European Anthem Bulgarian Recording

Bulgaria Here we stand – we`re bound forever in this home of loving joy. Fire is burning more than ever showing us the way to go. Сърцата си ний да слеем, пълни с радост и любов. Гръмко песента да пеем, с нея да отправим зов.

France 2010 by Kristina

I can clearly remember the very first day on the airport in Sofia. It was filled with expectations and eagerness for all of it to start. We were all there – different people sharing the same enthusiastic smile and excitement.

We set foot in France in the morning. The time was flying while we were travelling from Lyon to Montelimar. We were looking outside the train’s window, admiring the nature’s beauty. When we arrived in Montelimar it was warm and sunny . It felt like everything around us was saying “Welcome”. The tiny narrow streets and the smiles on the sailors’ faces created a very pleasant first impression.

Later that day we arrived at the school where our hosts and their parents had been waiting for us. It was nice to see how smiled and welcoming they looked. My host was Fanchon and I can’t even begin to tell you how great I felt in her home. Her family was so warm to me and made me feel exactly like home. We, Bulgarians , are very warm-hearted and we always appreciate that in others.

The first official day of the programme we spent at the school “Lycee Marcel Gimond” .We were welcomed by the headmaster and the French teachers and after that we went for a tour around the school. We were especially impressed by the sport and technical base they had. After that all foreigners and their hosts were gathered together and were given the task to draw Europe the way they imagine it. I personally am not meant to become an artist and that gift has been taken from me entirely .I’m sure that if they organise a contest “The worst drawing” I can foretell who will be the winner. Otherwise it was a great task, because it allowed all of us to see how others imagine country. In the afternoon the same day we went for a walk in the woods. Despite the fact that we went there unprepared and physically unable to climb and walk that much, we saw great views and very beautiful houses. I know that if I won the lottery I would buy a house there. In the evening we went to the theatre in Privas. We saw a dance show and were especially impressed by the dancers. They were really good I’m telling you!

The second day we spent at the school again. We also went shopping in the afternoon and after that we entered the walls of an ancient castle in Aubenas. The rainy weather didn’t prevent us from enjoying our little trip. We came back to the school and it was time for our concert to begin. It’s a great experience to listen to different songs in so many various languages and see a piece of other countries’ culture. I can tell we were the only ones with traditional dresses. Given the fact that they were brightly red we definitely caught everyone’s attention. People from all the countries came to join our dance. It all felt like a metaphor to the entire project. We were all holding hands and dancing in the same rhythm , in that moment one’s nationality seemed the very least unimportant. It was definitely a moment to remember.

The next two days we travelled around the area. The weather wasn’t very good but it wasn’t enough to reflect our mood. We saw all kinds of interesting things but the one that stands in front of all is the cave we visited the last day. It was like entering a different world; you don’t see such beauty everyday.

We had to get up early in our last morning in France. It was so hard to open my eyes that morning. I was on the edge of turning to the other side of the bed and continue sleeping.

We arrived at the train station in Montelimar at 6.30 am. The whole group was there for one last time. We said “goodbye” smiling, hugging each other and hoping that we’ll remain friends despite the distances that separate us.

Later that evening we got on the plane for home. Surprisingly the flight seemed shorter this time, maybe because we had so mush to think about, so many memories to come back to. Finally we reached our last destination-very tired and exhausted yet full with great memories and eagerness to tell you all about it.

Моите преживявания по време на "Търсене на европейските ценности" от Сияна(Франция, Април-Май2010)

Франция-една прекрасна страна, давайки на народа си всичко, което той иска, но много враждебно настроена към човека-чужденец.

Тръгвайки, за великолепната Франция, на летището в България, пътувайки, някои от нас за първи път със самолет, се усещаше във въздуха страх смесен с еуфория. С успешно пристигане в Монтелимар, прекачвайки се във Виена, видяхме друг свят, който беше много по-чист и по-подреден. Трябваше да изчакаме белгийската група,затова решихме да се разходим в парка на Монтелимар, може би не единствения.

Имаше прекрасно устроено езеро, в което плуваха рибки, имаше клетки с животни за атракция и великолепни окосени полянки, на които хората лягаха и почиваха. Аз и Милена не останахме по назад, толкова уморени от дългия път сънят на полянката ни се отрази като тонизираща напитка.

В късния следобед, учителите, които трябваше да ни закарат до тяхното училище, дойдоха и ние с притаен дъх и ускорен пулс отпътувахме, за да се запознаем с новите си семейства.Аз бях при момиче една година по-малка от мен, много симпатична и много добра, но английският, на който трябваше да разговаряме, на нея и нейното семейство не се отдаваше!

Видяхме различни за нас неща. Ядяхме тяхната традиционна храна и виждахме деца същите като нас, колко по-различно се държат в училище от нас. Всички бяхме деца, но всички бяхме много различни.

Имахме концерт, в който всички държави трябваше да представят нещо. Все пак трябва да се похваля,че ние се представихме най-добре. Накарахме всички да танцуват с нас, за да кажат и те, че са играли право хоро.

За една удивителна изненада на края от дните определени за разглеждане на забележителностите на Франция на град Ардеш, ни заведоха в една пещера. Нея няма как да я опиша, няма думи, с които да се нарисува тази красота, която природата е направила, а човекът доусъвършенствал.

Последният ден, денят за тръгване от Ардеш, беше много тежък, поне за мен. Колкото и да не разговаряхме с Морган - момичето при което живях, ние бяхме свикнали една с друга. Гледахме се на автогарата чакайки влака, знаейки, че може би повече няма да се видим, очите ни се насълзяваха.Влакът дойде и ние си тръгнахме с много топли чувства.

По решение на нашите учители до вечерта преди да излетим за България, ние се разхождахме в Лион-третия по големина град във Франция. Пазарувахме много, смяхме се още повече и много се снимахме. Сядайки в самолета се замислих колко много неща видях и изживях само за една седмица. Пишейки това есе, разказвайки за пътуването до Франция погледнато от моя поглед, умишлено не написах нищо, с което да се оплаквам, защото след време остават само хубавите спомени. Аз имам много прекрастни спомени за тази уникална седмица,за която разказвам, но някои от тях е редно да запазя само за себе си!

My experiences during "The Quest for the EU Grail" by Petya (France, April-May2010)

It all began one morning when I woke up and realized that this day I was going to flight to France. I had already prepared my luggage and gifts the other day so I had no other job than looking for the night to come. And then it came with all its excitement and emotions caused mainly by the flight.

After everyone checked in our passports and luggages we got on the plane which was not as big as I imagined but that did not make it less comfortable. When we took off, everybody was impressed by the marvelous view - the rising sun upon the soft clouds... I would flight everyday just to enjoy this picture again and again.

Unfortunately the camera could not capture its beauty so it remained only in our minds.

When we got to Lyon we hardly believed that we were not in Bulgaria. All this nature and nice houses - they really impressed us with its difference and charm. Then we arrived at one lovely town called Montelimar. While we were waiting our hosts to come, we had the chance to have a walk around a typical French town which has nice people ready to help you with everything they can. I will never forget the spirit which was in every town I had seen - small nice streets and friendly people who act natural and have remained(unlikely for the big cities) not envy and cruel.

The family that were my host were really sweet and adorable. I really like them because they were ready to answer all my requests. They did not accept me like I am a stranger - they were kind and ready to help every time. Thank you!

On the second day in the town we were - Aubenas we had the chance to meet the other participants in the project. After that we took a look at the school and the area around it which was a really nice but long walk. Although I was exhausted I enjoyed it a lot.

On the third day of our staying in France we ate together in the school canteen. Then we visited one amazing castle which was really impressing and full with history. After that we returned it the school and had a lovely concert. The main characters were the participants in the project which helped us to know each other better.

The following day was great. Nevertheless it was cloudy and rainy we visited an old but nice farm up in the Adreche plateau. Then I tasted a French hot chocolate for the first time in my life. It was really delicious and sweet.

The last day in Aubenas seemed like a minute to me. We visited another castle and other sightseeings and then it ended. I was really sad about coming back - I really enjoyed the trip.

On the next day we caught the train to Lyon. There we had a walk around the shops and sightseeing. It is a really impressing city. Then we left France by the plane Lyon - Vienna and then with Vienna-Sofia we reached our homeland.

This trip to France was remarkable because I had a lot of positive experiences - I met a lot of new friends and visited many beautiful places. It was really interesting for me to reach another culture and to see what is like abroad. I do not regret being there at all and I recommend everyone not to hesitate if they have a chance to go there.

Пътешествие до Франция

Всичко започна една сутрин когато се събудих и осъзнах, че същия ден ще пътувам за Франция. Бях подготвила багажа си още миналия ден, така че не ми оставаше нищо друго освен да очаквам с нетърпение вечерта да настъпи. Не закъсня - тя дойде пълна с вълнения и емоции, причинени главно от полета.

След като всички бяхме готови с багажа и документите на летището се качихме на самолета, който впрочем не беше толкова голям, колкото си представях, но това не го направи по-малко очарователен. Когато излетяхме всички бяхме зашеметени от невероятната гледка която се разкри пред очите ни - слънцето, изгряващо над пухкав килим от облаци... Бих летяла всеки ден само за да мога да се наслаждавам на тази гледка отново и отново. Въпреки че фотоапарата не можеше да запази цялата й красота, картината остана запечатана в нашите спомени.

Когато пристигнахме в Лион все още не можехме да повярваме, че не сме на родна земя. Цялата природа и всички сгради определено ни впечатлиха със своята индивидуалност и очарование. След това пристигнахме в едно китно градче наречено Монтелимар. Докато чакахме приемните си семейства да ни вземат имахме възможността да се запознаем с типичен френски град, в който имаше прекрасни хора, готови да помогнат с всичко, което могат. Всеки град, който посетих имаше собствен дух, който навява красота и непринуденост със своите малки улички и усмихнати хора.

Семейството при което бях настанена бяха наистина приятни и симпатични. Найстина баха страхотни, защото изпълняваха всяка моя молба безусловно и не ме приемаха като чужд човек, а напротив - те бяха мили и усмихнати, готови да помогнат по всяко време. Благодаря ви!

На втория ден бяхме в град наречен Обена, където имахме възможността да се запознаем с другите участници в проекта. След срещата ни направихме разходка из училището и околността, която малко ни поизтощи, но и ни донесе голямо удоволствие.

На третия ден във Франция ядохме заедно в училищния стол след което посетихме един наистина впечатляващ замък пълен с история. След връщането ни в училището, имахме шанса да се насладим на един концерт в който участниците бяхме самите ние.

Следващият ден беше страхотен. Въпреки че беше облачно посетихме стара, но хубава ферма в платото Ардеш. Там имах щастието да опитам френски топъл шоколад, който наистина ми се услади на фона на студа навън.

Последният ден в Обена измина неусетно за мен. Посетихме още един замък и други известни забележителности и така този ден свърши. Наистина ми беше мъчно,че трябваше да напусна това място.

На следващия ден хванахме влака за Лион, където се разходихме из магазините в центъра и местните забележителности. Бях впечатлена от града и от архитектурата му. След което потеглихме от Франция с полета Лион - Виена и най-накрая с Виена - Лион се прибрахме вкъщи.

Това пътешествие до Франция беше наистина забележително заради всички неща които преживях - срещнах много нови приятели и посетих красиви места. Интересно е да се запознаеш с друга култура различна от твоята. Изобщо не съжалявам, че бях там. Напротив - препоръчвам на всеки, който има възможността да посети тази страна изобщо да не се колебае, а да си стяга багажа.

My European Adventures by Milena

My European adventures got their beginning right from the Bulgarian airport. I have never flown with plane before, and I was very excited. We were all really impatient to take off. The travelling was pretty long. We changed two planes, a train and finally a bus. We arrived in a small town called Montelimar. There was a really beautiful park there and we spent a lot of time in it, waiting for out host families to come and drive us to Aubenas. Eventually, after a whole day, filled with emotions and excitement, it was time to have some rest in our temporary homes.

The second day began with meeting all the other students, participants in the project, in the French school. After introducing ourselves to the foreign students, we had the chance to see the whole school. After that, it was scheduled a walk. Everyone was very excited by it. We went in a forest, climbing a stony path. The weather was really hot and by the end of it we were all very exhausted. In the night I quickly went to bed, after dinner.

The third day. The school has a big canteen, where all the students have their lunch, we ate all together with them that day. Here I must admit that the French cuisine wasn’t exactly what we’d expected, especially the cheeses and the weird musty salami. The same day, we visited one not so big castle. It was interesting because everything in it was very symmetrical. After that there was coming an improvised concert. All the participants had to do something typical for their country. Me and my friends presented two traditional Bulgarian dances. In the middle of the second one we started calling of the audience to come and join us, and most of them actually did. We all had really great fun dancing around the scene.

On the next day it was rainy and cloudy but it wasn’t such a big trouble so we’ve spent almost the whole day travelling by the bus. We visited an old farm, Adreche plateau and many other sightseeings. The old farm was located in the highest point, so it was pretty cold up there.

The last day was one of the most interesting ones we had. Again we travelled by bus. We visited a museum and there was a wax figure of a cave man. It looked very realistic. And now there is my favourite part - after that we visited a cave. It was very impressive and enormous. We reached 121 metres depth. For final there was a remarkable light show. I was really impressed by all that.

Later we visited another castle. There we were demonstrated how to obtain silk from the bugs. That’s how our last day reached its end.

On the other day there was a long farewell morning and everybody headed for their homelands. Our Lion train was at 9 o’clock. Lion is an extraordinary city. We’ve used the underground and spent a lot of time in the centre – it was well set and decorated. We went in the Norte Dame cathedral – we could see the whole town from there.

And then it was time to go home. From Lion to Vienna. From Vienna to Sofia. It was a six days experience, filled with a lot of emotions, positive energy and new experiences.

We came back to Bulgaria with a lot of new knowledge and new friends.

Working Meeting in France

Working Meeting in France