there, I was very surprised because that was the first time I had ever seen a priest. But it was a beautiful day. Actually everyday was very beautiful. Im very happy to have visited Bulgaria. Great thanks to everyone. Emine DOAN

Introducing myself
Introduce yourself My name is Demetris Skottis. I am fourteen years old and I live in Latsia. I attend the Latsia secondary school. I love the animals, especially cats and I have two cats at my home. My favourite food is the traditional souvlaki of Cyprus but I also like pizza and pasta. I play the guitar and I like listening to music. My favourite sport is basketball but I dont like football so much. The subject, I like more at school is maths and PE.

Meet the creator of BAF LOGO

Hello, I'm Patrycja from Poland. I'm happy my project has been chosen for the official logo of BAF. Warm greetings to all the BAF team, Patrycja

Maciek's memories of Bulgaria

From 5th to10th November I took part, as a representative of my school community, in the meeting in the framework of Comenius Project in Sofia. The host of the first meeting was the 122nd Primary School in Sofia. I met groups of representative from the other countries participating in the project, such as: Cyprus, Germany, Italy, Turkey and Bulgaria. I had a great time there. I could sightsee Bulgaria, learn about Bulgarian lifestyle andtry their national dishes. I know a lot of nteresting things about this country now. The biggest surprise for me was the school. I didnt know that there wasnt any bell in the school. On the first two days I was in the National Museum, and I visited an old village of Kopristica . From 8th to 9th November I participated in some lessons. I saw what lessons looked like in a foreign country. In my opinion they look more or less the same as in Poland. I think that there arent as many differences between Bulgaria and Poland as I had thought before I came there. Thats why I felt very well and Ill never forget the people whom I met in Bulgaria, especially my host family. Honestly, this was one of the best experiences in my whole life and I improved my English too! Maciek Warpechowski

Daria's memories of Bulgaria

That day we met opposite our school at eight oclock in the morning and went straight to the airport. Our plane took off at eleven oclock. After a two-hour flight we arrived at the airport in Sofia where we were met by Vergi a Bulgarian teacher and host families who took us from there to their houses. I went to Valerias house. They were all very nice and kind and they told me many stories associated with Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria. On the first day we met groups of students and teachers from other countries Bulgaria, Italy, Turkey, Cyprus and Germany. We went by coach to the Museum of History, which is one of the largest history museums on the Balkans. The next day we went to Kopristic village where we saw many old houses - museums. Everyone listened to the guide with interest. On the way back we were very tired but even so I had a lot of interesting conversations with my peers from foreign countries. Monday was our first day in Bulgarian partner school. All countries presented their schools and national heroes. It was very interesting because we got to know the culture of other countries. On Tuesday we spent the next day at school. We saw what lessons look like in schools in Bulgaria. All the students and teachers were very nice. I spent all evenings with Valerias family. It was a very enjoyable time for me. We talked, told stories about cultural diversity and we played different games. On Wednesday, we said goodbye to our families at the airport. Although we missed our home we were sad to leave. I really liked the trip. Everyone was friendly there and the atmosphere was fantastic. I met many cool people and I will definitely stay in touch with them. This trip was something new for me. It was not as difficult to talk in English all the time as I had thought. I could practice my English, make friends with wonderful people and learn a lot about Bulgaria. Daria Betcher

My lacework
My names Berna and Im a student at the 8 th level. A few years ago, my mother taught me how to knit lacework. Just because I knew the technique to make a lace, I can make white and colourful lacework. To achieve this, what are needed? We just need cotton thread and cracket needle. Thats all. Making lace entails a great deal of work and trial. In the beginning my lacework was not so neat and harmonious, but after a while it seemed so nice and in an order. Lacework doesnt require a specific workshop, place or a specific time. You can do it everywhere and everytime: During the school breaks, at home, on a train, in a restaurant and so on.

Hobbies of three German boys

Our hobbies here in Bad Reichenhall are playing football and go swimming . Our real hobby is playing football here in the local football club , but swimming and jumping from cliffs , trees and springingboards is another fantastic sprort you can do here in the area. Football: We all start to play football since we were 5 years old. First we played in different team but all here in the area. Football is for all of us life and we watch every Saturday the Bundesliga thats the highest german football league . We practice in the summer twice in winter once a week. During season we have a match every weekend. In the winter we have only some mathes in a gym. Our team is called TSV Bad Reichenhall we are a traditional sportclub that was funded in 1860. Now we all play in the same team. AS a goalkeeper, midfielder and offensive. Swimming : First we all learned swimming befor we got into grammarschool, now we go swimming as often as possible because our local swimming pool is very expensive so we have to go to another town to go swimming . But when we are in a swimming pool its always fun. We try to jump as funny as its somehow possible . In the summer we can go to the local lakes and outside swimming pools. Because we are in an area with much mountains around , there are very much lakes around here . At the lake, which is near our town ,you can jump from trees. That very funny and amusing. In the winter we can go to up closed swimming pools and can swim there. Maximilian, Raphael, Samuel

I play the piano

Ive been playing the piano for one month. I like it because it is a really good instrument. I go to piano lessons every Monday. I had a concert on 21.12.2010 and I played fantastic. I and my family were very happy. My teacher told me that I am a very good student and I played perfectly although I took only a few lessons before the concert. I like playing the piano very much! Stivun Zhelev, 4th grade

Football
There are many sports that are called football, but I will write about the European Football. What is football? Game after game after game. Now I understand what is most important in my life Football Show me something more thrilling than the perfect volley, Tell me youve never dreamed the immaculate strike at that moment when the entire nation holds its breath.Tell me that football is not one common language when the whole planet stops for 90 minutes to be witnessed in that one thing which we all understand.Yeah, you could tell me Im wrong, some may say its just a game, but this is about heros and triumphs, loyalty and devotion, its our comitment and our passion, our batlle and our belief, this is our faith. Now feel the fever of the crowd, hear the roar of the faithful,this is a beautiful game, this is FOOTBALL. What do you need to play football? Football is simply the most simple game. All you need to play It is a ball. You can even make the ball from socks, paper or something else and you will be ready to start playing. Where does football come from? We have information that football was played in China 5000 years ago. But it has been played in ancient Greece, Rome and Japan too. Of course it was very different football from the one we know today. The modern rules of football were written in 1886 in England so thats why all say that It was born in England Where is football being played? Football is being played by millions of people in over than 200 countries every day. What is the meaning of football today? Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that. Bill Shankly, In Sunday Times (UK) Oct. 4 1981 I totally agree with the legendary manager of Liverpool and there are some facts that show the truth of his words. For example in 2006 Cte d'Ivoire was in Civil War but thanks to the football the war was temporally stopped because of the football. The reason is that the Cte d'Ivoire national football team had qualified for the 2006 World Cup and brought warring parties together. Wishing you the best Nasko from Cyprus

Football is my passion
Everyday when I wake up I only think when I am going to play football. I am playing all the day in my house and breaking things and my mum is shouting: Andrea stop playing football in the house, you will break everything in here. I love playing football is my favourite hobby. In Cyprus we have big teams like ANORTHOSI,OMONOIA,APOEL. Anorthosi and apoel played in champions league group stage something very good for Cyprus. I play in a team XALKANORAS near my town I play as a center back. My favourite team is Manchester United and the best LEAGUE in Europe is PREMIER LEAGUE and I know everything about it. Andreas Dimitriou From Cyprus

I like Tennis
Tennis In Italy tennis is very famous sport. Near Massarosa there are a lot of tennis-fields but the nearest is in Quiesa that is a little town near our school. I play tennis in summer with my fiend Simone. We play tennis for an hour in the morning with a lot of children who have similar age. We have two teachers, that teach us the major strokes in tennis. Naturally practising the sport only in summer we are not as good as those who practice it even in winter, but we manage well the same. I think that tennis is more fun than football but this is my opinion and I dont think so that its the same for all the children or people. I think tennis is better than football because it's cleaner, without hooligans throwing smoking lights on the field and the risk of injury is minor and also in the world of tennis there aren't so many scandals like in the football. Honestly I prefer tennis because I'm not a team player and so I prefer a game where everyone is responsible for himself and must not feel guilty if the team is losing because of him. I have to thank my teachers, Massimo and Nicholas that have opened my eyes for the beauty of tennis in the few years that I attend their course. Even if I practice this wonderful sport only for three months a year, tennis remains and will always be my favourite sport. In Italy we have a lot of very famous tennis player as Francesca Schiavone that won the Roland garros or Flavia Pennetta or even Potito Starace etc. so in the last years the interest for this sport is rising again. Stefano Donati and Simone Fruzzetti, Massarosa, Italy

Scouting in Poland
In Poland we have several scouting organizations. Here in Grojec there is only one, ZHP, which is the main and the biggest scouting organization in Poland. This is a wonderful type of spending free time. I belong to a scouting group which is one of the oldest. We have meetings every week. I've met fascinating people there. During the meetings we have workshops, sing songs and talk about our authorities and history. It is the most important part of scouting. This is where you get your basic knowledge not only about what is important for every scout but also how to be a patriot. I've learnt a lot since I've joined ZHP. Once a year we've got a survival camp. It's not strictly a survival camp but it does have some survival activities or day routines, such as sleeping in a forest in a tent. We have a lot of trips. Some are made for special occasions like anniversary of Warsaw Uprising or National Independence Day. On such trips we have to do several quests like using our first aid knowledge to rescue somebody. Of course it is only a simulation but everybody seems to be really serious about it. We have a lot of possibilities to show our skills. It is your chance to upgrade skills that you already know or try to learn something new. All in all, scouting is a great organization that allows you to experience a lot of totally new things, meet amazing people and strengthen the power of believing in oneself. Zaneta Wykowska

Dancing - my favourite leisure activity

Dancing my favourite leisure activity All of us have a hobby or our favourite way of spending free time. Mine is dancing. I have always liked dancing, going to disco school or attending the afterschool dance-club. But it really started about 2 years ago, when my best friend bought us some hip hop and jazz lessons in a local dance studio. It was something I can't describe. Incredible feeling. Of course, we had to catch up with the others. After the first lessons we were exhausted, our muscles were screaming "please, no more!", but we motivated each other and... we did it. I still can't belive that we learnt our first choreography within half a month and still remember it perfectly. It's obvious that it wasn't the end of hard training. After a year I went on a summer dance camp with one of the best dance crews in Poland and I totally freaked out about dancing. Professional dancers, our instructors, well-known all over the country (for people interested in dancing and not only), turned out amazing people, who live for dancing. They "infected" us with dance, talked to us, taught us, motivated us - it was wonderful adventure!

I tried different kinds of dance in my short dance career, for example: street jazz, dancehall, hip hop, contemporary hh, commercial hh, funk, break dance, locking, popping, jazz and my favourite - new age. I have performed, with my best friend, at not a big show twice and I'm still learning. There is a lot of "dance stuff" which I have never tried, but I Am learning them step by step. Dancing is a mixture of sport and art. Everyone can find something for themselves in this. It's something that you must still improve if you want to be satisfied. It's a fantastic way to forget about stress and just enjoy your moves, music and rhythm :) Anna Sala

A trip to the archaeological findings in Choirokitia

As we were approaching the archaeological findings in Choirokitia we were surrounded by a great amount of trees, small towns and old, traditional stone made Cypriot houses. We were only five minutes away and the ruins where starting to show. Finally after a half an hour trip by bus we reached our destination. We were welcomed by some local people who were at the entrance gates and we continued on our way. As soon as we saw the rebuilt ancient houses made from mud, stones, leaves (sometimes used for roofing) we all ran to see them. They were built in a circular way, had a small hole on the top, had very small openings to serve as entrances and only had one or two windows. The clans chief also usually had a 2nd floor in his house. This trip was definitely worth it as we all had fun and also learned some things about our ancient history in Cyprus. Alexander Hannides The Teachers' Day The founder of the Turkish Republic, Atatrk, gifted the Teachers Day to the Turkish People, so every year we celebrate the 24 th of November as the Teachers Day. The students present rhymes and songs for their teachers, they may prepare a feast fort them and so on. Some students may give gifts to the teachers such as flowers,biblos or the most preferred ones: kisses of children.

Facts and myths about our city The first appendage of settlements in Bad Reichenhall was from 2600-2300 before Christ. In this time the Celts founded and used the big salt mines in the mountains of Bad Reichenhall. In the roman age about 15 before Christ to 480 after Christ flourished the roman province Noricum also the little town Bad Reichenhall, based on the big salt mine. In the time of the emigration of nations during the Bajuwaren time the big salt mines had been forgotten. According to a legend the holy Rupert, who is also the patron of the rural district today, founded the big salt springs and built the first salt saline In the year 696. (to be continued on the next page)

Bad Reichenhall and the salt: Why is salt so important? In previous times there was no possibility to stabilize meat for a longer time, people didnt have things like an icebox. The only way to stabilize meat was to corn the pork. After this treatment the pork was eatable for many weeks. Thats why the salt was so prized. Caused on this the potentates got so rich in the middle ages, and asked high taxes for the salt effected that the whole country became a big economic power. You can enjoy a visit the old Saline (year of construction: 1836) where the salt was exhausted at around 1800. Its great to see how the salt was mined in a historic way. On the picture you can see the famous solewheel witch pumped the salt water of the depth to the crown level. This is a must for every visitor of Bad Reichenhall. The visitor experience with their own eyes, in a 30 meter deep mine the way the salt is exhausted in the mountains of Bad Reichenhall. Today the area of the old Saline is used in a different way, for example in the houses, which were used to refine the salt in former times, there are many shopping possibilities, medical centres and a a litte concert hall, called magazin 4, where often concerts are given mainly for the young people of Bad Reichenhall. There is one charity concert of our school every very in this building. Today the salt is refined a little bit outside of the city centre. Obersalzberg (Eagles Nest) In every history book you can read, that the Obersalzberg was very important in the regime of the nazis, because it was the personal retreat of Adolf Hitler . In order to built this special area, the farmers and families who lived there, were casted out by the nazis, fractional also with force. Also now, there exists an ample bunker that you can visit at the new built documentary centre. Actually, there was never a conversion between the German and the American army. When the Americans captured the Obersalzberg the whole area was damaged by bombs of the allies, that the major of Berchtesgaden allowed to desperate the buildings of the so called Alpenfestung. The visit of the documentary centre is very informative and activates everybody to think about terrible time.

The Mountains In Berchtesgadener Land there are lots of mountains. For example there the Predigtstuhl (Hight: 1613 meters), there was a cable car to the top of the Predigtstuhl 2 years ago, but the company of the cable car went bust, and now you have to hike by food to the top, if you arrive on the summit of the Predigtstuhl, youll have a beautiful view to Bad Reichenhall. But there are much more beautiful mountains in the Berchtesgadener Land, for example the Watzmann (Hight: 2713 meters). If you trust a myth, you can see in the summits of the 7 mountains a fossiled family .On the right the big daddy, on the left the mum, and the five small summits between are the children. Bad Reichenhall today: Today Bad Reichenhall became a spa town with many hotels, theatres and Kneipp facilities (Big basins of cold water, where you step into), caused on the good fresh air and the salt springs. Lots of people from all over Germany travel to Bad Reichenhall to do a cure. In summer Bad Reichenhall is full of people whether in winter calm. Reichenhall is the smallest city in Germany which has got a lord mayor, and a professional orchestra, which plays music on the highest level. Peter and Christoph

Vincenzo Peruggia, the man who once stole the Mona Lisa, "La Gioconda"
In 1911 Vincenzo Peruggia perpetrated what has been described as the greatest art theft of the 20th century. The former Louvre worker walked into the museum one day and, noticing the room containing the Mona Lisa had no guards or visitors, took the painting off its pegs, removed it from the frame, and walked out of the Louvre with it under his arm. Vincenzo hid the painting in his apartment in Paris. Supposedly, when police arrived to search his apartment and question him, they signed documents on top of the painting, which was hidden under the kitchen tablecloth. After keeping the painting hidden in a trunk in his apartment for two years, Peruggia returned to Italy with it. He kept it in his apartment in Florence but grew impatient and was finally caught when he contacted a friend of his who sold copies of it. He wanted to donate it to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and use his friend as intermediary but his friend, seeing a money-making opportunity or even a possible huge reward, attempted to sell it to the directors of the museum. After confirming authenticity, the directors turned Peruggia over to the authorities. After its recovery, the painting was exhibited all over Italy with banner headlines rejoicing its return and then returned to the Louvre in 1914.

A trip to Katyn
Last autumn some students of our school were on a trip in Belarus, Russia and Lithuania. Firstly, we travelled to Belarus where we were living at Gorki school students homes. We were there three days and we enjoyed the time there. We could see how they live and we usually had to use English to communicate with them. Then we travelled to Russia and we stayed there one day. We were in Katyn and Smolensk. Katyn is a small village in Russia but it is also a very important place for the people of Poland. There is a forest where you can find our national grave. There were killed about 7 000 Polish people at the time of II World War. That shocking crime was committed because of the decision of the Russian Political Office on 5th March 1940 taken by officers of NKWD in spring of that year. There were three big concentration camps: in Kozielsk, Starobielsk and Ostaszkow, where about 22 000 people were imprisoned. The Victims of that war crime were buried in huge graves. The biggest one is in Katyn. We attended a mass there. Our visit was very important to us because we could see personally that place. We saw thousands of plates with the names of the killed people. It is hard to say what we were feeling there. Next we went to Smolensk, the place where a lot of important people from Poland died in a plane crash on 10th April this year. They were flying to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Katyn war crime. In that crash died our president Lech Kaczynski with his wife, as well as many prominent politicians together with other people who played an important role for the country. After that we travelled to Lithuania, where we saw the place where Jozef Pilsudski (Polish National hero) was born, we went sightseeing in the capital of Lithuana - Vilnius, and the castle in Troki. In Vilnius we saw the Gate of Down, a lot of churches and cathedrals, the Rasos cemetery where Pilsudskis mother, his heart and some Poles were buried, home of our wonderful poet Adam Mickiewicz, the presidential palace. We were also on the 52nd floor of the television tower which turns around all the time and we could see a beautiful view. Our journey was very exciting and we were all satisfied with what we could see there. We are happy that we could be there.

Marta Orzechowska

Who Am I?
Read the descriptions. According to the given clues try to solve the food riddles. You may draw the simple pictures of your answers. A) Im round, red and fleshy. My flesh is also red. People think Im a vegetable but actually Im a kind of a fruit. People prefer using me in salads. What am I? Im a . . B) Children like me very much. You eat me in the summer time. Ive of all kinds such as chocolate, cream, fruit and so on. Ive a lot of fat. What am I? Im an . . C) My colour is white. I contain calcium a lot. Im very beneficial for the bones of the children. You pour me on cornflakes and you drink me. What am I? Im . D) I can sometimes be brown or white. If you colour me I can be all colours. Im full of protein. Hens lay me. Ive yellow stuff inside me. What am I? Im an .. . E) Ive no specific colour. All living beings need me to live. Im a kind of liquid. What am I? Im . .

The prettiest bird

(Bulgarian tale) G. Raichev Once upon a time birds used to send their children to school just like people do now. They had schools where the young birds were taught how to fly more quickly, how to find food and make nests, in fact everything they would need in life. A swallow and crow lived net door to one another. They were neighbours. One day the swallow saw the crow hurrying off somewhere. Where are you going in such a rush, neighbour? the swallow asked. Please, excuse me, neighbour, answered the crow anxiously. I must go to the school to take lunch to my little one. Wait a bit, neighbor, the swallow begged. Let me give you some food to take to my little one. I am too busy to go myself. The crow agreed. The swallow took out some food and gave it to her. And what does your youngster look like? the crow remembered to ask. How shall I recognize him? Don`t worry, you will recognize him easily, the swallow answered. Mine is the prettiest bird of all. The crow flew away, out of sight, into the schoolyard. After a long while she came back again. The swallow met her and asked: What happened, neighbour? Did you give the food my little one? Well, sister swallow, I hardly know what to say, the crow answered with a concerned look on her face. Let me tell you what happened. When I flew to the school, fed my youngster and started looking for you little swallow. You said I should look for the prettiest bird of all and give the food to him. So I looked and looked, sister, and of all the little birds there I couldn`t find one that was prettier that mine. So I gave him your bird`s food Translated by Elitsa Muntyanova

A text to improve your English

The Christmas the Lights Went Out Tom Jankowitz took his coat off and threw it onto the seat in the airport lounge. He sat down and opened up his laptop computer, keeping one eye on the small television which showed the departure times of all the flights from the airport. Tom Jankowitz was tired. Tired and bored. It was Christmas, nearly. Tom hated Christmas. He only remembered that it would be Christmas tomorrow because there were Christmas decorations all over the airport, and he could see the date on the small television showing the departure times of all the flights. December 24th it said. Happy Christmas said all the notices in the windows of the shops. The shops were closed now. It was late. Tom was going home. He had been to a business meeting in New York and had to take a plane back home. The meeting had been difficult. He had decided to close a lot of his companys offices. A lot of people were unhappy about his decision, but he didnt care. Tom thought that he would rather spend Christmas on his own in a hotel room with his computer. He didnt really want to go home. Anja Kohonen carefully checked the potatoes roasting in the oven, made sure the wine in the fridge was cold and that there was a bottle of champagne for later. She carefully checked the candles on the Christmas tree, as she didnt want them to set fire to the tree. She looked out of the window. The snow was starting to fall again. She looked at her watch again. Guy Domville finished his beer and walked out of the hot, smoky pub into the cold night air. He thought about getting a taxi home, but knew it would be difficult to find one at this time of the evening, especially on Christmas Eve. Anyway, because it was a clear, crisp night, he thought he would enjoy the walk home. It was late, and dark, and cold. There werent many people on the streets. A man came walking towards him. The man was only wearing a t-shirt. He looked like he was freezing cold. Are you all right? Guy asked the man. Im freezing the man replied. Guy took off his coat, and gave it to the man. There you go! said Guy. The man looked very surprised, but took the coat, put it on and went on his way. Thanks! he shouted as he left. Now it was Guy who was freezing. He had no idea why he had just decided to give his coat to a complete stranger. Perhaps because it was nearly Christmas. Perhaps it was because Guy hadnt given presents to anyone else this Christmas. Perhaps it was because this year he had no one to give any presents to. Leila came out of church into the night. It was much colder than she expected. Every other time she had been to stay with her grandmother it had been very hot. She had no idea it could get so cold out here in Damascus, out here on the edge of the desert. That was OK though. She didnt think that Christmas in a hot place would seem right somehow. Christmas had always been cold for her. She was happy to be here in such a beautiful place, with her mother and her grandmother. It was a shame her father wasnt there, but she hadnt heard from him in months now. Rudolf Lenk was bored. Very bored. It was Christmas Eve, and he was stuck in an office, surrounded by computers, completely on his own. Rudolf could think of nothing more boring than this. It was only boredom, thought Rudolf later, that made him do the stupid thing he decided to do. Rudolf Lenk pulled a plug out. It was only a little plug. It wasnt even hard to pull it out. That was all he did. He pulled a small plug out of a small socket. And then. And then. And then. Rudolf Lenk watched the lights go out. At first he watched the lights go out in the office where he was. Then he looked out of the window and watched all the lights go out in the town where he was. And then he imagined what was happening.
All across the world, one by one the lights were going out.

Tom Jankowitz hardly noticed as the television screen with the departure times on it flickered, then went off. He looked up just in time to see it before all the lights in the airport went off, too. For a few moments there was light coming in from the big window which looked out onto the runway of the airport, but then all the lights on the runway went out as well. Soon, everything was totally, completely and utterly black. The only light came from the tiny little lights on the wings of the aeroplanes, and the light from his own portable computer screen. Soon, there was an announcement: Ladies and gentlemen, we regret to inform you that there seems to have been a power cut. All flights for the moment are cancelled. Thank you. A man sat down next to Tom. Looks like were not going anywhere tonight he said. Tom didnt reply, but nodded in agreement. Not going anywhere, he thought. Not going anywhere. Im not going anywhere. Not tonight, not ever. The only places I ever go are offices of GlobalPower International. He looked at the light coming from his computer screen. Some numbers looked at him. Numbers were the only thing that he was going to see on Christmas Day. Some numbers, and his computer. Is that all there is to it? Nothing, thought Tom, is going anywhere. In one second, everything went from light to dark for Anja. Her house, filled with light and warmth and the smells of cooking, went black. The only light and the only warmth came from the big fire that she had started. She looked at the fire which continued burning, filling the room with warm light. It looked good. It made her feel happy. It reminded her of when she was a child. She looked out of the window and saw that it was dark for as far as she could see. The flickering light from the fire illuminated the snowflakes that were now falling heavily outside. She wondered if anyone was coming to join her this evening. It was completely quiet on the streets outside. Guy thought it was strange. Usually these streets were full of busy people. Now they were completely empty. The snow that had fallen looked like a carpet. Outside looked like inside. Walking home, lost in his thoughts nd the snow, Guy hardly noticed that all the streetlights had gone out. The darkness around him was the same as the darkness he felt inside him. Sometimes he could see into the windows of the houses that he passed. Most of the houses were dark, but some people had lit candles. The candles looked beautiful, he thought. They made the peoples houses look warm and friendly and cosy. Guy felt sad that he was now going back to a house where no one had lit any candles. He didnt want to go home. His flat was empty. It would be the first Christmas without his daughter and his ex-wife. He thought about how hot it would be where they were, and wondered what Christmas would be like for them. He hadnt spoken to his daughter in over three months. Guy didnt want to go home. He thought about how his wife always said he worked too much, that he never took time to do the simple things in life. Now here he was, walking along the streets where he usually went to work, doing nothing. He decided that he would leave his job with GlobalPower in January. He wanted to walk these strange empty streets forever. Or at least until he could see his daughter again. Leila looked up at the night sky so full of stars. She thought she had never seen so many stars in the sky when she lived in London. The city was so dark, it made it easier to see the sky. She walked with her mother along the narrow streets of the Christian quarter of old Damascus, all decorated for Christmas, and lit now with candles. She was happy here with her mother and grandmother, but she still missed her father, even though he hadnt called. Rudolf Lenk realised what he had done with a shock. He put the plug back in its socket. He hoped nobody would have noticed what he had done. And Very Very Slowly One. By. One. The lights across the world. Came back on again. Like a breath at first, like a tiny whisper which nobody could hear which grew and grew and grew, like the first ripple out in the sea which will become a gigantic wave, like the spark which lights a candle which can start a fire, like the first falling snowflake of a giant storm, like the first star which appears in the night sky and makes enough light for you to be able to see another, and then another, and another and more and more until the whole sky which covers the whole world is hung with starry, illuminated fruit, light connected to light until at midnight, the darkest point of the night the whole world was full of bright bright light. Tom Jankowitz watched the lights going back on again in the airport and heard the sound of people cheering. He cheered as well, and smiled at the man who was sitting next to him. He felt like someone had turned a light on in him too. He was looking forward to being home. Im going somewhere he thought. Ive got somewhere to go. Anja got up, and turned the lights that had come on off again. I like the dark she thought to herself. I like the dark and the fire, just like this. Thats how I like it. She curled up next to the fire, and fell asleep. Guy was looking for a tiny piece of paper he remembered having put in his pocket months ago. It was so dark out here that he couldnt see anything. His hands were so cold that it was difficult to find anything in his pockets. Then, suddenly, everything became light. He realised that he was standing under a streetlight that had just come on again. He found the tiny piece of paper in his wallet with a long number written on it. The number had faded, but he could still read it. He found some one pound coins in his other pocket. He found a phone box, but the phone didnt work. He walked some more until he found another phone box. He picked up the telephone receiver and heard the bleeping sound. It worked. He put the money in and began to dial the number. Back at home in their flat with her mother and her grandmother, and all the other Syrian branch of her Anglo-arabic family, Leila heard the old phone ringing. Who would be calling at this time of night? She ran across the room to answer it. Rudolf Lenk was writing a note on a piece of paper. He addressed the note to his boss at GlobalPower International and left it on his desk. Yes, it was me he wrote. And no, I dont want my job anymore. Oh, and by the way, happy Christmas!

The legend of Lech, Czech and Rus (Past Simple tense)

Exercise 2. Put the verbs in brackets in the Past Simple Tense. 1)There(be) a king who (have) three sons Lech, Czech and Rus. 2)The sons (leave) look for a new place to live. their home to

3)The brothers (say) goodbye and (go) in three directions: north , south and east. 4)Lech and his men (travel) fields , forests and mountains. across

5)Lech (see) a field a lake and rocks with a nest and a great white eagle. The eagle (be) 6)Lech (build)

a good sign.

his new home in this beautiful place. the symbol of Poland.

7)The white eagle (become)

The legend of the Wawel Dragon (Linking words in a story)

Exercise 1. Complete the text with words and phrases. Later, Finally, Soon, This is how, Once upon a time, Then, and last, One day (1) here was an awful dragon who lived in a cave near the Wawel Royal Castle. He ate people and destroyed their houses. He also ate animals. The people of Cracow tried to stop him but they didnt know how. (2 ) ,the King said: The brave man who kills this terrible

creature will marry my beautiful daughter. (3) , a poor shoemaker had a clever idea. He put a lot of sulphur into a sheepskin sack. (4) he put the sack near the dragons cave. (5) the dragon found the , he started to feel very, exploded with a loud

sheepskin and ate it, because he thought that it was a real sheep. (6) very thirsty. He drank half of the Vistula River (7)

BANG! (8) the shoemaker saved the city of Cracow. The boy married the Princess and they lived happily ever after.

Traditional Bavarian clothes

An old tradition - Bavarian clothes In Bavaria, theres a tradition which already exists for about 150 years. In Germany the tradition is called Tracht, theres no English word for it. Generally Tracht means wearing a special costume, which farmers have worn a long time ago. Today the people wear the Tracht only at important events like christmas, easter, going to church, at special days like the first of May and weddings. There are also special associations where people meet each other to learn traditional dances which they perform at weddings or when they celebrate something important. Girls wear a dress, which you may know from the very popular Oktoberfest in Munich. Its called Dirndl. Boys wear pants made of leather. Every village has its own special "Tracht". Some people want to preserve this tradition, so they are part of special societys. There they do Bavarian dances as well. Such a pity that there are only a few people left who are convinced to that tradition, but Im sure itll never die out, especially in Bavaria. Viktoria

DAILY ROUTINES
Dear friends. I am Mehmet from Turkey. I am 11 years old. I am at 6th grade. I want to tell you about my daily activities. I get up at seven o clock. After I wash my face, I have my breakfast at 7:30. I go to school at 8:20. our classes begin at 8:40. I go back home to have my lunch at 12:00 and I have my lunch at home. I go to school at 12:40 after lunch break. We have six hours of lessons a day. After lessons I have chess course. Then I go back home at 4 o'clock. I do my home homeworks from 5 to 8. at half past eight I have my dinner with my family. We all watch TV for some time. At 9 o'clock I prepare my bed. At 9:15 I brush my teeth and then go to bed after a tiring day. We would like to know about our foreign partner's daily routines. Hope to meet you.

Play it loud ... play drums!!!

Hello everyone, My name is Antea and I'm thirteen years old. I'm a student of the Scuola Media Pellegrini at Massarosa where we can do extra-courses, learning to play an instrument. There are choices like piano, flute and more but I like drums and percussion. The percussion-course is held each Friday and you can learn to play instruments like xilophon, tamburine or triangle and you can improve your rhythm. Playing the drums is loud and funny I really love it. Antea Latini, Massarosa, Italy

Want to dance 'YMCA'?

Have you ever danced in a street or in a public place where there are a lot of people? If not, you should see a short film, which was recorded by students from LO in Grojec. On the website called facebook.com, a group of students announced that on 7th of December, during a long break, they will dance to YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association). So on 7th of December everyone, with smile on their faces, positive emotion and full of energy came to the hallway to dance to the rhythm of music. In the beginning there was small confusion and a bit of noise but a few minutes later the music could be heard. No sooner had they played the music, than all the students started dancing. Everyone felt the rhythm of the music. That looked great! The young people had a lot of fun. I hope it will happen again and I will participate in this event. All of this was amazing and all the emotions and memories were unforgettable! If you want to see how Polish students dance, you should see this in youtube.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEoDl82SJa0&feature=related Kasia Urbanek

Eros in the Secondary School

Hi! My name is Eros, Im 14 years old and I live in a small village called Bozzano. Last September I started a new adventure: the Secondary School. Well, at first it was so and so, since I had to get used to the new school: in fact there are very big rooms, many computers, an enormous gym full of equipments and a room with many musical instruments ( my real passion!!!!). At school I met some friends from Primary School, but Ive known many new friends. My day time stars at 9:30 (since Im a sleepyhead). I have to follow lessons (what a bore sometimes!!!!). I really love Mathematics since there are all those numbers!!!! I attend many labs: computer, painting, P.E. and finally my loved Music. I love listening to Bach (or to the Fugathere are so many notes!!!!). I also like Jovanotti (an Italian pop singer) and other modern music; When I listen to music I twitch on my chair. In this school there is a real pianoforte.its amazing!!!! I love its sound and I like peeking at its small hammers. We have also other musical instruments such as drums, bongo, xylophone or percussion instruments that help me to relax. In sunny days we go in the garden of our school; there is a big field cultivated with vegetables or fruit. Since I am a little bit rascal, sometimes I pick out strawberries. In January Im starting a new activity: swimming!!. I am a little bit scared of water but I know that thanks to my friends and teachers I will enjoy it. But its not always rosy. There are days when I get angry. I throw away books and pens but with the help of gesture, a caress, a friendly word from a friend .everything is ok. Theres something very important I forgot to tell you. I am affected by Infantile Cerebral Paralysis, but this does not limit my school life. On the contrary, staying with other people I can feel their emotions and control mine. Moreover, in these years I learnt very important things. And Ive written a story!!! Greetings to those who are reading this! Eros, Maurizio Pellegrini Secondary School, Massarosa, Italy

St. Nicolas' day

St. Nicolas'day (Nikulden) - December 6 Nikulden is "The Day of Saint Nikolas" - a great winter festival celebrated by all Bulgarians on December Sixth. It is the name day for everyone named Nikola, Nikolay, Kolyo, Nikolina, Neno, Nenka, Nikolina or Nina. Fish meals are necessarily prepared for the celebration of this day. While scaling the fish women should be careful not to let its scales fall on the floor because it is believed that if someone steps on them this someone may get ill or die. The bones should be burnt, buried in the ground or thrown in the river. They sew the parietal bone in the hats of the children to protect them from sickness and the evil eye. The prepared meals are usually from carp fish, because it is believed that it is "the servant of St. Nicola". According to the legend once when St. Nicola went out in the sea with his boat a storm came up and punctured his boat. St. Nicola caught a carp fish and plugged up the crack. hat is how he and his companions were saved. There are different kinds of bread prepared in honor of the saints: bogovitsa, svetets (saint), kravaj (ring-shaped bun), paraklis (chapel) and nikul bread. Roasted carp fish and ribnik (fish meal) are served as an offering (kurban). The whole carp fish stuffed with rise and grits, with walnuts and raisins is roasted and after censing it is broken up and served. The ribnik is also made of carp fish which is folded into dough and then baked after it is flatten down and oiled. Different patterns can be made on top of it, dough balls and sticks representing the spine, the tail and the eyes of the carp fish can also be stuck on it. They leave the table with all the dishes on it all day long. It is available for the guests at any time. Except for the fish and the bread there is also beans stew, stuffed cabbage or vine leaves and other meatless meals, soaked in olive oil or walnuts or sesame oil.

Tracing Four Cultures (Poland)

On the 25 th of November we went on a class trip to Warsaw titled "Tracing Four Cultures". Thanks to the trip we had the opportunity to get to know other religions. We set off very early to avoid traffic jams, the guide joined us on the way. We visited a Mosque, Orthodox Church, Polish Reformed Church and Synagogue. (to be continued on the next page)

At first we went to a mosque. We could enter this culture thanks to Imam who told us about Muslim traditions and their religion. The mosque was quite small, but very richly decorated. No sculptures and pictures were to be found. Instead we could admire Arabic inscriptions and listen to a fragment of the Koran. We found out that there are the Five Pillars of Islam: Faith in Allah, the daily prayer - Muslims pray 5 times a day,the Alms, the Fast - Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan every year, Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime. The main religious text of Islam is the Qur'an. The text of Qur'an consists of 114 chapters of varying length , each known as a sura. Muslims read Qur'an from the right to the left side. Next we visited St. Maria Magdalene Orthodox church. The Church building is divided into 3 main parts: the narthex, the nave and the sanctuary. There we could learn about Greek - Catholic religion, which inconsiderably varies from Catholic religion. The decorations were very interesting rich, vibrant with life and glamour. Later we could visit Evangelical - Reformed church, which is also very close to Catholic church. We listened very carefully to Pastor who told us about the religion and customs. The church was spacious, but very plainly decorated. In the place of altar there was a huge wooden cross - the only ornament in the temple. In the end we followed to the synagogue, where thanks to the lady who especially came to bring closer to us the tradition of this religion we could get to the bottom. Before entering every man was to put on the headgear. We spent most of our time there. The Synagogue was divided into two parts - men sat downstairs and women upstairs. Beautifully decorated altar was situated in the centre. Some traditional features of a synagogue are: the ark where the Torah scrolls are kept, the elevated reader's platform where the Torah is read, the eternal light, a continually lit lamp or lantern used as a reminder of the constantly lit menorah of the Temple in Jerusalem. I found the trip very successful. I became most interested in Evangelical - Refomed religion. I liked the rules of this culture. My friends undoubtedly also liked the trip. I hope to visit all those places again (Agnieszka Tolak). In my opinion this trip was great. I learnt many new things and I had an opportunity to know more about other religions. I'm satisfied with this trip and I hope that there will be more similar trips (Monika Neska).

Performance for hospital patients

Students from high school in Grojec give performance in hospital On 6th December 2010, students from our high school went to the local hospital and gave a Christmas performance. Our students showed thehospital patients and staff a play on Christmas. The patients already knew some of our students because they often come there and assist in activities that do not require medical care. Starting at 11 a.m the students handed out gifts, sweets and fruit. Clown and Santa Claus entertained both young and older patients from differenthospital wards.The screenplay was written by one of the students herself. The presentation showed a contemporary vision of Christmas with a positive ending. There were Christmas carols, greetings, sweets and apples prepared by students for patients. The joyful atmosphere and meeting Santa Clausmade all the participants be in a good mood. Sandra Frydrych

During The Breakes - Comenius 2010-12, Cyprus

The truth is, that everyone loves school. Certainly, our favorite lesson is... BREAKS!!! :) Breaks are time of relaxation, laugh,

and doubtlessly, we enjoy ourselves.

The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity.

What is it? On 9th January 2011, for the 19th time in a row, there took place the biggest annual Polish charity event called WOSP (Wielka Orkiestra Swiatecznej Pomocy), which could be translated into English as: The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity. Every year the Great Orchestra raises money mainly for modern medical equipment for Polish childrens hospitals, which is a huge financial and spiritual support for all their little patients. How does it work? Almost 120 000 Polish volunteers, wearing identification cards, spent the whole day raising money into specially prepared money boxes and cans. They did it in towns squares (where often music concerts were held), in churches, at schools and even at online auctions (where people could buy for example skis belonging to our national sports hero Adam Malysz). Needless to say, everyone helped regardless of their age or political views. On this day all the Polish people all over the world are united and sincerely donate money to a good cause. And we did it. The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, this year, raised well over 35 milion PLN (almost 9 million EURO)! Nowhere else in Europe will you come across such an event. For what or for whom? This year the Orchestra was playing for children's urology and nephrology hospital wards. Thanks to this money a lot of children will have a possibility to become healthy and happy again. This wouldnt have been possible if it hadnt been for "crazy" Jurek Owsiak and his fantastic ideas. He always stays in front of cameras and with a smile on his face, wearing red trousers and a yellow shirt, talks and encourages people to play with him. It's really amazing that people can donate money so willingly, even though they are not rich. In my opinion that charity event is very important it can help not only children with diseases but all the people to become warm hearted and sympathetic towards those in need. As Jurek Owsiak says, we will always do it, and even one day longer. Anna Sala "My name is Kate. I'm sixteen years old. I'm a volunteer. On 9th January 2011 I collected money for this organization. I woke up at about seven o'clock. Two hours later I startedcollecting money, next to the church, shops and in the streets. I helped this organization because I wanted to help ill children and people who are in need. In my city Grojec we have100 volunteers. I collected about 530 Euro. My city Grojec collected : about 12.000 Euro. I'm very happy and pleased because I could help other people." Katarzyna Jaszewska

Cyprus Red Cross

The Cyprus Red Cross Youth Department has once again organized the Annual Christmas Fete. The Fete took place on Sunday 19th of December 2010, at the Mall of Cyprus in Latsia, where Christmas decorations, a variety of gifts and cakes were sold to the public. Students from our school and other school of Cyprus went as volunteers in order to help the Red Gross Department .In that event schools from Nicosia sang traditional Christmas songs. All the money earned that day were donated to charity. Although some people were not interested to give any money to help, some people showed that they understand the true meaning of Christmas and thought of the people that they need help. Maria Bahjejian Diamanto Kasapi

Concerns about the environment

Nowadays, our environment is in great danger. Most people are aware of the damage that they cause to the environment when they use their car for their everyday needs, or when they throw away materials that could have been recycled. Even though they know that if we continue this way our planet will be destroyed, few people are willing to help. The last few years efforts have been made, in order to save our world. For example factories are trying to use renewable sources of energy. But we raise this question: will this be enough to save the planet, when we have caused so much damage to it? Are the next generations of people going to survive? Demetris Skottis Cyprus

Dear Colleagues and students,

My best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I wish you all that our project will give you the opportunity to learn about other cultures, other languages, common language English, other realities of every-day-life and different points of view. Peace on earth!! Peter Ferrari Demski, Massarosa, Italy

A recipe for Christmas

Pulis in jelly Ingredients: 4 pork legs herbs (carrots, celery) 2 onions 2 cloves of garlic 1 bay leaf 5 grains of cloves 5 whole black peppercorns Preparation: Pulis are pork legs. Wash them in hot water and put them in a pot along with the herbs. Then cook them on a slow heat for 3 hours. Then take the legs, bone and cut them into small pieces. The remaining part should be minced. Put the minced meat in food containers; then add broth at will, salt and pepper. Put the meat in the fridge to cool down. When the meat is cold, serve it with mustard, with vinegar (balsamic or normal) or with some lemon juice. Enjoy it! Lorenzo Tesi, Massarosa (Italy)

Our town during Christmas

You are all welcome to see how we celebrate Christmas in Nicosia.The Paramythoupoli located in a specially designed area . Beside the well-established ice rink, big and small children can enjoy the magical carousel, the roller worm, the impressive pirate boat and fast blizzard.For the first time in Cyprus, Paramythoupoli, it is also a huge roller Coaster "wild mouse spinning roller coaster", addressed to all the brave.A part of Comenius team visited Nicosia .Enjoy our PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas Bazzar
Few days before Christmas the Parents and Guardians Association of our school, in coordination with Schools management and Students Board, organized a Christmas bazaar at the Town Hall of our municipality. In order to achieve the maximum of success we, the students, started with the guidance and help of our teachers a very well organized campaign. More specifically, weeks before the bazaar, we gathered at the school in the afternoon and after separated into different groups each made its own creations. Of course before that all the necessary materials and tools had been selected and provided to us by the parents. One group had a target of creating Christmas cards, another made candles with special decoration and finally a third group of students made Christmas tree ornaments. The major purpose of this event was to gather as much money as possible in order to be able to satisfy some of the needs and wishes of those students that they really dont have the financial ability to fulfil them. Though, nobody left without feeling the spirit of Christmas because during the bazaar you could listen to Christmas songs and music played by our schools music band. All of the participants felt joy and satisfaction and enjoyed every minute of their staying with us at this event. The Town Hall and those people who honoured us with their presence lived unique moments at that day. You could see people getting together, singing and or whispering Christmas songs while having their drinks. We are certain of the full success of the Christmas Bazaar and we say that all the time spent was more than worth it. We really had a wonderful time along with our friends, families and teachers and we had made this years Christmas better for us and for some of our fellow students. Mirella Spanou and Georgia

Happy New Year

In big cities during the night of New Year Eve, either home parties or street parties are given. Everybody comes together to sing songs, to play games,to share the elaborately prepared meals such as stuffed turkey, pilaf with meat and raisins, cookies, cakes and so on. To welcome and to greet the New Year, everybody waits till the midnight.

Christmas in Italy
In Italy, especially in our region, Tuscany, there are several Christmas traditions: the 8th of December is the feast of the Immaculate Conception and we normally put the Christmas tree and nativity scene in our houses. Children begin to write letters to Santa Claus for that he sends his elves to take apprentices. But all this only if the children behave well, otherwise the letter is not accepted. Those are stories that passed from one generation to the next one. On the evening of the 24th of December younger children like elder ones expect the next day for Babbo Natale (Santa Claus). During the night while the children are sleeping he passes with his flying reindeers for all homes to bring gifts to all good children. Most of the families join the holy mass at midnight and it's a very great moment when the priest lays Jesus down in the nativity-scene and all people wish each other Pace (peace).In the morning of 25th of December most children wake up early because they are curious to open the gifts that they can find under the christmas-tree. During the morning they try all new toys and wait with their parents for all relatives that will arrive for lunch. A typical Italian Christmas-menu is: Antipasti First plate like Lasagne, Tortelli, Cannelloni, Second plate like Roasted meat, Turkey, Boar, Dessert like Panettone, Pandoro, Dried fruits and nuts In the afternoon and in the evening most families play cards or the famous Tombola (a type of Bingo) And it is still a rule in Italy: Natale con i tuoi ... Pasqua con chi vuoi (Christmas with yours ... Easter where you want) so Christmas is a real family-event

New Year's Eve

We want to tell you how the Italians normally celebrate New Year's Eve. Even if the restaurants on the 31th of December offer a Special Dinner, most of the Italians prefer to pass the last night of the old year together with relatives ad friends in their houses. The ritual of the New Year's Eve call on your luck and prosperity so also the food has to be rich and generous. We start with mixed antipasti (creams, salads, roasted bread ) and the aperitivo. The first plates and based on pasta or rice and the second plates are based on meat and fish (roasted or boiled). Traditionally it's pork-meat because at the end of the year the pigs were grown up and slaughtered in this time. you won't prepare a special dessert you can always count on the specials remaining from Christmas like Pan d'oro, Panettone o Panforte (typical Italian cakes). Talking, joking and playing cards all are waiting for the countdown, preparing just the glasses of prosecco or spumante (Italian sparkling white wines). After that you go out to enjoy the fireworks. (But be careful, because every year we are counting the victims of accidents with fireworks!)The tradition wants that you eat grapes or lentils, both symbols for the coins of money you'll have in the coming year. In Roman times the people were used to celebrate with dried figs and dates to give more sweetness and life to the coming time and they also exchanged little gifts. Nowadays the are still some superstitious rituals remaining like wearing red underwear or to discard something old from the windows (keep care if you are living on the 5th floor, please!!) The days between the 24th of December and the 6th of January are mostly bound on Christian culture, but the New Year's Eve and capodanno (New Year's Day) is a feast in most countries of the world that unites us wishing each other Buon Anno Nuovo (Happy New Year) Carlo Pasculli and Marco Alfonso, Massarosa, Italy

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Scuola Media "M. Pellegrini", Massarosa, Italy

Merry Christmas

Dear friends, We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New 2011 Year! We found for you these lyrics: C for the carolers, happy and gay, H for the holly and Santa's red hat, R for the reindeer, leaping the roofs. I for the ice on snow-covered hills, S for the stockings that Santa Claus stuffs, T for the toys, the tinsel, the tree, M for the mistletoe. Watch where it hangs! A for the animals, out in the stable, S for the sensing, the necessity of love. Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year. May peace, love and prosperity follow you always.

We made some cards for you! 4rh grade and Verginia Veselinova 122nd Primary school, Sofia

All I want for Christmas is

We ask our classmates (class 3b of Massarosa, Italy) about their Christmas-wishes and here are the results:

All of us want: All January free for holidays Snow at Massarosa To manage to choose the right secondary-school Peace in the world The sense of justice for

Koleduvane
The Bulgarian folk tradition is connected with the custom Koleduvane. The main participants in the tradition are young and still unmarried lads. The preparation begins about month before Christmas they learn Christmas songs, form the groups and determine who will be the group-leader, who is older and married man. They dress themselves in their best folk clothes and take in hands special many-coloured sticks. The time for Koleduvane is strictly determined from Bulgarian tradition from midnight to dawn at Christmas because in the old days people thought that at this time the supernatural creatures appear - vampires, goblins, bugbears. The lads (Koledari) have the power to send away them by their songs. The Koledari in groups travel over the houses of the village and they always walk in East direction. In each house they sing songs for glorification and good wish for the members of the house. The songs are sung for each member of the family from the oldest and most respectable to the youngest. The songs are for health and long life, property, rich crop, luck, love, happiness, joy and gaiety. The landlord invites young men to sit down to his table and gives them a treat wine and rakia and the lass gives them ring-shaped bun. The master of the house gives them also some money, meat, bean, flour, wine etc. The songs of Koledari are countless, but the most loved songs are about gorgeous girls, who are more be autiful than the Sun, who can singbetter than nightingale, who are waiting for their first sweetheart; about br ave fellows who ride at full speed on their horses, who chase deer, fight with Turkish soldiers and bad people. The main place in the songs is destined to good wishes and blessings. One of the basic aims of these songs is to proclaim the birth of the new status of the University, arranging and organizing of the world.

Preparation for Christmas in Poland

In this text I want to tell you how people in Poland prepare for Christmas. Christmas is not just Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. There are many things to do before it. So, lets get started. Firstly, four weeks before Christmas the Advent begins. In Christianity its a special period when people can prepare their souls for re-birth of Jesus Christ. Its time of waiting and preparing for the celebration of the Birth of Jesus at Christmas. In this time there are special Holly Masses, which are called Advent dawn mass (in Polish they are called Roraty). They take place early in the morning. Theyve got a very mysterious mood, beacuse when people go to church its still dark, and there are no lights inside the church. Theres only shine of candles which people bring with them to the church. The next traditional thing is Advent wreath, also called Advent crown. It is a Christian tradition that symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent. There are four candles in the wreath, and only one candle is lit every Sunday, until the last Sunday of Advent, which is also the last Sunday before Christmas. Secondly, on 6th December theres Saint Nicholas Day (in Poland its called Mikoajki). On this day, Santa Claus brings gifts to children. They are usually small gifts, candies or small toys. Its celebrated in honor of the holy Bishop Nicholas of Myra. The presence of Santa Claus that day announced the coming of Christmas.Apart from its religious character, the preparation for Christmas also has got secular one. People do Christmas shopping and buy presents for each other. They also buy Christmas trees, as well as Christmas decorations such as crystal balls, Christmas lights, Christmas chains and many other things. In some houses people do a big pre-Christmas cleaning. Then people decorate their houses with decorations which they have previously bought. The cities are also decorated with many various things. Even before Christmas, Christmas songs are played on the radio. In conclusion, thanks to all these things we can feel the great Christmas atmosphere even a few weeks earlier. I think that preparation for Christmas is very exciting, just like Christmas itself, and I like both of those things.

Xmas in 122nd Primary school

Preparation for Christmas Every year the students and the teachers from 122nd Primary school cerebrate Christmas at school. This year we switched on the lights of Christams tree with a small celebration. We sang, danced and made fun near the tree. All were happy and impatient for Christmas presents. 4th grade Verginia Veselinova

New Year's Eve celebration

What do people in Poland do on New Years Eve? We usually spend this time having fun and meeting friends. Sometimes there are fancy-dress parties. Then we dress up as princesses and princes, fairy- tale characters and many more, depending on the theme of the meeting. Most people go to the New Years Eve ball. Girls wear beautiful dresses and men wear suits or frock coats. At these balls there are a lot of people. They have a chance on this wonderful New Years Eve to meet new people. Events and balls usually begin at about 7 or 8 p.m. People dance, eat and talk. They have a lot of fun.

At midnight people open bottles of champagne and give each other New Years wishes. Often we make New Years Resolutions, i.e. what we are going to do or give up doing in the new year. After wishes we go outside to watch fireworks. Then the fun lasts until the morning. Some people prefer to spend their time watching TV and watching DVD movies. On TV there are often concerts of Polish stars or comedy shows. New Years Eve is a magic night. I think that Poles like New Years Eve because they can relax from everyday life duties and can have fun. Let me wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Sandra Frydrych

Christmas in Poland
Christmas is one of the most beautiful periods in Poland. All people are very happy and polite. Houses are decorated with lamps by their owners and it looks wonderful. Cities during Christmas also look fantastic, because they are lit by a lot of lamps and thanks to it everyone feels that Christmas is coming. On market squares there are a lot of Christmas trees which are bought by people for their houses, then they decorate them with lamps and glass balls. A lot of shops are full of gifts, because before Christmas people buy presents for their families. In Poland, Christmas has got family character. Women prepare meals on their own on Christmas Eve. Children more often play with snow outside with their fathers. All families feel closer to each other than ever. On Christmas Eve children wait for Father Christmas who brings them a lot of presents at night. When the presents are being unpacked by children, all the family gather together near the Christmas table and they wait for the first star which is called the Star of Bethlehem. On the Christmas table there should be twelve dishes, as a symbol of the Twelve Apostles. Traditionally, there isn't any meat eaten on Christmas Eve. One place next to the Christmas table is empty for an unknown guest. The feast begins with the appearance of the first star, it is to symbolize that Baby Jesus was born in a manager in Bethlehem. Then, everybody shares the wafer with family members giving good wishes for the following year. After that, they sing carols together around the Christmas tree. Christmas Eve ends with the Christmas midnight mass. All family go to church together and people rejoice that the Baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Christmas reminds me of a period when I can spend a lot of time with my family. I always wait for Christmas all year. I spend my Christmas according to the Polish tradition, like most people in Poland. On Christmas Eve I go to my grandparents with my mother, father and sister. The following day I spend visiting the rest of my family. I love Christmas, because it is a time when all people are polite to each other and all friends wish me all the best. I think that it is fantastic, it is the power of Christmas. I wish all the participating countries in BAF project a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Rafal Nowicki

Christmas traditions in Poland

Polish people are famous for their hospitality, especially during Christmas. In Poland, anadditional seat is kept for somebody unknown at the supper table. No one should be left alone at Christmas, so strangers are welcomed to the Christmas supper. One of the most beautiful and most revered Polish customs is the sharing of wafer and giving wishes to each other. On Christmas Eve, the whole family gather and wait impatiently for the appearance of the first star. After that they all sit at he table covered with a snow-white tablecloth. There is always some hay under the tablecloth. On the table there have to be traditional twelve dishes. Zaneta Wykowska: 'My Christmas is the most exciting part of the year. On Christmas Eve we go to the city center to buy a Christmas tree. It is a bit of a problem because on that day there aren't many left. We wait for everyone to come. Then all the family are involved in decorating the Christmas tree. We wait for the first star and after that we break wafers. Everybody then is smiling and enjoying their meal. After a while we put our gifts under the Christmas tree. On the next day everybody gathers round the tree and we unwrap the gifts. In some families they open their presents after the Christmas Eve supper. That is the most important part of Christmas for the youngest part of my family.' Agata Matulka: 'Id like show you some of traditions we cultivate in my house: Advent its time, when we preper our souls to the coming of Christ. At this time we are trying to repair mistakes in life and do good deeds to others. About two days before Christmas Eve, we buy a Christmas tree and decorate it. Its my favourite activity, because it introduces great Christmas atmosphere. Almost all balconies in my block of flats are decorated! Christmas Eve is in the oldest family member's house in my family its my grandma's house. One of the most important traditions is 12 dishes on the table in honor of the 12 apostles of Jesus. The most popular dishes are 'pierogi' (dumplings) with cabbage and mushrooms, beetroot soup, fried carp, pasta with poppy seeds. According to our tradition we shouldnt eat any meat on that day. While sharing the wafer we give each other Christmas wishes. We sing carols. In the middle of the night on Christmas Eve we go to the church and celebrate the birth of Jesus.' On Christmas or Boxing Day we often visit our distant family. I hope that I showed you what Polish Christmas looks like. The magic of Christmas never ends and its greatest of gifts are family and friends... Best Wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! Zaneta and Agata

WANT TO HAVE FUN? WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH? IF SO, JOIN US AT 10th ENGLISH SONG FESTIVAL, GROJEC, POLAND, 23rd MARCH 2011.

THIS YEARS MAIN THEME: FAIRYTALES In the next issue:

CARNIVALS AND FESTIVALS ( The Big Issue) More articles on school and local events Comenius visit to Italy (6-11th March, 2011) Special: One school for - All together in one school And many more

Editors: country coordinators: Pawel Posnik (Poland), Peter Ferrari Demski (Italy), Maria Zographou (Cyprus), Derya Gulunay (Turkey), Ulrike Peterhoff (Germany), Verginia Veselinova Rakadijeva (Bulgaria) Contributors (writers): pupils/students from INTERNATIONAL BAF TEAM (Italy, Germany, Cyprus, Turkey, Bulgaria, Poland) Technical support for BAF website: Massarosa Team (Peter Ferrari Demski) Technical support with BAF2 layout: Bartosz, Michal, Damian, Mateusz (Poland)