Conferences

=Conferences=

As I write to Eduardo:we must decide how to accommodate students - I think it is a problem because parents are not agree to host foreign students (in Estonia we have same problem like in Spain)... Last time we stayed in youth hotels (or in 'normal' hotels), all countries (teachers and students) were in the same hotel - it was very easy for organizing country - all guests were in same place - and it was very good for communication between different countries - we were together 24 hours per day :)  Maybe we should now do the same? Hosting state will book a hotel, each state will pay for itself.What do you think? Please write here are you agree with this? Last time our agencies don't have the problem with our accommodation in hotels, and we had enough money, too :) We (teachers) would love to host students at local homes, but unfortunately we can not impose it to parents neither promise you something we will not be able to do.
 * Comment from Spain (Eduardo)**

Answering Jon's question, there was an exchange programme in our high school two years ago and it failed because a short number of parents were able to host foreign students. There was no agreement, for different and in many cases personal reasons. We don't want it to happen this time, so we do want to be honest about it from the beginning. I have offered you visiting Spain because I've seen there were some missing meeting to fullfill. We will be delighted to celebrate a meeting here in Spain, full of activities and mutual enrichment, but these are the conditions we can offer you. I do not think that means betraying the spirit of the project. We're talking about logistics and practical issues. Don't you think it's better to clear these things out now? We want the best for this Comenius project and we are working hard on it, as I think we're showing. It's not a question of reconsidering our position (cause it does not depend on us!) and in this sense, I think we must respect each country's position, as I respect yours, Jon and Pilvi's one. I don't think we're contradicting anything. Please, let's not mix things up. Is not tolerance and understanding a main value of our partnership?

I think this should not be a problem. We must understand each local reality. For us, it's not a problem at all to host in youth hostels with our students when visiting anyone (how could we?!). That's why we are being given a budget. We would like things to be different but that's the way they are.

Hope I answered your question and that you understand.

I think we should try to host the students at local homes. Why is this a problem for parents in Spain and Estonia?
 * Comment from Iceland about hostings (Jon):**

If we host them at Youth hostel then I think we are contradicting ourselves and are not working in accordance to the project objectives, that is breaking the sterotypes. Living at a home in the guest country gives our students more than attending some meetings. They learn about the customs and value of others. I hope Spain and Estonia will reconsider this aspect.

Poland - Italy - I think that in comenius project is supposed to host students in families, to let them kow each other better. we can host a meeting from the secon half of february, till march 2012, when you like, or october- november 2012 -. Turkey - I think we should host the students at local homes. Croatia - we can host students in families Spain - Portugal - Iceland -
 * Comment from Italy about hostings:**
 * The possible solution could be that in countries that cannot host students we can plan conference only with teachers, and, of course, when their students visit the other countries,they will have to find accomodation in hotels . In our town there are not youth hostels, only hotels.**

I agree with Jon. We (Poland) could try to host students at local homes, as we did during last project. But I know it would be hard to encourage families if they would not stay at families going to another country (participant).
 * Comment from Poland about hostings (Mariusz):**

Meetings:
 * 1 || in the beginning of Sept 2011 || **Estonia -**
 * only staff.**
 * 2-3 teachers from each country?** ||
 * 2 || Mid November 2011 || Portugal -
 * staff and leader students** ||
 * 3 || the second half of April 2012

We (__**Turkey**__) had a meeting with my colleauge and headmaster and we agreed on the date April 2012 to host the group like Poland. Anyway we can discuss about it if you cannot find a solution.

I am ready to organise the meeting in Poland. However, I am sure that for most of participants Turkey is more attractive place for visiting. Let's deicde all together or vote.In my opinion we can decide after decision of NA if we have an agreement for our project or not. || Poland or Turkey - make a decision!
 * headmasters, staff and students ** ||
 * 4 || Sept 2012 - **Maybe it would be better if the meeting could be in Iceland in September 2012 rather than November because of the weather. I talked to Kirsten (co-ordiantor) and she said that Sept 2011 would not be good. So if this is Ok.**

Croatia October 2012 || Iceland or Croatia


 * staff and leader students ** ||
 * 5 || April / May 2013 || **Spain?**
 * Headmasters, staff, students** ||

If there are more candidates for one of the assemblies, then we will make a decision together.
**__1st__ - only teachers -** where? when?

__2nd__ - teachers and students
where? in Portugal when? Mid November 2011 **__3rd__ - teachers and students and __headmasters?__ Or when we call school headmasters to our meetings?** **where?** **//Poland //** **when?** **//the second half of April 2012 //** **__4th__ - teachers and students** **where? Iceland** **when? Sept 2012 (better than Oct)** October or November 2012?

**__5th__ - teachers and students and __headmasters__?**

**__Spain__ - We can offer a meeting in November 2012 (teachers and students).**

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Nevertheless, we will not be able to host visitors in student's homes. We had to cancel an exchange programme two years ago because it was difficult to find parents who agreed to that. We could look for hostels close to our high-school to host them. I'm sorry about this and hope you understand. Apart from that, We'll be delighted to welcome you.=====