FOLLOW US and boost Erasmus @ Campus College
Embedded Files
Week 13 2026: Visiting Riga Latvia
Sunday 22/03
Today our adventure really began! We departed from Brussels Airport, where we saw our King and Queen. They were there for the commemoration of the attacks at the airport. After that, we made a stopover in Poland before continuing our flight to Riga.
Upon arrival, we immediately met the parents of the exchange students. During a pleasant evening, we already had the chance to taste some Latvian food and experience the atmosphere. It was mainly an evening to settle in: getting comfortable, getting to know each other, and going to bed on time so we are ready for the fantastic and busy week ahead.
Monday 23/03
First, we went to eat a muffin with the girls. It was a nice start of the day. After that, we had a morning walk to the school. On the way, we saw some beautiful buildings.
When we arrived at the school, we started with presentations about the different countries. After the presentations, we got a tour of the school. The school does not have a playground, so everything is inside. This is very different from our school.
Then we had speed dates with the Italian and Latvian students. After that, we had more presentations about the student councils of each school.
Later, we ate lunch. We had spaghetti.
In the afternoon, we had a tour in Old Riga, where we saw many beautiful buildings again. After that, we had some free time and we went shopping.
At the end of the day, the Latvian students took us to a beach. There, we watched a beautiful sunset.
Tuesday 24/03
We started the day with breakfast at our host families, which was a calm and pleasant way to begin the morning. After that, we headed to school, either by public transport or by e-step, which made the commute both practical and fun.
Once at school, we had the opportunity to listen to a motivational life coach — a former national hockey player from Latvia who had played both in Latvia and in the United States. His story was inspiring and gave us a lot to think about.
After that, we had our lunch break, where we had a meal of pasta with a specific sauce and some kind of meat.
In the afternoon, we were given a creative task: to make our own poster using paper, scissors, and colored sheets. The posters were based on different themes such as nicotine, nature, and more. It was an interactive activity.
Following that, we listened to presentations of the PowerPoints, where different ideas and topics were shared.
When the school day ended, we went to the National Library of Riga, where we enjoyed a beautiful view of the skyline. It was a really impressive and memorable place.
Wednesday 25/03
On Wednesday morning, we worked on the health project. In groups of four, we created a poster about a specific topic. After that, we had a sports lesson with the PE teacher, where we practiced typical Latvian sports. For lunch, we ate in the school cafeteria.
In the afternoon, we presented our posters and gave a short explanation. Afterwards, we visited the art museum, where we answered some questions. Then we went to a restaurant and ended the day by going bowling with the whole group.
Thursday 26/03
We left in the morning by bus from school towards Ligatne. The ride was pleasant, and everyone was clearly excited. Once we arrived, we went into the forest where we had a picnic together. It was a nice and beautiful place, perfect to relax and enjoy nature.
After the picnic, we got back on the bus, which took us to an old bunker nearby. It was a special experience: it gave us a glimpse into the past and led to many interesting conversations. We also ate there, which made the moment even more enjoyable.
After that, we continued by bus to Sigulda. In this town, we had about an hour to explore. We walked through the streets, admired the surroundings, and enjoyed the atmosphere.
In the evening, we ended the day at a restaurant/bar, where we had something to eat and drink together. It was a nice and relaxing way to finish a successful day full of new impressions and pleasant moments.
Friday 27/03
On Friday, we first we gathered in the hall where most of the projects and presentations were this week. The prizes for the best and most creative photos in the arts museum (Wednesday) were handed out. There also were snacks and apple juice to finish up the week in school.
After that we took the tram with the whole group to go play some lasertag. You had to defend your own base/flag and after 6 minutes of it being yours it was closed and no one else could capture it. There was also one in the middle which everyone fought for.
After that everyone went their own way to go get food. Some went to eat at home, other went to a restaurant.
Towards the evening we all met up at the train station to take the train to someone's house get together and end the week there.
The trip back was pretty smooth, mostly because everyone was tired and slept on the plane so it didn't seem to take that long.
Week 12 2026: Visiting Sykkylven Norway
Saturday 14/03
The day started early as we set off on our long journey with great enthusiasm. First, we took the train to Zaventem Airport, and from there we flew to Copenhagen, Oslo, and finally to Ålesund. However, once we arrived in Ålesund, we encountered a setback. Unfortunately, we were missing ten suitcases, but we had to continue on to catch the ferry. After approximately 13 hours of traveling, we finally arrived at the school in Sykkylven, where our exchange students were waiting for us. After a brief introduction to the family, the first day in Norway passed fairly quickly.
Sunday 15/03
The morning started quietly after a long day of traveling. Everyone did something with their exchange student. Some went frisbeeing, fishing, or hiking to enjoy the beautiful landscapes for the first time. At 2 o'clock, the girls and boys gathered separately to catch up. Afterwards, we took the ferry and bus together to Ålesund to watch a football match (Ålesund against Lillestrøm). After the first 10 minutes, the Ålesund team scored already! Our exchange students were very happy and proud because this player was from Sykkylven. Despite the good start, the other team was stronger, and the score ended 1-3. Despite the defeat, we still made it a fun evening together. We all gathered in a hall, ordered pizza, and had a lot of fun. A successful first day in Sykkylven!
Monday 16/03
In the morning we all met at school. We got to know each other and got some explanation about the project. During the week we will examine whether there is a correlation between results in different physical and technical volleyball tests and performance in a volleyball tournament between 4 groups of students of Spain, Germany, Norway and Belgium. We wil; try to explain the correlations we found, by loooking at the different movement habits of the 4 different groups.
Afterwords we did the the different tests and we played a tournament. In the afternoon we processed all the data we gathered in the morning.
In the evening all the different groups prepared some delicious local food for the other groups to try. Every group also presented their school, region and country to an audience of 200 people, including all the parents, teachers and the four groups of students. It was a wonderfull evening and a perfect start of the week.
Tuesday 17/03
Today we went to Ålesund with the bus. First we visited a high tech university (=NTNU). There we learnt about the interesting study programme. Afterwards we did a long hike in the beautifull mountains untill we reached Ålesund centre. We ate at Ålesund centre in a warm and cozy restaurant. Then we went to one of the biggest malls in Norway where we did some shopping before returning home.
Wednesday 18/03
Today we went for a wonderful hike. We started early in the morning from the school at the foot of the mountain. In the morning the rain was pouring down, but in the afternoon the sky cleared and a brilliant sun came out. At the top we made a small campfire, roasted hotdogs over the flames, and enjoyed the stunning view while eating. In the evening, we met up with all the other exchange countries. Day four, halfway through the trip, but still so many great moments ahead!
Thursday 19/03
Before noon we finished the project work about physical health. Every group had to present there findings about if there was a correlation between the tests we took on monday and the results of the volleybal tournament. Afterwards we had free time and we all went to a restaurant in Sykkylven where we ate burgers. After that every just did there own thing. Some people went on a boat and others just chilled and baked together. It was a fun and pretty relaxed day.
Friday 20/03
Today we headed into the mountains for an amazing ski day in Strandafjellet. As soon as we picked up our passes, we set off to explore the slopes. The whole area was stunning, with small streams, adventurous pistes, and breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks. Around midday we gathered at the restaurant at the bottom of the slope, where we enjoyed delicious pizza and laughed about all the funny moments on the snow. Later, we took the gondola up to admire the incredible view over the fjord and to take a group photo. We finished the day with a few more runs, skiing down as the sun began to set, turning the whole landscape into something even more magical.
After a tiring day of skiing, we all went home, either by bus or by car. After eating something and getting ready for the evening, we went to an old school around 6 p.m. to get together. We had to split up because there were too many of us. After about two hours, the others arrived, and the other exchange students from Germany stopped by as well. At one point, we were standing outside and were able to enjoy a beautiful northern lights display together. For most of us, this was the first time in our lives. It was a truly beautiful moment to end the day.
Week 12 2026: Visit Tartu Estland
Monday 16/03
Today was our first full day in Tartu and also our first day of school. We were expected at school at 9:30 am. We started with a tour of the school, where we immediately noticed some differences. There was a gym in the basement, and there is no playground outside. We also got to know the people from Hungary and the other Estonians better through a series of questions. Then we worked on the group project and listened attentively to the presentation about Estonia. In the afternoon, we got to know the city of Tartu better through a game, and in the evening, we attended a volleyball and basketball game. In the evening, some of us went to the supermarket and the shopping center. After that, it was time to head home and reflect on this fun first day.
Tuesday 17/03
Today, Tuesday—the second day of our week in Estonia—was a very busy day. First, we went to a museum about the mythological figure Kalevipoeg. His story was written by an Estonian author and he was an important figure in Estonian culture. For our second activity of the day, we visited a museum about the Ice Age in Estonia and the rest of the world. It covered the origins of the Ice Age and how life returned afterward. After this museum visit, we had lunch on-site and still had some time to see a completely frozen lake. Finally, we drove to a wildlife park where there were foxes, buffalo, and wolves. These visits were part of the project work of cultural heritage. Then we had to return to the school because it was time for the presentations about the visiting countries. The first group was from Hungary, and their presentation lasted about 45 minutes. In their presentation they talked about their culture which was nice to learn. Our presentation about our country lasted only 15 minutes. Afterward, we ate pizza, and it was time for a documentary about Estonian independence. As the very last activity of the day, we also participated in a folk dance class. That dance was fairly easy to learn, but sometimes moved quite quickly. The dance and film helped us learn about the cultural heritage of Estonia and how their culture survived.
Wednesday 18/03
Thursday 19/03
Thursday, the fourth day of our week in Tartu, began with working further on the project focused on mental and physical health. We looked for ways to reduce stress and anxiety at school. The different groups let their creativity run wild and came up with a variety of ideas: a yoga corner where students can take a moment to relax, a conversation corner for those who want to get something off their chest, and a spot with books on mental well-being for those looking for more background information or just a quiet moment.
After the project work, we headed to the school basement for a game of pétanque, which provided some much-needed relaxation and laughter. With renewed energy, we then set to work bringing our ideas to life. We set up booths in various locations throughout the school, which anyone could visit. Both other Erasmus students and students from the school came to take a look and try out our concepts, leading to many fun and engaging interactions.
After all that hard work, we were invited to join a meal provided by the school—a well-deserved reward after a full day. To wrap things up, we were given a tour of Tartu, where we were introduced to the city’s rich history and vibrant culture. It was the perfect way to end the day.
Friday 20/03
Week 10 2026: Visiting Martina Franca Italy
Sunday 01/03
The day started early, with everyone gathering on platform 2 in Waregem to catch the 7:09 a.m. train to Ghent. We said goodbye to our parents and off we went! We changed trains in Ghent and arrived at Brussels Airport at 9:05 a.m. After a quick bathroom break, we divided up our snacks for the food court, checked in our luggage, and found our gate. We were able to board around 11:00 a.m. We had to keep ourselves occupied during the approximately 2-hour flight, but that was no problem because we even had a screen in front of us. Some also chose to take a tactical power nap. For Daynah, it was a special experience because it was her first time flying! We landed in Rome at 1:10 p.m. After a quick lunch and a four-hour layover, we took our second flight to Bari, which only took an hour. We didn't have to wait long for our luggage, but we did have to wait a while for our bus driver Pino, in true Italian fashion, of course ;). At 8:30 p.m., after four months, we finally saw our exchange students again! We were warmly welcomed and went home to enjoy family dinner. At 9:45 p.m., we went for a short walk in the city center and met up with the other delegations, finally crawling into bed at a quarter to 1.
Monday 02/03
When we arrived at the school, we first received an explanation about our week and day, followed by a school tour. After that, the delegations introduced themselves using interesting PowerPoint presentations, and our Kahoot was well received. There were presentations about various places in Hungary, among other things. Around 10 a.m., we had a short break to eat something small. The school provided a large table with sandwiches with Nutella that were arranged in such a way that we could read WELCOME. We also discovered that the toilet doors here cannot be locked, so you have to knock and wait to hear whether you hear “OCCUPATO” or not. After the break, we did various activities such as the marshmallow challenge, where you had to work together in a group to build a good structure, or House-Person-Earthquake, where you had to build a house, give someone shelter, or be shaken up by an “earthquake.” Around 12:15 p.m., it was already time to set up the food court and enjoy the various snacks to the fullest. Fortunately, our Belgian snacks were well received! Afterwards, we tidied everything up nicely, of course. Around 3 p.m., we had some time to go home and prepare for the Treasure Hunt in Martina Franca. The game was perhaps not the easiest to play due to the many cryptic hints, but it was very nice to get to know the city. At 5 p.m., we closed the activities with a drink in the town square.
Tuesday 03/03
Day 3 started quietly with a Kahoot quiz about fact checking, but that pace was soon replaced by our full concentration on our project work. The first part went smoothly and after a short break we continued with our project work. Our project work is about fact checking; today's assignment was to work in groups to examine an article, a photo and a video and conclude whether or not it was AI or fake news. At 1 p.m., we finished our hard work and were allowed to go home for a quick lunch, because we had to catch the 2:20 p.m. train to Alberobello. Once we arrived, we were amazed: the picturesque white houses were beautiful! We got some information from a local guide and had some free time before returning to Martina Franca. This time, we didn't take the train, as it had unfortunately been cancelled, so we took the bus instead.
Wednesday 04/03
We started the day again with some explanations and an introductory Kahoot. This is how we learned what greenwashing is: a marketing trick whereby companies present themselves as greener and more ecological than they really are. We also went over a number of fallacies that some companies use in their advertisements. At 9:15 a.m., it was time for action: we had to make a poster and debunk three advertisements on it. We were on a roll and, after a fairly long break, we continued to work efficiently. It went smoothly, and by 12:30 p.m., most of us were finished, so we could calmly wrap up and have lunch before taking a tour of the Palazzo Ducale at 3 p.m., where we admired beautiful frescoes and received an explanation from a number of students. At 4 p.m., we were expected in the central part of the school for a traditional dance lesson: Pizzica and Quadriglia. The atmosphere was great and everyone did their best! After an hour of dancing, we returned home and ended the day with a nice football match. Both teams consisted of a mix of Italians, Hungarians and one Belgian. The girls cheered enthusiastically from the sidelines.
Thursday 05/03
Day 5 started differently than usual: we gathered in a car park this morning, because we had to drive quite a distance for our city visit to Otranto and Lecce. Around 11 a.m., we arrived in Otranto, a charming coastal town at the very bottom of the heel of Italy. We were met by a guide for an hour-long city tour. The highlights were the cathedral, known for its mosaic floor, the old castle and, last but not least, the beautiful view of the clear blue sea. At 1.30 p.m., we arrived in Lecce. After visiting the cathedral and the remains of the amphitheatre, we had some free time. It was wonderful to wander through the narrow, charming streets on our own. At 4.45 p.m., we sadly had to leave for Martina Franca.
Friday 06/03
Day 6, already the last day, started as usual at 8:20 a.m. at school with some explanations. We were allowed to finish our posters and Canva pages and then present them to the entire Erasmus group. After the presentations by all the groups, we had a break. Around 11 a.m., it was time to present our project work and posters to the Italian students' classmates. After tidying up, we took one last group photo and then gathered in the auditorium. There we were welcomed by the management, received a word of thanks from the teachers and students, and were presented with our Erasmus certificates. The last school activities were concluded with a concert by the school band.
In the afternoon, our exchange students took us to the coast, Polignano a Mare to be precise, a charming town by the sea. The weather could have been better, but that didn't stop Lowie from braving the water. After enjoying a gelato, we returned to Martina Franca to enjoy our last moments together with the whole group.
Week 10 2026: Visiting La Spezia Italy
Sunday 01/03
Monday 02/03
Today was the first day of the exchange in La Spezia. The day started with walking to school and stopping at a coffee shop on the way. When we arrived at school, there was immediately a different atmosphere. The school is a bit cold, but good enough to attend classes. I had higher expectations. One plus point was that there is a swimming pool at the school. They could do with improving the toilets, though.
The morning activity was not very well organised; it got a bit out of hand. At 11:30, we went to the city for lunch. The food is good, but a bit overhyped. I certainly don't think pizza in Belgium is any less good.
The afternoon, on the other hand, was great. We took a walk along the harbour and saw some beautiful things. I really enjoyed the wonderful view. After school, we went to Giulia with everyone from Belgium and their partners. We enjoyed some snacks and drinks and had a lot of fun.
Tuesday 03/03
Today began with an introduction to all the exchange students (Belgians, Spaniards, and Italians). Afterwards, we all took the bus and travelled together to the town of San Terenzo. In San Terenzo, we were divided into four groups. The task was to collect as much rubbish as possible with your group along the way. The Belgian winners were Ronaldo and Ylan, who received a prize. After the task, we walked around the town and saw lots of beautiful things. We also had some free time so we could explore the town ourselves. We then returned with the whole group and sat with the Italians on a terrace for a while. After that, everyone went home. Now it's time to sleep.
Wednesday 04/03
Today we took the train to Cinque Terre. We stopped at the first village, which we walked through. It was a small village with lots of hills, but also with a beautiful view of the water. Then we took the train again to go to the second village, where we were given the task of building the tallest tower possible out of stones, in the same groups as on Tuesday on the beach. After that, we had some free time to explore the village and have something to eat. Then it was time to leave for the last village. We were allowed to explore this village entirely on our own. There were lots of souvenir shops we could visit. Around 3 p.m., it was time to leave for La Spezia.
Thursday 05/03
Today's report: Today we first went to school and then took the bus to Fezanno, where we walked to a small harbour. There we were given an explanation of how mussels and oysters are cultivated. It was very interesting! After that, we went inside and were given some information about the Palio del Golfo. This is a boat race with 13 teams, only one of which wins (in the past, they did this so that they could sell their mussels as quickly as possible for a good price). Then we went on the sailing boat, where we were given some information about the history of the boats. After that, we continued by bus to Portovenere. It is a beautiful town in one of the many bays with beautiful views and nice shops. There we had some free time to eat or drink something. Personally, I went to the beach and played some football. After that, we went back to La Spezia by bus.
Friday 06/03
On Friday 6 March, our last day, we had to present the work we had prepared during the week in the form of presentations.There were several presentations by both the Spanish and Belgian students.After the presentations, we were given some food, and then school was over for us.Our group went out for dinner and drinks, and then left for home around 4 p.m.I didn't mind this, as I was already quite tired and it was our last day.
Week 10 2026: Visiting Pamplona Basque Country
Week 9 2026: Visiting Sykkylven Norway
Monday 23/02
Today was travel day. We had to be at Waregem station at 6:50 a.m. We got a gotcha here that lasted until we arrived at our accommodation in Norway. Then we took two trains to Brussels Airport. From there, we flew from Brussels to Amsterdam and then from Amsterdam to Alesund. When we arrived, we still had a two-hour bus ride ahead of us. We kept the mood light by singing and taking pictures of the beautiful landscape. The girls went to the store and bought a lot of pizza. We ended up eating it all. Even though it's a school trip, we're allowed to call our teachers by their first names! Upon arrival, we first received instructions from the owner. In the evening, we went sledding down a mountain and had a snowball fight.
Tuesday 24/02
We woke up and ate our first breakfest. We tried our best to eat healthy and gain much energy for a new active day. We started off by putting warm clothes on because the firsy activity was teambuilding in the snow. We did plenty of fun things, for example putting your trust on your clasmates by dropping yourself down. This was very fun and scary but we all enjoyed it. While waiting for the food we decided to do something very adventurous so we all went outside in swimming clothes and jumped in the snow. Then we all ate lasagna while the sun was out. The second activity was made up by the girls, we all searched our own object and needed to do all kinds off things with that, for example throwing it as far as posibble. Then it was our time to shine, we tried to make some pancakes but this didn’t went exactly as planned. Because of the good weather we already went hiking and thought of maybe sleeping in the snow. The hike was really cold but we made a lot of fun. When we found a good spot we made a campfire and ate hotdogs and had some good talks. Then we called with our friends from Belguim and made them a bit jealous. When we checked the weather it said that it was going to rain so we quickly headed back to the house were we warmed up and chilled with each other before going to sleep.
Wednesday 25/02
Today we went to the school of Sykkylven. At this school, students can choose from various electoves, inclusief outdoor sport. These students gave us a presentation about the dangers of hiking and sleeping in the mountains. How to protect yourself against these dangers; planning the hike, making fire, thermo regulation and food to take with you. During the presentation there was also a practical session on the use of gas fire, the different types of clothing and the material from which they are made. Afterwards, we were able to meet the students. We were given a tour and learned about all the differences and similarities between our schools.
In the afternoon we went on a hike. It was very heavy because off the snow, but it was definitely worth it! We had a beautiful view of Sykkylven and the mountains.
When we got back to the chalet, we prepared dinner together as a large group because it was a lot of work. There was a great atmosphere and ambiance with singing and joking. After dinner, we played a game, capture the flag, as an evening activity. It was funny and we had some good time.
Thursday 26/02
Today we went skiing and snowboarding in Stranda. For some of us, it is the first time on skis, which makes it challenging but exciting as everyone improves with each run. Others are snowboarding and enjoying the slopes in their own way. The weather is pleasant, with the sun shining softly between light clouds. After pasta prepared by the teachers. We went back to the slopes for an evening ski under the lights. Because of the snow, the car struggled to go up a hill and the wheels lost grip on the slippery road. At one point it got stuck, so we all got out and pushed. Skiing at night, surrounded by glowing slopes, created a great atmosphere, especially with the fun snowpark and cool jumps. It was a great way to end another fantastic day!
Friday 27/02
We started our day with a fresh breakfast, so we would be ready for our second day of skiing. We had a great day, even though only one lift was open. Today, we also had the opportunity to ski with the class that had given us a presentation at school earlier this week. On the ski slopes, we met the students from Sykkylven's high school. We had ski lessons together in the morning. In the afternoon, we had time to ski freely with them. We took on some great slopes together and tried out some jumps ourselves.
When we arrived at the home we doing a fun evening activity, namely après-ski with some music and crisps. We ended the day with a delicious meal, salmon with mashed potatoes and broccoli. Afterwards, we did a few more mini-games what had been a fun but tiring day.
Saturday 28/02
Today we started with a pretty late breakfast. After we packed our stuff and got ready, we hopped in the mini van, went to the bus station and waited, we were almost late but in the end we all made it in time. After we arrived at our destination we started hiking towards our first stop, which was ontop of a mountain! We ate our lunch there and took a lot of beautiful pictures. After the pictures were taken we started walking towards our second stop, which was optional because it was an even bigger mountain! Hiking was rather difficult because we stepped in knee deep snow and slipped a few times. But in the end all of us who started got to enjoy the stunning view and were able to enjoy the breeze of the open air. Walking down was fun and everyone was almost twice as fast as going up. After the walk down we regrouped back at the first stop to start hiking towards our last stop where we were to sleep outside! The hike was long but fun, as our group stayed positive and never started complaining. After a hike up and down a mountain we arrived at the final stop, where we changed clothes and started warming up our own food. We all hade dried food with us so we only needed warm water. We stayed up to watch the northern lights!
Sunday 01/03
Our Last Full Day in Norway. After a cold night outdoor
we started our day by waking up under the beautiful sky and mountains of Norway. For breakfast, we ate our snacks and cleaned everything up before getting ready for a long walk to Sykkylven.
First, we walked through beautiful nature, at the end there were more roads.
After walking 12.5 kilometers, we finally arrived in Sykkylven and prepared our lunch using our gas stoves. After eating, we went to the sauna and took ice dives in the very cold seawater. U would think that it felt absolutely horrible going into the sauna and then in the ice cold water but it actually felt pretty relaxing, we needed to control our breathing the whole time.
After a few hours of sauna and icedives we all gathered at the bus stop to take the bus back to our accommodation. Once we arrived, we had to start to packing our suitcases. While some people were packing, the cooking team prepared dinner which was pasta pesto. The pasta was a big success and everyone really enjoyed it.
After dinner, the last people took their showers and got ready for the evening activity.Once everyone was ready, the quiz could begin. In the end, the group of Imen, Andreas and Bert won the quiz. Felix won the prize for best dressed.
After the quiz, we took a group photo and recorded the intro for the video about this trip. Finally, we had to finish packing our suitcases so we could leave on time for Belgium the next day.
This was our last full day in Norway. We will truly miss it.
Monday 02/03
We woke up with the scenery of our accommodation for one last time. Then we ate breakfast, after breakfast we got our luggage ready to take on the trip. We all had to do chores chosen by the teachers. When we were done we got our luggage and walked to the bus. Which took us one last time to the school in Sykkylven where we saw some of the pupils we had met on Wednesday. Then we took a ferry across a fjord and we continued all the way to the mall in Alesund. Where we all went to eat together and shopped for a bit. When the time came we hopped on the bus for the last bit until we arrived at the airport. Where we got a flight to Amsterdam. When we arrived in Amsterdam we had some extra free time. From Amsterdam we took a flight to Brussels airport, where we had a few parents waiting for us. Who drove us back to Waregem. Where everyone got picked up by their own parents and went home. This was an amazing trip that we will never forget. We learned so much and made a lot of memories.
Week 7 2026: Visisting Vaasa Finland
Sunday 08/02
Hi everyone, I'm the reporter for Sunday. Ralph and I woke up together around 10:00 and went to eat. Breakfast was very extensive, with eggs, bacon, and pancakes. After that, we played FIFA together for an hour and got ready. At noon, Lilja (Marie's exchange student) picked us up. We went to Vivi's house and went on the frozen lake. We drank hot chocolate and had lots of fun! After that, we went to the ice hockey game where Vaasa lost 4-0 to third in the league. It was a truly amazing experience, and we all had fun. At around 5:00 PM, we left the stadium and went eating with everyone. Finally, we had a small gathering where we played some snooker and danced a lot! When we got home, Ralph and I played some FIFA and went to bed.
Monday 09/02
Hello everyone, I will be reporting on today's events. Rene and I got up at 7 a.m. Then we took the bus to school, where we first watched the presentation about Finland. After that, we were given a tour of the school. We saw the library and some other things. Then we gave a presentation ourselves and also saw a presentation from Spain. After that, we did some language exercises so that we could communicate with each other. For lunch, we had chili con carne and drank water or milk. Then the Finnish students gave us a tour of Vaasa. After that, we had a conversation with everyone from Belgium, where we could share the cool moments we had already experienced with each other. Finally, we played games to get to know each other better and played soccer against each other.
Tuesday 10/02
Hello everyone, I will be reporting on today's events. Rene and I got up at 7 a.m. Then we took the bus to school, where we first watched the presentation about Finland. After that, we were given a tour of the school. We saw the library and some other things. Then we gave a presentation ourselves and also saw a presentation from Spain. After that, we did some language exercises so that we could communicate with each other. For lunch, we had chili con carne and drank water or milk. Then the Finnish students gave us a tour of Vaasa. After that, we had a conversation with everyone from Belgium, where we could share the cool moments we had already experienced with each other. Finally, we played games to get to know each other better and played soccer against each other.
Wednesday 11/02
Hello everyone,
today I was the reporter of the day. We started in the auditorium with a bingo game to learn each other’s names, followed by an activity where we reflected on our own qualities and those of others, which led to some nice conversations.
After a short break, we had the art workshop, where we could let our creativity flow. After lunch, the drama workshop started. Through games, dilemmas, and improvisation exercises, we got to know each other better and worked together in a relaxed atmosphere.
After the meeting in our national teams, we went home to change into our ski clothes and prepare for an active evening. We went sledding and did cross-country skiing, and ended the day around a campfire, where we roasted sausages and marshmallows.
Thursday 12/02
Hello everyone, today we started the day a little later than usual, at 9 o’clock. We first had a meeting in the aula where we looked back at some of the moments we experienced together and reflected on them. After that, we went to the city council, where they explained what Vaasa is known for and what the city does to help protect the planet and become more sustainable. After the visit, we went for a short walk in the city and for lunch everyone could choose what they wanted, so most of us had sushi or kebab. In the afternoon, we started by making a video about the differences between school life in Belgium and Finland, and it was fun to compare our daily routines and discover what is similar and what is different. After that, we did some yoga, which was a relaxing way to end the day. That was it for today!
Friday 13/02
Today we started the day at 8:30 with the opening of the day. After that, we had a presentation about the Aurora Borealis, where we learned more about this natural phenomenon and saw some impressive images. Then we received a short preview of the hike we were going to do in the afternoon, so we knew what to expect.
After having lunch at school, we left for an excursion to Kvarken Natural Heritage Site. There, we went hiking and explored the beautiful surroundings. During the walk, we enjoyed the fresh air and the peaceful nature. We also climbed a high tower, where we had a very beautiful view over the landscape.
In the evening, we had a social evening together with food and games. We also experienced the sauna, and some of us even tried winter swimming. It was a fun and special way to end the day.
Saturday 14/02
Hi everyone today is our last day here in Finland. In the beginning of the day we had the chance to follow 2 lessons with our exchange student. I have followed history and we learned about vikings. After the lessons it was evaluation and we all got a certificate. Then it was lunch time. We ate kebab at school. In the afternoon we had free time so I went shopping in the mall’s with some of my friends. After that we had a farewell dinner. At the evening we went to a party with everyone.
Week 6 2026: Visiting Budapest Hungary
See below for the iofficial program.
Official Mental health program for Belgium and Estonia in Hungary.docxWeek 6 2026 : Visiting Valetta Malta
Sunday 01/02
During our first half day in Malta, we arrived at the airport where we were warmly welcomed by our host families right after getting off the plane. They greeted us with open arms and made us feel at home immediately. Afterwards, we went with them to their houses and got to know our host families better. I even received a small gift from my host sister’s little sister, which was very sweet. We played some games together and later watched Jurassic Park, which was filmed in Malta. After this nice and relaxing evening, we went to sleep, excited and curious for our first day at the new school.
Monday 02/02
Our first day in Malta was full of new experiences, exciting activities, and unforgettable first impressions. From meeting new people to exploring the capital city, it was a day we will definitely remember.
First, we hopped on the bus and enjoyed the view during the ride. When we arrived at the school, we were welcomed with open arms, and the atmosphere was immediately very warm and inviting. We started the day with a bingo activity, where we had to walk around the room and find people who had things in common with us that were written on the bingo sheet.
After that, we were allowed to choose our own groups for a tour around the school. The school is really big and offers many different activities, which makes it a fun and interesting place. When we returned, snacks from all the different countries were laid out in front of us, and we enjoyed tasting every single one. Next, we listened to presentations from each country: Malta, Germany, Belgium, and Spain. Afterward, we made our own personal journals, where we wrote down the values that describe our personalities.
Later in the day, we got back on the bus that took us to Valletta, the capital city of Malta. My first impression was that it is a big, unique, and beautiful place surrounded by antique buildings. Before exploring freely, we had to complete several tasks around the city, such as taking pictures in front of picturesque monuments and well-known buildings. After completing the tasks, we met up again, and the team with the most points won candy bars as a prize.
Once the winners were announced, everyone was allowed to split up with their partners—either to go home or to hang out in the city. The Belgian group decided to have dinner at a restaurant with a wide variety of cuisines. Later on, we continued exploring the capital city together. Overall, the first day in Malta was exciting, well organized, and the perfect start to our trip.
Tuesday 03/02
On our third day in Malta, we started with a workshop about time management. During this workshop, we learned how to spend our time in a better and more efficient way. We also learned that we should never use the sentence “I don’t have time” anymore. The workshop showed us that if we plan our days well, we can still do everything we want to do without feeling stressed.
After the workshop, we continued writing in our journals. This was a moment to reflect on the day and think about what we had learned. Once again, we enjoyed a very tasty coffee break, which everyone really appreciated.
Later that day, we were allowed to make our own tote bags. We had complete freedom and could choose from many fun and creative materials. It was a very relaxing and enjoyable activity. After that, we left for a hike along the coast. During the hike, we visited beautiful beaches and walked up and down the cliffs. The views were breathtaking, and the walk itself was truly amazing.
After the hike, we had some free time at the beach. We bought ice cream, enjoyed the beautiful scenery, and played volleyball together. It was a perfect way to relax after the long walk. We ended the day with a fun game night at one of the students’ places and later had a good meal with our host families.
Wednesday 04/02
As a morning energizer, we played volleyball or football on the grass field. We started the workshop with a board game where we rolled the dice and had to choose between the education or the work path for the workshop. After that, we had to solve a mystery in our predetermined groups. The mystery ended with a code that we had to find.
We took a break after the mystery was solved and enjoyed the food that was left from the coffee break. Later on, we visited Mdina and had to complete different tasks for our scavenger hunt in the city. Everyone had free time quite early because it was a Wednesday.
The evening was really enjoyable because we went to a football game with the whole group. Unfortunately, the team we were cheering for didn’t win, it was a tie. Everyone was tired, so we went home separately afterward.
Thursday 05/02
On Thursday in Malta, we had a busy and fun day. In the morning, we continued working on our tote bags. We finished them and then presented them to the group. Everyone showed their tote bag and explained their design. It was nice to see how different all the bags were.
After that, we had lunch. We ate rice, pasta, and chicken, and then we moved on with the day.
In the afternoon, we had a “Move Your Body” session. We did 30 minutes of gym, 30 minutes of volleyball, and 30 minutes of dodgeball. We didn’t choose one activity, we did all of them. The gym was the most fun. It had a lot of equipment, and you could do a full Hyrox-style workout there. In Malta, the gym is free because many people are not very healthy, and the government wants people to exercise more.
After the sports session, we played some games together. We played games like beer pong with typical Maltese drinks, and we also played games with jelly beans. It was very fun and relaxed. We laughed a lot and took some nice and funny photos.
At the end of the day, we all went to eat together. It was a nice way to finish the day and spend time as a group. Overall, Thursday was a really fun and active day in Malta.
Friday 06/02
We started the day the same way we had for the last two days, by playing volleyball and football while soaking up the sun. Then we went inside and did a recap of the week by writing everything down on a large sheet of paper, which we then had to present. After that, we had a workshop where we learned how to approach our goals by creating systems and holding ourselves accountable. There, we also learned the five rules: build systems, not goals; keep it simple; make it part of your identity; shape your environment to support it; and do it step by step.
Later, we had the award ceremony, where everyone took a group picture. Afterwards, the Spanish group headed to the airport, while the rest of us went home and got ready for a fun night.
Week 5 2026 : Hosting Riga, Sykkylven and Pamplona
Next week, our school will welcome 41 students from Riga, Pamplona and Sykkylven.
They will be staying with students from 6WW1, 6WW2, 6BW1 and 6BW2. We will be working on a project about healthy lifestyles. During the project, we will conduct a study to identify correlations between physical health and sleep and exercise patterns. We will use the results to create motivational videos and posters that encourage pupils to exercise more and develop healthy sleep patterns. In addition, we will sample our cultural differences at the food court on Monday evening and visit Ghent and Brussels on Tuesday and Friday respectively. In Ghent, we will go on a cultural tour with an interactive quest around the ‘Adoration of the Mystic Lamb’ by the Van Eyck brothers. In Brussels, we will search for the heart of Europe in the European Parliament. A fascinating and action-packed week that will push boundaries in every possible way.
Week 5: 26-30/01 we will host students from Pamplona, Riga and Sykkylven. Here you can find the official program.
Week 45: 3-7/11 we will host students from Martina Franca, La Spezia and Budapest. Here you can find the official program.
Last week we organised a meeting for the parents and the students.
Here you can find the presentation.
Registration officially closed. The final selection list is to be found here.
More info on groups and destinations will be provided end of September. Happy Holidays! Travel, move, play, explore, read, enjoy and feed your soul.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” — From The Innocents Abroad / Roughing It.
Mark Twain
Is Waregem getting too small for you? Flanders too tiny for your aspirations? Is our complex country of Belgium not even varied enough for your multifaceted ambitions? Are you dreaming of studying abroad? Getting to know other European students? Good news! Your dreams can come true with Erasmus+.
We know it sounds adventurous and takes a bit of courage, but... . As Mark Twain said a long time ago:
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover!
Make sure you do not miss this unique opportunity.
I'm not sure yet, can you convince me?
We know we will not convince you. Maybe your fellow students that took part in the program last year, will. Take a look at our evaluation page. 379 participants gave their opinion! More than 90% of the participants would do this again and more than 87% would strongly recommend this educational adventure!!
Week 19 2025 Visiting Buzau Romania
Saturday 03/05
We departed from Charleroi towards Romania. After a 3-hour flight, we arrived in Otopeni. We took a minibus to Buzău, and along the way, there was nothing to see but fields—mostly rapeseed fields. We had a relaxed meal at the large shopping center. After that, we finally saw our host families again!
Sunday 04/05
The day started off quietly with breakfast. Everyone spent some relaxed time with their host family and enjoyed the lovely weather before we left the city and headed to the countryside for a BBQ at Bianca’s place, one of the Romanian students. We spent the afternoon and even the evening there, with dancing and singing before returning to our host families to prepare for the first day of school.
Monday 05/05
This morning we had a calm start; we all went to school at our own pace. Then we received an explanation about the week’s program and about how they experienced their time in Belgium. After that, we went to the town hall and had the opportunity to meet the mayor.
Next, we had a nice meal at La Big Mama, and then we did a goose chase, which involved searching for various landmarks in the city. We ended the day at a food court and enjoyed all sorts of local snacks.
Tuesday 06/05
We had to be at school at 9 a.m. in the morning. We started the day calmly with a short warm-up, after which we played basketball. Everyone participated enthusiastically, and it was fun to be active together. After that, we headed to the gym for an intense aerobics session. It was challenging, but also very fun and motivating. We ended the morning pleasantly with a meal at Big Mama.After eating at the restaurant we left for the next activity of the day; namely an altitude trail in the Romanian forests. Here, Benoit fell and hurt his hand. Which required him to go to hospital to have his hand treated. In the evening, for Hannes' birthday, we went for a drink & and had something to eat at the best pitta place in Buzău namely Jabbar.
Wednesday 07/05
First, we went to Geogate by bus. Then we went to a cemetery high up in the mountains, where there was also a museum about stones that we visited as well. After that, we ate at a small restaurant nearby, close to the Muddy Volcanoes, which we also visited. After this we went to play some pingpong at a pub, it was a really nice day.
Week 18 2025 Hosting Tartu (Estonia), Vaasa (Finland) and Valletta (Malta).
This week we hosted Tartu (Estonia), Vaasa (Finland) and Valletta (Malta). We worked on our program Together moving towards a Healthy Future. The program was filled with workshops on mental health. The students produced posters and presentations to motivate and inform their peer students to maintain their mental health.
Week 18 2025 Hosting Tartu (Estonia), Vaasa (Finland) and Valletta (Malta).
Find the official program here.
Week 13 2025 Visiting Riga Latvia
Monday 24/03
On our first school day in Latvia as exchange students, we had an incredible experience! The day kicked off with a tour of the school, where we got to see all the different areas and facilities. It was exciting to explore the place where we would be spending our time.
After the tour, we played some ice-breaking games to help everyone get to know each other better. It was a blast! We shared laughs and learned fun facts about one another, which made it feel more like a friendly gathering than just a school day.
Then, we listened to some presentations about the school and the exchange program. It was really interesting to hear about the activities and opportunities we could be a part of during our stay. After that, we all had lunch together, which was a great chance to chat and relax.
In the afternoon, we played a game in the old part of Riga. It was amazing to explore the beautiful streets and historic buildings while having fun with our new friends. We even had some free time to wander around the city and soak in the atmosphere.
To top off the day, the whole group went to a jump park! It was so much fun bouncing around and just letting loose. By the end of the day, we were all tired but super happy. It was an awesome start to our exchange adventure in Latvia, and we can't wait for more experiences to come!
Tuesday 25/03
Today was a fun and exciting day. In the morning, we started with some sports. We played different games, stayed active, and had a lot of fun together. After that, we worked on a group project. Everyone shared ideas and helped each other, and we made good progress. During the break, we played the piano and had an karaoke. It was a enjoyable moment, and we laughed a lot.
In the afternoon, we visited an art museum. We saw many beautiful and interesting artworks, including paintings and sculptures. It was nice to walk around and learn more about different artists and their work.
In the evening, we went bowling. It was a fun activity. Some of us were really good, while others just played for fun. We had a great time, and it was the perfect way to end the day.
Wednesday 26/03
Today we went to a town where a nuvuss tournament was taking place. We thought it was fun to play a national sport and then compete against each other. I played against Casper, Mister Vantieghem and many other players. Of course I won from them and I thought it was great fun. After that we took the bus and went to a Russian bunker. It was very interesting to see how they communicated and lived at that time. We were also allowed to put on a gas mask (see photo). After that we went to another town where we were allowed to explore the forest with an assignment. After that we went back to Riga where we went to eat something with the others. It was a great day!
In the morning, there was a novuss tournament planned for us, it’s the national sport in Latvia. I liked the novuss game for the first 30 minutes, but after that it became a bit boring and after an hour I gave up and sat on the ground for a bit. After that we went to the soviet bunker and that was a really interesting experience. It was really strange to see al the russian propaganda and our gide did her best to explain everything as clear as she could. After the bunker we went to a forest to do an assingnment in groups with some Belgiums, some Italians and some Latvians. We made a lot of friends and that made the busride home a lot more fun. In the evening we went to eat something with the belgian group and that was the end of day 5 in Latvia.
Thursday 27/03
Today, we kicked off our day with some project work and presentations about active citizenship. In between, we, of course, played some Nuvuss (Mr. Vantieghem was still a bit bitter about his loss to Audric). After the presentations, we got active with some sportsthis time in the form of dancing traditional folk dances. But of course 't Smidje couldn’t be skipped.
At some point, we also hijacked a math class and taught the Latvian students some math.
Later, we gathered around the piano to play and sing music together, where we discovered some great musicians.
To wrap up the day, we watched the intense basketball final of our school. We accidentally cheered for the wrong team, but in the end, they won, leaving us feeling very happy.
Friday 28/03
On our last day together as a group, we started by playing an escape game in Sigulda. Divided in teams of 6, we played the roles of British spies trying to destroy Hitler's forces. We had to infiltrate a city overrun by German guards. While guards were checking our documents, shooting us or trying the arrest us, we had to find symbols on the houses to eventually find the code that would get us important information for the resistance. We were locked in a dark shed while a guard was shouting in Latvian, but luckily we could escape with the diary we needed through a trapdoor in the floor. Running for our lives, we managed to make it back to the starting point without getting caught.
After this thrilling game and some soup, we went on a hike in Sigulda. The view was amazing, though the hike was somewhat exhausting. We then got some free time to explore the city, before driving back home.
Some of us also celebrated our last night together by going to a silent disco. Though we still have 2 more days with our host families, our adventure at Riga State Gymnasium no 2 is now over. It was truly an amazing and incredible experience. We met people from different cultures and learned a lot, on top of exploring a new country!
Week 13 2025 Visiting Tartu Estonia
Saturday 22/03
Today started early, at 5:20 we gathered sleepily at the station. During the train ride to the airport in Brussels, enthusiasm grew, and the transfers went very smoothly, partly together with colleagues who had the same itinerary to go to Latvia. At the airport, everything went smoothly and for me it was a successful first flying experience.
After the final landing in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, we travelled further by bus to our final destination, Tartu. There, the exchange students and host families were already waiting for us enthusiastically. During the car ride to the host family, we got introduced for the first time and quickly talked about the differences between Belgium and Estonia.
After a nice meal, we played a game a fun way to get to know each other better and to end the first day relaxed.
Sunday 23/03
Today we had our first real full day in Estonia. Since it is still weekend and we don't have to go to school yet, we spent the day with our host families. We started our day with a local game of "disc golf". A nice entertaining game to get to know each other better. Later in the day some of us got together to watch the match of the local volleyball team, Bigbank Tartu! After an exciting match Tartu won 3-2. So we brought some Belgian luck with us! Later that evening we all got together to test our puzzle skills in the form of an escape room! We divided ourselves into groups and both tackled our own room. One the "zombie room" the other "prison break". End result neither of us could manage to escape! But we had fun! Later we will support our red devils and then we will go to bed early to be fresh tomorrow for a new day in Estonia!
Monday 24/03
We started the day with a delicious typical Estonian breakfast. Then we walked to school, where we were warmly welcomed and given a short tour. The school stood out for its unique features: a small school museum full of stories and special rooms where students can paint, play petanque or simply get together to talk.
Not long after the tour, we got to work on a joint assignment together with colleagues from both Estonia and Hungary. In the afternoon, we had the chance to get to know each other even better before heading into town for a city game. During this game, we discovered that streets sometimes have weird names like Potato Street and Berry Street, and learned that everyone in Estonia wears a reflective pendant on their jacket for extra safety - a mandatory rule here.
The day ended with Ellen's exciting volleyball match, in which I was given the task of keeping track of all the points. An inspiring day full of new cultural insights, discoveries and new encounters.
Tuesday 25/03
Another school day here in Estonia started with our project work together with the delegations from Estonia and Hungary. After that we got a guided tour around the city, wich was a nice way to see the city and meanwhile getting to know the history of Tartu. Just before our lunch, we played a quick game of Petanque. Because we know this in Belgium too, we beated everyone of course! In the afternoon we finally got the chance to introduce our country a bit in the form of a funny PowerPoint presentation! Our Estonian exchange students and the delegation from Hungary were apparently not the only ones interested in our country. A large part of the school descended on the classroom where we were going to give our presentation. We ended the day with a small group going bowling. A nice end of again, a wonderful day.
Wednesday 26/03
Today we followed the daily rhythm of students in Tartu. We attended a 75-minute maths lesson, almost one and a half times longer than in Belgium, and noticed the strong focus and discipline.
Then we worked on a project connecting Estonian, Belgian and Hungarian culture through a home-made video. During the meal break, we enjoyed a unique yoghurt dessert based on a special milk composition.
After school, I visited Tartu's biggest shopping centre, then we met up with all Erasmus students in a cosy, busy café where we played bingo. Later, I visited the University of Tartu, a modern campus with almost all fields of study. A relative of our host had a special drawing of a butterfly species he had discovered combined with mathematical formulas and a landscape, a unique artistic signature that the university attributes to him.
The evening ended at the host family, where we tasted Belgian chocolates, including ‘horse chocolates’ and ‘purple noses’, followed by a fun game of cards.
Thursday 27/03
Our new day started with finalizing our project. After we were done we had a movement break where we played 'floorball'. All Belgians, Hungarians and Estonians competed against each other. And of course... , my team won! After our sporty snack we followed a super interesting lecture by the ambassador of Georgia in Estonia. In the afternoon the theme 'nature' was on the agenda. We started our afternoon with an animal park that only consists of animals that live or have lived in Estonia. After that we went to a big lake and walked around it. It was a fun way to talk to each other and meanwhile get to discover Estonian nature. Especially the absolute silence and a big frozen lake will stay with us in our minds!
Friday 28/03
Today was our last full day in Tartu. We started by presenting our projects, which we had been working on all week. Afterwards, we visited a flower park with the Estonians and the Portuguese.
After lunch, we said goodbye to the Hungarians before heading to a science park, where we played with fascinating scientific gadgets. Later, we grabbed a quick meal at McDonald's before enjoying another meal at our host family's home, we were truly spoiled.
In the evening, we attended the school's playback show. Everyone was well-prepared for their performance,except the Belgians. With a freestyle rendition of Laat de zon in je hart by Willy Sommers, we got the entire school on their feet, forming one long, enthusiastic line of students. It was an unforgettable moment, with dancing and pure joy filling the room.
To officially end the evening, we shared one last drink with some students, bringing an amazing journey to a perfect close.
Week 12 2025 Visiting Sykkylven Norway
Sunday 16/03
After a nice week with our 100 days, another week started which we had been looking forward to for a while. At 9 o'clock we met at the station in Kortrijk to leave for the airport together. Our first flight to Oslo went well. As we got closer to Norway, we looked out of the window and saw the most amazing view, the landscape was breathtaking. On our second flight to Ålesund, there was a technical defect on the plane, which left us an hour late. When we arrived in Ålesund we took the Ferry to Sykkylven. We were met there by our host families, who received us warmly. After that we each went to our family's home and had something to eat there. Later in the evening, the girls and boys gathered separately to catch up. It was a fun first day with impressive views.
Monday 17/03
Today was our first ‘real’ day in Norway. We started the day with a short tour of the school, during which we could once see all the other people/friends we were told about. After this we worked on the project, which was about sustainability and eco-lighthouse where we had to write some interview questions. The whole project is about what companies are doing to improve their emissions etc. This went by quickly with some filled breaks too. In the afternoon, everyone gathered for dinner. In the afternoon we were split part to a factory to ask the questions and part at school to continue working. After this, we went home for a while and then ate Norwegian ‘tacos’ with the whole group, which are really just burritos. The evening ended with some talking together.
Tuesday 18/03
Hello! It’s already Tuesday today! First we went to the Næringsfabrikken, this is a place where they have offices and offer workshops. It had a very beautiful view. This morning half of the groups started with visiting companies and interviewing the managers about how they work around sustainability, the other groups were working on the site of how sustainable the companies are. Everyone had their own local factory. When it was lunch time we got some baked breads with Norwegian salmon and salami, some vegetables, jam and chocolate spread. In the afternoon the groups were switched, so the other groups went to some factories. In the evening we went to the city Ålesund (with the ferry) and we went to a trampoline park with our group of the Norwegians and Belgians. After that we went to Burger King. We will end the night chilling at someone’s place.
Wednesday 19/03
On Wednesday we did a lot of activities with the school. We started of our day by presenting our findings of the projectwork to the other groups. There were two classrooms so two groups could present at the same time. At around 10:30 we were done and we had to eat a really early lunch. Most of us tried out the salad bar in the canteen today. After that, we all went to the sports building to put on our sporty clothes so we could play a volleyball tournament. We lost the first game, but that’s okay because that team went on to be the big winner. We won all the rest of the games. We also played against our own exchange students, which was a lot of fun. During this activity we made a lot of new friends from all over the world, for example from Spain. Afterwards everyone went home to relax a bit before the food court. All the girls and our teachers gathered at the school to prepare our snacks and food and present it as nice as possible. The food court started of by a show made and performed by a class of the middle schoolers, which was really funny. A little while later, I (Joséphine) was called on stage because it was my birthday and everyone sang to me. Then we all got to enjoy the amazing foods from all over the world. After we ate as much as we could, it was time for all the different schools to present themselves. This part was a bit boring (except for the Belgian presentation ofcourse), but then a Norwegian teacher, all the girls and three boys went up on the stage and the teacher explained the meaning of the bunad, which is their traditional clothing. After learning about it, we all helped clean up the space and went home to rest for what will be an exhausting thursday.
Thursday 20/03
On Thursday, we went to the mountains with all the exchange students for a day of sledding. Everyone had brought their own gear to slide down the slopes, and it turned out to be an unforgettable experience—everyone had a fantastic time.
Around midday, we found a cozy spot in the mountains where we roasted our own sausages over an open fire, enjoying the stunning surroundings. After that, we made our way back to Sykkylven.
In the evening, we headed to Ålesund with the whole class for some shopping and dinner. MOA is the largest shopping center in the region, so there was plenty to explore. Later, we took the bus and ferry to Marcus’ place, where we ended the day with a relaxed and cozy get-together.
A truly perfect day in the far North!
Friday 21/03
Today we visited the beautiful city of Ålesund. Ålesund is a town that breathes Scandinavian culture and it looks like it too. The Norwegian teachers prepared a city game where, we had to take pictures of the certain things in the city. So, the game started off with climbing a 160-meter high hill, to get a great view of the city. It was a big effort to get to the top, but in the end it was most definitely worth it. Then after that we took some pictures with other statues, that were a little less interesting. After our visit, we caught the bus and ferry back to Sykkylven and went to Marcus’ house and played some poker. In the evening there was a party planned by all of the Norwegians participating in the exchange program. We first went to a pre-game at someone’s house in Valledal. It was so much fun and so beautiful that you could see the northern lights very well too. We went to the party and when we arrived it was so busy. The party was at an old school that wasn’t even bigger than our schools smallest classroom. The party was swiftly shut down, because way too many people showed up. That meant that we had to find a new place to party. The Norwegian people are very resourceful and quickly came up with a new plan, we went to another school in the Valledal. The whole evening was blissful.
Week 9 2025 Visiting Valletta Malta
Sunday 23/02
Today we went to Gozo, it’s a small island near Malta. We had to be in Valetta around 8:20 to take the ferry. We missed our first ferry so we had to wait another hour. This was absolutely no problem because the weather was really nice and we could wait in the sun. After 45 minutes on the ferry we arrived at Gozo. We went with a bus from place to place. We got to try a typical Maltese pastry with ricotta. It was really nice! Then we visited some kind of castle/ruin, the views were really pretty! After that we got to eat lunch by the sea. Next we did a mini “hike”, again amazing views! After that we took the ferry back to valetta! This boattrip was a nightmare for us because almost everyone got seasick. We ended the day with McDonalds back in Valetta. It was a really nice first day!
Monday 24/02
Monday we started our day at the school of Malta. First we played some games to get to know eachother with the students of Malta and Austria. Then we got a tour of the school. There are a lot of diffences with our school. After the tour some of us gave a presentation about Belgium, Waregem and our school. The students of Austria also did a presentation. Next we had a workshop time management. After the workshop we ate lunch and took the bus to Valletta. In Valletta we were divided in small groups and did a photo hunt. This was a nice way of exploring the city. Eventually we got some free time and we ended our day on a terrace with a lot of talking. We had a really nice day, with a lot of sun.
Tuesday 25/02
Today we started the day with a morning energiser. After this we had the first workshop of the day. It was about sashiko. It’s a Japanese sewing technique that you can do to relax. We started making our own bookcover for or booklets that we keep with us for the whole week. We will finish these on Thursday. After this, two guest speakers came to talk about an app they created called ‘Free hour’. They talked about the challenges they had and how important mental health is. It was a really interesting talk. After this we had a break. The last workshop of the day was about healthy life style habits. It was an interactive workshop which was really nice. In the afternoon, we went to Mdina and did a photo hunt. As we were discovering the old capital of Malta, we needed to take some pictures and make some videos. After the end of the hunt, we returned to the school with the bus. To end the day we went to Valletta and sat together on a terrace.
Wednesday 26/02
This morning, we started with an energiser, as usual. We had to stand in order according to our birthdates, but we had to make it happen without speaking. Next there was a workshop 'financial literacy' on our program. We listened to an explanation about types of income and expenses. We got to play a fun board game, where we had to make as much money as possible. In this workshop, we also had to invent a business and apply it to the business model. That was really interesting! When we were finished, we received our packed lunch for the day and headed to Majjistral National Park. There, we began our hike. It was really windy on the cliffs, but the views were breathtaking! Later on we settled on a little beach for a few minutes. Then we went back to Junior College by coach. In the evening, we went to drink something with the whole group in Valletta.
Thursday 27/02
We started the day with a game called 'human knot'.
After that, we finished our bookcovers for our booklets. It is a beautiful memory of the exchange with Malta. Between the workshop, we had a coffee break where we could eat local snacks from Austria and Belgium so there was a lot of new snacks we could try. Than we had a yoga session wich was really relaxing. In the afternoon we went to an arcadia where we played lasertag wich was so much fun! We then played some games in the arcardia itself. After that we would normally go to the beach and have a barbecue but it got canceled because it was raining. But the rain didn't stop is from having an amazing day and we went to a burger place intstead. To end the day we went to a shopping mall. It was an amazing day!
Friday 28/02
Today was already the last day of our amazing trip to Malta. We started the day with the last morning energiser, where we had to sit on each others lap in a circle, it was hard to stay balanced... After that we worked in groups around the theme "leadership", and how we can use our strengths to improve our daily life. It was very interesting! After that we had a delicious coffee break and continued with some games around the theme, like building a tower with marshmallows and spaghetti sticks in groups. The final activity at JC College was organised by the Maltese students. First we did the game "guess the song" against the Austrians and Maltese people, then we did Just Dance and karaoke. The vibes were so amazing and our relationship with the Maltese group became even better! In the evening we dressed up as pirates to go to the carnival in Valletta. It was so nice to see how everyone was having fun with their friends! It was the perfect activity to end this amazing week together with so many nice people around you! We have learned so much this week but above all, we made friends for life.
Week 9 2025 Visiting Sykkylven Norway
Friday 21/02
Our adventure to Norway started off with a lot of excitement. We, the class of 5S, took a plane first to Amsterdam, and then from there, we flew to Norway. The flight was comfortable, but we were all happy to finally reach our destination.
As we got closer to Norway, we looked out of the window and saw the most amazing view. The landscape was breathtaking, with mountains, lakes, and fields.
To reach the place were we were going to sleep we first had to take te boat.
Before we arrived, we went to the store to make some grocery.
When we arrived, we quickly made ourselves at home, setting up our beds and getting ready for the next day. After such a long journey, we were starving, so we treated ourselves to some delicious pizza. It was the perfect way to end the day, and we were all looking forward to the adventures ahead.
Sunday 23/02
Today was an amazing day! In the morning, we went skiing in a larger ski area than yesterday, which was a fun change. It was great to explore new slopes and enjoy the fresh mountain air. Around noon, we had a cozy picnic on the mountain. The sun was shining beautifully, creating a wonderful atmosphere, though later in the afternoon, the clouds started to roll in. After the picnic, we put our skis back on and skied some more. It was the perfect way to end the day on the slopes. In the evening, we were all hungry, and fortunately, Mathias, Augustin, and Yoran had made delicious hamburgers for us. After dinner, we had a blast with a fun karaoke session. Everyone joined in enthusiastically, and there were plenty of funny moments shared.
All in all, a fantastic day full of action, good food, and lots of fun!
Monday 24/02
Today started early when we got up and went to a local school. There, we took a pleasant walk, exploring the surroundings and enjoying the fresh air. After the walk, we had an interesting two-hour lesson about sleeping in nature. The instructor explained how we can sleep safely and comfortably under the open sky, even in the wild.
After the lesson, we returned to our chalet, where we prepared for an adventurous night in nature. We gathered all the necessary gear and made sure we were well-prepared for the overnight stay. As evening fell, we ventured into the wilderness and set up our sleeping bags under the stars. The peaceful night brought a sense of calm, and we ended the day with a restful sleep beneath the open sky.
It was an adventurous and educational day, one that not only brought us closer to nature but also gave us many new experiences.
Tuesday 25/02
After an adventurous night in the outdoors, we woke up in the morning and enjoyed our breakfast by the campfire. After breakfast, we returned to the chalet to prepare for a relaxing session in the sauna, where we let our sweat flow and fully unwound.
Later in the day, the group split up: most of us went to the local school, while the rest went shopping for groceries. After buying groceries we reunited at the school and spent some time having fun together.
In the afternoon, we headed to the Stranda ski resort. Most of us relaxed in the cafeteria, while others took the opportunity to go cross-country skiing. To end the day on a high note, we all gathered in the center of Stranda, where we took a group photo and enjoyed the amazing view. When we arrived back at the inn we freshened up while some cross-country skied around the lake.
Wednesday 26/02
Today we departed from the house for a nice hiking trip after a good breakfast. Once we arrived, a lot of us really didn't have the mood because it was early in the morning. After a heavy climb with a lot of breakes we finally arrived at our destination where we chatted a bit until the teachers arrived. Once they arrived, they gave us two options: you could wait and rest a bit or you could choose a early trip to one of the mountains for a nice view. After reaching the top we went back to the group that waited where we made a fire for the hotdogs. After everyone was done we began with the real hike. After walking an hour with much waiting because of some injured and tired students, we took a break where we filled our water bottles with snow because nobody had any water left from lunch. Eventually we reached the top where we enjoyed probably the best view off the entire trip and ofcourse we took some beautiful pictures. After that we had to go down. It took some long hours but it was all worth it. Once we where on the ground we bought some snacks to restore our energy and then we went back to the house. After a good meal, prepared by Bert en Linde, we just played some games and chatted for a bit. So, this was it for the day. We hope you enjoyed this blog.
Thursday 27/02
Our day started at 8 AM with a quick trip to Sykkelven to return the cross-country skis. Then, we headed to Ålesund for a refreshing swim, enjoying a few hours in the swimmingpool with tubes, bublebads, sauna’s and springboards before rushing back—only five minutes to get ready for our next adventure!
We joined the Norwegian students for a hike to a mountain top. The climb was tough, but the stunning view made it all worth it. On the top we made a small fire and ate hotdogs and smores while taking in the scenery, making the moment even mor e special.
The day ended perfectly: gathered around a cozy campfire with some pizza and drinks before heading to bed.
Friday 28/02
We woke up early at 7:30 AM and started by cleaning the inn, with each group assigned to clean their own room. Afterwards, we said goodbye to Sven, the landlord of the cabin. Then, we headed to a shopping center in Ålesund, taking the ferry as usual. We had about two hours to shop and enjoyed some delicious sushi there. After that, we went to the airport. The first flight was to Amsterdam, and the second one took us back to Brussels. This marks the end of an unforgettable trip. We made so many memories with the whole class, it was truly an amazing journey.
Week 7 2025 Visiting Vaasa Finland
Saturday 08/02
Today was the start of our big adventure! We met at Brussels Airport at 9:30 AM, and before heading off, we took a group photo to capture the moment. Our first flight, from Brussels to Helsinki, was really smooth and enjoyable. Everything went well—no major issues, and everyone was in a great mood.
Our second flight, from Helsinki to Vaasa, was even more special. As we ascended above the clouds, we were met with the most breathtaking sight—a golden sun shining above a sea of white clouds. It felt unreal, a little bit like a dream. We landed in Vaasa around 4:00 PM, and that’s when the nerves started kicking in. Meeting our exchange students felt exciting but also a little scary. But as soon as we arrived, those nerves quickly faded. Our host families welcomed us so warmly, making us feel right at home. It was a long day, but now it’s time to rest and get ready for whatever tomorrow brings.
Sunday 9/02
This day was a fun and eventful day. Today our exchange students could choose what we were going to do. First we went with some other exchange students to the sea and we were able to walk and ice skate on it. This was an incredible experience. Afterwards, I joined a family party at my exchange students’ summer house.
In the evening, there was an activity on the school with games like Uno, murder mystery, dodgeball... We also learned a traditional dance, which was really fun. To finish off the day, we went to the forest to make a campfire, where we all gathered and enjoyed the night together.
Monday 10/02
Today was an exciting day in our exchange project! We started by meeting at the school, where the head teacher welcomed us and provided some information. After that, students from the school gave us a tour, showing us around their classrooms and facilities.
Next, each country had the opportunity to present their homeland and school, which was really interesting and a great way to learn more about each other’s cultures. Before we knew it, it was time for lunch—sausage with mashed potatoes, which was absolutely delicious!
Tuesday 11/02
Today was another unforgettable day! We started with a skating workshop, which took place on a baseball field that had frozen over. It was an absolute blast! The host students taught us several tricks though not without a few falls along the way. We also played a lot of games with the whole group, which brought us even closer together.
In the afternoon, we had another workshop: making a short film in groups of four. It was a creative challenge which unfortunately was not for everyone.
In the evening, we attended an ice hockey game, an experience everyone should have at least once! It was simply spectacular and super cool to see. At times it was intense but that made it even more interesting and thrilling to watch. Even though the team lost, it was still an incredible day.
Wednesday 12/02
Today was an amazing day! We started by listening to an interesting talk about the Aurora Borealis and learned how it works. Then, we got some information about the Kvarken Natural Heritage Site, which we visited in the afternoon. When we arrived with the bus, we went on a long walk with several stops where we learned more about the area.
In the evening, we had a Finnish dish called makaronilåda (so delicious!). After that, we relaxed in the sauna and tried ice bathing, which was an exciting experience! We ended the day by playing some fun board games together. It was a really great day!
Thursday 13/02
We had a relaxing yoga session, which helped us wake up calmly and truly find our inner selves. It was such a peaceful way to start the morning.
For lunch, we had a traditional Finnish meal, meat soup. It wasn’t really my thing, but it was healthy and a great way to experience the local cuisine. In the afternoon, it was time for some culture! We visited two museums, which turned out to be really nice. My personal favorite artwork was a living room filled with floating furniture, it was so unique and creative! After this educational and inspiring day, we rushed home to get ready for the party! It was an absolute blast, and we had so much fun dancing and celebrating together. Another successful day in Finland. I can’t wait to see what’s next!
Friday 14/02
The day started with taking interesting Finnish lessons, everyone went along with their exchange student and experienced the course of a Finnish lesson. A large part of the class was present in French and actively participated to show our French skills. Even though the lessons lasted 75 minutes, we still held on. In the afternoon we got free time and spent it in the shopping center of Vaasa. After a stop at Espresso House and at the Hess Burger, we got ready for the beautiful and cozy farewell dinner. We listened to talented students who played beautiful pieces of music in an authentic room. We enjoyed a nice meal and unfortunately said goodbye to the Italian and Spanish students.
This morning after an extensive breakfast and an emotional farewell, we flew back home. Tired and satisfied we look back on this fantastic adventure.
Week 6 2025 Visiting Budapest Hungary
Sunday 02/02
Today we went out with the group, but without Lio, Julie and their students. They had already prepared a different schedule than the group of our students, which was a shame. There was no real planning in the morning. Some slept in, others visited a small village and walked around there. In the afternoon we had something to eat together in the mall and then we took the bus to a chairlift. We took it up to a height of about 527 meters. Once we reached the top we visited a lookout tower that was about 23.5 meters high. Here we had a very nice view and we took some nice pictures. After our visit we went back down the chairlift and everyone went home. In the evening there was again a divided planning. A large part of the group went to watch a football match between the Ferencvaros team against MTK Budapest, and another part went to a place to play billiards. The intention was to meet again after the match, but unfortunately this did not happen. In short, it was a nice first day and we already saw a beautiful part of the city, hopefully the rest of the week will be just as nice!
Monday 03/02
Today we saw the school for the first time. There we did project work on mental health. Together with your partner and another group you worked out a theme you were given and we will have to present this on Friday. In the afternoon we took a class on traditional folk dance. We learned the typical Hungarian dances and also got to show our dances (‘t smidje, pick a bale of coton...). At 3pm we finished school and had free time. Together with vicky (my exchange student) and ellemarie (and her exchange student), we went to eat crumble cookies in town. After that, I got the chance to meet vicky's grandparents. I ad a typical Polish dish there (her grandmother is Polish), it was super tasty and I am very glad I got to know them. After school, some people also went home to rest a bit and get ready for the evening. The other part of the group, met up around 17h30 and went ice skating on a big slope next to the castle. Afterwards they went for a drink in a cheap bar where they drank some shots and some longdrinks!
Tuesday 04/02
Tuesday morning we explored the city centre. We searched for statues where we had to take photos. We walked past Buda Castle and old Churches. We were divided in 3 big groups, Hungarians combined with our students. The view at Fisherman Bastion was breathtaking. It was a bit cold, 2 degrees, but with the sun it was pleasant. After that we had lunch at school, macaroni. In the afternoon there was a boat trip planned. The cruise on the Danube was spectacular. We passed the Parliament and Margaret Island. Then our group split, some went to Macdonald’s and Széhenyi Thermal Baths and the others went shopping.
Everyone liked the baths. There was a big outdoor pool and you could go inside for an ice bath or a sauna. The old buildings made you feel like you’re in Rome. Thereafter we reunited en had drinks and food at Szimpla. An area with many bars and restaurants. We enjoyed the day!
Wednesday 05/02
We went to school today and worked on the project (created PowerPoints and videos). After that, we did yoga, and for some, it didn’t go as smoothly. After yoga, we had lunch (it wasn’t very good). During the break, we played cards for a short time and then continued working on the project. Around 2 PM, we did sports, starting with dodgeball, followed by volleyball, and of course, we played soccer. After changing clothes, the school day was over, and we went with everyone to a pasta bar. After that Lio (and Balint) and Floor (and Ansci) went to the park to make the videos for their project while the rest went shopping. After that, it was time to head to the escape rooms, where there were 3 groups. We all managed to escape! After the escape rooms, we went to a bar called ‘Szimpla,’ where we had a drink together.
Thursday 06/02
Thursday was a really fun day. we started the day with a nice piece of cake for my eighteenth birthday. Then we were visited by blind guide dogs. We learned a lot and were allowed to pet the dogs at the end. then we continued working on the project work. lunch was okay. then we immediately left for the music museum, which we were first allowed to discover ourselves. Afterwards we were given 1.5 hours of free time and then we returned to the museum to enjoy some quiet music for half an hour. We end the evening with a nice meal together in a Spanish restaurant. To end the day we visited the citadel. From there we had a beautiful view of Budapest in the dark with all the lights. And there was also a good vibe as always.
Friday 07/02
And just like that, it was our last day in Budapest, with two challenges ahead: a group presentation in front of an audience and an evening farewell party!
The morning greeted us with sunny blue skies and crisp, invigorating air.
We first gathered at our headquarters and, as usual, started by sharing our tales from the night before. The students had been out in town together and clearly had plenty to recount! Unfortunately, Louise and Aliz had been busy with other plans—they had spent three hours at the police station obtaining a document to declare the loss of Louise’s wallet (which contained her ID, among other things). Meanwhile, we teachers had gone out for traditional Hungarian food.
After our morning chitchat, everyone got back to work, finalizing their presentations—except for Louise, who was now at the embassy with Ms. Vandenbussche and one of the Hungarian teachers. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, and she received a brand-new passport, allowing her to return home with the rest of the group. Phew! How she lost her wallet remains a mystery. Perhaps her Mary Poppins bag swallowed it up at some point!
Around noon, we moved to a larger room where we had the chance to see every group
Week 6 2025 Visiting La Spezia Italy
Saturday 01/01
The first day we headed to our destination La Spezia. After a pleasant lunch, three friendly parents took the initiative to take us to Charleroi airport. Once here, everything went very smoothly; after we had checked in our luggage and passed through check-in, it was time to wait. A small snack came in handy here. Once this was finished, we could also start queuing up to scan our ticket. Then we could take off! After a smooth flight and a slightly less smooth landing, we left the plane and took the train from Pisa to La Spezia. Once here, the roads split, some went home to start the week with enough energy and others had another step in the world. All in all, a successful first day and we were all looking forward to the week ahead!
Sunday 02/02
Today, a visit to the beautiful city of Florence was on the agenda. The day started around 8 am with breakfast and some introductions to the family. Then we went to La Spezia station and took the train to Florence. After about 3 hours we arrived and the day could really begin. We started our visit with a local speciality, namely an Italian sandwich shop. After this tasty lunch, we went sightseeing in the city with highlights being the doom of Florence which was really phenomenal, as was the viewpoint and Ponte Vecchio, a famous bridge with shop windows and little houses. To end our visit, we went to the central square and had a drink on a terrace before returning home. After another 3h on the train, we arrived in La Spezia and it was time for dinner with the host family. To end a successful day, there was some time to get to know the family a bit better and relax a bit.
Monday 03/02
Today we went to the school in la Spezia where you can study tourism and IT for the first time. First of all, we visited the classes of our exchange students and then we flew straight in and were working on our assignment on sustainability. In the afternoon, we had a nice meal of pizza together and were able to take a nice walk in the bright sunshine along porto mirabello. Later that afternoon, we also went to the Tecnico Navale della museum where you could learn more about the Italian Navy's Special Forces. As the last part of the day, we went to support an exchange student's basketball match. I'll be back tomorrow with more news of our adventures, greetings from la Spezia.
Tuesday 04/02
Today was for me the best one so far.I woke up at 7:30 and took the train to La Spezia because i live quite far.We went to the Casini, this is a cooking school wich is very known in the city.There is only a limited amount of students that can get in this school.The young chefs showed us how to make pesto in the traditional way.We could taste it with freshly baked bread.Then it was our turn to make it.At the end of the day, the Belgians made the best pesto. 😎After that the students made us lunch and it was delicioso. In the afternoon we went to another city where we had some free time.I liked the city La Spezia more.We ate ice cream and talked a lot.I think i will speak Italian fluently at the end of the week.In the evening, the mother of my exchange student made minestrone, this is a typical Italian soup.For me this is the best day of the week, especially because i love cooking!
Wednesday 05/02
On Wednesday, we visited 3 of the 5 tourist towns of cinque terre, in the region of La Spezia. Our first stop was Manarola, where we took a sunny walk along the steep coast and had a great view of the terraces used for wine growing. Particularly striking here was the many cacti along the road. Indeed, many couples often hold a picnic or romantic date here at sunset, carving their initials into the cacti as a reminder. Our 2nd stop was Monterosso, where we ate our lunch by the sea, had some pizza in a small bistro and visited the colourful town. Our final destination was Vernazza, where we first relaxed at the pebble beach. Then we went up the steep steps to reach a high point at a monument, where we paused and enjoyed the view. To finish, we ate an ice cream with the whole group, then took the train back to La Spezia!
Thursday 06/02
Our day started at 8am at school in La Spezia. There, during the morning, we worked in groups of 4 on project work on the differences between Italy and Belgium. Afterwards, one of the Italian students presented Portovenere, which we would visit in the afternoon. Then we had to do a quiz on the presentation. Around 10am there was a short break during which we had typical Italian things like pizza, focaccia and coffee cakes. During the afternoon, we left by bus to the city centre for dinner and then we went to the nature park. There we were able to enjoy the beautiful surroundings together. As we walked, we had a view of the beautiful sea and visited several churches and little harbours. In the evening, we stayed for a while to socialise with everyone in the city centre.
Friday 07/02
Let's go home!
Week 5 2025 Hosting Sykkylven (Norway), Pamplona (Basque Country), Buzau (Romania) and Riga (Latvia) to Waregem.
Week 5 2025 Hosting Sykkylven (Norway), Pamplona (Basque Country), Buzau (Romania) and Riga (Latvia) to Waregem.
Find the official program here:
Find the official program here:
Week 4 2025 Visiting Pamplona Basque Country
First day of Pamplona! Friday 17/02
Hello! I’m Pampi the bear and i’m taking you on a trip with me! Me and my friends were very excited for our exchange to Pamplona!
When we arrived at the airport we had to take a picture with the famous board ofcourse. After a bit of waiting it was finally time to get on the plane. It was a nice flight and i sat by the window. Me and my friends got on the bus when we arrived in Bilbao. After a two hour ride we finally got to meet our exchangestudents in real life! They were so nice and welcomed us in their homes. In the evening we went on a little walk to the famous “Estafeta” street and had a snack called “Bocadillos”. After that we were all a bit tired of the long trip and head home to go to bed so we have enough energy to survive tommorow! See you then!
Saturday 18/02
Hello! Pampi, the bear here. Today was a very learnfull and nice day. During the day, we split up in different groups, some groups went to the beach others went to caves and the rest went to visit castles in a beautifull village called Olite. We learned a lot of history of pamplona, and we learned about the different traditions. At noon, we ate ‘croquetas de jamon’ and other local dishes. In the evening we went to a big shopping mall, together with the group and we did some shopping. For dinner we were free to choose, and we ate burgers and taco’s. Tomorrow we are visiting a very nice city, but that is for later. Good night
Sunday 19/02
Here I am again, Pampi! What a day. In the morning the whole group gathered at the foot af a mountain. When we arrived at the top we could see a monument and had a beautiful view where we took some pictures. After a half hour ride we arrived at a little village which is know for a few books and films who are made there and we saw a clear cascade! After that we ate with the parents and the whole group some delicious appetizers and meals. Some friends went to a football match after that and ofcourse I had to go to! At the end it was 1-1 but it was really worth it to see that many people in their element. After the match we went home, ate something. I’m so ready to finally see the school tomorrow! See you there!
Monday 20/01
Hi everyone! Pampi is back! Today I had my first day in the Basque highschool, San Fermin Ikastola. The school is laid in the woods and consists of a kindergarten, primary school and secondary school. We started of by presentations of Pamplona, Waregem and Sykkylven. Then we had to form groups and work on the project of the Harvard Food Plate, where we compared our school menu’s. After that we had a nice dinner and in the afternoon the Basque students dressed in traditional clothing and they showed us how they danced. I really enjoyed the show! When the show was finished, we had our Food Court, where we had to present the food of our country. We brought ‘rode neuzekes’, ‘vanillepudding’, ‘chokotoff’… and the Basque people brougt a lot of different ham’s… and the Norwegean people brought salmon. What a nice feast. Now I am enjoying some family-time with my Basque family. See you tomorrow!
Tuesday 21/01
Me,Pampi, again! It was a very fun day, let me tell you about it! First we went to the school and the teachers told us what the day would bring. After a one hour ride in the bus we arrived in Donosti. We went to the market were we saw different kinds of vegetables and some beautiful flowers. When we had done our project my friends and I went to the voast to see a magical sight. There we took some groupphotos! In the afternoon we were free! 🤩 Some friends went to a pintxos bar and went shopping after it. In the evening the whole group drank something in a bar called Iruña! A hour later we went to eat some pizza and then we went home to get some sleep! I had a blast! See you tomorrow!
Wednesday 22/01
Hey everyone! Pampi the bear here. Today was a very nice and calm day. First we arrived at school and we worked on our Harvard Foodplate project, which we present tomorrow. At 13:30 we had the option to go home or to eat at School. I went home! At 16:00 I arrived in Pamplona for a guided tour around the beautifull city. We saw the park, ancient buildings and much more. We also saw the famous ‘San Fermin’ route, where the bulls run every year from the 6th untill the 14 th of July. At around 17:30 we were free to do whatever and we celebrated the birthday of a friend. What a nice ending of this day. See you tomorrow!
Thursday 23/01
Hello everyone, Pampi once again. Today was a quite sad day. I’ll tell you why. At School we presented our Harvard Food Plate Project with our group. I had some stress, but everyone did so well! After all our presentations, we were free. Some went home to do a Siesta, other got their nails done. Around 19:30 we all gathered in Pamplona to eat and drink something together, as it is our last full day here. This week really was the best week, and I had so much fun.
Week 46 2024 visit Martina Franca, Budapest and La Spezia to Waregem
Week 46 2024 visit Martina Franca, Budapest and La Spezia to Waregem
An unforgettable week. Getting to know each other, talking with each other, playing and dancing together, eating together. It takes courage to open yourself and your heart to strangers. But slowly or suddenly strangers become friends, friends work together and achieve great and amazing things!
Great news!
Our Erasmus year has officially started. Our first activities are scheduled for Week 46 from 11 to 15 November. During this week, we will receive at school 3 delegations from Italy and Hungary. We will spend a week working with schools from La Spezia, Martina Franca and Budapest, on the theme of sustainability in the textile industry. Students will reflect on consumption behaviour around clothing and the impact of the textile industry on sustainability in general. The pupils will explore how we can have an impact on sustainability within the daily functioning of the school.
A draft of the program is listed below. Beware: Last minute changes may occur.
Registration officially closed. The final selection list is to be found here.
More info on groups and destinations will be provided end of September. Happy Holidays! Travel, move, play, explore, read, enjoy and feed your soul.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” — From The Innocents Abroad / Roughing It.
Mark Twain
Is Waregem getting too small for you? Flanders too tiny for your aspirations? Is our complex country of Belgium not even varied enough for your multifaceted ambitions? Are you dreaming of studying abroad? Getting to know other European students? Good news! Your dreams can come true with Erasmus+.
We know it sounds adventurous and takes a bit of courage, but... . As Mark Twain said a long time ago:
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover!
Make sure you do not miss this unique opportunity.
I'm not sure yet, can you convince me?
We know we will not convince you. Maybe your fellow students that took part in the program last year, will. Take a look at our evaluation page. 174 participants from last year gave their opinion! More than 90% of the participants would do this again and more than 87% would strongly recommend this educational adventure!!
Week 17 2024 Hosting Vaasa Finland, Valetta Malta and Istanbul Turkey.
Monday 22/04
Hello everyone, on monday we started the day with some get to know games, then we gave the exchange students a tour of our school and after that a tour of our beautiful city Waregem. When we came back, we listened to the presentation of the Finnish people and then we were all hungry so we ate meatballs in tomato sauce with mashed potatoes. Mmm.
After lunch we had some chill time and then we learned more about Malta in the presentation of the Maltese people! In the afternoon, the group was divided into three and we did three different sessions using a pass-through system. We had an emoji theater session, where we learned to improvise. We also had a singing session, where we sang fun songs like We Found Love by Rihanna. We also had a sports session where we played dodgeball. In the evening, we did a food court and it was delicious!
Tuesday 23/04
Wednesday 24/04
On wednesday we showed our exchange students the beautiful city Bruges. After we arrived by train we immediately took a boat trip to see the canals and all the tiny corners of Bruges. At noon we were free to go out for lunch and that was then followed by a tour around the brewery of Bourgogne des Flandres, where we also got to taste and mix typical Belgian beers. To end the day we could walk around the city to search for some artworks.
Thursday 25/04
Friday 26/04
We ended the week with a trip to Brussels.
In the morning, we visited the parlementarium, where we learned interesting facts about the EU and the workings of the European Parliament.
After a midday break in the heart of Brussels, it was time for the city game. Together with the exchange students, we looked for landmarks worth seeing during a relaxing walk through the city. The weather was also good, making the day very successful in the end.
Week 16 2024 Visiting Pamplona Basque Country
Monday 15/04
Monday was the first day and we worked on our project work. In this, we had to do research work around the school menus of the different schools. Not only the menus, but also the times. In this way, we came to the conclusion that it is a bit different for everyone, but at the end of the day everything is on the same line. In the afternoon, we were given a powerpoint and also given about the cities and countries where the schools are located. Finally, the parents of the host families came to the school once again, as a food-court was organised. This allowed us to taste some food from the different cultures. From Belgium as well as from Norway and the Basque Country.
Tuesday 16/04
Today we started with a conference on nutrition. Later on we worked on the project till noon. After we had lunch in school, we took the bus to Iruña (Pamplona). We saw the statue of San Fermin and also the bullring. There we played a game to explore the city. We finished with some free time.
Wednesday 17/04
Thursday 18/04
On thursday, our day began with a session working on our project on healthy eating in small groups. Tomorrow, we are scheduled to present our conclusions using a Canva poster, synthesizing our findings and recommendations.
Following our project work, we left on an exciting journey to Donostia, also known as San Sebastian, via bus. Our Bask peers graciously guided us through, showcasing the highlights of this stunning coastal city.
We were granted the afternoon to explore the city at our leisure. Some of us opted for strolls along the charming streets, while others seized the opportunity for a refreshing swim in the waters of the bay.
As evening descended, we reconvened for a period of family time.
In summary, our day in San Sebastian was a perfect blend of learning, exploration, and relaxation.
Friday 19/04
Today, on Friday, presentations were on the agenda. Throughout the week, we've been examining some eating habits from Norway, the Basque Country, and Flanders. Additionally, we reached some conclusions regarding healthy meals and encapsulated them in a Canva poster. All groups excelled in this presentation task. Bravo!
Saturday 20/04
For us Flemish, the end is almost here. This afternoon, we will walk to the tourist area and kick off our final evening. Some will spend it with their host families, others with (Basque) friends. We've enjoyed a rewarding week, immersed in a new culture. We're grateful to our parents and school for enabling us to experience this. We also extend our thanks to our Basque peers and Ikastola San Fermin for their hospitality and the warmth with which we were welcomed.
Week 12 2024 Visiting Budapest Hungaria
Monday 18/03
Today was our first day of school. First we got some info about the week and the "photo contest".
Afterwards we got a schooltour from our student. Then we got an interesting demonstration about guiding dogs.
Then we got an introduction about our project work, and we got some time to work on this.
Then we took part in some traditional dance lessons with a part of the school from the enthusiastic folk dance teacher.
Then we enjoyed the school lunch.
In the afternoon we got a tour around the historic center of Budapest from the history teacher of our students, then we went on a nice cruise on the Danube, where we saw the presidential residence, the parliament and other beautiful monuments, we visited the basilica and the opera, then we all ended the day on a nice terrace
Tuesday 19/03
Today, we took the train to Székesfehérvár( a lovely town that used to be royal residence as capital of Kingdom of Hungary during history). After that we an amazing tour from mister Daniel who told us a lot about the history of the town. We also saw a ruin of a church and some apartments who were build in the time that the Soviet Union were boss of the country.
We ate at a small vegan restaurant, it was something new for us but it was a good experience.
Than we went to a animal shelter called “Herosz”, where they keep dogs, cats and birds. We got a lovely tour from the owner who explained how they take care of the animals. All the animals that they keep, were left on the street or abused at home. We also met a parrot and turtle. We donated some food for the animals for supporting the business. At the and of the day, we took the train back and had an amazing evening.
Wednesday 20/03
Today we worked on our project work about charities and social work. The Belgian students also did there presentation about charity in their school. There was also a lady who came to the school to talk about poverty in the villages in Hungary. Her goal was to bring awareness to us about this. We had to brainstorm in different groups about how to solve this problem. After that we had to present our ideas to the whole group. Then we went to the parliament and visited the whole building. We got a guide who told us everything that we had to know and showed us the crown jewels. It was very beautiful and shiny with all the gold decorations as you can see on the pictures. After that the Hungarian teacher showed us some other monuments and buildings and told there stories.
Thursday 21/03
On Thursday, when we arrived at the school, we had our second folk dance class with some other Hongarians. Then two women from "Amigos" came to speak. They are volunteers for an association that helps children in hospital. Then we had time to work on our projects. Then we had a delicious lunch. After lunch a lady came and told us about the Tempus Public Foundation. She talked about Eurodesk and what you can do as a student for travel and she told us that you can travel with this organisation in the whole of Europe and what the different options were that you can take. After that we danced with Hungarians in the sports hall. We also played a soccer game with the Hungarians and that was really fun. After that we went with the tram to the Buda Castle where we walked a lot and where you had stunning views over Buda and Pest. We also got information about some statues and buildings. We took some pictures of the most beautiful view you have here in Budapest. After that we had free time and we did some things together.
Friday 22/03
Today was our last day of school, today we had to present our presentation which we had worked on all week. First we practiced our presentation infront of our groups. Today there was an Art week and we could watch the dance competition in the gym, after that we had to present our presentation in front of 70 people. After the presentation we got our certificate. After that we had lunch and the food was very good. after that we also had a fun dance class with the dance teacher and we took a group picture with her. after the dance class school was done and we went to fashion street where we did some shopping. after the fashion street we went bowling with the whole group and ended the day on a nice terrace.
Week 12 2024 Visiting Martina Franca Italy
Sunday 17/03
From Waregem to Martina Franca, in the heel of Italy, took us two hours by plane and one more hour in a small van. We arrived quite late, around half past nine pm, but it didn't prevent our hosts from giving us a guided tour through the old historical town with a late night meal on top of that. In other words, it wasn't easy to go to bed...
Monday 18/03
Today was our first real day in Martina Franca, Italy. We started our journey by doing some icebreaking activities to make us feel comfortable. We had to trust the others in order to create a bond for the rest of the week. Then we ate a social lunch, which means that every delegation brought some food, typical for their region. It was very tasty! In the afternoon, we played a city game to explore the beautiful city of Martina Franca.
A perfect way to start our trip!
Tuesday 19/03
In the morning we had project work on how to improve the sustainable policy of the school. In the afternoon, we took the train to Tarente, where we attended a unique exhibition on underwater archeology. Then we visited an old castle used as a fortress. We also had time to explore the city on our own, so we did just that. After the excursion, there was plenty of dancing in Martina Franca's gymnasium. That was our 2nd and again sunny day.
Wednesday 20/03
On Wednesday, we did a workshop on sustainability in the morning and for this we were divided into four different parties. During the break, there were lots of typical Italian sweets for us to eat. For lunch, we ate focaccia together. Then we took the train towards Alberobello, a beautiful town here in Puglia. The town is full of trullis, which are little white houses with a cone-shaped roof, it was really beautiful!! We also ate a real Italian ice cream there. In the evening, we then went to Claudia's house and they organised a 'cooking lab'. So we made our own meatballs the Italian way together, it was delicious! We also played a few games together that evening. We had lots of fun!
Thursday 21/03
In the morning we had to present our project work. In the afternoon we visited Lecce, a town in southern Italy. We walked around the old town and had a meal on-site. The restaurant where we ate with our group had walls completely filled with nice texts from customers. At the end, we were allowed to write our own texts. After that, we got back on the bus and headed to Otranto, where we also enjoyed the historic center and the beautiful sea. After a nearly three-hour drive, we had a family night. Were I went to a restaurant with my exchange student's family.
Week 11 2024 Visiting Constanta Romania
Sunday 10/03
Today we traveled to Constanta. It was quite a long trip. Six o'clock in the morning we left at the school gate. We went by car as far as Charleroi. Then we took the plane to Bucharest and the bus until Constanta. When we arrived in Constanta we went for dinner with the group and another evening walk. This way we already got a good idea of the city. Afterwards we were all happy to go to sleep because it was quite an exhausting day.
Monday 11/03
Today we saw our school in Constanta for the first time! First, we went over the schedule and took some photos inside the school. We were given a tour of the school and saw a lot: a botanical garden, catacombs from Roman times, even maths exercises. A volleyball match in the gym could not be missing from the tour! Afterwards, Luka & Vincenzo gave a presentation on our school and we compared the two school systems. Then it was time for lunch (McDonalds) and we all really enjoyed our meal. In the afternoon, we did a 'treasure hunt' to discover & explore the city some more. As a reward, we all got a sweet.
After this, we did a 'terrasje' with Belgian Stella and returned to get everything ready for the 'food court' We tried Romanian food and it was much tastier than we expected! Then it was time to end the day with a nice drink on the roof of a building!
Tuesday 12/03
Today we started the day at 9am at school. We discussed a bit about our project and left the school at 10am to go to the mall. A comparison had to be done between the thrift shops and the high-end shops. After that we were free in the mall and we could go to any shop we like. We did a bit of shopping and afterwards we took the bus back, because we had a reservation at the bowling. It was a pleasant evening and when we arrived back home everyone had a delicious meal waiting for them.
Wednesday 13/03
Today we started the day in the early hours, as we had to get up around 4 am for a trip to the capital, Bucharest. After a bus ride of about 3 hours, we arrived at a royal palace on the outskirts of the city. There we were given a tour of the various historic and slightly newer rooms. We then visited the tropical greenhouses in Bucharest. Finally, we arrived in the city centre where we had lunch first. After walking through and past several historical buildings such as the Romanian Atheneum, we took the bus back towards Constanta. There we arrived at 20:30 after which we went straight home to spend the evening with our host family.
Thursday 14/03
Today we started the day with some field work. We had to interview locals about their opinions and experience with shopping sustainable. We were even rewarded with an Erasmus diploma. After working realy hard we got to play basketbal and volleyball. After these activities we had lunch. In the afternoon we visited a historical museum about Greek and Latin ruins. We also visited an orthodox church. We ended the day with dinner at a local pub, where we ate amazing burgers!
Friday 15/03
At 9AM we gathered at the school to take the bus to Danube Delta (Tulcea). We were on the bus for 2 hours to drive from the town to the Danube Delta. Once we arrived we took a boat trip. After the trip we ate a fish dish in a local restaurant that was prepared in a traditional way. We took the bus back at 3:30 PM. Once we arrived back in Constanta, we visited the Black Sea for the last time and then ended the trip in the rooftop café.
Saturday 16/03
Today we woke up after a fun night at the bar. We went to the bus station to go to the airport, at that moment we said goodbye to our Romanians who welcomed us, guided us, supported us and with whom we spent good and funny moments. We will definitely miss them. Arriving at the airport, we went through the border control which was very annoying but it happened fast. At the checkpoint, two of our group were stopped for no reason, not a big deal but quite annoying! Then we left and arrived on time, what a relief!
Week 11 2024 Visiting Sykkylven Norway
Sunday 10/03
On Sunday, we woke up early and we had breakfast. And we were brought to the sports centre. There we did wall climbing, played football and it was Belgium against Norway. Of course the Belgians won🤫. We also went to the gym. We immediately got into the physical health theme. Then we watched Zulte-Waregem. After this we went swimming in the fjord and took a sauna. The water was freezing cold though. We also did a beach walk with sunset. Finally, we went for ice cream with everyone and then went to sleep.
Monday 11/03
Today we went to the Norwegian school for the first time. we got a tour of the school. we thought it was a very nice and fun school. we received an introduction about our project work, after the introduction we went to work. everyone worked on their part of the sports research in groups. we had 2 hours of family time, we could enjoy delicious Norwegian food. In the afternoon we were able to prepare our food court. We, the Belgians, have chosen to make one of our national specialties, Belgian waffles. Belgium and the Basque Country gave a nice presentation about the cultural traditions and other customs of our country. The Norwegians have introduced us to a beautiful tradition, namely their fun folk dances. Here a boy dances with a girl in uniforms. Thanks to this day and evening we had the opportunity to discover new cultures in a fun way.
Tuesday 12/03
Today we got up early to go on a citytrip to Ålesund. We started our day with a visit to the university of NTNU. There we got an interesting guided tour around the campus. After lunch we went on a hike in the mountains, which gave us a breathtaking view over the city of Ålesund. After that we got some free time to explore the city. In the evening, our exchange students took us to a football game of the team from Sykkylven, which they won!
Wednesday 13/03
Hello, today we had another very nice day ahead of us. First we went cross country skiing and lots and lots of people fell. When we reached the top, we made campfires and roasted some sausages on them to make hot dogs. We also roasted some marshmallows. Unfortunately, it started raining so we headed back. This was scarier and even more people fell. In the evening, we met up at a restaurant, and we all enjoyed some nice burgers. Looking forward to what's planned for tomorrow.
Thursday 14/03
The day began with our project work for erasmus plus and we were finishing it up for the presentations the day after. After school we resten a bit until we had to go on the ferry to Ålesund because we were going to a trampoline park! We really enjoyed it and it was a really nice physical activity :) When our time at the trampoline park was over, we went to the Burger King and some other ones went to eat sushi! The day ended with some going home to relax and rest for the following productive day, while others.
Friday 15/03
Today, we finished the projectwork with a presentation about what we investigated. We already got finished with this at 11 am. So we had a lot of time left to spend with the family. Some of us tried a famous norwegian dish, it looked very strange but it taste rather good. In the evening, they organised a party for all the exchange students.
Week 11 2024 Visiting La Spezia Italy
Saturday 09/03
Today we got up early for a trip to La Spezia. After a long car ride and a flight of 1h30 we landed in Pisa. There we took the train to La Spezia and we were well received by the Italian students. Then the girls started eating an Italian gelato. Of course, a good Italian pizza cannot be missed at dinner. Finally, to end the evening, we went out in the center of La Spezia. We went to Piazetta del Bastione. This is a place where the local youth gather at night to hang out and drink something.
Sunday 10/03
We rose early for a day trip to Florence, hopping on the train at 7 a.m. After a two-hour journey, we arrived at Santa Maria Novella station. Our itinerary included must-see sights like the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Giotto's Campanile in Piazza del Duomo, followed by statues like Michelangelo's David at Piazza della Signoria. We strolled across Ponte Vecchio, took in the beauty of the Arno River, and then enjoyed a hearty Italian meal at a cozy restaurant in the market square. The food was amazing. It started raining so we went in the shops. After a few hours we had a drink.
After some more shopping, we headed back, weary but content, for a family evening and an early night's rest before our next adventure.
Monday 11/03
Today was a busy day at school! First, we arrived at the school and listened to presentations from students from Italy and Spain. We were all ears as they shared insights about their cultures and experiences. After that, it was our turn to shine as we delivered our own presentation. It felt empowering to share our knowledge with others. Following the presentations, we were given a tour of the school, which was quite enlightening. We got to explore different classrooms, facilities, and learn about the school's history. It was fascinating to see how education is approached in a different country. Then, it was time for lunch, and we treated ourselves to some delicious pizza at a local restaurant. The flavors were exquisite, and it was a perfect break from the busy day.
After lunch, we headed to the city of La Spezia for some sightseeing. We wandered through the streets, admiring the architecture and soaking in the vibrant atmosphere. We even had some time for shopping.As the evening approached, we found ourselves at a charming bar by the harbor. The view was breathtaking, and the ambiance was just what we needed to unwind after a long day of activities. We chatted, laughed, and enjoyed each other's company as we watched the sun set over the water.
It was a fantastic day filled with new experiences and unforgettable moments!
Tuesday 12/03
Today in the morning, we continued working on our project work on natural parks again. Afterwards, we had a Conference with CNR La Spezia, Prof.ssa Silvia Merlino. In the afternoon, we then aired together at the port and enjoyed the sunshine. For the afternoon, they then planned activities along the Marinella beaches with CNR: coastal erosion with drones.
Wednesday 13/03
The night is near and my thoughts go to you. I think of you as the hermit, withdrawn from the hustle of this world, its misleading fame, concentrating on a daily task, which involves precise labour and a daily aim. I think of you, Fra Michele, in your Alps, tucked away, by choice and taste, Hyeronimus in his mountainous cave, counting the hours, under an inhospitable and yet comforting rock.
You are right again. Italy sweeps you off your feet and questions any notion you might have carefully built, of order, purpose and proportion. Italy is, in many ways, the metaphor of the passion process. You are settled, you are confident, you have it all. You are strong and rooted, with no particular need, a clear view of what's to come. And it happens, unforeseen, immense and uncontrollable! You don't understand what is happening, you take it in, it's unsettling, ominous and too powerful. But it's inviting, attractive. It is witchery and trickery. Divine and sublime. Awful at heart. It aches and pleases.
We took a train in LaSpezia. With a few other hundreds of tourists, hungry for the mythical Cinque Terre, some promised land, only accessible via modern ways. Groups gathered around their guides on the too narrow platform. Our guide, some kind of modern monk, leading his flock through the dangers of railways. A short, bulky, middle-aged woman with very red hair, summoning a herd of French people, getting on and off the train, at command.
The train speeds up, goes through a tunnel. Caro shouts with amazement. Between two tunnels, the sea explodes with blues and whites in our door window, and is gone again. Four girls with their mobile phones glued to the pane, ready to record the beauty of the world! Such candour and curiosity! Isn't it beautiful to witness how people still can wow at the vision of the simple, blue sea!
In Manarola, to il mare (which is masculine, dixit Michela; il mare è bellissimo), to rocks and waves and back again, struck by the magnificence of the coloured houses, stacked above the water, facing the sun with defiance! Gathering up together as in conspiracy. Posing, vainly.
Vernazza, streets of lemons and gelato! Of smiling, dancing girls, eating ice cream at noon, in contended postures!
Monterosso, the red devil's den, mocking you. You arrive on a pretty mall and stroll about, unguarded. But the path goes up and takes you to the real mount. You are shipwrecked in a walled village. There is no escape to the sea, no escape to the rocks behind. More eating, an octopus finished its journey on your plate. More ice cream, because you must. Un orzo con latte, per favore. I am exploring, forgive me.
And as the sun menaces to disappear behind the giant's hill, a tsunami of tensions surges from nowhere. The Belgians do not understand the Italians. Plans were made and disrupted. New plans are being made and being rearranged. Groups unmingle.
And me, on a bench, in the sun, basking in my idleness, enjoying doing nothing but being here and now, with no plan, no expectation, but the will to seize, grasp, store the sea, the sun, the light. Please, do not go away too quickly! Let me finish my sentence! My phrasing of the moment!
It takes old age, pleasures and pains, to understand the necessity of stopping to expect. So that when it comes, it can question your balance and let you fall with confidence!
Fra Michele! What's that smile on your face? Can you hear my voice? I am close, I am closer. I whisper Ligurian sceneries in your ear.
The sky must be so full of stars above the colder sea at night. And we smile accordingly, imagining them above 5 proud villages.
Yours, pentagonally*****
Thursday 14/03
Today we started the day by finishing our project work. Our project work is a presentation about natural parks, this is the theme of the week. After all the hard work we got some free time and decided to go to the shopping center 'La Terrazza' with everyone. It was very cozy here and we could eat something outside on the terrace in the sun. After this excursion we were expected back at school to take the bus to 'Portovenere'. After the bus ride with beautiful views we arrived in the town. The first thing we did was take a walk to the top of the town, the view here was so spectacular! You could see the beautiful blue sea and mountains for miles. After this everyone was free and we went to the town, where you could walk through the cozy streets. Then we decided to go to a terrace with a beautiful view of the sea. We ended the day with a delicious meal in a cozy restaurant.
Friday 15/03
Today was our last full day in La Spezia. We started the day with presenting our project work to each other. After we all presented it, the school had a surprise for us. They led us down the stairs to a classroom where the school band was waiting for us. They played a few songs and amazed us with their musical and vocal talents.
After this performance, we had to take the bus to a nearby city, called Lerici. It's a beautiful place, but the weather wasn't working in our favor. There were a lot of clouds but we were lucky it at least didn't rain. When we arrived in Lerici, we visited a castle that was build to protect the city almost 1000 years ago. After this visit, we got some free time to search a nice place to eat and to discover the city. We ended up eating pasta and we walked a little around.
Before we knew it, our time in Lerici had ended and the bus was already waiting for us when we came back.
It was still pretty early, but we were all tired so we went home to spend some family time with the family of our exchange student.
Week 10 2024 Visiting Vaasa Finland
Sunday 03/03
Arrival in Finland:
After a long day of travel we arrived at our host family. When we arrived at the airport in Vaasa, the excitement was high to meet for the first time. We were welcomed with open arms and are curious to see how the rest of the week will go....
Monday 04/03
Today we started the day with a tour of the Finnish school, after which we also played some games to get to know the Swedish language. In the afternoon we discovered the city of Vaasa where we saw beautiful buildings and monuments and were even allowed to walk on the ice . We end the day with a social evening in the sports hall!
Tuesday 05/03
We started the day with a short walk to the town hall, where we listened to a guest speaker talk about the city of Vaasa. After this, it was already time for our lunch and today's menu included fish soup, a typical Finnish dish. In the afternoon we attended an art class, here we got to paint and get really creative. After our short school day, sledding and cross-country skiing were on the programme in the evening. Everyone had a great time sledding off the hill. Then it was time to grill sausages and enjoy the fire. We ended the day with cross-country skiing, which should definitely not be underestimated!
Wednesday 06/03
We started the day with a workshop on identity. By listening to a lecture and playing some games we learned the impact of identity on our society and life. Then is was time for the lunch of the day: meatballs and potatoes. After a busy morning we got to relax and try yoga and mindfullness. Together with our exchange students we did all kinds of exercices that can help you deal with stress. We ended the day with a family evening: going to the cinema…
Thursday 07/03
Today we started with a beautiful presentation about the aurora borealis (the northern lights). After this we got some explanation about the land uprising in this region and how every year the land rises about 8 milliliters. In the afternoon we went to the natural heritage site were this was the most visible. While traveling to this site we crossed the longest bridge of Finland. We finished the day with ice-skating on natural ice and bowling.
Friday 08/03
Today we woke up early to attend a German lesson taught the Finnish way, so a lot of assignments. After the lessons we got our certificates which will be very handy later to get a job (I was told). After the delicious vöner lasagnette at school we went home and made a campfire where we roasted sausages with a beautiful view of the frozen sea. In the evening we had a farewell dinner with a nice piano performance from Renaud and a big buffet. We said goodbye to the school and then we went to the party where we only stayed until 2am because everyone was gone, but it was a very fun evening.
Week 5 2024 Visiting Valletta Malta
Sunday 28/01
Hello everyone, we got to get up very very early to be on time for the plane to 🥳Malta🥳!!! When we arrived, everyone was waiting for us and we went to an asian restaurant together. After that, everyone got to their home for 7 days and started unpacking. The first day was awesome.
Monday 29/01
Hello everyone, today we had a beautiful day and we did a lot of fun things. Some of us started the day early and some of us could sleep longer. When we arrived at school, we did a morning energizer were we got to know eachother much better. After that our exchange students gave us a tour around the school. Then we had a small coffee break and a workshop. The workshop was about "bouncing back" and "resilience". In the afternoon we visited Valletta, which is the capital of Malta. After this long day, we went home with our exchange students and went to sleep. Ready for the new day!! See u tomorrow!!
Tuesday 30/01
Hello everyone, today we had a beautiful day and we did a lot of fun things. Some of us started the day early and some of us could sleep longer. When we arrived at school, we did a morning energizer where we got to know each other much better. After that, our exchange students gave us a tour around the school. Then we had a small coffee break and a workshop. The workshop was about "bouncing back" and "resilience". In the afternoon we visited Valletta, which is the capital of Malta. After this long day, we went home with our exchange students and went to sleep. Ready for another day!!
Thursday 01/02
Today, Thursday, February 1, we started our day with another lively energiser. We ended the morning with a workshop by our favourite teacher Roberto. In the afternoon, we were free and unanimously decided to visit the local shopping centre. In the evening, a game night was organised by the teachers and their children. This was the highlight of the day.
Week 5 january 2024 Hosting : Sykkylven Norway, Pamplona Basque Country and Tartu Estland.
48 students enjoyed a splendid week. The students got to know each other's habits in many different areas. We focused on culture, eating habits and, above all, leisure experience and activity levels. We prepared local dishes, visited both Ghent and Brussels. We learned how important physical activity is to stay healthy. We exercised together and developed a physical test that will be administered in different European schools to find out which lifestyle habits could influence the activity level. To conclude, we visited the European Parliament. We learned how the future of Europe will depend on the extent to which we can work together in the general interest to tackle global problems.
Week 5 january 2024 Hosting : Sykkylven Norway, Pamplona Basque Country and Tartu Estland.
You can find the program of the exchange week below. Minor changes may occur.
Tartu, Estonia, Friday 17th of November 2023
Tartu is home to an impressive botanical garden which stores a thousand different plants, exotic and local. A guide showed us around in the beautiful and lush indoor jungle. He knew quite a lot of facts about all sorts of different plants.
Today the students had to present their presentation on sustainability in Estonian schools. Both groups gave a lot of input on the sustainability in Estonia and Belgium. The made a very clear comparison between both schools. Each group came up with some good ideas to improve the sustainability at the school.
Example 1: instead of using paper towel to dry your hands, the school could invest in an automatic towel dispenser. The initial costs will be higher, but in the long run the school will pay less.
Example 2: instead of using paper to print the final project of the students, they could hand it in online. This way, they will have to use less paper.
The students have put in a lot of work to finalise the presentation. The results were clear and ready to be presented to the school’s board members.
The Ahhaa science center is one of the many musea in Tartu. It mainly focuses on technology and engineering. Visitors can do different experiments. An interactive experience.
Tartu, Estonia, Thursday 16th of November 2023
In the morning we visited the Elistvere Animal Park. A small zoo 30 minutes from Tartu. This animal park is home to some endemic animals from Estonia such as moose, bear, wolf, fox,…
In the afternoon we had a visit at the Ice Age centre not to far from Tartu. The small museum had a pretty impressive collection of different ice age creatures such as a life-sized mammoth, prehistoric lion and huge elk. The exhibitions was quite extensive. It showed what Estonia was like during the different ice ages and how it influenced the Estonian landscape and culture. Definitely worth a visit.
Tartu, Estonia, Wednesday 15th of November 2023
Aare invited us to attend one of his social study – classes. He prepared an assignment for both the Estonian students and the Belgian students. Each Belgian students had to join a team of Estonian students. The main topic of this assignment was ‘which country is more democratic?’. The students were given a couple of questions about democracy. They had to look up the information on both the Belgian and Estonian democratic system. At the end of the class, they had to present their findings. Conclusion: both countries still have a high level of democracy.
The focus for today’s project was: ‘sustainability on school level’. The students had to figure out how sustainable the school is. Each group had to focus on two topics. The two topics were: paper waste and food waste
To receive the necessary information they had to consult staff members of the school. That was a good exercise for both the Belgian & the Estonian pupils in terms of selecting the information they got.For each topic, the pupils had to come up with an original solution which will be presented to the school board.
In the afternoon we arranged to go the Estonian National Museum in Tartu. This museum is rather new and has an impressive design. It is located just outside Tartu. It took us about 30 minutes to reach it on foot. We were accompanied by a teacher of the school, Ave Külter (mathematics teacher).
A guide guided us around the extraordinary museum. The museum had different parts and topics. We mainly focused on the Estonian culture exposition.
Every year the school organises an evening of national cafes. Each class choses to represent a country. They have to dress up and prepare some typical food from that country. These dishes are being sold for money. That money will go to a fund to treat cancer. Twelve different countries were represented. Every single group was dressed up and served some good food. In the atrium some Estonian students gave a little musical performance.
Tartu, Estonia, Tuesday 14th of November 2023
To make a clear link to the topic of the project work, Aare decided to show us a documentary about wildlife and nature in Estonia. Some insights on the film:
· Estonia still has quite a lot of untouched nature which forms a good habitat for wildlife.
· Estonia is home to some larger mammals such as bears and moose.
· Estonian nature is heavily protected.
· Estonian people still have a stronger connection to nature
When pupils were working on the project, the accompanying teacher had a chance to do a class visits. A short summary of this visit:
· The level of English of both the pupils and teacher is very high.
· The pupils were preparing for the CEFR – C1 level test. This class had a ‘teach-to-test’-approach. The teacher gave the pupils some possible assignments linked to this test.
· Pupils get quite a lot of freedom: the use of smartphones is allowed, they can go to the restroom without asking,…
· Students are rather focused on studies. While some students were doing an application interview, the others were doing exercises.
· The classroom has a rich atmosphere ( English flags hanging from the ceiling, posters on walls)
· Discussion conversation: a good way to test pupil’s ability to cope with situations they’re not prepared for.
· Using an essay from other pupil (other class) to go over grammatical/vocabulary related errors.
· Very similar approach as teaching in Belgium. A combination of old-school (using the white board a lot more though, and more lecturing – older pupils though) & new-school teaching approaches (assignments on google systems).
· One class takes 75 minutes – this allows the pupils to focus more on this subject.
After a good amount of brain work it was time for some movement. The school has an indoor pétanque pitch. The pupils had the chance to compete each other in a friendly game.
The pupils continued to work on their project. The focus for today: sustainability on regional level. The students had analyse the situation in Tartu. How sustainable is Tartu is the main question the students had to answer.
The city tour was given by Aare, the Erasmus coordinator and history teacher. We started in front of the school and slowly made our way to the city centre of Tartu. Along the way we saw some interesting buildings. Some of them date back to a couple of centuries ago. Others were built during Soviet times. We passed a local church (interesting fact: a lot of Estonian people are not religious. That’s why there are not a lot of churches around), the University of Tartu, the city hall and some other historical buildings.
Aare knew a lot of interesting facts about the buildings we passed. Since Tartu is not a big place, the tour did not take a long time.
The Belgium students had to prepare a presentation about Belgium. The four students split it up into four different themes:
· Belgian history presented by Victor Meersseman
· Belgian politics presented by Jasper Ducatteeuw
· Belgian school system presented by Mauro Iacopucci
· Belgian pop culture presented by Robbert Pauwels
The presentation was attended by a couple of teachers and about 15 other Estonian students. After the presentation there was some time to ask questions. Most of the questions were about the complex Belgian political system
Tartu, Estonia, Monday 13th of November 2023
At 09:30 AM everyone was expected to be at the Hugo Treffner Gymnasium in the city centre of Tartu. The first activity of the day was a tour of school. One of the students was given the assignment to give us a tour of the school followed by some ‘get to know each other’ type of games.
The school consists of several buildings that are connected to each other. The school has been there for many decades and has seen a lot of transformations over the last few years. For example, a couple of years ago, there was a big fire which nearly destroyed the attic of the school. However, one teacher managed to keep the fire from spreading.
The school has got many different classrooms but also some rather interesting places. In the left wing of the school there is a place where students can create art. This place is normally not used by any teachers, but mainly by students who want to express themselves through art. The school also has its own gym which is often used to organise sports games.
Mauro
· A very complex building.
· Strange that they do not have a playground.
Victor
· Looks like a school.
· I think it is nice that students can express themselves by painting on certain parts of the walls.
Jasper
· I find it interesting that pupils can leave the classroom without asking.
Robbert
· It looks rather old. But then again, they do have some modern infrastructure.
One of the main goals for this exchange program was to set up a project on sustainability. The main topic for the project was ‘sustainability in Estonian and Belgian schools & how to improve it’. Aare had split up the project into different steps:
▶ Sustainability on national level (country)
▶ Sustainability on reginal level (Tartu & Waregem)
▶ Sustainability on school level
Today, the students focused on analysing the sustainability on national level.
The four local students then gave a presentation about Estonia. They gave us some more insights on population and folklore. One thing that surprised the Belgian was the Estonian traditions. Estonians are very proud of their culture and try to maintain this as much as they can. For example: every five years they have a big folk festival which most Estonians attend. The main attraction of this festival is the folk dancing and the folk songs which are sung by a choir of thousands of Estonians.
After the presentation it was to stretch our legs and discover the city. The local students prepared a search and find game. The Belgian students were split up in to groups and went on their way to discover Tartu.
visit Martina Franca, Budapest, La Spezia and Constanta to Waregem
visit Martina Franca, Budapest, La Spezia and Constanta to Waregem
An unforgettable week. Getting to know each other, talking with each other, playing and dancing together, eating together. It takes courage to open yourself and your heart to strangers. But slowly or suddenly strangers become friends, friends work together and achieve great and amazing things!
visit Martina Franca, Budapest, La Spezia and Constanta to Waregem
visit Martina Franca, Budapest, La Spezia and Constanta to Waregem
From November 6 to 10 we will receive 4 delegations from Europe. During this week we will work on sustainability. more specifically, we will examine the environmental problems of the textile industry. You can find a draft of the program below.
Istanbul, Turkey - Saturday 21th of October
Hello!
Today was the last day of the exchange.
We got up later than usual, because we didn’t have to go to school, obviously.
Most of us had been very tired untill now because of the long exhausting week so all of us were over the moon because we could sleep for a long time. In the morning or for most at noon we ate a loooong brunch with our host families. We certaintly can't go claiming to be underfed in Turkey, they just keep on giving us food. That’s why we all got our Turkish belly. In the afternoon some of us met up, other went to a barber and some went to picknick. In the evening though we met up to eat and everyone came together after to go watch a long anticipated footballmatch: 'Beşiktaş against Galatasaray'. We supported the first club. The outcome of the match was the winning of the red team, named Galatasaray.
After we all went home quickly, packed our remaining stuff into our bags and had a short but good rest to prepare for the flight tomorrow. It was an amazing week!
Viek & Milo
Istanbul, Turkey - Friday 20th of October
Herkese merhaba!
This morning we went to the Maçka park where we were given a calming yoga class by one of the exchange students. We learned different positions and came to inner peace.
Back at school, the boys played basketball while the girls chatted a bit. At noon, we ate a chicken sandwich. That tasted great!
Then we were introduced to traditional Turkish art called Ebru. That is a kind of artwork in water and then copied on paper. We got the chance to make our own artwork and they were all so beautiful!
Of course, the boys felt like playing sports again so we played a game of football against the best players in the school. We were completely trashed by the way.
When school was out, all the students sang the Turkish national anthem, which they do every Monday and Friday. Then we went to the staff room to eat (shoutout to the meatballs of Sultanahmet).
We discussed the exchange with the teachers and the headmaster. Finally, we received an official certificate of the exchange.
Eyvallah for following our amazing exchange journey.
Maxim & Brecht
Istanbul, Turkey - Thursday 19th of October
Selam!
Just like every other day we met at school and took the tram towards an amazing art museum. On our way we were accompanied by someone who played ‘Bella Ciao’ on the accordeon and we all loved the vibe.
The art museum was really big and had some pretty cool art works. There was a room that you could enter by walking through feathers, a room full of mirrors and lots of modern paintings.
It’s really worth the visit!
Afterwards we all went to get lunch together in a fancy restaurant by the water and the view was mesmerizing! Just like everyday, we ate to much of this amazing Turkish food, but it is worth it!
Normally we would visit the galata tower, but we couldn’t go unfortunately because of some demonstrations. So we just went to the mall together where we shopped and played some games in the arcade. We also visited a park with a playground made for adults, so we could let out inner child free :))
It was another unforgetable day with beautiful weather
Istanbul, Turkey - Wednesday 18th of October
Merhaba!
Today we started with a trip to Balat. And there we visited a church (Venerable patriarchial church of Saint George) and went sightseeing. We stopped at a souvenir shop and looked at the most beautiful houses (Haliç Art houses) and the staircase. We had diner in a fancy restaurant with sight on the city. Then we visited the Zeyrek çinili Bath. It look very heavenly and beautiful. Then we went to a homeparty that was organised by our exchange students and the mom baked some delicious traditional foods.
Istanbul, Turkey - Tuesday 17th of October
Today we had a really busy day… first we followed a class and after that we left to visit some monuments. We needed to take the metro and It was really crowded so we took a long time to get to the monuments. First we visited basilica cisterns which was really pretty. After that we went to a museum and had lunch in a lovely place. Before or school day ended we visited the two most known mosques of Istanbul, they were really impressive. After the visits we had free time and we went bowling and ate dinner… we had a great but exhausting day.
Noor & Alix
Instanbul, Turkey - Monday 16th of October
Hi everyone, the first day in Turkey is almost over. This morning the Turkish students presented the history of their school, the sights in Istanbul we will visit in the coming days and a presentation around the week's theme: mental health and well-being. In the afternoon, we cheered along at the final of the class competition in football. Turkish students also taught us their traditional dances, and we taught them ours too. Turkey is famous for its talent in volleyball, so of course we had to try this sport ourselves. In the evening, we went to a restaurant with the whole exchange group to taste the local delicacies. One of the delicacies we got to taste today is ayran, a drink consisting of yoghurt, water and salt.
Sarah & Thory
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse