VIRTEX4ALL - FINAL MEETING IN ZARAGOZA (E)
The last Virtex4all partners' meeting took place in Zaragoza, from 9th to 12th September, 2010. Over the period of two years, the partners from the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey, worked hard to further refine and supplement the materials of the original award winning Virtex project and to clarify the levels using the Common European Framework for Reference (CEF).
The FASE organization, the host of the last meeting, was represented by Maria Martin. Since its creation, FASE has specialized in developing ICT solutions for training programs and has been a pioneer in the development of e-learning methodology for lifelong learning. FASE has participated in more than 40 European projects implementing the use of ICTs in educational and training fields.
While cold weather dominated most parts of Europe, Zaragoza welcomed us with a bright blue sky and high temperatures. Back in summer dresses, the partners met in Hotel Romareda for their first dinner together.
On Friday morning, Maria accompanied us to the University of Zaragoza, where the meeting took place. It was going to be a long day. Final adjustments to the competence tests had been made followed by 15 minutes presentations by each partner on how to use Virtex4all as an intercultural communication tool in preparing students for their placement abroad.
After lunch at the University cafeteria, the meeting continued with a lecture and workshop led by Carmen Boogaard from the University of Amsterdam on marketing strategies - an inevitable step in crossing the borders of the meeting rooms and spreading Virtex4all to the whole world. Marketing strategies were explained and each country partners were asked to fill in the format on how to approach the matter in their own country.
To lighten up and to relax a little, Natalia Komanicka presented a movie on intercultural incidents, "The Tourist Trap", a British reality show from 1998, where four different nationalities (the British, the Americans, the Germans and the Japanese) find themselves exposed to identical incidents but does each nationality behave in an identical way? Obviously not.
We felt like we really needed a siesta. After a short rest we were eager to go to downtown Zaragoza, where we strolled along with the natives who were clearly enjoying pleasant weather and charming atmosphere of the main square, Plaza del Pilar. A short peek into the famous Basilica del Pilar, one of the most visited churches in Spain, and we were off to the Las Palomas Restaurant to taste tapas in buffet style. Tapas, as explained by Maria, is a name given to a wide variety of appetizers and meals. It is not a particular type of food. Anything can be tapas - paella, ham and cheese on toast, meat or vegetable dishes, as long as it is small. It was nearly midnight and we were sitting in a Café at the Plaza watching people who didn't seem to hurry anywhere.
Saturday morning meeting took place on the new premises of FASE. Financial tasks were finalized as well as all the tests were now ready to be posted on the website both in English and in German. The tasks were completed. Feeling satisfaction from well accomplished work and a little relief at the same time, we headed off for lunch to taste the original Spanish paella.
The afternoon was free with a lot of options - discovering old Zaragoza from a sightseeing bus, shopping or just sitting on shores of Ebro river and enjoying magnificent views. The final dinner in Club Nautico was an unforgettable experience. Top level cuisine with seven courses was a true pleasure for our taste buds.
It was almost midnight, time to say good-bye. Last cheers to the success of the project and to its future!
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