16th March, Wednesday

Today we all worked on individual tasks. Each of us collected footprints of arts and artistic pieces of work. We had time to collect impressions and ideas, while comparing traditional and smart arts.
Everyone chose a different way how to do it.

Two of us went for a ride by bikes along the River Foyle, some went to the Central Library to work on group project about the tradition of St. Patrick’s Day, and some couldn’t miss the everyday shopping.

We also prepared for Timi’s birthday next day, with writing a short poem.

’Running around, walls & bridges,
Sightseeing tours, lectures & lots of kisses.
You don’t know how lucky U R,
To be here in Northern Ire-(land).
Fish & chips, red wine, whiskey & beer,
We wish U to be happy @ home & here!


Have a nice day.

The Bogside

Bike Tour - The Foyleside

White head, Black head -  Irish sheeps

Students are going home

Education system in Northern Ireland, 15th March, Tuesday

We had a great lecture about the education system at the North West Language Academy. The introduction summarized what you have to know about education in the UK and Northern Ireland.

About the Irish Language

 Pre -School and Nursery and Primary Education

• compulsory between 4 and 11 in NI
• 7 year-groups by ages not by abilities
• integrated (Catholic or Protestant)
• one teacher per group each year is responsible for children's education and welfare
• subjects: Maths, Science, English, Art, Music, P.E., current affairs and manners
• second language is not obligatory

Lower secondary education

• 11 or 12 subjects to start with
• after 3 years 9 or 10 subjects are chosen fr their GCSE

Upper Secondary Education

• - 'sixth form' or further education institutes
• - Vocational (Technical) Colleges
• - the latter ones are paid courses (£ 3-4,000)

University

• A-Level results in relevant subjects
• Craduating with university degrees last from 3 to 7 years
• Master degree is required for Psychologists, Lawyers, Doctors

A smart quote found at the NW  College

Education througout the UK

• National (frame) Curriculum from 1988- no significant changes since then

'If it's not broken, don't fix it.'

Afternoon Class - SURVEY

We were asked to make a survey in groups of two. Each pair chose a topic about everyday life topics to elaborate later by asking passers-by. Finally we summarised our experience in short presentations.

We asked also the traffic warden lady

The North West Academy of English, 14th of March

Today we went to North West Academy of English, placed in Great James street, Derry. We listened to a presentation about school rules, Irish people’s habits, culture, pastoral care, traffic regulation and emergency numbers. Let’s have a look at some of them:

In the cafe of  North West Academy

Irish People & Culture

Irish people are naturally courteous and well mannered and will go out of their way to welcome visitors to their country. Being polite is very important, saying please and thank you and smiling is considered good manners and is expected in all situations, for example saying thank you to the bus driver when using public transport.

Happy youngsters

Family and community are close and very important to the Irish.

Time keeping is very important in Ireland. It’s considered bad manners or disrespectful to be late and will not be accepted in the work environment even one minute late is still late.

Harrasment & Bullying

The Academy has a firm commitment to equal opportunities and as such will not tolerate harassment or bullying of any kind.

Treat your fellow students, colleagues, NW Academy staff with respect.

Open Forum

If you are between 16 and 17 and have an issue you would like to talk about or give your opinion on something we have a dedicated drop in service for you.

Social Media & You

We encourage students to use social networking/media (Twitter, Facebook etc.) as a way to connect with others and enhance the classroom experience. While social networking is fun and valuable, there are some risks you should keep in mind when using these tools.

• Remember that regardless of your privacy settings, all of the information you have shared on your social network can be shared publicly.
• Be respectful.
• Be responsible and ethical.
• Don’t share confidental information/private and personal information.
• Do not click on unfamiliar links.

Any students who is unwilling to follow the above will be disciplined by NWA.

Traffic Regulation & Driving in The UK

As an international student you must make sure you fulfil the legal requirements and be aware of the correct procedures before you drive in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

You must drive on the left-hand side of the road.

Look Right!

Pastoral Care

There are many chapels and churches in the city.

Even if you are not religious you will be welcomed into places worship throughout the city.

Social Activities

NW Academy run various social and cultural activities, which are fun and also a good way for you to meet other students (e.g.: every Saturday there is a full day trip).

Check out our website (www.nwacademy.org) for various information!

The North West Regional College

We visited the North West Regional College where the students learn arts. Our facultées:

Art, Design & Crafts

• Art portfolio Building
• Begginers' Pottery
• Bespoke Millinery
• Creative Jewellery Making
• Creative Sewing
• Creative Textile Art
• Crochet
• Interior Design
• Recreational Art
• Recreational Photography
• Stained Glass

Faculty of Arts, North West Collage, Derry

This is my wish for you today: find those – true friends, collegaues, family, love – who has made you the best!

Derry Historical Quiz, 13th of March

At 10 a.m. we started our sightseeing tasks in random teams. Our job was to answer the quiz questions by walking around systematically, eg. we had to find out about what is on the top of the Clock Tower of the Guild Hall or how many footstep-long the Peace Bridge is. We have also taken photos of the 'Diamond'.

'The Hands Across' staue

The Closk Tower of  Guildhall and the Peace Bridge

Selfie with the 'Diamond'

Morever, we counted the cannons on the Walls opposite the st. Columbs's Cathedral.
The last compulsory task of the day was to ask people  about some Irish words is a local pub and we fulfilled it perfectly.

St. Columb's Cathedral

From Dublin to Derry, 12th of March

We had a very nice full Irish breakfast with so lovely service. It contained sausages, fried egg, beans, mushrooms, black and liver pudding, toasts.

A Full Irish Breakfast

We took a 4-hour bus trip from Dublin to Derry in a comfortable coach. The Bus Station was a bit different from that of ours at Búza tér. They were polite standing in their queue calmly.

From Dublin to Derry

Arrived in (London)Derry

We are just sitting in a pub waiting for our dinner, where noisy but happy folks are gathering around: there are children as well as a bunch of men sitting at tables watching some kind of a match.

We give you our impression in three words or phrases each

landscpae, sheep, yellow daffodils (Eszter)

Sunshine, farms and naked legs (lots of women are without tights in this cold weather) (Klári)

running around, bridges and walls (Timi)

ancient churches, good team, Irish pub (Kriszta)

pouched eggs, excitement, adventure (Bea)

My Walled City (Emese)

nice old faces, satisfied people, windy weather (Gábor)

Traditional Pub and Live Music

Arriving in Dublin, 11th of March

We arrived in Dublin on Friday late afternoon. We got into a cab and were taken to our accomodation at the West County Hotel. The building itself is around 30-40 years old with the architectural style of the seventies. However, the interior gives the impression of the Anglo-Saxon countryside: furniture, wall-to-wall capets, oil painintings on the walls, and the service.

We took several photos of the inside, as well as the hotel signs and boards. Just check it.

Lights of Dublin

In the afternoon, we took a 2-hour visit to Dublin. Here are some remarks:
We were really impressed by the Christ Church, because it didn't remind us of any other churches we had seen in other parts of Europe. (Klári). I really admired the original gothic style of that church (Tímea).

We also liked the atmosphere of Dublin with bicycles and nice people as they were happy with their 'Friday evening'. Here they are preparing for the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, which took part in 1916 in Ireland to gain their Independence from the British rule.
.

There are several photos we took about the decoration of the buildings.

Daffodils - Why are the people wearing it?

People are also wearing yellow daffodils. We have learnt what it is about. It isn't about the Rising as you could expect, but it means donation of a cancer fund. It is like the pink ribbon in Hungary.

After having attended the project orientation events the 8 beneficiaries of 2 SAT Project are ready to start the Mobility in Londonderry. Follow us on Facebook and Blogspot.