Jaroslaw, Poland (June 2023)

Our exchange began with our arrival at Katowice Airport, where we were welcomed by our hosts. After we were all together, we enjoyed a shared lunch at McDonald's in Oświęcim before embarking on a deeply moving experience to Auschwitz-Birkenau. The tour lasted approximately 3.5 hours and left us reflective. In the evening, we reached our hotel, the "Express Hotel" in Krakow, and enjoyed a shared dinner.

The next day started with a hearty breakfast, followed by a sightseeing tour of Krakow. We visited landmarks such as Wawel, the Sukiennice, Kosciol Mariacki, and Rynek. We spent our lunchtime at Krakow's main square before heading to the fascinating Wieliczka Salt Mine. In the evening, we returned to Jaroslaw/Surochow.

Monday began with a warm welcome ceremony at the school in Jaroslaw, followed by an extensive school tour. After a short coffee break, we engaged in icebreaker activities and enjoyed lunch at the school. The afternoon was creatively spent making crafts from recycled materials and painting glass. In the evening, we had free time to explore Jarosław.

On this day, we took a trip to the Solina Dam, where we toured the dam, took a cable car ride, and went on a boat trip. After lunch, we returned to Jaroslaw.

Wednesday started with an intensive working phase where we delved into the topic of smog and its ecological impacts. We also discussed how we can change our lifestyles to prevent and reduce environmental issues like smog and pollution. After a coffee break and lunch, we returned to the school. In the evening, we enjoyed dinner and participated in the school disco, the "8th Graders' Prom." Late at night, we returned to Jaroslaw.

Our last day began with another working phase where we constructed wind turbines. After a morning coffee break and lunch, it was time for the certificate presentation and the farewell ceremony.

Overall, the Erasmus+ exchange in Poland was an unforgettable experience for us, the German delegation. We had the opportunity not only to gain cultural insights but also to deepen our knowledge of environmental protection and sustainability. We are grateful for the opportunity to have participated in this program and are committed to bringing the knowledge and experiences gained back to our homeland. This week in Poland will undoubtedly stay in our memories and accompany us for a long time.