Gent is Golden
My time in Ghent
It all started on Sunday morning 4 am so we departed early. Most of my friends was sleeping while something got my attention. Just a second later the PA from the flight attendant “We need someone who can translate Ukrainian to English”
Minute later they have carried a passage at the back of the plan. Thankfully we later found out she only needed some insulin. Still it wasn’t an uneventful flight for me. From the airport we took the bus to Brussels to catch a train to Bruges.
Bruges was beautiful I really loved the building style from rustic bricks. We spent few hour here before we continued our trip to Ghent. In that time we have tried the fries and also the waffles one of the iconic food of Belgium. After that long day we finally meet our hosts.
On the second day we started with “get know each other” workshop after lunch we got some free time to explore the center of Ghent.
After a long night on the third day we went to Antwerpen. We were on an amazing exhibition about how the cacao becomes chocolate bars. The end of the exhibition was wonderful place we called as “The heaven of chocolate” there you can taste all of the chocolate types they have when we rolled out we went some sightseeing in Antwerp. That day we had picnic from the stuff which the students bring from home. It was a long day but that didn’t stop us from doing a night walk at the Funpark street.
On the third day we were canoeing trip where we collected tras from the river. That prevents the plastic to get to the ocean. It was a sort program so we decided to buy some big bowl ice cream and find a calm place to share with each other.
We visited the EU parliament in Brussels on Thursday. Here we could walk around inside of the building see where and how the politicians work. Afternoon we go sightseeing in Brussels.
Friday that day was full of emotions. We need to say goodbye to our friends. After that many adventures and programs we had became close together. Therefore it was really hard. Now I look forward to see some of them in Hungary at the meeting week.
Csóka Bence
Feedback of the project
March 27-April 2.
Overall I’ve spent a beautiful week in Belgium. I feel the teachers filled every day with a lots of programmes so I’ve felt fulfilled after every day. We visited 3 cities, walked around all of them by ourselvs. Of course we had some tasks to do during the sightseeing but it only helped us to explore the places better. I appreciate the trust from them by letting us be and walk around alone. Free time was really important so I’m happy we had some every day. Thanks to this we had the space to bond with each other, we built up friendships, connections between one another. Unfortunately the weather got colder and even worse but in reverse we visited the chocholate museum in Antwep which was unexpectedly enjoyable, then the Europian Parlament in Brussels which was really interesting as well. I think it was refreshing that not all the programmes were connected to chocholate but to Belgium and Ghent instead. The belgian teachers and students used every opportunity to lead us into their life, show us what its like to live there, what are they proud of, etc.
Besides the amount of free time it was kind of upsetting sometimes when neither we or nor our hosts knew what or when will it happen. It wasn’t always a problem but I could see the disorganization sometimes. But still I think the whole week was a lots of fun, everyone was kind and patient and I returned home with a lot more than I arrived there with.
Thank you again, see you soon in Hungary!
Gerzson Luca
My Week in Ghent
Sunday:
Before arriving in Ghent, we visited the beautiful town of Bruges, where we walked around or a few hours, before continuing to Ghent. After arriving we were greeted by our hosts and then went to the school to meet the other participants. Here we played some games, ate some fries, afterwards we went home to rest.
Monday:
At first the all the participants met up at school to officially open the project and to be shown around the school. After this we went to Oxfam’s model shop where they showed us, how one of their
Fair-Trade shops should be set up. In the afternoon we had a scavenger hunt type city exploration game, where we walked around Ghent completing different tasks, which included creating a Europe themed art on the towns famous graffiti street, which I really enjoyed, because I have never created such a thing before.
Tuesday
On Tuesday we headed to Antwerp to visit the Chocolate Nation Museum. The museum was amazing, I really enjoyed the audio guide, the visual elements, and of course the tasting room at the end. For lunch we held a picnic where we brought traditional foods from our country for the others to try. In the afternoon we walked in the city listening to folk tales and completing a crossword puzzle based on these.
Wednesday
Today we took a brake from travelling further and visited a local charity in Ghent. The guys rent out canoes to collect garbage from the channels of the city. For me it was surprising how much waste was in the waters that looked relatively clean from the banks. I also love canoeing and it was lovely to enjoy the unique views from the calm waters of the city.
Thursday
On Thursday we headed to Dampoort station once again to take a train to Brussels. Here we first visited the European Parliament, where we heard a presentation about the structure of the EU, afterwards we visited the chamber where the parliamentary sessions are held. In the afternoon we explored Brussels and, in the evening, we headed back to Ghent.
Friday
On the final day, we were at school again. In groups we were doing workshops, that included cooking, dancing, and music. Around noon we had lunch and officially closed the project. First, we said goodbye to the Italian and some time later to our Spanish partners.
Overall
This was my first project of this kind and I really enjoyed living with a host instead of a hotel. This way I could experience a lot more things as a local. The programs were amazing and I’ve learned a lot about chocolate and Fair-Trade.
Sunday:
Before arriving in Ghent, we visited the beautiful town of Bruges, where we walked around or a few hours, before continuing to Ghent. After arriving we were greeted by our hosts and then went to the school to meet the other participants. Here we played some games, ate some fries, afterwards we went home to rest.
Monday:
At first the all the participants met up at school to officially open the project and to be shown around the school. After this we went to Oxfam’s model shop where they showed us, how one of their
Fair-Trade shops should be set up. In the afternoon we had a scavenger hunt type city exploration game, where we walked around Ghent completing different tasks, which included creating a Europe themed art on the towns famous graffiti street, which I really enjoyed, because I have never created such a thing before.
Tuesday
On Tuesday we headed to Antwerp to visit the Chocolate Nation Museum. The museum was amazing, I really enjoyed the audio guide, the visual elements, and of course the tasting room at the end. For lunch we held a picnic where we brought traditional foods from our country for the others to try. In the afternoon we walked in the city listening to folk tales and completing a crossword puzzle based on these.
Wednesday
Today we took a brake from travelling further and visited a local charity in Ghent. The guys rent out canoes to collect garbage from the channels of the city. For me it was surprising how much waste was in the waters that looked relatively clean from the banks. I also love canoeing and it was lovely to enjoy the unique views from the calm waters of the city.
Thursday
On Thursday we headed to Dampoort station once again to take a train to Brussels. Here we first visited the European Parliament, where we heard a presentation about the structure of the EU, afterwards we visited the chamber where the parliamentary sessions are held. In the afternoon we explored Brussels and, in the evening, we headed back to Ghent.
Friday
On the final day, we were at school again. In groups we were doing workshops, that included cooking, dancing, and music. Around noon we had lunch and officially closed the project. First, we said goodbye to the Italian and some time later to our Spanish partners.
Overall
This was my first project of this kind and I really enjoyed living with a host instead of a hotel. This way I could experience a lot more things as a local. The programs were amazing and I’ve learned a lot about chocolate and Fair-Trade.
Bíró Dávid
CHOC Erasmus – Ghent
Day 1
The first day of the trip was all about travelling. We went to the airport at dawn, like 4 am. Our plane took off at 6 am without any problems. We arrived at Brussels, then we headed straight to the bus which took us to the train station. We took a train to Bruges. I found Bruges really beautiful, it had a great vibe. After our sightseeing we went to our final destination, Ghent. We met up with our hosts, and everyone went on their own way. We had a little game evening in school, we played basketball with all the Erasmus students and had fries, it was a fun way of getting to know each other.
Day 2
On the second day of the trip, we listened to a short opening speech in school, then in the afternoon we went on a thing called “city game”. It was really good in my opinion, I liked the whole concept of the game, the main focus was just getting to know the city in a fun way.
After school I had a lot of fun with my host and also with other students.
Day 3
This day was all about Antwerp. We took a train there with the whole Erasmus group. We went to a chocolate museum, which was amazing. I am still amazed to this day. We tried a few types of chocolate there, and also learned a lot about chocolate. Afternoon we hung out with friends.
Day 4
Our 4th day was short, but it was so much fun. We went Canoeing for garbage. I was shocked by the amount of trash in the water, but I hope we helped a bit with collecting as much as we could. After school we went to the Coast with friends, it was one of my favourite moments there.
Day 5
This day was the longest in my opinion, but the most interesting at the same time. We went to Brussels and visited the European Parliament. And than in smaller groups we went sightseeing. I loved Brussels, I hope I can visit it again.
Day 6
Day 6 we had workshops in school. I did cooking, drama and dancing. All of the workshops were fun and interesting. Then sadly we had to say goodbye to the Italians. Afternoon I spent more time with my host, then went to sleep.
Day 7
This day was all about travelling too. We said goodbye at the train station at 10am, with the Hungarian group we spent some more time in Ghent than took a train, a bus and than the plane home.
Levente Zádor
Ghent – CHoC
Day -1.
We arrived to Belgian at 10 am and went to Brugge. There we ate some very delicius fries and looked around in the city. Brugge is my favourite city in Belgium because of the houses and the horses.
After than we arrived to Ghent we met with our host family, and went tot he school. In the school we met with the students from Itali, from Portugal, from Spain, and from Belgium who were frendly and nice.
Day 1.
We went to the school ’early’ in the morning. We were listening some speeches by the principal and the teachers. After than we went to a fairtrade shop. Then we ate a good lunch in the city. Everybody was so kind, friendly, helpful, sociable and helpfull.
After the lunch we had a city game, which was cool but long.
Day 2.
I was so delighed about this day because we went to the chocolate museum in Antwerp. The museum was interesting and we learnt a lot about the chocolate. The way that they used the technology is incrediblei.
We had a very cool pcnik in a park. Everibody brought something from her country and we could try everythng.
The afternoon was free so we went to secondhand shops and we were looking around in the city.
We arrived to Ghent and we were just hanging out and ate some typical Belgan snacks.
Day 3.
First we went to canoing and we picked up trash while canoeing. It was so much fun. Interesting how much trash we collected in just one hour.
In the afternoon we were hanging out, listening some music, shopping.
Day 4.
We went to Brussel and visited the EU parlament. It is inconceivable that we were there. In the afternoon we had free time, we visited some famous places in Brussel and ate waffel.
Day 5.
Last day, we had workshops like dancing, singing, acting, cooking and writting. It was fun. After all it was time to say goodbye. That was the hardest part.
Nagy Fruzsi
choc: ghent
We’ve arrived in belgium on sunday, but first we visited brugge. Then we went to ghent to our host familys. Also we had a little meeting party in the school where we could meet with the others from portugal, spain and italy.
On the first day: monday, we were in the school, presentations were showed and after that, we played a city game. Walked a lot, and had fun assignments, like buy a whole outfit from 10 euros. After that, we had a free afternoon.
The second day tuesday, we had a trip to Antwerpen. Visited a very good chocolate museum with tasteing. From the most sugary to the one with no sugar in it. After we had a fun assignment to get to know the city more. Then a free time in the centre. We got back to ghent at 17am, that was the end of todays organized program, but we students had dinner together and a good time.
Wednesday, we only had program in the morning. Went canoeing and collected trash from the water to save the environment. Then the whole afternoon was free. A few of us went to the city.
On Thursday we visited brussels. We went to the europian parlament were a guy talked about the EU rules and everything thats related to that. It was interesting. After in groups we had lunch and had an assignment to make photos with famous things in brussels. Then we went back to ghent.
The last day we were in the school, and had different workshops. I was sended to the drama, singing and dancing programs. Then we ate pita and pancakes. After we said goodbye to everyone and recived a little choc’n roll giftbag.
I had a really good time there, feeling lucky that i could go.
Cseke Lili
