Reports: Text

Meeting Denderleeuw (April 2009)

Report of the studentsdiscussion:

-Lieselotte,Görkem,Deniz, Mateusz, Freya,Erica, Mugabe

-Frederik, Femke,Natalia,Sebastian,Arda,Shana

-Pavel, Tom, Caroline, Jolien, Daria, Begüm, Angie

1. What’s your opinion about the move of factories to countries with lower wages?  (eg from Belgium to Poland and Turkey)

Students from Poland and Turkey have a different opinion than Belgian students. Turkish and Polish think it’s a good idea and Belgian students are divided. They think it’s good and sad for their own people at the same time. 

It’s good for the people in the poor countries, but not so good for the local economy. 

Bad for the countries with lower wages, only for money, (en nog iets onleesbaars)

1. Would you intend to move to another country if you could get an interesting and well paid job abroad ?

 Some students would go to that country and some would not because of their friends and family. This is a very personal question

 Yes, most students would do that, but not for too long (2, 3 years)

Yes, we would go to another country (if the weather is good) for a better job. This way, we can see the world and travel.

1. Do  you mind the origin of a product when consuming it ?  (eg I prefer national products or I never buy products made in …)

 This is again a personal question, the answer varies from student to student, without difference between countries.

 We don’t care about the origin of products. It doesn’t make a difference for us if it comes from another country or our own.

Yes, Turkey doesn’t consume Israelian products. Also Chinese products are bad for the world economy.

1. What is “global marketing”  (eg IKEA) and do you like it ?

 Some students are pro, some are contra because global marketing kills the local shops.

 Global marketing is for us the equivalent of capitalism. We have no problems with multinationals

It are multinationals you can find all over the world. Yes, we like it.

1. Do you agree that the common currency EURO is good for international trade in Europe? Explain.

For some countries like Poland is the common currency Euro not good at this time, but they think it will be better after a while. (the other students agree) 

 We think it makes everything easier, and it’s also good for trade, because no money gets lost in exchange of valuta.

It is good for the trade in europe, but if Turkey would join the EU, it would give some problems, because the Euro can’t be used in Asia.

1. “In a world of globalisation only multinationals can survive. A small company has no chance.“ Do you agree?  Explain.

 We agree when you need a product that you can buy everywhere, because it is cheaper to buy it by multinationals. But smaller companies are more specialized and to make special products that people want to buy.

If your (small) company has good quality products, you will always survive.  

Yes, this is just the truth, small companies are threatened by multinationals.

1. What are “Schengen-countries”?  Schengen for the whole world or not ?

 They are countries with no borders between each other. Most of the students are in favour of Shengen, but still they think control is necessary, otherwise it will become dangerous.

 It means that the borders in Europe are easy to cross. Schengen for the whole world is very difficult, but maybe worth a try?

 There is no control over the borders in Europe. We think it’s good and it should be all over the world.

1. What about imitation products? Are you in favour or not ?  Why?

Most students are against imitation products. Some because of ethical reasons, other because of the bad quality

Most of us buy imitation products, although we know it’s bad for the original companies.

We are not in favor of them because the quality is low and sometimes it is dangerous for little children (e.g. Toys,…)

Meeting Bielawa, Poland (February 2009)

Although we nearly missed our plane, we landed safe and sound at the airport of Wroclaw. Together with the Turkish delegation, we travelled to Bielawa in a mini-bus. There we met our host families whoe took us home with them. The whole group gathered again at the pizzeria in the evening.

 

 

The next day, we visited the mayor’s house of Bielawa where the mayor welcomed us. Every school presented itself with a short film. Afterwards, we received an explanation about the renewable energy-system of the school. We went to the lab where they showed us the principles of solar energy and windmills. Later on, we visited the town council of Dzierzoniow and had lunch in a vocational school. Back in Bielawa, we visited the church and climbed upon the tower. In the evening, we went to back to Dzierzoniow for pooling and dancing.

 

 

The day after, we visited the sawage farm. It was interesting, but because of the cold and the horrible smell, we wanted to leave quickly. We were glad to go back to school where we had the economical discussion in groups about European trade. Then followed the presentation of the gadgets. They were all very nice, despite some broken or missing gadgets. We spent the evening in the pizzeria again.

 

 

Saturday we took the bus to Wroclaw, where we visited the impressive Panorama of Raclawicka, the university with the beautiful Aula Leopoldina and the shopping centre. This last evening went to the pub and the discotheque. It was a nice closure for a fantastic week.

 

 

Next morning we were all said to leave, but we really had to go back 😦

We are looking forward to meet some of you again in April !

 

Meeting Yalova, Turkey  (October 2008)

 

This year, three schools had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a Comeniusproject, this is an international European project.

The three schools are from Turkey, Poland and Belgium. There are three meetings planned, in the three countries.

 

At the end of October, I went to Yalova, in Turkey, with four of my friends and also three Polish people.

The first day, we had an interesting discussion about the European Union in several mixed groups. We also visited the major and other important persons who were all very kind. We were honoured to meet them and we had a nice conversation with them.

 

The second day we visited Istanbul. We went to the Haya Sofia and the Blue Mosque. We were all astonished by the city’s magnificent beauty, which lays in its wonderful architecture and history.

The third day we visited a lot of interesting places in Yalova, including the villa where Atatürk gave his guests a warm reception.

 

It was a wonderful experience, but all fairy-tales have an end, and so had this one. The adventure was over too soon! I hope to meet all these people again when I come back, because the Turkish people are so kind and warm!

 

                                                           Frederik Vercammen.