A report on the visit in Turkey: 5-9 November 2012 The first visit from the Smileys project lasted

from 5 th to 9th November. Fifteen members from kindergartens from Slovenia, Turkey and Poland took part in the exchange. Members from Great Britain did not arrive due to unforeseen circumstances. The main aim of the meeting was to gain knowledge on Turkish culture and traditions. The travel to Turkey started on the 4 th of November. At the Izmir airport we were welcomed by the Turkish coordinator Deniz Conplant and delegation from Turkey. After the check in at the hotel we had an informal meeting with our cooperatives from Turkey and Slovenia and we established the schedule of visits and meetings for the next day. 5th November After arriving at the Buca School we were welcomed by the delegation of parents and children. There was a short party on which parents prepared regional snacks. Next, there was an official welcome in the lecture theatre and the headmaster of the school gave a welcoming speech. Children form primary school, where the kindergarten is placed, gave a regional dance performance. After that, there was a gymnastic show prepared by the pupils. In the later part, our cooperatives from Izmir showed a multimedia display about their city, educational system in Turkey and the specifics about work in kindergarten. Similar presentation was prepared by Slovenia and our delegation.

The next point was a tour around school and kindergarten units. Schools in Turkey are very modest if it comes to toys but it is well equipped with multimedia appliances. All children in school and kindergarten wear uniforms. In the afternoon we visited the mayor and the manager of the public education. During the meeting we were discussing the working policy of schools and kindergartens in the city such as the foundation of kindergartens, the system of education in kindergartens and how the city assists them. We compared the kindergarten educational systems in Poland and in Turkey. The meeting was filmed by the local television and recorded by a representative of the local press. 6th November There was a meeting with parents. First, we saw the dancing performance prepared by the group one and an ecological fashion show, which was prepared by children from kindergarten unit in assistance with their parents and a teacher. Children wore clothes made of plastic, paper and other waste. During that day, we were mainly preoccupied with the contentrelated side of the project. The members of the project proposed the logo symbol, which will be used for the purpose of our project. The projects prepared by Poland were chosen during the conquest by parents and children. Together, we chose the logo prepared from the group form Slovenia. The next point in our schedule was the analysis of the aims and activities of the project. Additional activities were shared, which were initially belonged to Romania and Netherlands. These countries did not get donation, therefore their activities had to be taken over by others. Other dates of future visits were established. Slovenia 8-12 April 2013 United Kingdom 17-21 June 2013

Poland 8-12 May 2014 Turkey 7-11 June 2014

7th November The main event of the programme that day was to see the lesson and childrens activity during the classes in the kindergarten. Children were taking part in different activities while the music was playing. Children reacted very lively to the sound of music. We got the impression that children like such musical activities the most. During art classes children were painting pictures using oils. Children were trying to make oil paintings. At the end, we were given one of the paintings which we took as a gift for our kindergarten. During that day we also visited Efez the best preserved ancient city in the region of the Mediterranean Sea which used to be a very important trading city and the centre of cult of Cybele the goddess of fertility the in ancient times. Because of many archaeological excavations, Efez is also very important for Christianity as one of the first Christian group was established here. Owning to this trip we we able to gain knowledge about Turkey and its culture and history. 8th November On that day, we were invited to see the patriotic lesson in the kindergarten. The teacher was presenting the history of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who is known as the father of the Turkish people this is the actual translation of the surname which the hero taken in the 30s. He managed to transform the falling Muslim Empire into secular republic. He abolished the Arabic alphabet and established the Latin one, gave women the right to vote in local and parliamentary election. He made these changes far before other todays counties). Later, teachers prepared the practical activities: We make vegetable preserves. Children and teachers, dressed in kitchen aprons, were making the preserves. Before the classes, children were washing the vegetables and peeling them off.

After that, our Polish and Slovenian delegation prepared the play show during which we showed the most popular plays in our countries. These were mainly plays with music and dances. Children really liked our dance Lambada and Boobiewoogie.

9th November That day we spend in the kindergarten. Children were making bead bracelets, which later were given to us as presents. There were also some physical activities and we were learning some Turkish dances. Children really liked to play with us. Such activities enabled us to play with children and teachers and observe the children during leisure activities. Next, we moved downstairs to the classroom where we discussed and summarized our visit to Turkey. There was also an official part where the certificates were given. The next day, partners from Poland, before the departure were invited to see a very important national event for Turkey. Each year, the whole city, on the 10 th of November at 9.45 hold a moment of silence in honour of Ataturk the national hero. During the moment of silence only the sound of siren is heard. In the courtyard, in front of the school, there were special performances prepared which were connected with this special event. Many students with parents and teachers were present during the ceremony. Children were singing patriotic songs and were reciting poems. Then, th headmaster of the school gave a speech.