Participation countries: Turkiye, Norway, Germany, Austria and Greece (online)

After only five days spent with these wonderful people we’ve made an amazing connection and an unbreakable bond. We believe that Erasmus brought all of our groups, especially Austria and Turkiye, so much closer than we could’ve imagined. We miss our new made friends dearly and hope to see them sometime soon. We are all so thankful that the EU has made this trip possible, because without we could’ve never made these extraordinary experiences. (Betül, 6e)

After their performance, it was our turn to introduce ourselves and our country. The German students then shared information about Cologne and Carnival, followed by the Norwegian students, who introduced us to their hometown of Bergen.

 After every country had introduced themselves, we were given a tour of the school and had the opportunity to explore the specialized facilities of the vocational lyceum. First we visited the Health and Beauty Laboratories and then we got a tour of the computer Laboratories. These visits provided us with valuable insights into the hands-on education offered there. The school has a total number of about 450 students and about 40 teachers.

In the afternoon, we visited Knossos, a major center of Minoan civilization known for its connection to the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. Knossos is a Bronze Age archaeological site, located on the outskirts of Heraklion, it remains a popular tourist destination and it is considered by many to be the oldest city in Europe. It was incredibly fascinating, but after a long day, we finally returned to our hotel. (Laura, 8e)

We learnt that aquaponics is like a mini-ecosystem where fish and plants help each other grow. Here's how it works: fish live in a tank, and as they eat, they produce waste. This waste is full of nutrients, but too much of it can make the water dirty. The dirty water from the fish tank is pumped to a plant bed, where plants are growing without soil (just their roots in the water). The plants soak up the nutrients from the fish waste to grow. As the plants absorb the nutrients, they clean the water, which is then pumped back into the fish tank, giving the fish clean water. So, the fish help feed the plants, and the plants help clean the water for the fish. It's a cycle that makes it easier to grow both fish and plants together, using less water and space compared to traditional farming. And other alternative for countries with water shortage is hydroponics, a way of growing plants without using soil. Instead of planting in dirt, the roots of the plants are placed in water or another material (like sand or pebbles) that holds them up. The key part is that the water contains all the nutrients the plants need to grow.

After the theoretical part, we students were asked to lend a hand and remove the soil from the lettuce plants, put them in a pot with a sponge and place them in the prefabricated device .So the plants sit in water where nutrients are added to the water to feed the plants, giving them everything they need to grow strong and healthy. The plants roots absorb the water and nutrients directly, which makes them grow faster because they don’t have to search through the soil. We are looking forward to see our results.

After our workshop the Austrian group interviewed the Greek, German and Norwegian students on the impact of mass tourism and sustainability on Crete for a video that will be produced at the end of or mobility. After interviewing the students we left the school and went for a city walk with a few Greek teachers and students who gave us a guided tour of the city.

We came across many interesting statues and buildings like the monument of Erotokritos and Aretousa. Their legend symbolizes an important part of Greek culture and identity and was later set to music. The fountain of Morosini consists of four lions which symbolize the power of the Venetian Republic. The impressive Venetian Loggia is located in the heart of Heraklion town, near the Morisini Lions Fountain and the church of Agios Titus. It is considered one of the most elegant Venetian constructions on the entire island and it has now been renovated, housing the Town Hall of Heraklion. The Cathedral of Saint Titus is an orthodox church in the city of Heraklion, Crete, dedicated to Saint Titus. The current church was built in 1869 as the Yeni Cami after the previous building was destroyed by the earthquake of 1856. It used to be a jail and a fortress back in the day. Eleftedios Venizelos was a Cretan Greek statesman and prominent leader of the Greek national liberation movement. As leader of the Liberal Party, he held office as prime minister of Greece for over 12 years, spanning eight terms between 1910 and 1933. He was however defeated in the 1920 General Election, which contributed to the eventual Greek defeat in the Greece-Turkish War (1919-1922).

In the evening the other students Norway and Germany visited our hotel to play board games. It was a fun activity and we got the opportunity to get to know each other better. (Mustafa und Harkirat, 6e)

They had a big collection of antiquities from all over Crete`s long history spanning from the Bronze Age to the Ottoman Empire. 

After we had finished looking through the exhibits we got on the bus to head to our next stop the ancient ruins of the Minoan Palace of Phaistos. One of the Greek teachers gave us a guided tour of the fascinating site. We spent about an hour observing the rocks and stones that remained of the palace before we headed to our last stop for the day Matala Beach. The cliffs by the beach had a system of caves carved into them The Matala Beach Caves. The Matala Beach Caves are in Crete, the place that was home to hippies in the late 1960’s through early 1970’s. After learning about the caves history we were free to relax and enjoy the beach. At 4:30 we got on the bus to head back to Heraklion, because it was the last evening we decided to have a final dinner with the Germans from Cologne. After dinner we headed back to the hotel where we played some card games with the Germans and one of the Greek students that had come to visit us before we left. After a long day we all headed up to bed to go to sleep before our last day in Crete. (Max, 8e)

After this intensive work, it was time for a break. During the break, we went into the town of Bensberg. It was nice to spend some time outside of school and stroll through the town.

Back at school, we then got hands-on with vegan recipes. Together, we baked various vegan treats:

   •       Vegan vanilla cookies

   •       Vegan marzipan cookies

   •       Vegan gingerbread and more.

Baking was not only fun, but it also showed us that vegan food can be just as tasty and diverse as other dishes.

After the baking session, we moved on to the Christmas market. We spent some time there before finally going to Greta’s house (one of our hosts). At her place, we played a game of Werewolf together. It was a great opportunity to get to know each other better.

At the end of the day, we all went home – tired but satisfied. It was an exciting and varied day that gave us many new insights into the topics of nutrition and veganism. (Fatima, 7e)

While we were having a lot of fun, we prepared four total dishes. For starters Greek feta salad, for the main dish chickpea soup with a side of roasted vegetables and lastly vegan apple crumble for dessert. We sat down, had a fun conversation and of course enjoyed the vegan, healthy sustainable and delicious food we had just made. Afterwards we had a break followed by meeting in Cologne at the Christmas market, where we could freely explore and enjoy the German traditions on the condition of meeting again in front of the concert building. After walking around a bit my friends and I found a really nice Ramen shop where we enjoyed a nice warm meal. At half past six we met as planned and went to watch the concert. The concert was related to Christmas and was interactive. It was truly spectacular and nothing short of breathtaking. Afterwards my host invited others to come to our house where we watched a funny documentary and had a good laugh. Then we said our goodbyes, and everybody went to sleep. (Levon, 7e)

Next, it was our turn to present our school. We had prepared a brief presentation about life back home, and it felt great to share insights about our origins and our school system. The Norwegians seemed genuinely interested and had plenty of questions, which made the whole thing really fun. Afterward, we had lunch together in the school cafeteria. It was a chill atmosphere, and we started to have some interesting conversations—most people were curious about what we thought of Norway so far (spoiler: it’s stunning!).

In the afternoon, the real adventure began: the cabin trip! We took a bus through the most amazing snowy landscapes to a cozy cabin in the mountains. Once we arrived at Kvamskogen, a mountain plateau in the Hardanger region that contains several ski resorts, and more than 1700 cabins, we were divided into four international groups. Our task was to observe and document everything about sustainability throughout the week for our final presentation on Friday. Afterwards, we got straight into cooking together. We made tacos—apparently a Norwegian tradition for these kinds of gatherings. It was so much fun preparing everything as a group and then sitting down to eat and chat.

But, my highlight of the day came later: playing hide and seek in the snow, the Norwegian way! It was dark, the snow was everywhere, and it made the whole game so much more thrilling. We were running around, trying to find each other, and laughing so hard that we completely forgot about the cold. It was a unique experience that I’ll never forget.

After all the excitement, we returned to the warm cabin, where we played a few more games to wind down. It was such a great vibe, and it already felt like we’d known each other forever, even though it was just the first day. All in all, Monday was the perfect start to our Erasmus adventure. We laughed, made new friends, and had so many amazing experiences—and this was just the beginning! (Bea, 7E)

Once we finished sledding, we were driven back to the cabin, where a bonfire was set up and sausages were grilled. After our meal, we split into our designated groups to tackle various cleaning tasks around the cabin. Group one was responsible for cleaning the kitchen, which included vacuuming and mopping the floor. Group two took care of the living room, ensuring it was tidy and vacuumed. Group three focused on the bathrooms, cleaning the sinks and toilets while also vacuuming the surrounding area. Lastly, group four cleaned the bedrooms and took out all the trash which was clearly separated in organic waste, paper and plastic.

After completing our chores, we had some free time to play cards, relax, and chat with our newfound friends. When the time came, we packed our backpacks and prepared for the journey back to Bergen.

The bus ride lasted about an hour, and upon arriving at the Åsane Terminal, we all went back to our host families. It was a fun and eventful day, filled with both activities and relaxation. (Magda, 7E)

Continuing onwards, we went to the lake on top of the mountain, where we enjoyed hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls, called kanelbolle. The nature school offered various activities for kids. We received our tasks for the day. We were split up into two groups and set off to our stations. My group began by making spinning toys out of old Christmas trees. After that, we learned how to cut wood and make a fire. We received an introduction on how to arrange the wood so that the fire wouldn’t go out immediately and so we could place a pot on top.

Once we understood the basics, we got to work cutting. Two members of our team focused on making small splinters, while one person used an axe to chop the larger pieces of wood. After preparing everything we needed, we successfully built our fire.

After these outdoor activities, we returned home to rest before meeting at the ice skating rink. Although the blades of our skates were quite dull, the ice was fantastic for skating. After a while, it was time for our dinner reservation in the city center. Since we were at an Italian restaurant, we enjoyed pizza and pasta while having fun chatting with each other. A bit shocked by the prices, we returned home and quickly fell asleep, smiles on our faces as the exhaustion of the day caught up with us. (Tara, 7E)

After the tour, we had a break, and all the students split into smaller groups to grab a bite to eat. Unfortunately, my friends and I couldn’t finish our meal because we had to catch a tram to the Bergen Science Centre VilVite. Once we arrived, we were divided into four groups and worked on different sustainable tasks that were both interesting and educational. Following the fair, we had the opportunity to experience something unique—the 3 km long Fyllingsdal tunnel designed specifically for cycling, walking, and other sustainable forms of transportation. Walking through it was an exciting experience and truly highlighted Bergen’s commitment on eco-friendly infrastructure.

In the evening, we returned to our host families for a short break before meeting up again for a fun bowling night. It was a fantastic way to end the day, and we all had a fantastic time together. (Julia, 7E)

Trash in the streets, rats run free,

Paper cups floating in the sea.

Bergen can shine, but we gotta change,

Make the world better—rearrange!

Verse 1)

Early morning, catch the ride,

Bus 925, smooth and wide.

Rolling to Voss, the mountains high,

Fresh air, clear sky—man, that’s the vibe.

Public transport, less CO₂,

Hop on, ride smart, that’s what we do!

(Bridge)

Sort that waste, keep it tight,

Bins not streets—let’s do it right.

Less pollution, fresher air,

A greener Bergen, if we care.

(Verse 2)

Fløyen’s where we started the day,

Built a fire, watched it sway.

Nature’s beauty, took our breath,

We made top spinners for the earth’s health.

Reused toys, did our part,

Turning waste into art, that's smart.

(Chorus)

Trash in the streets, rats run free,

Paper cups floating in the sea.

Bergen can shine, but we gotta change,

Make the world better—rearrange!

(Verse 3)

From Vilvite, we rode the bicycle round,

Learning sustainability where it's found.

Had a blast at a birthday bash,

Talked green goals while the candles flashed.

One step at a time, change isn’t far,

Sustainability’s our guiding star.

(Bridge)

Sort that waste, keep it tight,

Bins not streets—let’s do it right.

Less pollution, fresher air,

A greener Bergen, if we care.

(Verse 4)

Down to Bergen, the city we roam,

The bicycle tunnel, it feels like home.

Pedal through, lights all aglow,

No fumes, no noise, just the wind's flow.

This city’s got potential, let’s rise and thrive,

With each bike ride, we keep it alive.

(Verse 5)

Pedal hard, feel the spin,

Through Fyllingsdalen, let the ride begin.

Bicycle tunnel, longest, fast,

No fumes, no gas, just air so vast.

Two wheels better, no traffic fight,

Sustainable living, feels so right!

(Chorus)

Trash in the streets, rats run free,

Paper cups floating in the sea.

Bergen can shine, but we gotta change,

Make the world better—rearrange!

(Chorus)

Trash in the streets, rats run free,

Paper cups floating in the sea.

Bergen can shine, but we gotta change,

Make the world better—rearrange!

The sun glows

The river flows

The cold wind blows

The ice melts

The trash smells

The grass dies

The smog lies

Fix it fast

Or we won't last