European Project e-Journal
First edition | Oct 2008
I’m the project coordinator in
Portugal and I would like to thank
all the people involved, because
you all believe in our project. ETPR
has never done such a project and
our students have been willing to
do it, right from the beginning. It’s
the most rewarding thing for us to
feel them so involved, because we
made THIS PROJECT FOR THEM.
This is our main goal: to offer
some of them the opportunity of
a lifetime. This is what we like
to do in our school, to provide
our students all they need to be
successful adults in a near future.
My deep expectations are very
I believe that teaching is no longer a
stand up show in front of the students,
is a process of reciprocal knowledge
and exchanging experiences. Our
role as teachers is to help them
find the way to accomplishment.
On the project, I’m the IT “expert”(at
least I hope to became an “expert” in
the end!). I created the Web Page
– Perspectives of Otherness, photo and
multimedia site, blog, video and audio
conferences, the e-journal design.
In ETPR, I teach electronics and
electricity subjects, but I worked for
some years on several companies as
engineer. One of them gave me the
. . . Expectations . . .
positive as I think it is the best
project ever made and it will
allow pupils to grow as better
human beings and as European
Citizens. Not only the project’s
participants but all our ETPR
students are working together
to make this project successful.
Teacher - Carla Dias
Teacher - Nuno Nunes
true feeling of otherness, experiencing
contacts with other countries and
cultures, was indeed stirring. That is
why I have a tendency to make clear to
my “kids”, that life is more than their
small town, there is an entire world
out there waiting to be discovered.
Theoretical reflections centered on
the relation between the Self and the
Other considers this nexus in terms
of boundary markers of identity.
Thinking about Self and Other is
stretched back to the Roman idea of
persona, and since then it is argued
that it has been a central theme of
Teacher - Silviu Taras
Teacher - Iliescu Edinda
The impulse for starting a new
Comenius bilateral project came
to us after the positive results
experienced in our previous
partnership, in the school year
2006-2007, with the Latvian school
from Malpils. We witnessed back
Perspectives of Otherness
the Western philosophical reflection.
Hegel relates the identity formation
to the Self/Other dichotomy, and
makes the inner connection of
perceiving the Self in knowing the
Other. This dialectical principle of
identity formation was reformulated
by Marx and became one of the
dominant twentieth-century social
theory. Therefore, constructing
new identities also requires the
reevaluation of the already functional
mechanisms of collective mentalities.
The projection of the European
identity assumes the process of
reconsidering the existing predefined,
largely bias-based images of the Other.
than that school project can be
both friendship and education,
learning and practicing language,
and that it can bring closer
people, cultures and educational
systems in order to recognize
similarities and differences. We
thought these could be good
starting points for another
intercultural cooperation so that
new generations of students may
benefit from this kind of activities.
Our thoughts where rewarded
by finding our new partners:
Escola Técnica e Profissional
do Ribatejo, in Portugal...
Full Article in Page - 2
 European Project e-Journal
2 Perspectives of Otherness First edition | Oct 2008

Teaching a language on a foreign country. A word about the project…

Ana Eremia
The Romanian Teacher
despre România, respectiv
Portugalia şi de a descoperi
lucrurile minunate pe care
ambele ţări le au de oferit.
Pentru mine este o deosebită
plăcere să pot lua parte la
What do I expect from “Perspectives of Otherness”?
I ’m the project coordinator in Portugal and I
would like to thank all the people involved,
because you all believe in our project. ETPR
has never done such a project and our
made and it will allow pupils to grow as better
human beings and as European Citizens.
Not only the project’s participants but all
programme. The English language is the link
among students and teachers. In our case,
we will develop activities related to culture,
our ETPR students are working together traditions, sports,… It is important to contact

C onsider acest proiect

foarte interesant, pentru
că oferă elevilor posibilitatea
acest proiect, prin îndeplinirea
unuia dintre obiective
students have been willing to do it, right
from the beginning. It’s the most rewarding
to make this project successful. They are
having an active part participation every
with daily routines and habits and specially
to develop linguistic skills in real and live
thing for us to feel them so involved, because week and working hard to welcome their communication contexts. It’s a lot of work and
de a învata lucruri noi, – învaţarea limbii române.
we made THIS PROJECT FOR THEM. This is partners and create an amazing environment we know that sometimes time management
de a-şi face prieteni, de a Cunoscând ambele ţări, pot our main goal: to offer some of them the of INTERCULTURALITY. I must confess that will be hard to accomplish. Extra times, after
cunoaşte o tradiţie, o cultură anticipa oarecum şi sper ca opportunity of a lifetime. This is what we like I am as enthusiastic as they are. I am school hours, lunch breaks,.. we will always
şi o limbă diferită. Mai mult, la încheierea proiectului toţi to do in our school, to provide our students really looking forward to get together and need to get together and work on the project.
copiii socializează între ei, cei care au contribuit să îmi all they need to be successful adults in a produce something that will enrich all of us. But in the end… everybody will be happy and
lucrează în echipă având dea dreptate. Atât România, near future. My Deep expectations are very Our Comenius Project is a 2 school year we will look back and say “It was worth it!”.
acelaşi obiectiv comum cât şi Portugalia au parţi positive as I think it is the best project ever Language project which is a 2-week exchange
Teacher - Carla Dias
– descoperirea ţării partenere. bune şi rele. E ceva normal
Ar trebui ca mai multe şi cu cât cunosc mai mult
şcoli să poată beneficia de
această oportunitate pentru
Portugalia, descopăr din ce în
ce mai multe lucruri pe care T heoretical reflections centered on
the relation between the Self and
the Other considers this nexus in terms
the European identity assumes the process
of reconsidering the existing predefined,
largely bias-based images of the Other.
centered on the extraordinary and
defined in style by inclination to drama.
Consequently, the topic of the project
că este în primul rând o le are în comum cu România.
of boundary markers of identity. Thinking The course of history made this part aims to address the basic competencies
experienţă de viaţă. În acest Nu pot decât să vă las pe
about Self and Other is stretched back to of Europe to be differentiated from set out by the Recommendation
fel elevii au posibilitatea de a fiecare să descoperiţi aceste
the Roman idea of persona, and since then the West starting from the scholarly 2006/962/EC of the European Parliament
înlătura ideile preconcepute, lucruri şi să vă urez mult succes!
it is argued that it has been a central theme analysis of economic development to the and of the Council, and to further
de multe ori greşite Ana Eremia of the Western philosophical reflection. ideological construction of the West as “an open and respectful exchange of
Hegel relates the identity formation to the “imperialist enemy of the proletariat” views between individuals and groups
the Self/Other dichotomy, and makes the during the communism. If we consider belonging to different cultures that
e-Journal - Crew: inner connection of perceiving the Self the upheaval of nationalism from the leads to a deeper understanding of the
in knowing the Other. This dialectical beginning of the 20th century, we have other’s world perception”. Doing this by
principle of identity formation was the sketch of the cleavages between the promoting the development of basic skills
reformulated by Marx and became one Romanian and the Portuguese identity. of source-criticism and the deconstruction
of the dominant twentieth-century social Moreover, being cultures situated on of the images of the Other inherited
Romania: theory. Therefore, constructing new the two extremities of the European or constructed by the media based
identities also requires the reevaluation civilization (the Western and Eastern), on judgments advanced on prejudice.
Students:
of the already functional mechanisms of the sources on the Other currently
Bartha Zsofia, Bedohazi Robert, Chiritescu Teacher - Silviu Taras
collective mentalities. The projection of are dominated by the rules of media
Gyorgy, Dominteanu Costel, Duma-Menghires
Graziella, Ferenczi Gergo, Gaspar Antonia,
Grigorescu Renata, Iesan Erika, Ilyes Dorottya,
Kovacs Dorottya, Leu Aurelian, Manole Horatiu,
Matyas Bulcsu, Negoita Adrian, Olah Zsuzsa,
T he impulse for starting a new
Comenius bilateral project came to
us after the positive results experienced
another intercultural cooperation so
that new generations of students may
benefit from this kind of activities.
end, quoting our colleague and friend’s
words we will say “It was worth it!”
I am also sure that at the closing
Olar Dragos, Pop Iulia Lorena, Rode Abigel, in our previous partnership, in the Our thoughts where rewarded by finding moment of this project all the students
Stefan Ioana Emanuela, Vladea Lorand school year 2006-2007, with the Latvian our new partners: Escola Técnica e involved, the teachers and our schools and
school from Malpils. We witnessed back Profissional do Ribatejo, in Portugal, by communities will be able to assert that to
Teachers: than that school project can be both putting up a good project application and, interact with the Other means to broaden
friendship and education, learning last but not least, by receiving the big OK knowledge concerning cultural diversity,
Iliescu Edinda, Silviu Taras
and practicing language, and that it from the European Commission in Brussels. to strengthen the sense of belonging to
can bring closer people, cultures and I am sure that all the objectives one European community, to approach
Portugal: educational systems in order to recognize proposed by this project will be achieved in a different way European citizenship.
Students: similarities and differences. We thought during pleasant, creative and enriching
these could be good starting points for activities for all of us and at the Teacher - Iliesco Edinda
Adriana Barbosa, Andreia Frade, Andreia Fran-
co, Carlos Crespo, Dário Cardoso, Diogo Gorjão,
Emanuel Serrado, Isaac Oliveira, João Vital,
Mariana Cardoso, Marta Neves, Neuza Caixeiro,
Neuza Silva, Petru Malai, Regina Cristóvão, Rita
I believe that teaching is no longer
a stand up show in front of the
students, is a process of reciprocal
One of them gave me the true feeling of
otherness, experiencing contacts with
other countries and cultures, was indeed
we do need to know each other, it urges.
In my perspective Romania is a land of
richness, mountainous in the north and
Lopes, Ruben Silva, Sofia Figueiredo, Vanessa knowledge and exchanging experiences. stirring. That is why I have a tendency immense Danube valley in the south,
Soares, Verónica Lidónio, Vítor Ferreira Our role as teachers is to help them to make clear to my “kids”, that life is considerable natural resources, strong
find the way to accomplishment. more than their small town, there is industry of metal and petrochemicals.
Teachers: On the project, I’m the IT “expert”(at an entire world out there waiting to be World known personalities as Eugene
least I hope to became an “expert” discovered. That was the main reason Ionesco, Nadia Comaneci, George
Carla Dias, Nuno Nunes, Martinha Duro
in the end!). I created the Web Page that Portugal, regardless of the physical Enesco, and the spine-chilling Count
– Perspectives of Otherness, photo size, conquered the known world, 500 Vlad Dracul. The snow gives Romania
e-Journal Editor: and multimedia site, blog, video and years ago! Apart from this personal and the ultimate romantic look, and I’m sure
Nuno Nunes audio conferences, the e-journal design. romantic approach, the feeling of 27 that, regardless of the cold, the trip will
In ETPR, I teach electronics and countries under the same stared flag is be an experience to remember for life.
electricity subjects, but I worked for some still quite new for all of us. Europe is
years on several companies as engineer. getting smaller and smaller by the day and Teacher - Nuno Nunes
European Project e-Journal
First edition | Oct 2008 Perspectives of Otherness 3

Romania Students’ Expectations . . .

Ferenczi Gergo
Portugal
The things that come into my mind from
Portugal is, its football team and Madeira
island. The islands of the Azores are located
in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge whilst the Madeira
island were formed by the activity of an
in plate hot-spot, much like the Hawaiian
Islands, and the capital is Lisbon, and it has
an ocean: the Atlantic ocean. Portugal is
one of the warmest European countries.
History:
The early history of Portugal, whose
name derives from the Roman name
Portus Cale, is shared with the rest the
Iberian Peninsula.
My expectations about the project
are too learn about different culture,
to improve my English, to see more
beautiful landscapes, and cities.
I am interested in knowing many
ethnical groups and how many languages
are there in Portugal. I want to meet
more students, and make them my
friends.
I wonder how it feels like having a
Mediterranean climate. I am interested
in the flora and the fauna and Portugal
history.
Hello!! My name is Dário Cardoso
and I am 17 years old, I like football,
video games, and I love sleeping.
What I think about the Project? Well,
I think it’s awesome to meet other
people from other places. Knowing
their culture, customs, habits, the
way of living, will be awesome. About
Romania, I don’t know much, I hope
to know a lot more, because I am
very curious, and about Portugal,
well, it’s a nice country, we have nice
beaches, especially in the Algarve,
we have plains in Alentejo, which is
one of the hotter places in Portugal,
and the colder region of Portugal is
in the North, where there are more
mountains, so it’s kind of cold there,
Portugal
Dário Cardoso
but, I think Portugal is very cool.
Now talking a bit about football, I
know some Romanian players, like,
Chivu from Inter, I know Sepsi, that
played in Benfica , and I know Hagi,
who don’t know him? One of the best
players of the world.
Well, I think it’s all I know, let’s make
this project work and learn much
more!

Olah Zsuzsa
Expectation
About Portugal:
At first I’m interested about this
project, because I would like to meet
new people, maybe make friends in
Portugal and I would like to travel too. I
don’t know many things about Portugal,
but I know that the country is situated
in he West part of Europe and at the
East side is Spain. Portugal is located
in the Iberian Peninsula and it’s next to
the Atlantic Ocean. Madeira and Azores
Islands are part of Portugal. I know that
Grigorescu Renata
What I know about Portugal is that they
have a very good football team, many
football players are in other countries
playing in other teams, Portugal has
a beautiful view, around the country
is the Atlantic Ocean and Spain, the
Olar Dragos
Portugal, whenever I hear that
word I automatically think of Spain
(maybe because they are on the same
Portugal has wonderful beaches and
wonderful towns. Portugal’s capital is
Lisbon. I think that a very important
thing is that they have a lot of football
teams and famous football players, like
Cristiano Ronaldo and Eusebio, who is a
football legend. I know that Portuguese
people are good at sports like football
and basketball. At the FIFA WORLD
CUP they played the final in 2006 with
Greece, but they didn’t win. In Portugal
there were many famous explorers like
Américo Vespúcio and Vasco da Gama.
Vasco da Gama traveled all over the
world but he finally arrived in India.
When he came back to Portugal he
brought economy and touristic things.
That’s all I know about Portugal, but
I would like to know more interesting
information, habits about this country.
Portuguese people have dark skin.
I think that the Portuguese are very
good at sports, they are athletics, they
are successful and talented, they swim
in the Atlantic Ocean, they go to the
beach, stay a lot on sun and have dark
hair and skin.
I really don’t have any expectations
about this project, I just want to learn
English better, to meet other people, to
make friends, to find out more about
Portugal, about the people who live
there, their habits and I want to have
a good time.
peninsula). I don’t know much about
Portugal, but I am very enthusiastic
about this project because it is a
chance to learn more about it and to
improve my English and social skills.
What I do now about Portugal is that
its capital is Lisbon, and that the
climate is Mediterranean. I know that
I haven’t written much, but honestly I
have no clue what else to write.
Hi! My name is Mariana I’m 16 years Mariana Cardoso
old, I was born on 21st of June. I’m
very proud of my school, because our
teachers are always thinking of giving us
the best opportunities and we will have
a better future that way. I expect a lot
of this project, because I don’t know
many things about Romania and I will
have the opportunity to find out many friends is a wonderful idea, to have the
interesting things. To know other people chance of showing them our country will
from another country and make them my be great. We are expecting you!
Hi! I´m Sofia and I’m 16 years old. I Sofia Figueiredo
was born on 31st March. Our project, is
titled “Perspectives of Otherness” and
it aims to bring pupils and teachers from
Romania, to share new experiences and
knowledge. By the time the participants
finish working on the project, they
will have learnt about each other’s
culture, discovered the similarities
and differences between the way recorders and the internet while they
they live, improved their English and are working on the project, in order to
made new friends. I don’t know much make this project the best one. I hope
about Romania I hope to learn with all our Romanian partners will chat with
this project. All the participants will us on the net and when they get here
use computers, digital cameras, video we already know each other.
Hello! My name is João Vital. I’m João Vital
seventeen years old. I´m interested
in this project because I want to
know about other cultures, people
and countries. I like to study in EPTR
because the school is very good and the
teaching is very professional. I hope to
have fun and at the same time learn a and represent my school the best I can.
lot about Romania with this challenge Bye. Hope to see you soon.

4 Perspectives of Otherness
Romania
Kovacs Dorottya
Portuguese Republic
Potugal is a country on the Iberian Peninsula,
located in southwestern Europe, is the
westernmost country of mainland Europe and
is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, to the west
and south and by Spain to the north and east.
The Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and
Madeira are also part of Portugal. Lisbon is the
capital of the country.
The climate can be classified as Mediterranean,
Portugal is one of the warmest European
countries. Mainland Portugal is split by its
main river, the Tagus. The northern landscape
is mountainous in the interior areas, with
plateaus indented by river valleys. The Algarve
Bartha Zsofia
This task (to write about Portugal) is a
very big pleasure for me, thanks to the
fact that I have got a family member,
who is Portuguese. He lives in a group of
islands, which contains 9 islands, and it
is called Azores. The name of the island
where he lives is São Miguel, and he
lives just in the capital of it, so in Ponta
Delgada. The reason why I mentioned this
fact is, that I don’t know for sure if their
habits are the same (maybe sometimes
different), but my vision about this
amazing country is very influenced by
the things, which he told me about.
Maybe one of the most interesting
things, what he mentioned is that they
use a lot of tiles in their architecture, in
many various forms, shapes and colours.
Another very special thing in this Island is
that the color of the sand is black.
As my relative said (and I could observe
too) Portuguese people like to eat and
drink a lot, specially fish and garlic, and
to drink they have a very special wine,
which is called “green wine”, that they
drink with fish and chicken.
An unbelievable habit is that they have
got some underground volcanoes in this
island, which are used to cook their food.
They choose one of these numbered
holes, put the meat and beans in it,
and after two or three hours, the food
is ready.
Every year they have got a flower festival,
Students’
is separated from the Alentejo by mountains.
Portugal has developed a specific culture
while being influenced by various civilizations
that have crossed the Mediterranean and
the European continent, or were introduced
when it played an active role during the Age
of Discovery. Portuguese literature, one of the
earliest Western literatures, developed through
text and song. Portuguese music encompasses
a wide variety of genres. The most renowned
is fado, a melancholy urban music, usually
associated with the Portuguese guitar.
Portuguese wines have deserved international
recognition since the times of the Roman
Empire, today the country is known by
wine lovers and its wines have won several
international prizes. Port Wine is well known
around the world and the most widely known
wine type in the world.
I wish to learn more from Portuguese
Republic by this project, and I hope to visit
it personally.
protect them from their eruptions.
As a musician, I was amazed by their
sad music which is performed with their
special guitar, called fado.
This little island is the birthplace of
an underground rap music band (which
I extremely enjoy), that is called “Da
Weasel”.
About the other parts of Portugal I
know very little, but still I will write
down some things, which touched me:
In Lisbon there is a big Christ statue (the
smaller version of the Brazilian), which
has inself an elevator, and the people
have the possibility to go up, and enjoy
an amazing panorama from there.
Maybe the most famous thing about
Portugal is the Porto wine, which is an
unimaginably tasty sweet red wine.
I have heard about a city, called Fátima,
where in the beginning of the 20th
century Virgin Mary appeared for three
children, and foretold them, that two
of them will die very soon, but Fatima
will survive. Since this, this city is a very
famous catholic pilgrimage place, but
thanks to the fact that the major part of
it was build after this event, sometimes
is a bit kitschy.
My expectation from our project is
firstly to get a look in the everyday life
of these amazing people, to explore a
bit of their culture, to understand my
relative’s behavior. I want to explore
hidden corners in special places, where
I can take some creative photos, to see
very famous places (like Lisbon or Cabo
da Roca), I want to get a smell of the
Ocean and of course to meet new people
of my age, and celebrate the amazing
beauty of living with them.
European Project e-Journal
First edition | Oct 2008
Expectations . . .
Portugal
My name is Regina, I’m 16 years old Regina Cristóvão
and I love my school. I think that this
project is very important, as we can
know other people and another culture.
Having a general cultural knowledge is
the first step to begin a long career as
being a person in a modern society. I
will improve my English and learn a new
language, by having adequate language colleagues. At the end I will look back
preparation. We will be in contact and say that it enhanced my curricula
with a new way of teaching and this is also, and of course I hope to have a
very good as we become open-minded special status in society as an exchange
and have an enlarged perspective. It student, because I was able to know
is also good for myself as a human more about another culture and another
being, because it is a good experience country. I can obviously teach others
to myself concerning adaptability and and show them that my new Romanian
find acceptance abroad. I hope also to colleagues are very nice people and that
develop a network of new friends and I made friends for life.
Hello! My name is Emanuel. I’m 17 years Emanuel Serrado
old. I live in Portugal.
In my opinion, this project is very
interesting, because in a certain way I
will meet new cultures and new habits as
well as new people, who seem to be all
very nice. I am a very sociable person I
have a good relationship with everybody.
I like having fun and enjoy life like all want to meet Romanian students too.
young people of my age. I go out at night, The Romanian girls are very beautiful,
I go to festivals, discos among others. I because they have beautiful eyes.
My name is Ruben Silva, I’m 16 years Ruben Silva
old, my favourite hobbies are working
with computers, go out with my friends
and ride my bike and many other things.
My expectations about the European
project are to know new people from
Romania and to learn more about
Romania, which is a country that I don’t
know anything about. I think it is always anxious to meet Romanian students and
good to know other cultures. I’m very make foreign friends.
Hello! My name is Marta Neves and Marta Neves
I’m Portuguese. I’m fifteen years old
and my birthday is on 8th February.
I live in Cartaxo with my mom, my
dad and my brother. My school is
ETPR and I’m in the 1st year of the
TAI course. My hobbies are listening
to music, surfing on the net, be with
my friends…I don’t practice sports. is very interesting, because we will
I have many favourite songs. As my have the opportunity to meet new
friends I also think that this project people and a new culture.
Hi! My name is Diogo, I’m 16 years Diogo Gorjão
old and I was born on 17th October
1992. I am a very sociable person and
very funny. I like football a lot and I’m
very liberal. I study at Escola Técnica
e Professional do Ribatejo and I´m in
11th grade. My expectations about the
Project are to know a new culture and
make friends.
European Project e-Journal
First edition | Oct 2008
Romania
Vladea Lorand
About Portugal: Even if we have a poor
knowledge or not much information
about it, I think everybody knows about
the famous Portugal football teams, I
mean FC Porto, Benfica and others. The
Portugal players are much more famous
– here we have - Cristiano Ronaldo, Nuno
Gomes, Rui Costa … . Another “need to
know” about Portugal, is Lisbon – the
country’s largest town, and its capital.
Here we can find the great Belem Tower,
which the Portugal nation is so proud of.
The Belem Tower is the symbol of the
Discovery Age, and it was built in 1510s.
Ilyes Dorottya
I’m very glad to participate in this project.
It’s difficult to keep the contact between
the two schools because of the distance, but
in our situation it is wonderful and funny.
It’s a school far away from here... I’m
anxious to see what will come out of this.
With this project I would like to meet
students from Portugal, to learn more about
Pop Iulia Lorena
Being a member of the “Socrates Comenius” project
is an honest pleasure for me. Taking in consideration
the multitude of advantages which are given to us, I
should assert that even the meaningless work which
we have to do is not a disadvantage because we can
learn from it.
My expectations about this project are not very hi
but, I think it is an important project. As the Portuguese
project coordinator said, at the end of our “adventure”
I hope I will affirm “It was fun!”. It will sure happen
if we treat each topic with creativity, offering and
earnestness.
Firstly, this project is a good opportunity to make
friends. Using the Internet (E-mail, Yahoo Messenger,
Skype) or writing letters, we will know many things
about each other. As well as we know, friendship and
love are the most precious treasures of the human
being. During these two years, I expect to make a lot
of friends and find out about their everyday life, school,
and free time activities. Having friends worldwide is an
enthusiastic thing. For sure, some of these friendships
should be made for a lifetime.
Secondly, the project gives us the chance to know
Portugal much better. Our knowledge about Portugal
Students’
What about Portugal’s climate, I’d like to
live there, because of the nice weather.
I’m happy for being part of the project.
I’m sure it will be interesting and also
very funny. Learning about this country,
learning its language, and getting an
image about Portugal is an unmissable
chance for us to improve our general
knowledge. The webcam meeting we had
a few weeks ago, was awesome, despite
the sound problems. The Portuguese
students and Miss Carla are very nice. I
am willing to meet them in person. I’m
also interested in the Portuguese lessons
that we’ll have.
After watching the ETPR Promo video at
home again, I thought I could write a little
about it a little. The school is bigger than
ours and the classes look very interesting
to me, specially the computer class.
The ETPR really gives the opportunity to
become what you want.
their traditions and culture.
I often question myself how do they spend
their time.
I don’t speak Portuguese, but I wish to
learn it during the project time.
I don’t know very much about Portugal,
but due to this project I tried to find new
information about this country. I found
out that Portuguese people are absolutely
nice.
is minimal. We know just a few things about it, such
as famous explorers, the renowned Porto wine or
Portuguese china pottery. Boarding this project, I
expect to find out more thrilling things about Portuguese
culture, history, literature, language, geographical
statement.
Another important expectation is to improve my
English. Despite the fact that our English teachers try
to do the best, to be able to speak fluently we need
to communicate. During our journey, we will have the
chance to meet each other and talk face to face. By
writing e-mails we also improve our writing, grammar
and vocabulary. On one hand, in March, we are going
to visit Portugal. I expect to do a lot of interesting
activities. I hope I will see breathtaking landscapes,
swim in the Atlantic Ocean, visit Lisbon and other funny
things. I’m sure our project mates will offer us a very
pleasant sitting in their country. I’m so eager to meet
the Portuguese team!
On the other hand, Romanian students have the
opportunity to understand other people’s view about
Romania. The different articles on the web site, the
visit of the Portuguese team to Romania, are also used
as “tools” to show the people that Romania is not as
“horrible” as they think. Even though there are some
weak points in the behavior of some Romanian people
worldwide, it doesn’t mean that “all” Romanian are
like them.
In conclusion, this project will enrich all of us. Our
expectations and our work are two proportional drafts.
If we have many expectations, we will have to work
harder, involving creativity and fun.
Expectations . . .
My name is Rita. I’m 15 years old. I live
in Santarém. I’m Portuguese. My birthday
is on the 13th July. My family members
are my mother, my father and I. I study at
Escola Técnica e Profissional do Ribatejo.
I’m in the 1st year of the TAI course
(Childhood Technician). My hobbies are
listening to music, watching TV and talking
with my friends. My favourite sports are
football and handball. I’m medium height.
I have brown eyes. I have short and brown
hair. I’m very happy and always smile at
“my life”. My future expectations about
the project are to know a new culture
and make new friends. I feel that an
international exchange program can be
an integral part of my life experience. As
Portuguese, I think that going into another
country will very good for me, while
My name’s Andreia Frade and I’m Portuguese.
I’m 17 years old and my birthday is on the
20th of January. I’m tall but a little bit fat.
I have brown eyes and my hair is brown,
long and curly. I live in Torres Novas with
my father, my mother and my brother. My
school is ETPR and I’m in the 1st year of the
TAI course. My hobbies are listening to music,
surfing on the net, watching TV, go to a bar,
go to the cinema, go out with my friends and
go shopping, as all girls like to do.
In my opinion this project is very interesting,
as we have the opportunity to learn and talk
another language. When I was informed
about this Comenius Project, I was basically
interested in meeting other people and other
country. I’d never been in Romania before
and it’s always exciting for me to know a
new country and culture. The Comenius
Project is an international venture and for
Hello, my name is Verónica, I´m 15
years old and I was born on the 15th
August. I have long and curly brown hair,
brown eyes, I am tall and skinny. I am
Portuguese and I am in the 1st year of
the Childhood Technician Course. I am a
very active person and love adventure.
When I heard about the European
project I accepted immediately because
I found it very interesting. For me the
European Project will contribute to
my knowledge of the world and it will
extend my horizons and I will meet
new people and a new culture. This
project aims, amongst other things, to
improve the mobility of Students within
the EU. So we will have an opportunity
Perspectives of Otherness 5
Portugal
Rita Lopes
placing me in one of the world’s most
culturally sophisticated country. I will
graciously welcome my colleagues and
teachers alike. The Project is challenging
and relevant. As we are learning more
English it makes classroom learning more
pertinent and exciting. And while learning
is certainly more challenging, make
learning funnier. I consider myself lucky
to have joined the project.
Andreia Frade
me an absorbing experience, I hope I’ll meet
some nice foreign students and be able to
increase my English skills. For me it is very
important to know more about other culture
and the possibility to find new friends. The
project motivates us to work together every
Wednesdays to build a great project. I’m very
anxious about all and I’m very curious to see
our partner’s town that we are going to visit
in 2010. We have already seen some pictures
that our teacher Carla Dias showed us and I
saw that it is an amazing place.
Verónica Lidónio
that we cannot let go. Most of us have
foreign language difficulties and the
main objective is to learn more English,
know a new European language and
a different culture with this exchange
program. The results will have to do
with a successful mobility at student
level, a diffusion of knowledge and skills
between different countries.

6 Perspectives of Otherness
Romania
Duma-Menghires Graziella
It is always harder to describe yourself
than to describe others, at least for me,
so in my opinion “Images of others” is a
project from which we can learn how to
listen and talk about what we see, about
the people with whom we are getting
contact but also about a different culture,
or maybe different ways of living. The
first thing I found out about this project
is that we are going to Portugal (yey!),
when I say we, I mean the Socrates Team
of the Plugor Sandor Art High School from
Saint George, Romania, and I am glad to
be part of it.
I don’t know much about Portugal....I
Manole Horatiu
I do not know many things about
Portugal. I know it is next to Spain and
is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. At
the webcam conference I saw that the
people there are very sociable, friendly
and ambitious.
I joined the project because I want to
Gaspar Antonia
Expectations
Portugal is a country on the Iberian
Peninsula. Located in southwestern
Europe. In the west there is the Atlantic
Ocean and Spain in the north and east. Also
part of Portugal is Azores and Madeira. We
can say that the climate is Mediterranean.
In economy and tourism the country is
very rich. We can speak about Vasco da
Gama, who reached India and brought
economic prosperity to Portugal. This
country is a NATO member and is part of
UE. Lisbon is its capital. The most famous
religion is the Roman Catholic, but there
are other religions such as Protestant,
Muslim, Jewish. The official language is
Portugal. Nowdays the Portugal language
Students’
know that it is a country on the Iberian
Peninsula, it is bordered by the Atlantic
Ocean. The capital of Portugal is Lisbon
and….I think that’s all I know. I don’t
know anything about the history of
Portugal, about the popular places I
could visit, traditions...or anything else.
But I would like to do that very much, and
I’m quite sure that I’ll know much more
thanks to this project. I also hope that
I’ll learn how to speak the Portuguese
language, or at least a few words, even
though it seems a bit hard. I don’t have
big expectations from the project, I just
hope that the students from Portugal and
the people we are about to meet will be
friendly and be at least same excited as
I am.
I’m sure this project will be a very
interesting experience, it will bring only
benefits for all of us…it can make the
world “smaller”. I’m very excited and I
can hardly wait to meet you all.
learn more English. I want to learn how
to write but I specially want to learn how
to have a normal conversation in English
without the other person to wonder
what I am trying to say. I also joined the
project because I want to visit Portugal.
I want to see all the beautiful places
there, and I want to make new friends.
The third reason I joined the project
is because I want other people to see
my country. I hope the students from
Portugal will like my town, school
and country. I can’t wait to meet the
students from Portugal and see their
country.
is also an official language and is spoken
in : Brazil, Mozambique, East Timor and
Macau. The most known and played
game is football. The Eusebio is the
most legendary player of Portuguese
football history. The Portuguese national
team, as titles in the FIFA World Youth
Championship. In 2006 the team reached
the fourth place and that was the best
result in major competition. In 2007
Rugby World Cup the team became the
first amateur team. They are good at
so many sports for example: basketball,
handball, volleyball, athletic, cycling,
surfing, shooting, judo, windsurf and
also swimming. I think Portugal is a very
big and beautiful country. Now I’m very
curious about this country.
My expectation for this project is to
know lots of Portuguese people, to have
a very good relationship and to speak
more English. Then we get to Portugal
we can learn about their habits. To visit
interesting buildings, to learn their history
and to see the Atlantic Ocean.
European Project e-Journal
First edition | Oct 2008
Expectations . . .
Portugal
Hi! My name is Isaac, I am 15 years old. Isaac Oliveira
I live in Santarém and I am in the 1st year
TC course. About me, I am a nice guy,
sociable and funny. My eyes are brown
and I am small. About the project, I think
it is a very good opportunity to know new
people and a new country. I’m willing to
know the Romanian students that will be
my friends… I’m sure!
Hello, my name is Isabel and I’m 16 Isabel Barbosa
years old. I like to go the beach with my
friends, go out with my family and my best
friends, between other things. With this
fantastic project that our school gave us the
opportunity to make part, I can learn about
Romania and it will be very interesting, I
hope so!
Hi! My name is Neuza Silva. I’m 17 Neuza Silva
years old and I live in Cartaxo, which
is next to Santarém . This project will
be very good for us, we will know
many new things and we will grow up
as we are learning. I’m looking forward
to meet our partners, to see how is
their school, what subjects do they members, their friends and teachers,
have, we can also meet their family know about their tastes and so on.
My name is Vanessa, I’m 18 years old and Vanessa Soares
I’m in the second year of the TAI Course.
I live in Santarém, but I was born in
Switzerland. My expectations about the
Project are very high, because we will
learn a new language - Romanian, as
it is a Language Project we will became
“experts” in English. We will also know
new people with other culture and this their school asks for a very hard work ,as
will make us grow up as human beings, in our school does; how are the schedules
personal and social terms. This exchange and extracurricular occupations and
program will be very good, I hope that activities. To stay in a Romanian family
our partners will like to come here, like will be very interesting, to see how
our traditions, culture and our reception. family members go on with each other, to
When we go to Romania, we also wait to eat their food specialities, to see if their
find the same reception or even better, parents are very strict and demanding
because it is the first time we are having concerning school marks, between other
such a project in our school, we have no things. I would like to make great friends
“experience”. I’m very enthusiastic about and know a bit more of other projects
knowing them better, what do they do in they made before. I would like to go to
their free time, how is their school, how Romania and … we are waiting for you
is their relationship with their teachers, if here!!! You are welcome!
Hello, I am Vítor Hugo, I’m 17 years Vítor Ferreira
old, and my birthday is on 15th May. I
like to go to the beach and surf or do
bodyboard, I like to go out with my
friends. My expectations about our
European Project are to meet new
people, make new friends, and know
a new culture and a new country.
I’m anxious to go to Romania, and
participate in the activities.
European Project e-Journal
First edition | Oct 2008
Romania
Dominteanu Costel
I do not know much about Portugal. I have been
told that it is a beautiful country next to Spain,
with a lot of tourist attractions, and I also know
that Christiano Ronaldo was born there, but this
is as much as I know.
I became a part of this project because I
Stefan Ioana Emanuela
What comes to my mind when I hear the
word “Portugal”. Well I have to confess, I do
not know much about this foreign country.
I heard it is a beautiful country with a lot
of places to visit, with friendly people, but
other than that, I’m sorry to say I know
nothing.
I liked the idea of the project ever since I
heard about it the first time. Our teacher
told us that the purpose of this project is
exchanging experiences with other people
we know nothing about, to see them in a
different light. This is one of the reasons I
Matyas Bulcsu
Firstly I would like to write a little about what
comes in to my mind when I hear the word
“Portugal”: Portugal is a country in the Iberian
Peninsula, located in south-western Europe. The
climate of the country is a Mediterranean one.
In the northern side of the country we can find
mountains but in the rest of the country is covered
with lowlands and platform. The state form is a
parliamentary republic. The official language is
Portuguese and the capital is Lisbon which is the
largest city in Portugal. Spain is the only neighbour
country. All this came into my mind because these
Chiritescu Gyorgy
My expectations from this project is to learn English
in a higher level. Another wish of mine is to go
somewhere where the weather is hot and Portugal is
the perfect place. I heard a lot about Lisbon and I can
barely wait to get there. I have never been in Western
Europe, but I would like to meet new people there. A
friend of mine was there and he told me that it is a
Students’
want to know more about Portugal, and meet
the people there. I like visiting new places and
making new friends. I can’t wait to be able to
exchange experiences with people of my age from
a different country who have a different life-style.
I am a very sociable person but I can’t speak
English well, so I hope that after this experience
I can have a fluent conversation in English.
After the Portugal students’ visit, I hope that
they will like my country, town, school, and why
not me. I want them to see the country I was born
in, the town I live in and the school I study at,
the way I see them. I am anxious to meet and to
show them around.
signed up for this project. I am the kind of
person who likes to learn more and more
about the unknown.. I am anxious to meet
new people my age with different life styles,
culture, who come from a foreign country
with a completely different society. After
this experience I hope to make new friends
and to learn more about Portugal, about it’s
history, society, tourist attractions, but what
interests me the most are the people. I am
very curious to see how we are going to be
accepted in the society for a few days. I am
curious to know if they are as friendly with
people from other countries as we are.
The second reason I joined the project is
that I want them to see my beautiful country,
town school from my point of view. Not what
they read in a tourist guide or hear from the
news. I want them to leave Romania with
only nice memories and a good impression of
what they have seen and experienced.
are the only things that I know about Portugal.
Secondly I will write about my personal opinions
and expectations about this project. I think Portugal
is a very beautiful country and I would like to know
much more about its culture, language, people
who live there and many other things. It’s very
important to learn and know about other countries
and cultures and specially to expand our English
knowledge because it’s the world’s language. It’s
very interesting that our project members can go
to Portugal and Portuguese project members can
come here, so we can meet them personally and
know them better. And the trip is for free because
it’s sponsored by the school, and lasts 2 years … I
think. This is an “unskippable” chance to go there
and if the project didn’t exist maybe I would never
go to Portugal in my life.
So I hope this project will be successful and I can
learn some English too. And I think I won’t regret all
this and at the end of the project I will be happy.
very nice place to live, it’s warm and there are friendly
people there. Here in Romania, “hoops” I wanted to
say Transylvania, we have big beautiful mountains
which can be high as 2500 meters and I have already
climbed all of them so I am bored of mountains, but
I haven’t seen the ocean yet. And I almost forgot to
say that I’m a poor boy who is curious. So I need your
help to get me there, and here is the reason why: this
trip is one of a kind in my life. Thank you.
Expectations . . .
Me, Myself and my expectations about
the European Project
Hi, my name is Carlos Crespo, I’m
seventeen years old and I live in Cartaxo,
Portugal. I have many hobbies like
playing online games, chat in msn, read
(I love it) and go out at night to meet
new people and drink some water and
juice (kof kof). I’m a professional football
player in a local club named S.L.C, but
I stopped for nine months, because I
needed to do a knee surgery, so I’m
not in my top form. I love sports in the
overall, not only football but any other
sports like volleyball, handball, etc. I
love water so in the summer I usually go
to the beach or to the pool, but I love
snow too so in last Christmas vacations,
I went to “Serra da Estrela”, which is
the biggest Mountain that Portugal has
in the mainland and It’s the only place
that has snow during the winter. My
expectations about this project are to
meet students from another country,
Hi! My name is Neuza and I am 15
years old. I am funny, nice, but a little
bit shy. My eyes and my hair are brown
and I am short. I like making friends
and I think that this project will be
very exciting and I hope to make lots
of friends, because I would like to have
friends with a different language. I
would like to make new friends and
know how their daily routine is. I
would also like to go to Romania and
see different places, to see how our
partner’s school, between others is.
I’m very curious to see if they have
pets at home, if they live near school…
I don’t know…there are so many things
I would like to know!!! I want to make
lots of friends and I think it will be
very funny to communicate with them,
maybe we can exchange our e-mails
and start knowing each other and it
will be easier to meet them later.
Maybe it will be very funny talking
to each other in a situation that we
Perspectives of Otherness 7
Portugal
Carlos Crespo
talk about their experiences and to
make them my friends… of course, to
know the way they learn and to see
how they live. This is an experience of a
lifetime so I need to grab it. As the first
Exchange Project here at school I would
experience it also for the first time.
It will enrich me in terms of diversity
of backgrounds, personal experience,
and accomplishments. The time spent
in the project will be worthwhile and
meaningful. I hope the project will
exceed my expectations in every way;
It is good to see such a devotion to
interculturality. Our school is uniquely in
congratulations for this project.
Neuza Caixeiro
don’t know a word, we can even laugh
of ourselves. I hope that this project
will be very funny and educational
at the same time. I´m enjoying to
learn Romanian with our teacher Anca
Eremia. She is doing a good job, but it
is not easy for us, because we don’t
have the accent and we spell the
words completely different from the
Romanian speakers. But this is normal,
the aim of this project is to teach us
and we will learn lots of things about
Romania. I hope that they will enjoy
our country when they come here!
La Revedere!!! Pupici.

8 Perspectives of Otherness
Romania
Leu Aurelian
The things that I expect most from this
project are the knowledge and experience
sharing. I also expect lots of fun, besides
learning something new about Portugal and
Negoita Adrian
My expectations about this project are to meet new
people, new places and new cultures. I think that the only
way to do this is to take a short travel to Portugal or the
students from Portugal to come here in Romania, in Saint
Iesan Erika
Rode Abigel
I think that Portugal is a very beautiful place with
a very good weather, has a big industrial area, the
biggest city and also its capital is Lisbon. The name
Portugal comes from the ancient port, in Porto city.
The Tejo River is the longest river in Portugal and it
splits the country in two parts. The biggest football
teams in Portugal are: Benfica, Porto. Around the world
approximately 230 million people speak the Portuguese
language. The country has a lot of tourist attractions
Bedohazi Robert
Portugal
What does it come to my mind when I hear
about Portugal?
Portugal and Argentina are my favorite
countries. I like traveling around the world and
meet new cultures and some other interesting
towns and people. Portugal has many holiday
resorts. I want to meet Portuguese people and
I want to learn Portuguese language too and I
want to listen to Portuguese music. Portugal is
biggest than Romania. I like making language
Students’
about their way of life, I’m also interested in
their lifestyle and culture, and when I get there
I want to meet nice and hospitable people.
I really want to exchange knowledge and
observe the differences between our cultures
and different life styles, I’m sure they exist and
that there are many differences between us.
To sum up, I’m very excited about traveling to
Portugal and my expectations are quite modest
and I certainly think they will be fulfilled, and I
have no doubt I will have lots of fun and quality
time, with the Portuguese students.
George.
When we get in Portugal, I expect to meet nice and
hospitable people. I’d like to have fun, and to learn something
new about Portugal and about the school where we’ll go. I
want to see if their school is more modern than our’s. I also
want to learn a little bit of the Portuguese language.
The most important thing for me is to have as much fun
as I can.
I hope that the weather will not be bad, hope to find it
sunny and without clouds.
These are my expectations for the project, and I hope it
will grow to be as I desire.
Portugal is part of the Iberian Peninsula. Portuguese
is the official language, the currency the Euro, the
capital Lisbon.
It’s population is catholic. It is bordered by Spain.
Portugal joined EU in 1st January 1986. Portuguese
celevvbrities: Christiano Ronaldo (football), Amalia
Rodrigues (singer). The people are friendly. According
to me it is an developed country.
and it’s often visited. This growing tourism comes from
the beautiful seaside and the beaches. There, the winter
must be interesting too – it’s rainy.
I think that the project is good for our knowledge
and by the time it is very interesting. We, Romanian
students have many questions to the Portuguese people.
Personally I would like to ask them about their traditions
and their way of living. I am very interested how it’s
like to have a warm weather and live by the ocean.
It appears to be very attractive; I always wanted to
live by the beach in a nice house. There are so many
interesting things that we, Romanian people, can’t do
in our country.
This is my opinion about the project. I hope everybody
is going to have fun. I’m already excited to meet the
Portuguese team.
projects. Learning a new culture and a new
language is very interesting for me. I hate
schools but I adore speaking and meeting new
people. In Romania there are few museums,
theatres and zoos to visit, but I don`t know
how many museums and theatres are there in
Portugal. I adore nature, animals and the plants
and I know that there are many beautiful plants
in Portugal. I don`t know what is significant to
visit in Portugal but I want to find out more
about Portugal. I dislike the fact that Romania
is far away from Portugal. Have a nice day for
all the people in Portugal.
Expectations . . .
Well, my name is Andreia Franco I’m 16
years old and I live in Santarém at the
moment. I have good expectations about
the Comenius project. I like to travel so
this project gives me a great chance to
travel and learn more about a different
country and meet new people. It is also
a great opportunity for me to practice my
English. I´m enjoying to learn Romanian
and improving my English. I would like
to receive our partners and present our
school, city and country to them. Of
course they will turn out to be our friends
during our contact till March. I will
certainly like the family where I’m going
to stay, I’m very curious to see how their
routine life is, how their school, subjects,
Salut, má numesc Petru, sunt din Moldova,
locuiesc în Portugalia.
Acest proiect îmi oferã mari perspective, prin
simplul fapt cã îmi da posibilitatea de
a-mi face noi prieteni, de a afla opinii si idei, de
a descoperi o lume, o culturã, o traditie
si o mentalitate despre care stiu foarte putin. Toa-
te acestea sunt motive mai mult de cît suficiente
pentru a-mi trezi curiozitatea si pentru a manifesta
The perspective of a Portuguese Teacher
“A Perspectiva do Outro”
Numa Europa Comunitária, o conheci-
mento mútuo, a cooperação e a abertura
são aspectos fundamentais para o futuro. A
ETPR procura ser uma Escola aberta, atenta,
capaz de se expandir e de cooperar, capaz
de inovar, que não só ensine mas também
aprenda, que proporcione aos seus alunos
outras experiências que não apenas as que
acontecem em contexto formal de apren-
dizagem.
Nesta perspectiva, o intercâmbio com a
Escola Plugor na Roménia surge como uma
expressão de um dos princípios que regem
a nossa instituição: o de abertura. Este pro-
jecto funciona como uma janela aberta que
pretende que os nossos alunos vislumbrem
o mundo que os rodeia, encarando-o não
apenas como cidadãos portugueses, mas
como cidadãos europeus. Esta experiência
cultural, social e pessoal procura, através
da partilha de conhecimentos e de expe-
riências, do estabelecimento de analogias,
da comparação de diferentes realidades,
enriquecer a formação dos jovens, cujo
benefício se traduzirá ao nível da formação
para o exercício profissional. Deste modo, o
intercâmbio permite o acesso a um conhe-
cimento a que de outra forma não seria
possível aceder, contribuindo para que os
nossos formandos sejam melhores alunos,
mais capazes de, no futuro, enfrentarem as
suas responsabilidades e desafios enquanto
técnicos.
European Project e-Journal
First edition | Oct 2008
Portugal
Andreia Franco
traditions and cultural aspects are, how
they go to school, if it is far away and so
on. I would like also to visit museums,
theatres, between others. I don’t know if
I will like the food but I hope it is good. I
hope also that they will like our country,
school, culture, food, our families and
homes. We will do everything to make
them comfortable and happy here.
Petru Malai
un maré interes fata de proiect shi asupra roadelor
ce se pot obtine de pe urma acestuia.
Teacher Martinha Duro
O tema do nosso projecto, “A Perspectiva
do Outro” vai ao encontro de uma mentali-
dade que se quer cada vez mais enraizada
na nossa sociedade, a de que não vivemos
isolados, antes pelo contrário somos par-
te integrante desta comunidade que é a
Europa e temos de agir em função dessa
mesma comunidade, não podemos olhar
apenas para dentro de nós. “A Perspecti-
va do Outro” é então a oportunidade de
colhermos os frutos da partilha de saberes,
hábitos e costumes, ao mesmo tempo que
usufruímos de uma experiência única e
muito enriquecedora.
A Roménia? A misteriosa Transilvânia e a
história de “Vlad Dracul”, o conhecido Conde
Drácula, bem como o seu magnífico castelo
fascinam-me. Do mesmo modo, há persona-
lidades indissociáveis deste país, cujo manto
branco, deixado pela neve, oferece uma pai-
sagem deslumbrante, como Nadia Comaneci
e Eugene Ionesco, que contribuem para o
reconhecimento do mesmo.
Na ETPR, esperamos ansiosamente a
chegada dos nossos parceiros romenos e
queremos que saibam que são muito bem-
vindos!
European Project e-Journal
First edition | Oct 2008 Perspectives of Otherness 9

. . . Moments . . .
 European Project e-Journal
10 Perspectives of Otherness First edition | Oct 2008