At 10.30 we are taken to the airport and say a tearful farewell to our German friends. Our flight is at 4.30 and we arrive in Heathrow at 6.30 British time, then on the National Express to Cardiff to be met at 11.30 by Mike and taken home.
.............to be continued.
Saturday, 22 November 2008
Friday, 21 November 2008
Istanbul Friday
After breakfast were taken to school for final meeting. Met the parents group who had prepared Traditional Turkish food for us to taste. We spoke to the parents who were very inquisitive. We met with the principal and were presented with gifts, musical instruments of the area. In the afternoon we went to the small Bazaar and bought coffee, tea etc. We walked over the Galata bridge to watch fishermen casting their rods, then even though the wind is blowing and the sea is rough “we partners want adventure” and take the boat ride down the Bospherous river. Half way down the river had to abandon the boat due to sickness and rough waters!!!!!! We have to take the taxi for the rest of the journey and squash 10 people into 2 taxis to go to Autor shopping /cafe bar area. Once we all feel better we have a meal and some traditional Turkish ice cream. We say a sad farewell to Funda and return to hotel to pack cases.
Istanbul Friday Agenda
11:00 Guests leave hotel for Project Meeting (3)
The topic of the meeting;
"Last arrangements, wishes and suggestions.
Meeting with the Leap parents.
Giving presents to the schools and to the teachers (contact person–headmaster–Owner of
the school)"
14:15 Farewell to Giant Leap: Isabel Stolte Tanja Spieth.
16:45 Farewell to Städtischer Kindergarten. Thomas-Mann-Straße: Edith Britah, Reinhard Taugner, Siran Fuchs.
The topic of the meeting;
"Last arrangements, wishes and suggestions.
Meeting with the Leap parents.
Giving presents to the schools and to the teachers (contact person–headmaster–Owner of
the school)"
14:15 Farewell to Giant Leap: Isabel Stolte Tanja Spieth.
16:45 Farewell to Städtischer Kindergarten. Thomas-Mann-Straße: Edith Britah, Reinhard Taugner, Siran Fuchs.
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Istanbul Thursday
Excursion and sight seeing day. Taken at 10.00 to the Sultanamet old city, saw Aya Sophia, Blue Mosque, Cisterns then had snack in open air cafe. Then went to Grand Bazaar 65 streets of small shops, wonderful!! It was so big that we had to follow Funda and Minik all the time so as not to get lost. Haggled to buy some leather bags Dawn managed to get a real bargain. The Germans kept wandering and we had to wait around for them not for them to get lost. Went on to the incredible Spice Market again, another fantastic place. In the evening went to the Taxim modern area and had a meal, bought presents for our hosts and driver of course, also some Turkish delight. Ended up in an Irish bar for a quiet drink at the end of a very busy day with Shakira, Beyonce, Nellie Furtado, and The Spice Girls!!!!!! Arrived back at hotel quite late.
Istanbul Thursday Agenda
Starting at 10:00 at the hotels, guests will be taken on a day long tour of the city followed by evening entertainment, arriving late back at the hotel.
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Istanbul Wednesday
Taken by mini bus to school for partnership meeting. Compile “partners” calendar, sharing common activities e.g. sending each school 5 gifts for the Xmas tree, recognising festivals in each of our countries and finally arranging future meetings.
June 2009 Wales (German and Turkish groups)
Oct. 2009 Wales (Just German group)
Dec.2009 Stuttgart and Karlsruhe
April 2010 Istanbul
After having lunch in school we were taken to meet the mayor of Buycamecaa and treated to Turkish tea and chocs, we were given a tour of the Municipal offices and each of us was presented with a gift. We then visited 2 schools, a part private /state, and a state school. Back to hotel to glam up for the night. Picked up at 6.30 for GALATA TOWER!!!!!! IN THE CENTRE OF THIS ASTONISHING CITY. The tower experience was magnificent a Turkish meza and entertainment!!!!! A night to remember. Taken back to hotel at 1.30a.m.
June 2009 Wales (German and Turkish groups)
Oct. 2009 Wales (Just German group)
Dec.2009 Stuttgart and Karlsruhe
April 2010 Istanbul
After having lunch in school we were taken to meet the mayor of Buycamecaa and treated to Turkish tea and chocs, we were given a tour of the Municipal offices and each of us was presented with a gift. We then visited 2 schools, a part private /state, and a state school. Back to hotel to glam up for the night. Picked up at 6.30 for GALATA TOWER!!!!!! IN THE CENTRE OF THIS ASTONISHING CITY. The tower experience was magnificent a Turkish meza and entertainment!!!!! A night to remember. Taken back to hotel at 1.30a.m.
Istanbul Wednesday Agenda
10:00 Guests leave hotel for project meeting at school.
10:30 Project Meeting (2)
The topic of the meeting;
"The activites about cultural sharing, which festivals do the countries celebrate, common activity samples. Deciding on the common study calender,what are the technical facilities of the schools.What can we do about common activities and evaluations? Are there any common themes?"
Lunch and coffee break at the school.
13:00 Visits to the Buyukcekmece Municipality Building, the neighbourhood and another preschool. Then returning to hotel.
19:00 Guests leave hotel for dinner at Galata Tower 45€.
10:30 Project Meeting (2)
The topic of the meeting;
"The activites about cultural sharing, which festivals do the countries celebrate, common activity samples. Deciding on the common study calender,what are the technical facilities of the schools.What can we do about common activities and evaluations? Are there any common themes?"
Lunch and coffee break at the school.
13:00 Visits to the Buyukcekmece Municipality Building, the neighbourhood and another preschool. Then returning to hotel.
19:00 Guests leave hotel for dinner at Galata Tower 45€.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Istanbul Tuesday
We enjoy breakfast with our German friends Edith and Rheinhard. At 10.30 we were picked up by the school mini bus and taken to the Mimar Sinan school. On arrival we were amazed by this magnificent private school with countless rooms and comfortable multicoloured leather suites. We had a presentation from the LEAP children 3-6 year olds they sang songs about Wales and Germany and gave us presents that the children had made. We were then taken on a tour of the school by 13 years old Anez. What a magnificent school with swimming pool, sports hall gymnasium and a restaurant overlooking the Mamara sea. We had lunch at the school followed by our project meeting. It was fascinating listening to the methods of learning and assessments in the different schools. At 4 p m Funda . Enjy and Hayley took us to a local shopping centre. Later we were taken to a very expensive restaurant and were treated to a meal by Mehmet and Sharmen, the Head and owners of the school.
Mehmet was originally a banker and Sharmen is also a textile exporter. Later we were invited to Sharmens extremely large new plush villa for Turkish tea and cakes with his wife and 3 children. Everyone is so friendly and we feel privileged to be part of this European partnership. I think we will be friends with these partner schools for many years.
Everyone is so friendly and we are talking and laughing freely together.
It is now 11.30 p.m. and we are going to retire to our room for a nightcap!!!!!!!
Love Jan, Sandra and Dawn (the Calendar Girls)
Mehmet was originally a banker and Sharmen is also a textile exporter. Later we were invited to Sharmens extremely large new plush villa for Turkish tea and cakes with his wife and 3 children. Everyone is so friendly and we feel privileged to be part of this European partnership. I think we will be friends with these partner schools for many years.
Everyone is so friendly and we are talking and laughing freely together.
It is now 11.30 p.m. and we are going to retire to our room for a nightcap!!!!!!!
Love Jan, Sandra and Dawn (the Calendar Girls)
Istanbul Tuesday Agenda
10:30 Guests will leave their hotels to visit the school.
11:00 Welcome Ceremony in big conference hall, followed by a tour of the school.
Lunch will be taken in the school followed by a visit to the preschool.
13:00 Project Meeting (1)
The topic of the meeting;
"What have we done about the project up to now and what will be our next aims, deciding where and when the next meeting is, the things to be done, arrangements about blogger, web site and communication."
16:00 Coffee break on Buyukcekmece seaside and a visit to Atirus shopping centre.
19:00 Guests will leave hotel and meet for dinner.
11:00 Welcome Ceremony in big conference hall, followed by a tour of the school.
Lunch will be taken in the school followed by a visit to the preschool.
13:00 Project Meeting (1)
The topic of the meeting;
"What have we done about the project up to now and what will be our next aims, deciding where and when the next meeting is, the things to be done, arrangements about blogger, web site and communication."
16:00 Coffee break on Buyukcekmece seaside and a visit to Atirus shopping centre.
19:00 Guests will leave hotel and meet for dinner.
Monday, 17 November 2008
Istanbul Monday
Had a good flight from Heathrow to Istanbul and landed safely after 3 hours 15 mins.
We were met at the airport by Funda and Enjy two Turkish teachers.
The Germans were also there waiting for us to arrive so that we could all be taken to the hotel Princess Marin by the schools mini bus.
We were picked up at 7 o clock and taken to a restaurant for a typical Turkish meal where course after course after course kept beıng served to us. It was a fabulous meal and the restaurant was in the Turkish ottoman style. Everyone was friendly and we got on very well together.
At 10.30 we were taken back to the hotel where we retired to bed after a very long day.
Sandra looked like the queen of Sheba in her Turkish put me up bed.
Love Jan, Sandra and Dawn (the Calendar Girls)
We were met at the airport by Funda and Enjy two Turkish teachers.
The Germans were also there waiting for us to arrive so that we could all be taken to the hotel Princess Marin by the schools mini bus.
We were picked up at 7 o clock and taken to a restaurant for a typical Turkish meal where course after course after course kept beıng served to us. It was a fabulous meal and the restaurant was in the Turkish ottoman style. Everyone was friendly and we got on very well together.
At 10.30 we were taken back to the hotel where we retired to bed after a very long day.
Sandra looked like the queen of Sheba in her Turkish put me up bed.
Love Jan, Sandra and Dawn (the Calendar Girls)
Istanbul Monday Agenda
Turkish hosts K.Shirley Aytaç (Principal) and Funda Güleç (I T Teacher) will welcome and greet visiting schools at Istanbul airport: 13:35 Giant Leap: Isabel Stolte, Tanja Spieth.
14:45 Städtischer Kindergarten: Thomas-Mann-Straße: Edith Britah, Reinhard Taugner, Siran Fuchs.
14:45 Städtischer Kindergarten: Thomas-Mann-Straße: Edith Britah, Reinhard Taugner, Siran Fuchs.
15.35 Maerdy Infants: Janet Phillips, Dawn Wood, Sandra Marsh.
Guests will then be taken by car to their hotels.
19:00 Guests will leave their hotels and meet for dinner.
Friday, 14 November 2008
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Maerdy Infants School
Maerdy Infants School is situated in Maerdy a village and community in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taff, and within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying at the head of the Rhondda Fach Valley.
Istanbul
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and the third largest city in the world with a population of 11.3 million. It is located on the Bosphorus Strait and encompasses the natural harbour known as the Golden Horn. The city It extends both on the European and on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, and is the only city in the world which is situated on two continents. The historic areas of Istanbul were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.
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