The Way It Was!Leonardo Placements through the Eyes of Participants

The Way It Was!Leonardo Placements through the Eyes of Participants

Leonardo da Vinci, similarly to Comenius, Erasmus

and Grundtvig, is one of the four sectoral components

of the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning

Programme. The Leonardo da Vinci Programme promotes

activities aimed at improving the quality of vocational

education and training, and at adapting the educational

systems to the market requirements. The Programme funds

a wide-range of action: mobility projects, partnership

projects, projects for the transfer of innovation results.

Mobility grants (placements, exchange of experiences) offer

to students of vocational schools, graduates and employees

working in various professions and trades, as well as job

seekers and those willing to retrain a unique chance to gain

training and work experience in a foreign country. Owing

to the mobility projects, participants acquire knowledge

and qualifications in new environments. This promotes their

further professional and personal development and

provides an opportunity to become acquainted with work

organisation and professional culture in foreign countries.

Mobility also encourages openness and cooperation,

improves the adaptation skills and makes people sensitive

to mentality and cultural differences.

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Each year, almost six thousand people travel abroad under

Leonardo da Vinci projects. This translates to almost six

thousand individual experiences which change, to a varying

degree, the professional and private lives of project participants,

affect their future and their immediate environment.

Those going abroad represent a wide array of professions

and interests. They might be vocational school students

(future electronics technicians, chefs, hotel staff, salespersons),

graduates of higher education institutions, employees

upgrading their professional skills, or the unemployed.

What they have in common, however, is curiosity and courage

to take up a challenge and seize a lifetime opportunity.

They are mainly young people for whom this step is the first

opportunity to experience professional work, and quite often

the first non-tourist visit abroad. In the new circumstances

and unknown environment, among people with different

mentality speaking a foreign language, they need to meet

the expectations they are usually not prepared for, which may

be difficult yet at the same time challenging and educating.

They get acquainted with the practical aspects of their

professions as well as the operating procedures and

organisational structure of foreign companies. Placement

abroad is an opportunity to get to know not only the culture

of a given country but also the corporate culture of a given

organisation. It is also an excellent school of respect and

tolerance, an opportunity to meet interesting people, and

to establish new friendships and professional contacts that

may bear fruit in the future. The participants also have

a chance to compare themselves to others, and as a result

boost their self-confidence. Having returned home, they

quite often believe more in themselves and feel rightful

citizens of Europe.

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The employees of the National Agency of the Leonardo

da Vinci Programme usually contact the representatives

of institutions who implement individual projects, but rarely

have an opportunity to hear the voices and learn about

the experiences, reflections and observations of individual

project participants. It is extremely difficult to measure

the impact of mobility on their lives and their immediate

surroundings, as well as new skills, life experiences

and familiarity with other cultures that they acquired,

or the mobility’s influence on the choice of their professional path.

This is how the Leonardo Placements through the Eyes of Project

Participants competition has come into being. It has been

announced to make project participants reflect on their

careers, future and benefits resulting from mobility abroad

under the Leonardo da Vinci Programme.

The submitted works varied in terms of artistic expression

and topics. They have been created by people with different

educational backgrounds, life experiences and sensitivity

levels, thus making the task of selecting the best works

extremely difficult. Nevertheless, what matters most

is the intellectual and artistic effort put into them and

the message they carry.

The works submitted for the competition show only a fraction

of life changes resulting from the participation in the Leonardo

da Vinci Programme, and only some of the opportunities that

have been taken advantage of. This publication attempts

to present the most interesting ones.

Leonardo da Vinci Team

Act

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Ewa Panczak

04The apartment = a disaster

The roommates = soul mates

My/our big cleaning

The first sightseeing trip to the city

So often uphill…

Sindbad – the bus that was late

Hills, vineyards, parks, Neckar

I like it…

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My observat ions:Your boss is your mentor and not supervisor

There is no harm in asking

Mutual help and openness are possible in the workplace

You can be assertive at work

and not be disliked by your colleagues

Has placement under the Leonardo da Vinci

Programme been an important experience to me?

Has a three month work at a German institution

made an impact on my professional career? Have

I acquired new skills? Has my life abroad benefited

from the multicultural component?

I associate mobility with unique experiences, wonderful

adventure, exploring unknown places, acquiring new

qualifications, self-improvement and new friendships.

Has the placement really made an impact on my life

and has it been a positive experience?

Is it something unusual to move to a new place

and start life anew? I have been very pleased with

receiving the scholarship and having the opportunity

to gain my first experience of working at an institution

in Germany. I have not wondered if it would be difficult

or not, but I have been convinced that this would be

a valuable experience. I have looked forward to new

work, new responsibilities and meeting new people.

Yet again, I got a chance to discover and adapt to

the new circumstances and the unknown city: Stuttgart.

I could not wait to pursue my favourite pastime,

which is strolling along unfamiliar streets and heading

towards unknown directions. I have been pleased

that once again I could spend a few months in Germany.

I arrived in the middle of the summer in the heart

of Baden-Württemberg on beautiful south of the country.

The student hostel has become home to me and I had

girls from Turkey, Germany and Georgia for roommates.

They have been very nice and the city, in which

I was to spend the next three months, seemed to be

a charming green place with lots of geographic

and topographic attractions. Stuttgart with its

interesting museums, attractive hiking routes

and beautiful medieval towns in its vicinity,

has simply enchanted me.

Is the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (IFA),

i.e. the organisation where I served my internship,

an attractive place? I have worked at a leading German

cultural institution, which operates internationally

under the authority of German Ministry of Foreign

Affairs. I have become acquainted with its operations

and the programmes it implements, to mention zivik,

which supports international peace projects in

the crisis-stricken regions, and the Cross-Culture

Praktika project designed to improve intercultural,

political and professional competences of future

multiplicators working in Islamic countries

and Germany. I have learnt a lot about cultural

foreign policy of Germany. I have discovered

the Kultur-austausch quarterly published by

the Institute, which aims to present non-typical points

of view on the current international and cultural

relations. I have learnt how this institution operates

and have become its team member. The friendliness

and openness exhibited by my colleagues, nice work

atmosphere, my office and workstation, all these

have made me feel at home at IFA. My professional

Ge

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Ewa Panczak

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experience so far had been cooperating with German

institutions, and owing to the placement I could

actually work at one of them.

Has my scope of responsibilities been unusual

to me? I have worked on a programme designed

to send culture managers and editors to work with

German minority associations and media operating

in the Central and Eastern Europe and the Common-

wealth of Independent States. I have been extremely

interested in the programme, as I would like to work

in such a capacity in the future, and the knowledge

I have acquired is of great value to me. What is more,

I could see the good and bad sides of the job for myself.

I have supported a Polish-German kindergarten

teacher exchange programme commissioned by

the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I have developed

a strategy for the identifications of people who may

potentially be interested in the participation in the

project, and I have been responsible for establishing

contacts with various institutions, kindergartens and

HEIs providing education to kindergarten teachers in

Poland and Germany. Apart from acquiring practical

skills, I have expanded my knowledge of the German

system of education.

I have had an opportunity to improve my organisa-

tional skills by assisting in the workshop organised

for the German minority in Poland. I have become

acquainted with German minority associations,

organisations and media operating in Poland.

I have co-organised training (in which I also

participated), during which we have made simulations

of the work of European institutions; the European

Parliament, the European Commission and the

EU Council. The training was addressed to leaders

of youth groups operating in the Balkans. I have

become familiar with the work methods used in

political education and with work group techniques.

I have expanded my knowledge of the EU and

the Union’s expansion policy. I have gained hands-on

experience of making simulations.

The one thing that I did not like about my work was

the obligation to make settlements of projects funded

by IFA and executed in the Central and Eastern

Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent

States. Initially, this task has been extremely difficult

to me, especially as I have an aversion for numbers.

However, after some time, I have become proficient

at it and I even found it easy and pleasing. Today,

I believe that it has been one of the most useful

skills I have acquired during the placement. Now

I know the types of projects IFA supports, as well as

the mechanisms of assessment and settlement

of projects.

Has intercultural aspect of my placement been

of importance to me? Interculturality has always

been of great importance to me. I believe that without

contacts with other cultures my life would be less

interesting. Meeting people from different countries, �

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discovering their cultures, customs, and history is

inspiring and lets me travel through time and space.

This is why I value the intercultural aspect of my

placement at the Institute for Foreign Cultural

Relations. Over three months, I had an opportunity

to work in a German-speaking yet international

environment. I could get to know the Germans better,

their culture and the history of the country and

the region. What is more, I have had an opportunity

to meet people with different origins who speak

different languages with whom I have made friends –

hopefully forever. I would never have a better chance

to learn so much about Turkey and its problems

or about Islam if not for the many conversations with

my roommate from Turkey. I have had a vague idea

about the situation in Argentina, and making friends

with a girl from there with Croatian, Italian and Spanish

origins has definitely changed that. I have been

a roommate to a girl from Georgia at the time when

the country was stricken by war. While preparing

the training on EU institutions, I have expanded my

knowledge of the Balkans, and have met committed

young people from Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia

and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania.

What has the mobility under the Leonardo da Vinci

Programme meant to me? It was the time for discovering

the beautiful capital of Baden-Württemberg and for

travelling around Stuttgart. I have organised several

weekend outings and, together with my roommates,

family and friends who have visited me there, I have

expanded my knowledge of the history of the region

while sightseeing in Heidelberg, Munich, Strasburg

and Konstanz on Lake Constance. My favourite

destinations have been small medieval towns situated

near Stuttgart, such as Marbach – the hometown

of Schiller, or Tübingen featuring the Hölderlin Tower.

The three-month stay in Stuttgart has also been

a time for self-improvement. Each Wednesday, I went

to a museum. I have used the resources of library

at IFA and the German-American Centre. I have also

attended evening English and German classes

and have started to learn Russian on my own.

I hope that in my future professional work I will have

many opportunities to use the skills and qualifications

I have acquired, particularly the knowledge of foreign

languages, which I have greatly improved during

the stay abroad. The placement has boosted my

motivation and inspired me to take up new challenges

on the international arena. I am convinced that

the internship under the Leonardo da Vinci

Programme has been one of the most valuable

experiences in my life and I am extremely pleased

that I have served it at this particular institution,

in this particular place in Europe and at this

particular time. Thank you! t

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Po

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Collective work

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film

Dust and Glaze

Our first ceramic plates feature storks

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Opening the door to hell – phew… everything has fired

Nat

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he P

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Tre

es On the last days of November, you could sense

excitement and even nervousness of students who

were going on a placement to the Spanish town

of Martos.

A group of students from the Vocational School No 1

at the School Complex No 3 in Tychy travelled

on mobility under the Leonardo da Vinci Programme,

as part of the project entitled Professional Experiencein the European Labour Market as a Way to Carrierin Your Own Hairdressing Salon. Over three weeks,

six girls and four boys worked at Spanish hair salons

to acquire new skills and competences.

TravelIt was the first plane trip in the lifetime for many

of the project participants. We have admired

magnificent views: mountain chains, clouds seen

from above, the Mediterranean Sea and beaches

near Malaga. Being travellers from the north

of Europe dressed in warm coats and scarves,

we were impressed by the sunny Malaga and enthused:

It is so green in here! It is so warm in here!

Oh, the palm trees!

MartosOn our way to Martos, we passed olive groves growing

on red soil. We headed towards the hills and saw

Cordilleras Béticas on the horizon. It became cooler

and finally, after an approx. two-hour drive, we reached

Martos, a town picturesquely located in the Andalusian

Province of Jaen. Although it was 6 pm, it was still

bright.

A lonely, rocky mountain of Pena de Martos overlooks

the small town, where everything is within the walking

distance. Picturesque streets running up and down,

narrow passages between individual buildings,

extremely narrow pavements or their lack, these are

the main features of the older part of the town situated

on the hills. The new part of Martos, featuring a plane

tree avenue and a park, teems with social

and cultural life.

Life in the town flourishes in the morning and evening,

and it is very quiet in the afternoon. Siesta is extremely

important to the Spaniards. And it is true not only in

the provincial town of Martos, but also in large cities

such as Cordoba and Jaen.

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Another Spanish specialty is the fiesta, i.e. holiday.

Maybe they do not go to church in large numbers,

but they pay a lot of attention to rest. Holiday is truly

holy to them and nothing or nobody may attract their

interest then. They do not answer their phones either,

as nothing can interrupt fiesta. Even we, the visitors

from Poland, were left alone during fiesta.

One of the most important holidays in Martos and in

the rest of Spain is St Mary’s Holiday celebrated on

December 8. What is more, this day in Andalusia

marks the start of the olive harvest and the Olive

Festival. On that day, you can try fresh olives for free

during a fair held in the largest park of the town.

Peluqueria or the PlacementPeluqueria in Spanish means a hairdressing salon.

The main goal of our mobility as the second-

and third-year students of a hairdressing school was

gaining the professional experience in Spain and

becoming acquainted with the regulations concerning

the operations and establishment of business in

Spain. Getting to know the everyday work of Spanish

hairdressers presented an opportunity of seeing

the business operations and the service standards

in another country from the inside. We could make

comparisons and learn new hairdressing techniques.

MagdaI have served my placement at the J. L. Lara hairdressing

salon in Martos. I have worked together with my

Polish colleagues; Natalia, Kasia and Rafa∏ in a large

and elegant salon nicely decorated with mirrors.

J. L. Lara is one of the best beauty parlours in

the town. The ground floor and the basement-level

part are occupied by hairdressers. The latter also

features a beauty parlour, a solarium and a massage

parlour. We have practised on head blocks and on

one another only. Having undergone a two year

vocational training in Poland, I can say that I know

a lot. I believe that as far as hairdressing profession

is concerned, Poland is not worse than other countries.

KingaThe Mercedes Salon I have served my placement

at is big and elegant. Apart from hairdressing services,

they offer a beauty parlour and a solarium. An efficient

air conditioning system ensures that hairdressers

do not inhale the fumes of hair dyes and hairsprays.

The salon owner has allowed me to style, dye and cut

the clients’ hair. She is a very kind and friendly person.

During my placement, I have observed that

techniques of hair cutting, dyeing and styling in

Spain are different than those used in Poland.

Spanish women prefer other hair styles than Polish

women do. I would like to open my own hairdressing

parlour in the future. Based on my work experience

in Spain, I would concentrate on ensuring better

working conditions, such as the use of air conditioning

and longer breaks for employees, as our work

involving long hours of standing is very tiresome.

I would also offer hairdressing combined with

massage services. I would like to sell cosmetics

at my salon too. My parlour would have Spanish-style

decor, I would play Spanish music there and open �

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a small café for my clients, where they could have

a coffee and a cake.

DawidAlthough the salon I have served my placement

at is quite small, it has many patrons. Nicolas, our

teacher, is a very kind and friendly man. He has

worked in the profession for over thirty years and

has been an excellent teacher. Instantly, he has

given me and my colleague Micha∏ a free hand.

He has taught us new hairdressing techniques, given

us great tips and shown how to make cool evening

hairdos. Once, after a hard day’s work, he took us

to a very nice restaurant, where we had dinner,

listened to Spanish music and enjoyed fantastic

Andalusian interior decoration. No one has been

forced to work, to the contrary, it was fun. We taught

our boss Polish and he taught us Spanish. Although

we had attended a crash course in Spanish in Poland,

we had difficulties to communicate in it. However,

body language was comprehensible to everyone

and helped with communication, so we did not suffer

from the language barrier. We often joked and fooled

around. After work, our master would take us back

to our lodgings and make sure that we arrived home

safely. Both Micha∏ and I will remember every single

day of our work in Spain forever.

MarcelaDuring my placement, I have worked together with

my colleague Rafa∏ at the Pedro hairdressing parlour

in Martos. The salon is not very spacious, but the

space is well used and Pedro has its regular customers.

I have noticed that hairdressing techniques used in

Spain differ from these preferred in Poland. Dye is

applied differently, curls are made differently, and

even the haircutting methods vary. In my opinion,

Polish hairdressers are more thorough and meticulous.

However, certain hairstyling techniques are interesting

and I will surely use them in Poland in order to widen

the range of services offered at our salon. I have learnt

in Martos to plait four streaks of hair, which is

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the traditional Andalusian hairdo for girls who go

to their first communion. In return, I have taught

my boss how to make plait composed of two steaks

of hair and several phrases in Polish. Our boss has

allowed us to style the clients’ hair, apply dye, make

highlights and cut hair. As a result, I have used

my time during the placement well. The clients have

been pleased with my services and I have had

an opportunity to present the Polish school

of hairdressing.

IntegrationFor several years, AC Traductores and Academia

Cordoba have focused on youth exchanges under

the Leonardo da Vinci Programme. Many groups from

several countries of the united Europe have come

to the centres in Martos and Cordoba, including

those from various cities in Poland. During our stay

in Spain, we had an opportunity to meet a group

of French students and our peers from Rzeszów

on the south of Poland. Learning in Spain the Silesian

dialect, which we speak, was a great attraction

to the Rzeszów group. It was fun to meet after work,

to play football, do sightseeing and have grill parties.

What is more, being far away from home has helped

us to know one another better.

Nativity Scene under the Palm TreesWe stayed in Martos during Advent, which is the time

preceding Christmas. In the land of palm and olive

trees, it is difficult to spot a spruce or fir. However,

what you can notice everywhere is nativity scenes;

small and large, in shop windows, in churches,

at homes. They usually feature porcelain figurines

that tell the story of the birth of Christ. So you can

find the Holly Family, the shepherds, the Three Kings,

animals and the stable there. You can buy

the figurines in almost every shop, including correo,i.e. the post office.

Adiós Spain!We have come back to Poland with fond memories

and professional experience. If we were to compare

Spain and Poland, we would say that we are not any

worse. We may even seem more hard-working and

resourceful. Our cuisine is also great, and we tend

to speak foreign languages better that Spaniards do.

We seem to pay more attention to cleanliness.

“Oh our country, colourful country, the land of

geranium and mallow”* you should not have

complexes, as you have been a part of Europe for

a long time.

Adiós Martos! Adiós Espania! We have come back

for Christmas to stay with our loved ones, to sing

the carols and feel the unique atmosphere that

cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

We have come back to Poland. t

* K.I. Ga∏czyƒski

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Aleksandra Kozlik

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It’s good to wake up sometimes… convinced that your dreams will come true...

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Spain 2007 The beginning of our lifetime journey… If you’re lost, you have friends you can rely on...

Sweden 2007 We have been given an opportunity to improve our minds and skills in Sweden

The more ambitious goal, the bigger satisfaction. Only with lots of enthusiasm, you can achieve what you dream of…

We have used all our knowledge acquired during the placement.

Au

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artyna Perek

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photography

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It was a warm August day. My telephone rang.

I answered it a bit surprised at a long number that

was displayed. An unfamiliar male voice speaking

a foreign language instantly made me concentrate

and after a brief effort I realised that I HAVE QUALIFIED

FOR THE LEONARDO INTERNSHIP IN AUSTRIA!!!

I did not have much time for joy. I had to complete

the formalities connected with the preparations for

mobility. About two weeks before the departure,

I received good news. With the help of my Austrian

mentor at the Bureau for European Programmes,

which was the venue of my Leonardo internship,

I was offered a bed in a student hostel. So, I knew

I would not be alone in a foreign town and country.

At the end of October 2008, I headed off for my lifetime

journey into the unknown.

The first impressions of my alpine destination were

made while I was still on the train – with each kilometre

I was more and more enchanted with the view: rustic,

peaceful and simply beautiful. I tried to listen to

the other passengers talking, but I could hardly

understand anything. Fortunately I was not discouraged

by that, as this was just the beginning of my adventure!

I assumed an open approach; I decided to observe,

analyse and learn!

Having a weekend for adjustment, I cooled down

and got ready for my first day at work. On a November

Monday morning I stood in front of the door

to the Bureau for European Programmes (BEP).

Following the directions on the entryphone,

I pressed the code, introduced myself and was

astonished to be asked whether I required police

assistance!

It appeared that numbers for the Bureau and

the emergency services were the same – at least to me.

In the end, I managed not to alert the whole town

and reached the Bureau. The first encounter with

new colleagues was a very pleasant one, although

due to the language barrier I could utter only a few

words. The next challenge was learning to operate

a Macintosh. Fortunately, two evenings with googled

tutorials did the job.

The stress of the first days at a new place disappeared

fast and I immediately became engrossed in my new

tasks, which included contacts with foreign companies,

preparing and presenting the offer and the success

stories of BEP, updating the database, and

participating occasionally in fairs and events related

to the operations of the Bureau. I found out that my

colleagues were nice and open people

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(which, to a certain extent, was owed to their

international experiences; they had also benefited

from the EU programmes). I had my office with my

name on the door, and my boss hanged the pictures

on the walls of my room personally!

The work atmosphere was peaceful, based on partner

relations and exchange of information. During regular

meetings, we used to sit at a table and talk about

matters that we could put in the schedule. These were

not professional matters exclusively, as, from time

to time, we talked about other “extracurricular” things.

We also had common outings, to mention the tasting

of traditional mulled wine (German Glühwein), which

is a Christmas tradition, and having a dinner together.

However, the most efficient form of integration is

joint effort, and not only intellectual, but also physical

one. This is why I have so greatly enjoyed our sledging

trips! This may sound innocent, but in Austria, “going

sledging” is a true expedition. First, you need to climb

the mountain for at least 1-2 hours. When you reach

the peak, you must go to a cabin, where you can rest

and have a snack, and finally, you sledge down with

dizzying speed!

As for leisure, Austrians, and Tyroleans in particular,

are one of the most active nations in Europe. It’s not

surprising – if you can enjoy such a climate and

the mountains, you will not stay at home and watch

TV! In winter, favourite pastimes include skiing,

sledging and other winter sports, while in summer,

hiking in the mountains, cycling, jogging and Nordic

walking predominate. Initially, I was amazed at people

of any age running in the rain or snow; husbands and

wives, mothers and daughters, women with dogs,

and fathers pushing prams (yes, that’s right! the baby

sleeps tight, bundled up in a pram, while daddy with

an iPod runs with the pram in front of him). All this is

made possible owing to the well prepared and cared

for sports and recreation infrastructure. You can see

pedestrian and cycling lanes in the city, and trekking

routes, ski slopes and tobogganing routes in

the mountains. Tyroleans are proud of their traditional

and regional produce, such as sweet Tyrolean-style

dumplings, and don’t you dare to call Kaiserschmarnn

plane pancakes! Cheese-making is highly developed

there, almost all products are offered in BIO versions

and the Austrian origin of food is emphasised. Apart

from the culinary passion, fun is also an important

and cherished part of Tyrolean social life. Various

events are organised in different periods of the year,

depending on the seasonal weather. In autumn, �

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Krampuslauf will chase off the sadness and sorrows,

with local residents disguised as devils and large

bears hitting one another with twigs, pulling one

another’s hair and patting one another on the shoulders

in the streets of towns and cities, but nobody ever gets

hurt. During the carnival, Faschings dance and music

parades rule in the streets. The whole communities

are committed to organising the parades where

everybody is dressed up and the funnier they look

the better! Strangers are welcomed by local residents

with the friendly greeting Grüß Gott or Grüß dir.

I am convinced that the internship served under

the Leonardo da Vinci Programme has been one of

the best decisions I have made; it is on the top of my

list, together with the one?academic-year placement

under the Erasmus Programme. I have gathered

a vast array of experiences, ranging from linguistic,

professional and cultural to personal ones. You not

only get to know other cultures, but also become

the ambassador of your country, and represent your

culture with your own conduct, the observance

of native customs and ability to present them or talk

about them in a foreign language. I have also gained

priceless acquaintances and heard other people’s

stories – like the one of an Indonesian man who,

having survived tsunami, came to Innsbruck to gain

his doctoral degree in anthropology and research

the causes and results of natural disasters. I must

admit that it was in Austria that I learnt to skate

and played Eisstockschiessen, a game resembling

curling, for the first time. I have also improved my

photographic skills. The views, landscape and climate

are unique there and conducive to pursuing this

hobby. I could also enjoy my passion for nature

and architecture, as well as develop my professional

and scientific interests related to spatial development

and cooperation on the local, regional and international

level. Owing to the mobility, I have realised that

having your eyes and mind open, you can grasp

many opportunities for development. All you need

is the willingness to act. t

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Italy

Katarzyna Kociszewska

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Assisi Magnificent Italian dishes Olive oil plant

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Villa Redenta

Training

The Adriatic Sea

Rome

Chocolate factory

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It all started one day in July when I talked with a fellow

student who had just returned from a placement in

Copenhagen. I asked her if she enjoyed her stay and

how she managed, and in reply she asked me: Why

don’t you go on a placement, Huzia? (it’s the nickname

I have had since the age of 8) I jumped at the idea

and immediately contacted the person responsible

for student placements at my university. After some

time, I learnt that I qualified. If I was asked whether

I had given some thought to it, the answer would be

no. It was an impulse or maybe fate… Whatever it

was, the most important thing is that it did happen.

Having gone through the formalities, on 29 September

2007, I took off from the Krakow airport at 11.30 am

to land at the London Gatwick Airport two and half

hours later. My first day in London was horrible:

a foreign city, unfamiliar people, strange house...

The only household item I had with me was my teddy

bear.

My third day in London, and the first day at work in

a hospice. What do I remember from that day? Almost

nothing, in fact. A million thoughts were racing through

my head, I suddenly became paralysed by fear of

the unknown and terrified by London, which two

days earlier had seemed a fascinating place to me.

The three months I was supposed to spend there

grew to eternity, and English, which I spoke quite

well, turned incomprehensible. I painted a gloomy

picture of my near future and came to a conclusion that

I should leave the place, come back to the apartment,

pack my things and go back home. After all, nobody

saw me there, nobody knew who I was, nobody

would care. So I was sitting there, thinking and

scanning the place with a vacant look on my face.

The second day at the hospice was a breakthrough.

When I introduced myself to a patient, I couldn’t

stand the mounting tension and burst into tears.

One of the nurses noticed that and took me to

the office to talk. My supervisor was genuinely

concerned with my tears and asked if one of

the employees or patients was unkind to me,

or maybe I lacked money or had any problems at

the apartment. Still crying, I responded that I felt lost

and confused in London, where everything was

so big, unfamiliar and new. In addition, one of

the patients resembled the grandfather of my

childhood friend, which stirred up emotions in me

even more. Nigel, my boss, gave a nod of understanding

and ensured me that everything was OK and that I could

talk to him any time if I had any problem. That day,

when leaving the hospice, I promised myself that

the next day I would be smiling, and I would not

Gre

at B

ritain

Ag

nieszka Huziuk

literary w

ork

force myself to do that, but I would truly appreciate

the fact that I was there, in London, in England and

that I had an opportunity to have the time of my life.

And in fact I did! With each day I became more busy

and optimistic and finally grasped what I had to do

and no longer felt unhappy and lost. With time,

I received more challenging tasks, which I was eager

to perform and I was extremely proud with every

progress I or one of my patients made. I consistently

taught them basic phrases in Polish.

I will never forget one day when Brian and I came

to pick up Sue. It was a day like any other, but Sue

looked different, she was radiant and wanted to tell

us about the unusual thing she did during the weekend.

Only when she told us that for the first time in four

years she went shopping to a supermarket with her

sister, did I realise how fortunate I was. I go shopping

almost every day and treat it is as a chore rather

than as something exciting.

I could tell many more stories like this one and they

taught me humility. I have learnt that smile is the best

solution for many problems. I am not a doctor and

will probably never be one, but if my smile can help

someone, why shouldn’t I give it a try. A bit of warmth,

empathy, patience and kindness truly costs nothing.

Looking back at my placement, I can tell that it has

helped me find my way in life. I am writing my bachelor

thesis now and I have had no doubt what to write

about. It was obvious to me that I would write about

the institution where I worked during the fantastic

three months of my placement.

The stay at the hospice and working with terminally

ill people has made me more sensitive to the suffering

and injustice in life. I have distanced myself from my

problems and became happier. Is there anybody

else who at the age of 21 can say that they have

60 beloved grandmothers and 10 grandfathers?

My placement title included the phrase “professional

improvement of future social workers”. I have become

truly interested in the profession and took up relevant

studies. I cannot say if I would like to work as

a social worker or gerontological social worker in

the future, but I am confident about one thing;

I would like to work at a hospice. I am aware it will

be a long time before we can offer the same conditions

in Poland as those I have observed in London,

yet nobody can say that you should not strive for it.

In the future, I would like to help to create a true

home for the elderly where they would feel genuinely

happy. r

29

30

Finla

nd

Milena Razniak

multim

edia presentation

31

32

Sp

ain

Barbara Medajska

photography

33

Sp

ain

Barb

ara

Med

ajsk

a

�

I am a film director by profession. I have also graduated from a Fine Arts School

in Zakopane and a music school. My whole life has been devoted to creative

activity, fine arts, music, literature and film. I have headed off for a placement

in Malaga from late June to late September and spent the hottest three months

of the year there.

Malaga is an unusual town. Situated near the sea, in a close distance from Morocco,

and in the heart of Costa del Sol, it is the hometown of Pablo Picasso.

All the characteristic features of the town make a stay there a truly artistic

adventure. During the placement, I worked at a local TV station in Malaga, where

I became familiar with the work of TV news reporters. Due to the nature of my

studies, which are focused on the profession of film and theatre director, it has

been a completely new experience to me. We prepared news from 9 am to 2 pm.

During that time, we had to select a cultural or social event, shoot it, comment on

it and edit it. Each day, something interesting happened and these seemingly trivial

events were of great interest to many viewers, whom I often met and who shared

their observations with me.

Prior to my departure for Spain, I had often been asked if I would go to see a bullfight

and my answer was absolutely not. However, in Malaga I realised that I needed

to explore the elements of the culture about which I knew little, and which could

only be observed while you stayed in the country. So I went to the Plaza de Toros

(Bulls’ Square), which is one of the largest and most prestigious ones in Spain.

It was there that I explored bullfighting from the inside. It is a strange and extremely

hazardous art, which goes deep down in the history.

I have always felt attached to people, both through the films I made and thanks to

my attitude to the surrounding world. Malaga has changed my attitude towards

lite

rary

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ork

34

bullfighting. I have met famous personalities, to mention one of the first women

who in 1970’s despite the prevailing opinion wanted to become a toreador and

finally succeeded at that. She lives in Malaga and her son is a student at a school

for toreadors. I have recorded an interview with her, which lasted several hours.

Due to the fact that three times a week I took photos at the bullfighting school

in Malaga, I probed into the art that has greatly affected the Spanish people.

I have seen hundreds of fights and filmed them from the closest distance possible;

from the place called peseo de callejon, which is a no-entry zone for journalists

(since it is too dangerous because a rushing bull may get there). The Spaniards,

impressed by my devotion to work, allowed me for more (they called me trabajadora,

a busy bee, as in order to honestly depict the bullfighting, I stayed with them almost

all the time). No other foreigner has been allowed to be that close and see everything

that is related to this art. I have won the trust of toreadors, their parents, veterinary

surgeons, and bull breeders, and as a result I have managed to shoot unusual scenes,

such as the dressing up of a toreador before the fight, exercises in the country,

and interviews with the victims of bullfighting.

Thanks to the Leonardo da Vinci Programme, for the first time in my life, I have had

a chance to live in a new, unfamiliar place for so long, and to mix with residents

of Andalusia, the Arabs, Italians, French, and German. I have discovered for myself

a small piece of an unusual world, experienced the influence we exert on others and

realised that we can affect and shape one another. I cannot compare my experiences

to anything else, although we live in border-free Europe, and thanks to the internet

the world seems to be devoid of mystery. However, each person, culture, and even

the smallest nook of a town have distinct features, which make them stand out from

others. r

35

Po

rtug

al

Collective work

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cartoon

[Graphic Arts

Training

in Caldas]

2007

Mobility under the Leonardo da Vinci ProgrammeJacek Malczewski School of Fine Arts

in Cz´stochowa.Participants: Agata Motyka, Rados∏aw Budzik,

Miko∏aj Madejski, Sylwia Mitreva, DanielWarmuziƒski, Dominika Moryƒ, Mateusz Rafalski

Supervisors: Julita Korczyƒska-Górawska, Ewa Ciosek

37

…Take off

24/06/2007We took off fromthe Warsaw Ok´cie Airport to go to Lisbon

It was relatively quiet on

the plane…

I am scared…

Why do you bite your lips?

Afteronehour…

Suddenly… our plane flew into turbulence

Damn it! We cannot take the masks off!

Our dog’s eyes saw the

Aeroporto de Lisboa

Finally leaving the plane…

and dog-shaped

masks covered ourpale faces

38

A rickety coach took us from the airport to the centre

After one hour drive we were

finally there

In the moonlight, the school looked

charming

Next day we went sightseeing

Caldas de Rainhadoes not resemble

Polish stations

This filter does notwork. / Absolutely! /Agree! / You canalways change it

And who do you thinkyou are?

Pass the ball, dog!

Going to the beachafter a hard day’swork

39

A trip on 4 July

That day our teamreached Fatima

Go and pray

I have a problem

Explore! Explore! No time for fooling

around!

O.K. We are going

Even some local residents cannot cope and give in to the oppressive heat

After Fatima, we stormed the capital

Lisbon enchanted us with its narrow, winding streets and magnificent old houses

Fatima

We admiredthe magnificent

architectureof Fatimachurches

Our Polishheads aredelighted!

40

Our Portugal mentor with a cheerful smile

How’s the coffee?

Enjoying the views from the bus. Once we have out-

played the locals in afootball match!

You’re barking up thewrong tree

[“Dogs from Caldas”]

The End

Wehave

not had much freetime

Dishwater

Time

to go home

41

Umbria is an extremely beautiful region also known as the green

heart of Italy. It is famous for its charming medieval towns

picturesquely situated on the hills, and Spoleto is considered one

of the most beautiful places. Saint Francis of Assisi praised it,

Goethe wrote about it, and how do I recollect my stay there?

Ristorante il Pentagramma is a musical restaurant, where you can not

only have a nice meal but also listen to good music while enjoying

your food. Stylish interior decoration, friendly service and excellent

food have made the small place hit the top of the lists of the best

restaurants in Spoleto for over 50 years. A well coordinated team

of professionals works for the reputation of the place and, for a few

months, I have been one of them.

In Pentagramma, everything is mastered to perfection. Each dish is

a work of art, so it is not surprising that how it is presented is as

important as how it tastes. Working in the kitchen requires great

commitment. During training at an Italian restaurant, you can learn

many new skills, related not only to cooking.

Italian cuisine is so rich and varied that you can talk about it for

hours and hours. In fact, each region in Italy has its speciality;

pizza in Naples, excellent meat dishes in Piedmont, and soups in

Tuscany are only few examples of them. The Pentagramma

Italy

Joanna Binek

42

multim

edia presentation

Restaurant offers all?Italian cuisine, i.e. pasta with a wide variety

of herbs and fragrant mountain cheese, as well as local dishes such

as Fiori di zucca (roasted zucchini flowers) and Frittata al tartufo

(scrambled eggs with black truffles), which are simply delicious!!!

The favourite method of meat preparation in Spoleto is roasting it

over open fire, and typical desserts include my favourite Crescionda

(chocolate cake). Wine is an indispensable element of each meal,

and after a dessert, coffee served in many different ways is simply a must.

The time I have spent in Spoleto was a marvellous adventure to me.

I have discovered a very interesting and utterly different culture.

The friendly atmosphere made working at the restaurant a real

pleasure. Owing to the kindness of chefs, waiters and the manager

of Pentagramma, I have not only learnt a lot about Italian cuisine

but also acquired many useful skills. As I have managed well in

many new situations, I have come back from Italy with newly

acquired expertise and boosted self-confidence. I have already used

several of my new skills in everyday life and I am convinced this is

just a beginning for me… t

43

Slo

vakia

Mariusz

Zyngier

44

filmSmall Country, Big Electronic Adventure

Five weeks of studying and working abroad – this has beena challenge that the students of Technikum Elektroniczne(Secondary Technical School of Electronics) in Po∏aniec,executing the project entitled New Technologies + PracticalSkills = New Business, have faced. This has been the sixthforeign placement project implemented by the SecondarySchool Complex in Po?aniec. In total, since 2004, 12 graduates, 24 students and 4 teachers have taken part in placements. They have worked and studied inthe Netherlands, Ireland and Slovakia.The following students of Electrical and Electronic Industrial Automation Year 3 at the Secondary Technical

School of Electronics participated in the placement: M.B. – Miros∏aw Bugaj, D.C. – Damian Cygan, Sz.K. – Szymon

Kaniszewski, P.K. – Pawe∏ Kot, K.N. – Kamil Nowak, J.Sz. – Jakub Szczygie∏, T.Z. – Tomasz Zwierz, A.˚. – Artur ˚ugaj

What made you decide to participate in the placement under the Leonardo da Vinci Programme?T.Z.: This has been a great opportunity to develop my interests, raise professional

qualifications and gain vocational experience. Moreover, training abroad is not

something that you can benefit from on everyday basis.

K.N.: I have decided to participate in the Leonardo da Vinci placement because

the opportunity to study abroad and the training programme seemed attractive to me.

Practical training is a great opportunity to acquire new skills in the profession

of electronics technician. And new skills may be of great use in my future work.

M.B.: I have decided to go on a placement because of the opportunity to gain new

professional experience and to attend the PLC and MIE courses, which will be

of great help in my future education and work. I have also been keen to go abroad

to get to know a new culture and meet new people.

45

�

Slo

vaki

aTo

mas

zZw

ierz

prac

ali

tera

cka

46

Have there been other opportunities to undergo practical training in Year 3?Are you satisfied with your choice?D.C.: We have had an alternative. The rest of our class has participated in training

at the Po∏aniec power station, but from the very beginning I wanted to do it

in Slovakia and I have no regrets. Placement in Slovakia has already brought

a number of benefits, and I am sure that more will become obvious in the future,

during my studies and professional work.

What have you learnt during the MIE course?M.B.: During the course, I have learnt to assemble individual elements on the board

and to lay the cables. I have also improved my soldering and element identification

skills.

P.K.: During the MIE course, I have improved my board soldering skills and became

acquainted with the requirements of the Slovak and Dutch Omega Examination

Centre. This knowledge has proven useful during work at D-J Servis.

Sz.K.: Thanks to the MIE course, I have realised that patience and care should be

the main qualities of any electronics assembler. The course has helped me to use

theoretical knowledge in practice.

What have you learnt during the PLC course?T.Z.: I have acquired the skill of programming PLC drivers manufactured by Mitsubishi,

which are widely used across the industry. This skill offers many opportunities

to me. I have learnt to write and test programs, and you need to display logical

thinking in order to do the former. I have also mastered two driver programming

methods.

J.Sz.: I have found out that writing and testing a program is not an easy task.

It requires putting a thinking cap on. I have also learnt about the broad industrial

applications of those types of devices.

What have you learnt at D-J Servis?A.˚.: During my work at the company, I have learnt a lot about the household appliances.

Quite fast, I was able to identify defects in the equipment and remove them. Thanks

47

to this practical experience, I will be able to make small repairs of household appliances

and equipment.

T.Z.: Thanks to the work at D-J Servis, I have discovered how a business like this

one operates. I have learnt to repair household appliances. I have also realised that

working at a service company requires patience and logical thinking.

What have you learnt at Ploskon AT?M.B.: At Ploskon, I have learnt to assemble the induction detectors and prepare wiring

for them. I have also improved my board soldering skills in terms of speed and precision.

K.N.: I have learnt how an exporting company operates.

Has your stay abroad resulted in new opportunities?T.Z.: I am convinced that I have benefited more from the placement in Slovakia than

I would have from training in Poland. First of all, I have had an opportunity to work

with experienced people and I could use high-end specialist equipment. I believe

this has given me new opportunities.

M.B.: The stay in Slovakia has given me new prospects. I have learnt many new

things during the training and greatly improved my professional qualifications,

which will facilitate my further education and will be beneficial in future work.

I intend to use all the skills I have acquired during the placement.

What have students who have not gone for placement lost?J.Sz.: I believe that our peers could envy us. They have not only lost an opportunity

to go abroad and meet new people, but most of all they have missed a chance

to learn many useful things that can bring fruit in the near future.

D.C.: And the leisure activities in Slovakia were so much better than those in Po∏aniec.

K.N.: I think they have lost a chance to meet beautiful Slovak girls and to be away

from home for such a long time, not to mention great fun we have had there. t

48

The End

49

Fragments of the following works have been used in the publication:

1. Ewa Paƒczak, a multimedia presentation entitled Akcja w∏aÊciwa – Stuttgart (Action - Sttutgart) (1st place), University of Wroc∏aw, International Office, project number: PL/07/LLP-LdV/PLM/140210;

2. Ewa Paƒczak, literary work entitled Cenne DoÊwiadczenie (Valuable Experience), as above;

3. Authors: Krzysztof Banasiak, Alina Barczyk, Ada Bogatek, Tomasz DroÊ, Rita Hermanson, KingaLimanowska, Eliza Marzec, Karolina Mercik, Jan S´towski, Diana Wo∏owczyk, film entitled WÊród py∏ów i szkliw (Dust and Glaze) (1st place), Jacek Malczewski School of Fine Arts, project number: PL/07/LLP-LdV/IVT/140305;

4. Dawid Mizia, literary work entitled Szopka pod palmami (A Nativity Scene under the Palm Trees) (1st place), School Complex No 3, ul. NowokoÊcielna 11, 43-100 Tychy, project number: PL/07/LLP-LdV/VT/140493, Photos: Maria Jonak, Micha∏ Lejawa,

Dawid Mizia;

5. Aleksandra Koêlik, multimedia presentation entitled Sta˝ graficzny w ramach wymiany uczniowskiej programuLeonardo da Vinci (Graphic Arts Training and Students Exchange under Leonardo da Vinci Programme, Jacek Malczewski School of Fine Arts, project number: PL/07/LLP-LdV/IVT/140305;

6. Jakub Klimasz, film entitled Sta˝ Leonardo widziany oczami uczestników (Leonardo Placement through the Eyes of Participants) (2nd place), School of Electronics Complex, project number: PL/07/LLP-LdV/IVT/140066;

7. Martyna Perek, photography (2nd place), Warsaw University of Technology, Center for International Cooperation,

project number: PL/07/LLP-LdV/PLM/140136;

8. Martyna Perek, literary work entitled Praktyka z Dobrymi Widokami (Training with a View), as above;

9. Katarzyna Kociszewska, photography, Stanis∏aw Staszic Economics and Culinary School Complex in Otwock,

project number: PL/07/LLP-LdV/IVT/140492;

10. Agnieszka Huziuk, literary work (3rd place), Opole Uniwersity, project number: PL/06/A/Plb/174729;

11. Milena Raêniak, multimedia presentation entitled Finlandia (Finland), District Police Headquarters in Nak∏o nad Notecià,

project number: PL/07/LLP-LdV/VETPRO/140382;

12. Barbara Medajska, photography (1st place), the Capital City of Warsaw Labour Office, project number: PL/07/LLP-LdV/PLM/140529;

13. Barbara Medajska, literary work, as above;

50

14. Authors: Edyta Bezener, Rados∏aw Budzik, Miko∏aj Madejski, Sylwia Mitreva, Dominika Moryƒ,Agata Motyka, Mateusz Rafalski, Daniel Warmuziƒski, cartoon entitled Sta˝ graficzny w Caldas(Graphic Arts Training in Caldas) (1st place), Jacek Malczewski School of Fine Arts, project number: PL/07/LLP-LdV/IVT/140305;

15. Joanna Binek, multimedia presentation entitled Âródziemnomorska kuchnia – europejskie kompetencje zawodowe(Mediterranean Cuisine and European Professional Competences) (2nd place), Lifelong Learning and Development Centre

in Pleszew, project number: PL/07/LLP-LdV/PLM/140097;

16. Mariusz Zyngier, film entitled Ma∏y kraj – wielka elektroniczna przygoda (Small Country, Big Electronic Adventure) (3rd place), School Complex in Po∏aniec, project number: PL/08/LLP-LdV/IVT/140116;

17. Tomasz Zwierz, literary work entitled Ma∏y kraj – wielka elektroniczna przygoda (Small Country, Big ElectronicAdventure) (2nd place), School Complex in Po∏aniec, project number: PL/08/LLP-LdV/IVT/140116;

To see the presentation of awarded works, please go to: http://konkurs2009.leonardo.org.pl/

Foundation for the Development of Education SystemUl. Mokotowska 4300-551 Warsaw

www.frse.org.plwww.leonardo.org.pl

Editor: Anna KowalczykCorrector: Weronika WalasekTranslation into English: POLIGLOTA Translation Agency Anna PodorackaEnglish Corrector: Top Aga Translations Agnieszka Topolska

Graphic design and layout: Assi Kootstra (eufloria design s.c.)Cover photo: Natalia Kootstra (eufloria design s.c.)

Print: Wydawnictwo Diecezjalne i Drukarnia w Sandomierzu

ISBN: 978-83-60058-80-0This publication has been funded with support from the European Commission under the Leonardo da Vinci component of the Lifelong Learning Programme. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Free copy