2008/09

COMENIUS
Europe, a global
village: life in new and
old states of the EU.

Europe, a global village SPORT • Alberite’s

• Thanks
• AZAD- From a
refugee to a rap-
Germany: • A bronze medal for
Weingarten Schule, Kriftel Kriftel, • Frankfurt Airport star
the biggest hub in • Serrat, out
Lithuania: • D. Songalia,
Marijampole "Ryto" Secondary School Europa favoutite guest
• Today: Pascal Hens,
Bulgaria: • The First Racket • My trip • Pop music
St Kyril and Metodi, Satovcha • A week in Germany • Composition for the
Spain: POLITICS • Germany Comenius Project
IES La Laboral, Lardero • Roland Koch • What I think about
SCENERY ART travelling
• 11th September
• The past, the • Johann Wolfgang
present and the Goethe - a man who
future of wrote history
Marijampolè [1]
SPORT
2008/09
A BRONZE MEDAL FOR KRIFTEL
Reitz began shooting 11 years earlier ambitiously with a certificate of exemption, at that time still in Löbau in
Saxony which belongs to the former GDR.
Another person surely worth
mentioning is 21-year old Christian Reitz,
who has won a bronze medal in 25 metre
rapid fire pistol shooting at the Olympic
Games in Beijing and is holding the world
record in the same discipline, and all this
in his first year to shoot in adult class.
Reitz began shooting 11 years earlier
ambitiously with a certificate of
exemption, at that time still in Löbau in
Saxony which belongs to the former
GDR. He moved to Kriftel to be nearer at
the Police Academy in Wiesbaden, where
he is training to become a commissioner.
In Kriftel he also visited the shooting club
and joined. Here he belongs to the air
pistol team, which shoots in the National
League. One of Reitz strengths are his
strong nerves in important situations such
as the final of a competition.
In 2008 he got two first and two
second places in the world cup and
during this opportunity established the
current world record in Milan with 794
rings, three rings more than the old one.
With this achievement Reitz qualified
for the Olympic Games and was given
good chances to even win the gold
medal. However, in Beijing no one came
up to the expectations and therefore Reitz
was very happy with his bronze medal.
Back in Kriftel the quite modest champion
was celebrated and honoured by the
major Christian Seitz and now
expectations are high for the next
Olympic Games. Let’s wish him luck
Christian Reitz in action – at the
Olympics in Beijing 2008
By Matthias M
[2]
Europe, a global village
Weingarten Schule, Kriftel
(Germany)
Marijampole "Ryto" Secondary
School (Lithuania)
St Kyril and Metodi, Satovcha
(Bulgaria)
IES La Laboral, Lardero (Spain)
Christian Reitz in
action – at the
Olympics in Beijing
2008
The Olympic Games
With this achievement Reitz
qualified for the Olympic Games
and was given good chances to
even win the gold medal. However,
in Beijing no one came up to the
expectations and therefore Reitz
was very happy with his bronze
medal. Back in Kriftel the quite
modest champion was celebrated
and honoured by the major
Christian Seitz and now
expectations are high for the
next Olympic Games. Let’s wish
him luck

What worldwide famous
basketballer thinks about his
school, town and country
Basketball is probably the most popular
sport in Lithuania: hundreds of people go to
watch the games, everyone has their favorite
team and always supports it, and lots of
people enjoy playing basketball themselves.
Apparently, Lithuanians consider basketball to
be their second religion. Our town,
Marijampolė is not an exception, people love
basketball and famous basketball players were
born and raised here. One of them is Darius
Songaila, who was a student of ,,Ryto”
secondary school. I would like to ask him
some questions about his childhood, school
days, what he is doing now and what he thinks
about his native town nowadays.
- Your career lasts for more than one
decade. Could you name your biggest
achievements in sport and tell what you are
doing now?
I‘m a champion of Russian Basketball
League in 2002-03, winner of a bronze medal
in Sidney Olympics and Eurobasket 2007 in
Spain, and my greatest victory - gold medal in
Eurobasket 2003 in Sweden with the
Lithuanian national basketball team. Currently
I’m a member of NBA team Wizards,
Washington.
- It seems that you have found the right
way of your life and you enjoy it. Would you
agree that school helped to do this?
Yes, indeed. School played a big role in
my childhood and further life, because it was
the place, where I discovered basketball. There
I found a lot of friends and our relations are still
very good and strong. It was the time, when I
played truant and got twos for not doing my
homework. Nevertheless, I was motivated
enough and never let myself relax too much
and succeeded in exams. Lots of things
happened for the first time in my life at school,
and that’s why it‘s important for me.
- It was a long time since you finished
school and you live abroad for most of the
time. Don‘t you think of coming back to live in
D. SONGALIA
your hometown?
I come to Lithuania every year to visit my
family and friends, but I’m not planning to live
there constantly.
- You say you come to Marijampolė every
year. Have you noticed any changes in your
school, in town?
I visited my school a couple of years ago,
and I can say that it looks almost the same as
15 years ago.
However Marijampole looks much more
modern now. Lots of new buildings and big
supermarkets have been built, which changed
Marijampole a lot.
- And what can you say about the
country?
I think, that after joining the EU,
Lithuania‘s economy must have improved.
Now much more foreign investors can come to
Lithuania, farmers get various financial
support, people have better possibilities to set
up their own businesses. Lithuania also gets
vast sums of money from the EU, which helps
to improve country‘s culture, communication,
renew various historical objects like Kings
Palace, which will attract a lot of tourists in the
future.
- And finally, what would you wish for your
school and maybe for Lithuania?
For the school – to raise young people,
who would make the school, the town and the
country famous. The welfare of our country,
town or school in the future depends on the
young.
For the country – not to stop developing
and not to ignore the young growing
generation, cause it‘s the future of Lithuania.
Let them discover, take up the things they are
interested in. Let it be sports, art, technology,
politics or economy.
Prepared by Rūta Čukauskaitė, Vytas
Sidaravičius.
DARIUS
SONGALIA
[3]
 general he plays at the left back and throws with his
Today: Pascal Hens
right arm.

P. HENS
Pascal Hens, also known as “Pommes” (French
At the moment there are the world
fries), was born on 26th March 1980 in Daun.
championships in Croatia, where Germany is fighting
He is one of the most famous German handball
for the semi final. Unfortunately Pascal Hens was hurt
players. At the moment he is playing for HSV
in the last match just as the German key player
Hamburg in the national league.
Michael Kraus.
He grew up in Mainz-Kastel. His first game in the
Handball has always been the most popular
national league was in 1999 for his old club Wallau-
team sport activity besides football in Germany. In the
Massenheim (near Kriftel), but due to a mistake of his
new generations more young people start to play
club he hadn’t been allowed to play. In the following
handball. It might depend on the modern style as
year he signed his first national league contract. In
handball gets faster and faster. The DHB holds with
2001 he was asked to join the national team.
developing children’s skills. This is also in line with the
Three years later he became European
German government who wants young people to do
champion, but his biggest success was becoming
more sports.
world champion in Germany 2007.
At our school we also have a successful team,
Another great success was when he was voted
Star series – Our world which came third in the Hessen school
sportsman of the year in Hamburg in February 2008.
champions Pascal Hens originally trained to be an office
championships. The coach of the team is Dr. Richter,
who plays handball himself. Before we play matches
clerk and in his free time he likes to surf the internet
we always meet for training camps and friendly
and he plays golf. He is 2m and 3cm tall and weighs
games to strengthen the community, which changes
100kg.
every year because some of the best players leave
His trademark is his haircut, he has been
school.
wearing a blond Mohawk for some years. As a rule he
Hopefully famous players as Pascal Hens can
gets a new pattern at every big competition with the
encourage children to get interested in playing
national team.
handball.
The 28-year-old scorer is the number 23 in
Hamburg and number 2 in the national team. In
By Maren, Sarah and Anna J.

Pascal Hens

[4]
 up with taking class mates by ditional some
Hope to be First Racket
Marijampolės „Ryto“ Secondary School is
famous not only for its basketball players: D.
extra lessons."
The young boy, asked about his plans for
the future, said: "I think, that I will be the first
THE FIRST
RACKET
Songaila, A. Giedraitis, L. Krulikaitė and A.
racket in the world." Let us hope of the gifted
Kieža. Major achievements in sport has a
player will reach his goal.
young tennis player, a 13 year old , sixth-
former Almantas Oželis. He is the 3rd place
winner of the international competition “Tennis
Europe” in Turkey, the 1st place winner of
Baltic states team match.
Almantas wasin’t the only one interested
in this sport. His dad is a devoted tennis fan,
so already a six year old son was in the tennis
coaching course.In good weather, Almantas
trains in Mokolai,where there are tennis
courts.In bad weather, in winter, the young
tennis player spends his freetime practising at
„Šaltinis“ secondary school.
By the way, Almantas sad, that he hasn’t
free time , because he spends every minute
practising. He trains every day, and on
weekends, in various matches. He has
participated in various championships, and
even outside of Lithuania: Latvia, Estonia,
Russia, America, Finland, Turkey, Germany and
Sweden. One of the most important
championships was held in Turkey, where 128
athletes started in selective competitions
Almantas passed stage after stage, only at the
semi-finals he was defeated by the first racket
of that country.Having returned from Turkey, he
immediately attended the tennis championship
in Kaunas, and won the first place. Almantas
has a lot of awards. Over many years,the
talented tennis player has won 16 cups and 20
medals.In tennis player said that the most Male suada
memorable was the first Cup, won in Šiauliai, Quis  Dolor
where he took the second place. Set Ipsum
Almantas coach, Tom Seliukas says that
in Lithuania among his peers there are no
equal rivals, he fights with the older, players
participating in international tournaments.
Now, the young athlete is supported by his
daddy, who finances all the trips.
Besides, one of the most famous world
tennis equipment manufacturing companies
"Head" is interested in a young talent from
Marijampolė. He signed the agreement under
which A.Oželis represents this company,
providing free tennis rackets, catguts and
balls. Foreign experts wonder how the young
Almantas
man, who trains "on a wooden floor“ plays so
Oželis
well. Asked whether the frequent trips do not
interfere with his the studus, Almantas
corfirmed it does he, but also added: "I catch

[5]
POLITICS
Year 2009
Roland Koch, the
current Minister-
President of Hessen
ROLAND KOCH
Roland Koch, the current Minister-President of Hessen
Roland Koch, the current Minister-
President of Hessen is one of the most
successful and controversial politicians of
Germany. In spite of his provocative way of
handling conflicts, he is considered to be a
reliable political leader.
Roland Koch was born on March 24th
1958 in Frankfurt/Main. After finishing school in
1977 he did his military service and started
college thereafter. In 1979 Koch became the
youngest person to hold the office of chairman
of the CDU in Main-Taunus district. He joined
the CDU when he was 14
After finishing school in 1977 he did his
military service and started college thereafter.
Until 1985 he studied and began to work as a
lawyer. Living in his hometown, Eschborn, he
worked there as a city council member until
1993.
He was accused of having financed his
election campaign by using “unofficial”
donations to his party, the CDU. But even
though the affair was investigated he became
Europe, a global village
Germany:
Weingarten Schule, Kriftel
Lithuania:
Marijampole "Ryto" Secondary School
Bulgaria:
St Kyril and Metodi, Satovcha
Spain:
IES La Laboral, Lardero
Minister-President of Hessen in 1999. He was
re-elected in 2008 \2009.
His political aims:
PRO:
• He wants to save jobs and create new
ones,
• e.g. by enlarging Frankfurt’s airport,
• continued use of nuclear power,
• harder punishments for young criminals,
• harder laws on immigration,
• G8 (pupils leave school after 12 instead
of 13 years),
CON:
• communism,
Roland Koch
• socialism,
THE CDU is a conservative party
• minimum wage (at least 7, 50 Euro per which you can compare with the
hour), Republicans in the USA. Angela
THE CDU is a conservative party which Merkel is the chancellor of
you can compare with the Republicans in the Germany and a member of the
CDU. Other famous CDU
USA. Angela Merkel is the chancellor of
politicians were for example
Germany and a member of the CDU. Other
Konrad Adenauer and Helmut
famous CDU politicians were for example Kohl.
Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl.
By Lukas, Matthias B. and Alexander B.
[6]
SCENERY
Enero 2009
THE PAST, THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE OF MARIJAMPOLĖ
Marijampolė, the seventh largest town in
Lithuania, is situated in the southern part of the
country. It covers an area of more than 200
square kilometers and has about 50 000
inhabitants. Marijampolė is an industrial,
educational and cultural center of the region.
The town has its own colourful history and lots
of important events, which changed it. So we
are asking Mr. Gediminas Kuncaitis, who is
responsible for heritage, ancient and national
monuments of the region, to tell us more about
Marijampole history, present days and future
perspectives.
- The first thing we would like to know is
how the name of the city was founded? Where
are the roots of the town?
The town was originally founded as a
village called Pašešupio, after the name of the
nearby river Šešupė. In
18th century the
village, at that
time belonging
to the Catholic
church, grew to
become a
market town and
its name was changed to Starapolė.
Unfortunately, after that the town was
destroyed by our enormous fire. Later, rich
Marian monks came to the area, built a
monastery, founded a new town and,
according to their name, it was called
Marijampolė. Also there was a period of Soviet
occupation, when the name of the town was
changed to Kapsukas, but the old name of
Marijampolė was restored after Lithuania
regained independence.
- You have mentioned the period of Soviet example is on the other side of the street – an
occupation. Do you think – it slowed or
quickened the development of the city?
Neither slowed, nor quickened, I think. Of
course, the Soviets built lots of factories to
improve the town industry and economics, and something more is going to be done in the
created workingplaces for every citizen.
However, after the fall of the Soviet Union,
many unfinished, empty buildings were left in
Marijampolė.
- And what has been done with them?
Almost all of them are being used nowadays.
Grey spots of the towns past are now wisely
turned into shining objects which make
Marijampolė look much more modern now.
[7]
Europe, a global village
Germany:
Weingarten Schule, Kriftel
Lithuania:
Marijampole "Ryto" Secondary School
Bulgaria:
St Kyril and Metodi, Satovcha
Spain:
IES La Laboral, Lardero
Mr.Gediminas Kuncaitis
The Soviets made a great starting-step to the
town development at present.
- Could you mention some of these
objects?
Yes, of course. For more than ten years
there was a huge, empty and unattractive
building right in the center of the town. It was
renovated about 5 years ago, and now our
town has a beautiful and attractive House of
Culture, which organizes and offers lots of
events and festivals for everyone. Another
old, poor-looking building was turned to a
shining, world standard 5 star hotel.
- It seems that Marijampolė is quite a
modern town already. But do you know if
future, in order to improve the view of the
town?
In the nearest future the heart of
Marijampolė – Basanavičius square will be
renovated. The paving will be changed and a
huge monument, marking the millenium of
Lithuania, will be built in the centre of the
square. I am sure it will make Marijampolė look
much more impressive and picturesque.
Prepared by Rūta Čukauskaitė, Vytas
Sidaravičius
 ALBERITE´S
Two years ago,
Alberite´s
school was very
Spain old and small.
Due to
immigration and
the increase of
population (so
increase of children) the
city council decided to
build a new school.
When I knew about it. I
was a little sad because I
was keen on the school but
I knew that it was the
best idea.
Now the new school is
built. It´s a bit bigger
than the old one, is has
5.114 m2 and it has space
for 450 pupils. It has
five classes of infant
school, eight of primary
school, a library, a
dinning hall and grocery
store.
The population of the
village is very happy with
the building but they
think that it´s very
expensive , exactly 4,5
million euros, maybe so
many facilities aren´t
necessary but it´s just
done!
by Cristina Saenz
thank you Manuela, thank you, Silvia, David,
THANKS
etc.
My story starts when I decided to go to
In the end, but not less important, they’re
Bulgaria in 2008. First, I thought that it was
the most important, my new friends. Boys and
going to be a little boring experience: only
girls that showed me the best part of the
three pupils with two teachers going to an
journey: friendship. Laughing in the hotel,
unknown country, wow!
playing and meeting a new family in my host’s
But in the end, I realized that it was the
house, meeting new people in Satovscha's
best experience in my life.
high school etc. They were the best with us,
Because of that, I’d like to explain why I
they were warm and sweet, they behaved as if
say thanks to the Commenius project and all
we had always been friends. I won’t forget
the people, teachers, boys, girls, etc. from
them, and I will see them again…I hope!
Bulgaria, Germany and Lithuania.
So, thank you Ilka, Jana, Djeni, Martin,
Nothing would have been possible
Emil, Sara, Rafeika, Vaska, Davidas, Martin’s
without my teachers’ and schoolmates’ help,
friends, Djeni’s friends…
so, thank you for that. Then, I think about the
REALLY, THANK YOU, AND SEE YOU
foreign teachers. They taught me a lot of things
SOON
about their cultures, things about their
by Jorge Gámez
traditional lives, their language, their songs…
things that I didn’t know they existed. So,
Bulgaria
[8]
Frankfurt Airport biggest hub in people from here to there but also goods

TRANSPORT
Europe and post.
Because of the rising demand the
Last year about 53.5 million
airport has to be extended so in 2020 the
passengers left and arrived at Frankfurt
flight movements should rise from
airport, the 2nd biggest airport of Europe
460,000 to 700,000 every year, but there
(after London Heathrow). And I was one
are also opponents to the extension. The
of them. With its 1.940 ha it is one of the
noise and the 400 hectare of the forest
hugest airports in the world. So as a
which will be cut down are two of their
passenger you can easily feel lost at the
reasons to be against it. So there is also a
two terminals and soon the airport will be
special party - the Greens - that fought
even more complicated, because there is
against this extension.
a 3rd one planned. But wherever you look
The situation now is that the airport
you see signposts or monitors and if you
will get a third terminal, so the parties
still don’t have the faintest idea where you
who fought against it didn’t win the fight.
are supposed to go you can ask one of
The airport is one of the most
the 68,500 employees.
modern ones we have ever seen. It has a
The airport of Frankfurt was opened
wide range of restaurants, shops and
on 8th May 1936 by Fraport AG which is
cafes. With exceptions they are opened
the operator. The area, which also
24 hours a day. Compared to other
includes a railway station, has its own
airports it is very clean.
part of Frankfurt City. The airport is
So no matter if the airport gets a
international; it means you cannot only fly
fourth runway or not, it won’t stop
from Frankfurt to Berlin but also to Miami,
growing, because millions of people want
for example. There is a link to the
to travel. And the aim of all staff is to
motorway, too. Fifteen airlines are based
make the journey safe and comfortable.
in Frankfurt airport, of which Lufthansa is
By Geraldine, Anna S., Laura and
the biggest. They do not only transport
Jana

Taking off – the

skyline of Frankfurt
in the background

Frankfurt - Transport
The situation now is that
the airport will get a
third terminal, so the
parties who fought against
it didn’t win the fight.
The airport is one of the
most modern ones we have
ever seen. It has a wide
range of restaurants,
shops and cafes. With
exceptions they are opened
24 hours a day. Compared
to other airports it is
very clean.

[9]
 My Trıp
In my opinion travelling to Germany was a wonderful idea. I love
travelling, I think everybody loves it. And I think it’s a good way to learn
languages, know new cultures and places, make friends…
I always wanted to travel to Germany and my dream came true
because of the Commenious project. I’m very pleased. I spent
wonderful days there, it was a great experience.
Most of the German people were so funny and nice. And when we
went to visit some places, we learnt lots of things and new stories, new
words we didn’t know before… and of course we spent a really good
time with our Spanish and also German, Bulgarian and Lithuanian
mates. Now we keep in touch on the internet, we usually write e-mails,
talk by messenger, etc…
I would like to keep on travelling because it’s
fantastic! But I would also like other people to come
to Spain and stay in our homes, or something like
that. I’d love we show the German people that Germany
come here lots of places in Logroño and we would
go shopping together… They were so nice. I hope I
could repeat that again!
by Alba García Arroyo
[10]
A week in Germany
I was ready to know a different place, where I’d be able to improve
my English, to meet new people and to live for seven days in a foreign
country with its own language and lifestyle. But I never thought that
travelling would be so wonderful!
When I arrived at the airport and saw my host family for the first
time I got very nervous...because I didn’t know what I could say and do
in that moment. However, soon I started to talk and to tell them about
my flight, my family, school, friends,hobbies...and I felt I was at home.
They were really, really friendly with me and Ilka (the German girl who
was my host) and I became real friends.
I visited many places while I was there with my host family like
going to Opel zoo, going shopping near Kriftel (the village where I
stayed) and visiting the beautiful castle of Heidelberg the last day iI
was in Germany.
I also had to get up at 6 a.m. every morning to go to the high
school where I met Ilka’s teachers and class mates, all of them
were great!
We made a workshop and we had a tour of the Museum of
school history there and then we went back home to have lunch.
After that, we had different day trips to the cities and villages near
Kriftel: we went to the Opel factory, the town hall of the place I was
living in, we had a trip to the river Rhine, we visited very interesting
museums in Rüdesheim, too. But what I liked most was Frankfurt. That
day was one of the most important for me in my travel to Germany and,
of course, the nights in the park with all my German, Lithuanian and
Bulgarian new friends.
In addition, my English got better, I could talk and understand
easily what I heard...
It was a real pity to come back and leave all these fantastic people
who received me with their doors open.
by Alba Beltrán
GERMANY
Last October some students from La
Laboral, in Spain, travelled to Germany. We
had to do something to take part in this trip.
Finally, we were 5 students with our two
English teachers. We felt like going so when
the day came we were really excited. For some
students it was their first travel by plane.
Firstly, they were a bit scared but then, they
liked it.
When we arrived in Frankfurt, our host
families were waiting for us in the airport.
After taking the luggage, we went to our
host house.
During the week, we visited an Opel
factory where we could see how the cars are
made, and some old cars. We liked it but it
was a bit noisy.
We also visited some villages and some
museums. The villages were small but so
warm. There were houses instead of flats, and
the houses were old and made of stones and
wood.
A few days, we went to school. It was a
bit different from Spain. They had double
lessons (Two lessons of the same subject in a
ro w ) ; t h e i r m u s i c c l a s s e s h a d m a n y
instruments and the marks are also different
(the best mark is 1 and the worst is 6).
One day we went to Frankfurt. It’s a big
GERMANY
Last year, some German and Bulgarian students came to
city with high rise buildings, but it’s very Spain. We stayed with German students and we went to
crowded and a bit noisy. We went to a big Logroño with them. We showed them Logroño and, in my
building and at the top of this, we saw the opinion, they enjoyed themselves.
This year, five of us went to Germany,
entire city.
with two English teachers. Our host
We had a very good time in Germany and
family came to the airport and took
our host families were very nice. us home.
It was one of the best trips that I’ve ever We visited the Opel's Opel’s factory
done. factory and we saw old
by Marina Sierra cars; we went to Kriftel's
town hall because the
Comenius project made an
meeting with prizes included. We
went also to visit the Rhin and
some towns near Kriftel. There
were more houses than flats. We
visited some museums, we went to
Frankfurt and we saw high-rise
buildings, we went shopping...
We went to some classes, too,
with our German hosts. The
school is different from Spain:
the classrooms, the marks...The
school had a museum, too.
I enjoyed very much this trip organised by the Comenius
project and I want to repeat this experience. We knew
other cultures, cities and people. We made new friends and
we keep in touch by e-mails and messages.
by Elena Deaconu

[11]
ART
Enero 2009
JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE - A MAN WHO WROTE HISTORY
Have you heard about this fact?
Goethe, a famous writer and poet, who
was born 1749 in Frankfurt/Main, am Großen
Hirschgraben and who died in 1832 and got
his title in 1782, had his inspiration for his
popular drama ‘Faust’ from a real life
experience. It was the character ‘Gretchen’.
Especially the process against the child
murderer Susanna Magaretha Brandt in 1772
in Frankfurt inspired Goethe to write his most
famous piece.
But how can we compare the ‘Gretchen-
tragedy’ to the Magaretha Brandt process,
who was charged for child murder?
The action of ‘Faust’ consists of the bet
between the devil Mephistopheles and God.
Mephistopheles is dissatisfied with the world
and the humans. He bets that he will corrupt
the doctor Faust and make him a bad human.
On Faust’s way Mephistopheles gives him a
magic potion. That’s the reason for Faust’s love
to Gretchen.
Gretchen is jointly responsible for her
mother’s and brother’s death and she kills her
baby, too, like Magaretha Brandt. But still she
goes to heaven.
But if you look at Goethe’s childhood you
have to see Frankfurt in his life time. The old
fair town at the crossroads of 16 trading roads
Europe, a global village
Weingarten Schule, Kriftel
(Germany)
Marijampole "Ryto" Secondary
School (Lithuania)
St Kyril and Metodi, Satovcha
(Bulgaria)
IES La Laboral, Lardero (Spain)
a man who
wrote history
had 36.000 inhabitants, most of them were
manual workers and traders. The people
enjoyed a high standard of living. Goethe’s
parents were rich people. Goethe had a good
relationship to his only sister Cornelia Goethe.
Goethe’s father taught his children on his
own or took private teachers for them. He was
an educated and interesting man. He had a
library at home. When Goethe turned 16, his
parents decided that he should go to university
to Leipzig, to study law from 1765-1768.
Not surprisingly, young Goethe fell in love.
He described his strong love for Frederike
In Weimar there was the duke’s mother
Brion in rhymes. At this time Goethe was a
Anna Amalie who had an artistic circle which
poet of ‘Sturm und Drang’.
Goethe joined soon. Surely, Weimar was the
But you have to know about Goethe’s
cultural capital for many artists like Goethe and
most famous novel of letters ‘The sufferings of
also Schiller, who was friendly with Goethe.
young Werther’. This novel of an unhappy love,
Schiller was the man, who wanted Goethe to
which ends with the self-pity and suicide of
continue his work on Faust. In Weimar Goethe
Werther, created a real ‘Werther-Hype’, which
got to know Christiane Vulpius, a lowly girl,
made Goethe popular around the world. He
with whom Goethe had a son, Julius August
also wrote this in relation to his love to
Walther (17-89-1830). But Goethe’s son died
Charlotte Buff. So you see that poets always
because of the unhappy marriage, which made
have a relation to real life.
him an alcoholic. That made Goethe really sad
But Weimar is the most important town in
and he became ill and died in 1832. But
Goethe’s life, who was invited by the duke Karl
Goethe died as a man, as a poet of character.
August to come to Weimar, where Goethe took
By Ilka, Mandy and Tamara
high state offices.
[12]

AZAD- From a refugee to a
rap-star
Azad, the most famous rapper
from Frankfurt, releases his new album
“AZphalt Inferno” on Friday, 30th of
January. His name means “Freedom”
in Persian and Kurdish.
Azad Azadpour alias “The BoZZ”
was born on 1st January 1974 in Iran.
He came to Germany in his youth as a
Kurdish refugee. He had a hard
childhood in the ghettos of Frankfurt.
His first contact with hip hop was
break-dance and graffiti. Since 1988 he
has been in the German hip hop
business; he founded the group
“Asiatic Warriors” with some of his
friends. They became famous in 1994.
But this group didn’t exist long
and Azad signed on with the label
Pelham Power Productions as a solo-
artist.
From this point onwards his
career began to take off – he released
one top 100 hit after the other. Also he
cooperates with many different
German rappers, e.g. Bushido, like on
his new album.
This album “AZphalt Inferno” also
represents his typical rap technique,
his minimal beats and his explicit and
direct word choice (“Kneel down,
salute and stand straight! – The BoZZ
is back! – from the song “Der Bozz”).
But if you think that he is just a street-
and hardcore-rapper, you are wrong.
He has very sensitive lyrics, as well,
because he is a family man. But he has
not only this soft side, (“Look my angel,
you are everything for me!” – from the
song “Was hab ich dir angetan!”), but a
very hard side, too; he proved it in
2004 when he had a skirmish with
another rapper from Berlin.
In 2007 he reached gold status
with his single “Ich glaub an dich”, the
German soundtrack for the series
“Prison Break”.
“AZphalt Inferno” is Azad’s first
street-album about ghetto life.
If you want to get an impression
of this new album, you can go on this
website and listen to some of his
songs:
http://www.myspace.com/
azadbozzmusic
by Marco, Luca, Karsten,
Philipp, Tim and Alexander
Symbol of Azad
AZAD- From
a refugee to a
rap-star
[13]
SERRAT, OUR FAVOURITE GUEST
Viana is a town in the north of Spain
with a lot of stories in its streets.
Because of its location and
importance, many people have been here
since the beginning of its history;
Lords, Kings, dealers, foreigners… and
also old and new celebrities.
Nowadays, there is a celebrity that
usually comes to visit us. I´m talking
about a famous singer-songwriter, poet
and musician called Joan Manuel
Serrat.
He has born in Barcelona in 1943. Many
times he has said that he was born to
be musician; he used to sing with his
mother when he was younger.
Before, singing was only a hobby, but
after the sucess of “Cançó de
matinada” in 1967, the first Catalan
song #1 in all the Spanish charts, he
decided to work as a singer-
songwriter.
He started singing with a group of
friends at the university, and
afterwards he started his solo career.
He was always very proud of his
hometown, so he used to sing in
Catalan (his hometown language).
In times of the Spanish dictatorship,
he couldn´t appear on TV, because he
sang in Catalan. He also turned down
the possibility of going to the
Eurovison Song Contest in 1968,
because the government didn´t allow
him to sing in Catalan.
His relationship with Viana started in
his youth, when he came here on
holiday to visit a friend of his
family. He made some friends in Viana,
and he lived some of his favourite
adventures.
Today he comes here in summer, because
he loves our summer festivals. The
thing he likes most is watching the
bulls running through the streets.
In Viana he is not a celebrity, he is
an ordinary citizen.Only pligrims of
St James ´ Way, that pass through
Viana, are amazed when they see him.
Since 2005, he has been an “Adopted
child” in Viana. Not long ago he
bought a house in the Main street.
He really loves this town, and he
usually says that the most curious
thing of this place,is not the history
or the monuments, but its people. And
it´s because of the people that he
always returns on holiday.
by SIRA INCHUSTA
 noticed that people there like us and our music
City and Village People Attitude‘s

POP MUSIC
much more than in Lithuania. They clapped
Change into POP Music performers
during all songs, screamed that they love us. It
in Lithuania was wonderful.
What first comes into your head while How would you describe Lithuanian city
talking about cities and villages? You would and village?
probably answer, that cities mean shops, clubs Big cities remind crowded streets, noise
and noisy streets, hundreds of people around and polluted environment. Villages associate
and no privacy at all. Villages, on the contrary, with heartiness, spacious view and fresh air.
is a place of nature and silence. Years ago What shows our culture better: city life or
people noticed that it is much more exciting to traditions of our old village?
spend their free time in a peaceful scenery of a Our village life shows the culture of
village and to rest for a while. Well known Lithuania better, as all the traditions originated
celebrities also notice the differences of these from them.
two places and people living in a city or a Where would you like to live: in a noisy
village. I would like to ask my classmates, city or a peaceful village?
singers of a popular group in Lithuania All of us would like to live in a village,
“Mokinukės” some questions about that. because there aren’t traffic jams and noise. We
First, tell something about your group. like to rest.
Hello. We are POP group called Have you noticed, that village people
”Mokinukės” (in English we are “Schoolgirls”). become more modern and eventually forget
There are four members in our group: Ineta, about the old traditions of our nation?
Irūna, Rūta and Kristina. We are 17 – 18 years Yes, it really seems that village people
old. Our group has been singing for five years become modern and not all of them are
and we have already produced four music concerned about saving the old traditions. It is
albums. Lithuanian people like us very much, quite sad as you think, because the history, our
so we are one of the most popular groups in language and the old traditions are the things
Lithuania. that make us unique and original.
You have many concerts. Where are they
arranged more often: in a city or a village?
We have many concerts in various cities Ruta
and villages in Lithuania. Usually more often in
Ineta
big cities than in villages, because
tickets to our concerts cost more Iruna
than people can afford. Also city
Kristina
people organize much more events
than village people.
Have you noticed any
differences between the audience of
a city and a village?
Yes, we have seen some
differences.. Village people are
merrier and more honest. They prefer
POP Music performers in pop-music and love it. City people
like exclusive style of music as well
Lithuania
as stylish clothes, they look a bit
Yes, it really seems that
different.
village people become
City people sometimes make
modern and not all of
them are concerned about fun of village people. What do you
saving the old traditions. think about that?
It is quite sad as you We were, are and will be against
think, because the discrimination of people.
history, our language and
Have you ever had concerts
the old traditions are the
things that make us unique abroad? Were they different from the
and original. concerts you had in Lithuania?
We had some concerts in
Poland, in the town called Seinai. We

[14]
 COMPOSITION FOR Comenius Project

THE COMENIUS
I think that this project
is very important,
because the cultural
exchange is much more

PROJECT intense if you

connect with
the people of
I would a village,
than if you
like people to go to a big
think about city.
this

Composition for the Comenius Project

My name is Sara, Sara Botella. I´m almost sixteen and I live in
Murillo, a village near Logroño. One thing I´ve got to say is that
travelling goes into my blood; for instance, I´m not even from Murillo. I
was born in a little village in Alicante, called Benirabeig. Bur I don´t
consider myself from there, I think I´m more from Orense, where I
stayed for 6 years, or from Seville where I left most of my friends…so if
somebody asks about it I say I´m just Spanish, because it´s a bit hard to
explain, I don´t even know where I´m really from.
My parents are Spanish, and they also love traveling. My mother
was born in Buenos Aires, but she has Spanish nationality, and she
speaks English, French ,German, and of course English . They have
shown me how important it is to look for yourself in the spaces that you
know and the ones you don´t know, being helped by all the people that
have something to teach us. I know I´m finding what I´m looking for
when I travel
I´ve been to France last summer, but it was a bit strange, because
the lady of the house, friend of my mother, was Malay. I didn´t know her
before, and she didn´t speak Spanish, just English, French or Malaysian.
My French is not good at all, (don´t speak about my Malaysian…) so I
had to speak English the whole summer. It was amazing. I was learning
Chinese medicine, cooking and painting, and everything was in English!
I also was to Bulgaria last year with this project. It was such a
good experience for me, I learned a lot, not just improving my English,
and the teaching was from everyone, the students, the teachers and all
the fantastic people that knew how to make the best of the trip.
What I´m trying to say is that there are a lot of things to learn, so
many places with so many people waiting to give us some of their
knowledge, and it´s not just that: everyone has something to show, and
I´m feeling like the whole world is waiting for me.
I think that this project is very important, because the cultural
exchange is much more intense if you connect with the people of a
village, than if you go to a big city. And there are also other reasons, like
the fact that the people from villages don´t have the same possibilities
as the students who go to schools situated in capitals.
If you know how to take advantage of this opportunity, whose key
is English, you take automatically the learning, because when you are
living something important, especially when you are enjoying it, all you
could learn comes deeper that if you are in a normal situation. That´s
why these exchanges, are so good for students that are interested, that
are going to take the best, and give the best.
I would like people to think about this, and it is not to make sure
that you are going to have my participation in good consideration, is to
make sure that the people that will go to the next, and last exchange,
are going to take advantage of it for their own profit.
And finally I would like to thank all the people who make this
project a fact.
Yours sincerely
Sara Botella
Comenius Project
The Commenius project has been for me a way
of meeting new people and countries, not
just our host country, Germany, but other
countries like Lithuania and Bulgaria we
don't know as well as Germany.
Anyway, what I want to say is that this
project opens your mind in the way of
visiting foreign cultures and new people
makes you more tolerant, and it's because of
this I think this kind of trips must be done
frequently, because you learn a lot from
other cultures and languages and, above all,
because you do new friendships, friendships
I hope I'll never lose.
Finally, I want to say how grateful I am
because of our trip to Germany, the friends
I left there (I hope we'll see each other
soon) and how much I learnt. Since I left
Germany (and I think I'm speaking in the
name of all of us) I am looking forward to
the moment we'll be together again.
See you later!
Gonzalo Idoate

[15]
WHAT I THINK ABOUT
TRAVELING
Hello I´m Hassan; I was born in
Madrid (the capital of Spain), but now I
live in La Rioja (in the north of Spain), in a
village. I´m 17 years old. I came to La
Rioja when I was 14, the change was so
strong because as you can imagine
Madrid is a big city: there are a lot of
people, you can do a lot of different
things, but in a village people are used to
do always the same things, and it is
small, but, most of the people like their
life as it is they want to be always in the
same place, they don´t want to see the
world. Some of them are closed minded
and I´m not saying that this kind of people
are mad, I mean that I don´t understand
these things because I love traveling and I
love seeing different things and different
cultures.
When I talk to the people
of my village about going to another
country, they look at me as if I´m crazy or
something and I don´t understand this
attitude. I feel strange, and very confused
because in Madrid when I talked about
going somewhere the people always said
that I was very lucky, and yes I´m very
lucky. The bad thing about this depends
on the neighborhood, there are good
neighborhoods and bad neighborhood
but at night time some people of different
neighborhoods go to parties and it´s quite
dangerous. People get drunk or
something worse, and you can get killed
11th September
People think that dangerous events never
happen to us, but I´m going to tell you a
story that happened to my family.
It was 11th September and my aunt, uncle
and cousins where on holiday in New York.
Two days before they had visited the twin
towers. That morning they were in the
plane to come back to Spain, when
suddenly flight asistants ordered them to
leave the plane because a terrorist attack
or you can get
robbed. In the
village things like
that can´t happen
so I think that
I want to go
everyone should
to Lithuania
travel because
when you go to
another country
you learn a lot of things, and if you don´t that prefer the village. It depends on the
travel, how do you know that you want to persons, but the persons should try to
live in the same country all your life if you visit different places
didn´t see the other countries? I want to go to Lithuania
All the cities because I know that it´s a very nice
have a story and you can learn a lot opportunity to travel to a place where I
making tourism or you can go to different know that I’m not going to travel in my
restaurants like Japanese food or Italian future. I love so much seeing different
food or whatever, but I think that in the countries, different buildings and to see
cities it is harder to live because there are the differences between all the countries
a lot of people and a lot of pollution. The that I have been to in all my life. I´ll go
people who live in cities, when they have with some friends from my school so I
holidays, usually go to relaxing places like think that we are going to have a great
villages or to the beach or somewhere time there, I’m very nervous too but I
that you can relax. know that is going to be a great
For me big cities are great, but this experience that I will remember all my life.
is because I live in a village and when I go And the best thing is that I didn´t know
to Madrid for example I have a wonderful that I could go there, seriously I’m very
time but I know that I can´t live in a city lucky.
for all this things that I talked before but I can´t wait to get there, thank you
yet for short visits I think it is great, but ,I very much for this big opportunity in my
think that this is because know I’m used life.
to life in a village and now I’m used to it. By Hassan Pastor
There are people for everything:
people who prefer the cities and people
had happened. They didn´t recieve more I will never forget the hug I gave them
information but everybody was very scared when they finally came back home.
and they didn´t know what to do. by Raquel Sáenz
I remember when I was watching tv and I
watched the news. I couldn´t believe it! we
didn´t know if my family was ok because it
was impossible call them. A few hours later
the phone rang and it was them. They said
that they didn´t have their suitcases with
them and they had to spend some days in
a sportscentre until the situation was
better.
[16]