The final meeting for the project "Communicating in a Changing Europe" took place in Caxias, Portugal in May. This experience for students and teachers of both Hebbelschule, Germany and Lily of the Valley, Mosta, and the host school Sao Bruno, brought about what the EU has at heart, the experience of exchanging of cultures, travel and living with host families.
The focus of this year's project was drama and arts relating to history and artistic heritage. The students were involved in one of the projects, entitled The Three Legends' Tale, in which the German students interpreted the legend of Lörelei, who attracted and enchanted fishermen on the River Rhine.
The Mosta students narrated and acted out one of the maritime adventures of Ulysses in the Mediterranean Sea, the well-known legend of the nymph goddess Calypso who captures Ulysses with her alluring beauty, on the island of Gozo. The Portuguese sailors and Adamastor were also captured by the attractive nymphs when leaving Tagus River for their journey abroad.
The three legends represent examples of peoples' imagination and culture of these three countries. All three show the power of the attraction of beauty, symbolised by the woman, and the courage and strength represented by man. The element "water" is fundamental in the three plays and it is also a strong link among the countries involved surrounded either by the river, the sea or the ocean.
Another project was the students' interpretation of works of local artists with a maritime theme. These works where then exhibited on the main hall of Escola Sao Bruno. The best three works where used to be printed on cloth bags as a product of this exercise.
A comparative study was undertaken which involved the students to work on a questionnaire about the use of media by young people, mainly computers, television and mobile phones. The results were also presented as part of an exhibition in Sao Bruno School.
The climax of this whole experience were visits to the Oceanarium, the Tower of Belem, St Geronemos Cathedral, the monument of Discoveries and an evening of Fado in the Alfama district in Lisbon.
Close to the school the teachers and students had the opportunity to visit the Royal Gardens of Caxias. The group also travelled to the St Martha Lighthouse in Cascais, the Royal Palace with Convent and Library in Mafra, ending with a special treat, a picnic held in the gardens of Mafra and sight-seeing in the village of Sintra.