comenius pm 3a · 2015. 3. 5. · comenius pm aleksandra mazur 3a from 19 th to 25 may our school...
TRANSCRIPT
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A YEAR IN AMERICA
I finished the middle school in Zabierzow last
June. Instead of going into high school in September, I had
the opportunity to attend an American high school for a
year through the Sister City organization. I was lucky
enough to have met all of the members of my host family
before arriving in the US (my host mom and sister were
part of the exchange in 2010 and my host dad and brother
in 2012), but it was still a big step to leave home and live
with another family in another country for a year.
I arrived in Camas, WA at the end of August 2012 and
started high school 5 days later. There are lots of things
that are different about school in the United States: you
have the same classes every day of the week and each class
is one hour long.
More page 3
COMENIUS PM Aleksandra Mazur 3a
From 19th to 25th May our school was the venue
for the fifth Comenius Project Meeting. The teachers and
students from Estonia, England, France, Germany and
Turkey (altogether 50 people) came to Zabierzow to take
part in different activities. The students’ exchange was a
part of the project. I hosted at my home the peers from
Estonia and Germany. It was a great experience not only
for my guests but also for me and my whole family. We
did a lot of funny things together. However, I think one
of the most interesting events of this week was Comenius
Olympic Games.
The oening ceremony of the Comenius Olympic
Games began with a performance prepared by the Polish
students. We could watch a short play, presenting a histo-
ry of the Olympic Games, starting with ancient sport
games and ending with the first Winter Olympics. Then,
there was an original version of “Legend of Wawel Drag-
on” and a traditional dance “Krakowiak”. Our foreign
visitors also prepared some performances. Students from
Turkey and Estonia presented national dances and
students from Germany – the anthem of European Union
“Ode an die Freude”. More page 3
At the Pacific Ocena with my great host family
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CURIOSITIES ABOUT ENGLAND 1st Year School Reporter
Many people think that in England there is only rain, rain, rain and
rain, maybe sometimes fog and rain. It’s quite close to be true. When I was
there, the weather was cloudy and windy and I almoust caught a cold, but
when I’m writing this text in Poland and I’m looking out of my window I
can see clouds and tons of rain. Not very optimistic, I think English and
Polish weathers almost the same (except for strong, cold English wind).
In England there are many kinds of people. There are English, Arabic,
Asian, Hindu and Afroamerican . Many of them are tourists but many of
them live here permanentlly. In Poland there are fewer people from other
nationalities. I think it’s quite good, because a day after we arrived in
Poland, a group of Muslim extremists killed a British soldier in London with a lot of cruelty. What a terrible crime....
Their homes are small but cosy with cheap carpets everywhere. There are often terraced or semi-detached houses with
two floors. There are not many blocks of flats while in Poland we live in blocks of flats or single family houses. In
their bathrooms there are no light switches that look like ours, their switches are strings hanging from the ceiling, you
need to pull them to turn on the light. In Poland there is one tap with cold and hot water and you can mix them to have
right temperature. In England there are two taps, one with hot and one with cold water. It’s not practical, I had to use
only cold water to wash my hands because I didn’t want to burn my hands.
Their roads are left sided , and I always thought that we were going to crash
into other cars. There are special places on the roads where people can cross
the road. All cars MUST stop to let them cross anytime they want, it’s a very
good idea especially when I think about main Cracow’s streets and how hard it
is to cross them .
As you know Poland and England are very diffrent countries, but are they really so much
different ? Your favourite reporter was in England a week ago to check how true our super-
stitions are.
There is much more homework but tests are easier than in Poland. Teachers
usually tell you what to expect on the test. There are also lots of clubs and
activities to participate in after school. I joined the International Club, as does
every exchange student at Camas High School. I am also in the Camas High
School band. All band members participate in the Marching Band, which plays
at football and basketball games as well as marches in parades in nearby
towns. This year the band got to march in a parade in Disneyland over spring
break! We spent the whole week in California and had a lot of fun! My band
director is Italian and he is crazy but I really like him. Band is fun.
Life in America is interesting. My host family takes me somewhere almost
every weekend. Last weekend we went to San Francisco and fortunately they
didn’t leave me in Alcatraz. Two weeks ago we went to central Oregon. I’m
pretty sure we were the only people there but it was a pretty place. Three
weeks ago I was invited for my friend’s 16th birthday party; we rode in a limo
and had lots of fun. See… life in America is interesting :)
There are also a few other things that I discovered this year. Root beer floats
(ice cream floating on the top of root beer) and strawberry lemonade are some
of the best drinks I’ve ever had. Then there are caramel apples. There are
never enough caramel apples.
And one other thing that I learned is that Americans actually don’t eat ham-
burgers and pizza every day. They eat chips and salsa every day and burritos at
least once a week (well, at least my host family does)!
It has been a really good year.
From Camas
Julia D.
A YEAR IN AMERICA
The Camas High School Band
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Comenius PM
Finally, it was a time for the official opening. After a run with the Olympic
torch and a parade with flags, the Olympic Games started. There were many
disciplines: hurdles, rope jumping, bowling or medicine ball throwing. Every
person had a chance to get some points for their team. When the competition
finished, there was a closing ceremony. The winners and other contestants got
some gifts.
The Comenius exchange was a fantastic time. Although the project is com-
ing to the end, we hope it’s not the end of international cooperation, exchanges
and new friendships.
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in
which a diver uses an underwater breathing apparatus to
breathe under the water. "SCUBA" means "self con-
tained underwater breathing apparatus".
Every diver has a degree, depending on the age and the
organization in which the course is made (there are dif-
ferent degrees in different organizations).
I'm doing my courses in organization called
CMAS. I'm 13 years old, so I'm able to have a "gold
grade youth" certificate and I can go under the water up
to 12 meters deep. Next year when I'll be 14 years old I
will make a course called "P1" and with that degree I
will be able to go under the water up to 20 meters deep.
In Poland the best place to dive is Zakrzowek in Cracow,
Hancza Lake and " Koparki" in Jaworzno. Of course the best diving base is my uncle's base called "Hancza Tech" at
Hancza Lake :)
This sport it's not easy, it's really dangerous, because if you can't dive well you can hurt yourself. It is a partnership
sport, so you never can be alone, and you always have to remember about you and your partner. I really love it, and
I recommend it to everyone.
Why not to take up scuba diving on holidays? by Zofia Surdziel 1a
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POPULAR HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS
We are looking forward for vacation! Find out where
Poles often travel in summertime.
I want to show you some interesting places for holiday in Greece. This country is beautiful and
you won’t be bored there. There are a lot of places which are worth visiting.
The first is Acropolis in Athens. It
is a hill where you can see the
ruins of the Parthenon, Erechthe-
um, Apteros, a sanctuary of Arte-
mis Brauronia and Propylaea. On
a hillside you can enjoy all of Ath-
ens from the top. It is amazing
because when you are there you
feel the smell of the ancient world.
Next place is Meteora. In
Greek it means "the monasteries
suspended in the sky". It is an
unbelievable view. On the top of
the sandstone cliffs, rising to
more than half a kilometre into
the sky, the band Orthodox mon-
asteries are situated. I just won-
der, how they built it.
The last place is Corinthian ca-
nal. Canal seemingly seems to be
a narrow strip of water, but in
reality its size is impressive, es-
pecially when you see a boat in
this place. A superstition exists
that says that if you see a boat in
the canal it will bring you good
I have been to these places. Go there, relax on the beach
and see the beauty of Acient Greece. Natalia Rachtan 1a
If you want to have an unforgettable vacation, you can go to Croatia.
It is a very interesting and beautiful country by the Adriatic Sea. In Croatia there are a lot of
amazing natural places like Krka National Park, Kornati and old city with a lot of monuments
like Split or Zadar.
In Plitvice Lakes National Park
there are 20 caves, 16 turquoise
lakes combined by 92 waterfalls.
The Big Waterfall is 80 meters
high. In 1970 this place joined the
UNESCO list of World. If you
want to see everything very well,
you should spend 2 days there.
Dubrovnik is called Pearls of the Adriatic. It is surrounded by big
defense walls. You can walk on them. The view is amazing. Du-
brovnik has a population of 47 thousand people, and of course
there are a lot of tourists, who come to admire this gorgeous city. If
you are in Dubrovnik, you should see Restor’s Palace, St. Saviour
Church and Big Fountain of Onofrio. Probably, if you drink from
all 16 water intakes, and think your wish, it will come true.
Of course, in Croatia there is a beautiful coast with
pure and crystalline sea.
It is a perfect place for holiday ! by Justyna Puchała 1a
Editional board: Anna Brudkiewcz, Katarzyna Dela, Renata Pędrys, Olga Pędrys