Romanian Youth Summit 24-28 May 2000

Hello!

This is Nelly Platon, I*EARN coordinator for Romania, writing you about an important event organized by I*EARN Association Romania, the CEE & CA Youth Summit 2000. The event took place between 24-28 May 2000, at Dej, a small town in Transylvania, Romania. I am sending you the impressions about the Summit sent by a well-known I*EARN student from Bulgaria, the coordinator of LOVE project, Nelly Penchewa Georgiewa.

Dear friends,

I want to share with you the wonderful experience we had at the Youth Summit in Dej, Romania. It took place from May, 24 to May, 28, 2000 and there were aroung100 participants from Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Macedonia, Kazakstan, Romania, Moldowa, Hungary, Ukraine and Slowakia. If I've missed something, please excuse me, I'm a bit absent-minded, as I still relive the wonderful days spent here.

Thanks to Nelly, the I*EARN Romanian Coordinator, her students and their parents we had an opportunity to get to know each other, to exchange multi-cultural experience, and of course, to have fun! It was a great idea that we stayed at Romanian families, so that we could share the everyday life in Romania. I should say that the Romanians are very nice, kind and relaxed people and that they should also be proud of their nature! The organization of the summit was perfect, well done, Nelly and all of the others, helping you! It was opened at the town hall with speeches from the town mayor and Nelly. We had an opportunity to see the castle of Dracula, where a little surprise was waiting for us. We also were to the town of Bistritsa and to the mines, from where we took some salty pieces. The participants also made a camp-fire and sung their national songs on the camp site. It was great! We also learned how to sing a Romanian song. The food was marvelous, and of course, the organizers didn't forget about the disco, where both students and teachers had fun to the max. I wouldn't mention how we crossed the river and how some people fell into it and got wet all over:)))) We got to know the Alexandra Papiu High School very well- we visited the physics, chemistry cabinets and computer science lab- actually, the internet maniacs spent quite a lot of time there. There was an exibition with posters, pictures and cards from all countires participating.

Again, with the risk of repeating myself, I should say : It was great! The summit ended with presentations of all countries participating and with a speech from Nelly , who was very moved at the song prepared for the summit and for her. Everyone received certificates of participation, poscards and pens. The only thing I'm sorry about is that we had to leave earlier :(((( And , a message to the participants: I miss you! Hope to see you all again some day, somewhere!

Best wishes, Nelly Penchewa Georgiewa, Bulgaria

Cornelia Platon - teacher of English, I*EARN Coordinator for Romania,"Alexandru Papiu Ilarian" Highschool Dej