Monday:

​

Finally, it was 14 October, the day we could go to Greece. This morning I stood up round 07.00u and did the last things. Then it was 08.00u and we had to leave to the station, where we had to be at 08.15u. When everybody had arrived, we really had to say goodbye to our parents.

                                       

     

​

Round 08.35u, the train came and finally we were on our way to Greece. In Zwolle, we had to switch trains. Now we were on the train to Amsterdam. We arrived round 10.25u at the airport Schiphol. There we immediately could check in and gave the suitcases away. After that, straight through customs and round 12.00u we could board. At 12.20u, we finally flew away.

​

​

​

We landed at 15.45u, but in Greece, it is one hour later, so it was there already 16.45. We quickly got out the plain and had to go with a bus to the airport. There was a man waiting for us to take us to Aliveri. Everybody was hungry so we took a sandwich on the airport and then, round 17.30u (Greek time) we finally went by bus to Aliveri. During the bus ride, there was a beautiful view.

​

​

​

Here we drove on a bridge and came across a very beautiful island. Round 19.00u, we had a short break at a gas station and round 19.45u we were finally there, where our host families and the Italian students were already waiting for us. Everybody hugged each other and we immediately made a group picture. After that, Rosa (my host) said that we would go to her place. Once there, there was a small room with everything in it. We ate something typical Greek. It was called Gyros and it was very delicious.

 

    

                                               

I had chicken on my sandwich, with chips and some sauce. Eventually the accommodation was not suitable to host a quest and so we agreed to go to her dad’s house on Tuesday evening where we would stay the rest of the week.

 

Tuesday:

 

Today we had to get up at 07.00u. At 07.35u, we left the house, walking to the bus station. The bus came and it was a 5-minute drive to school. Once at school we got a short tour. Then we went to a classroom and got an explanation about this week. After this, the groups were announced. With your group, you did a workshop. We had the workshop ‘making soap’. It was nice but we could not do much so we were all a bit waiting. We were, however, allowed to pour the soap into the shapes. That was fun.

 

 

 

After making soap, we had a break and we went outside to play soccer. Then the bus came and we drove to a place where we would lunch with each other. When we got off the bus there was a beautiful sea and there were boats. Of course, we made beautiful pictures off it.

 

 

 

Then we walked to the restaurant where everybody got a gyros sandwich. Exactly what I at Monday evening so it was a delicious lunch. After the lunch, we were allowed to look around at the beaches and so on. At 14.30u, the bus came again and brought us to some sort of spinach factory and bakery.

 

 

 

They showed us how to make some sort of spinach pie. And this is the result……  

Then the bus came and we had to go back. When we got back in Aliveri round 17.30u, Rosa and I went home to collect our things to go to her father’s house. He came round 20.30u. I went into my room and unpacked my stuff. Then I got ready for bed and got to sleep round 22.00u. I was very tired from the day before and the alarm clock would go off at 05.30u, the next morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday:

 

In the morning, the alarm clock did go off at 05.30u. I got ready and around 06.00u, Rosa and I were ready for breakfast, so we did. When it was 06.30u, we would leave the house. The bus arrived at 06.45u, and then we drove off. By car, it would take you a half hour but the bus was driving slower and had to stop many times for other people so it took an hour. Today we did not had to meet at school, but at the place where we arrived on Monday evening in Aliveri. We arrived at the place round 08.15u and we almost left immediately by bus. We came at an archaeological museum round 08.30u. There we had to split up in two groups. Our group began outside and we got an explanation about how old it all was and why it was made. Then we had to go inside and the guide explained us about the statues that were standing there.

 

  

 

Afterwards we got a paper with questions about the museum, which we had to fill and hand in. Round 11.00u, we were ready and sat in the bus towards the next destination. There we were round 11.30u. We would walk for 1,5 hour with a guide through a forest but he got sick so we walked now on our own. You could choose to walk over the road or to walk through the forest over stones and water. I choose with the other Dutch students to go through the forest.

 

 

When we were done with walking, we went with the bus to a restaurant for something to eat. We arrived at 13.30u and then we ate.

 

 

 

This is typical Greek and it was very delicious. After dinner we got in the bus round 15,30u to go to a lecture about the ebb and flow off the sea. We arrived at 16.00u. I found the lecture a bit boring, but it was quite impressive how the man explained everything. This all took about an hour.

 

        

 

After the lecture, we had some free time and everybody did something for himself or herself. At 18.00u, we would go with the bus again. It took about an hour to get back. At 19.00u, we arrived at school, where Rosa’s father was already waiting, to pick us up and take us home. When we got home, we had dinner. We had chicken, minced meat with cheese in it and fries. Round 23.00u, I went to sleep because the next morning the alarm clock would go off early again.

 

Thursday:

 

Today we had to get up again at 05.30u. We got ready and had some breakfast. At 06.30u we left the house. Same time as yesterday the bus would arrive. Today we did had to go to school, because in the morning we had to work on the project. Round 08.30u we were at school and we had to sit down at a table. We had to start with a list with pictures of logos on it and a list with descriptions. And we had to match them. Then we got a link on our phones and there we had to answer some questions, like what do you already know about Athene? We also got a quiz. Then we got a list with eight choices to think off activities for companies. My group had to find out an activity for nearby the sea. You also had to find out from which age it was and what the costs where. We thought about canoeing. We also had to hold a short presentation about it. At the end, we got our soap, that we made on Tuesday and our certificate.

 

 

 

It was around 12.00u and we went by bus to an organic farm. There was a man who explained us some things, like having lemongrass and when you break the stem, you could smell the scents. After that, we went for lunch. We would be eating organic, but they had forgotten we came, so they had to get something at the last minute. Now we ate fries and piece of meat on a stick. After lunch, it was round 14.30u, we went by bus to the next activity. We now went to a figs factory. When we arrived and walked inside we already saw people making figs. That was very interesting to see.

 

 

 

In two groups, we got the explanation about the figs. The explanation was about what you can do with figs. At the end, you could buy some figs. After this, we went back to school. Because we would go out in Aliveri with all the other students that night, it wasn’t handy to go to Rosa’s dad, so we stayed at her mother’s house. When we arrived, we ordered pizza. Then we got ready and round 20.30u, we walked to the cafe where we would go out. Round 23.00u, Rosa said we had to go home because the next day would be very busy we would go to Athene. Rosa’s mum picked us up and drove us to her dad’s house. When we arrived I immediately got to sleep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

Friday:

 

Today was the day we would go to Athene. The alarm clock went of at 05.30u again. I had collect my stuff, brushed my teeth and then we left at 06.30u. Today we didn’t had to school, but to another collection point. The bus came at 08.15u and we left at 08.30u. We arrived in Athene at 11.45u. Then we had to walk to the museum, where we were round 12.00u. In front of the museum we took some group pictures.

 

 

 

In the museum we first looked around, because we had to wait for the guide. We saw very nice artworks.

 

 

 

When the guide arrived we started on the first floor and she told us about the statues and paintings we came across. I didn’t find it very interesting so luckily it didn’t take long.

On the second floor you could see the Acropolis outside. That was very beautiful.

 

 

We were done round 13.00u at the museum and then we walked to the Acropolis. Once at the Acropolis it was very nice. There was also a guide, who told us about the Acropolis, like why it was made and how long it had taken. That was very interesting. Of course there had to be a picture taken. 

 

 

 

 

Round 14.00u we had some free time to walk through the city. You had to be back at 16.00u. We began walking with all Dutch students and went to a souvenirs shop. For my mum I bought two fridge magnets. 1 from Athene and 1 from the Acropolis. Hanna and I went shopping. We also had €5,-, given by Mr. Oosting for lunch. We went for the Mc Donald’s. Then everybody was gathered and we left Athene. We had a lot of fun in the bus. When we just sat down in the bus, we still could see the Acropolis laying there very beautiful.

 

 

 

When we nearly there, we stopped to eat an ice cream. At our final destination, Rosa’s dad picked us up. We went for diner to Rosa her grandmother. There we had a delicious pizza and spaghetti.

                       

 

 

After dinner we went home, I got ready for bed and went to sleep at 23.00u. The next morning the alarm clock wouldn’t go off at 05.30u. We had to be at the collection point at 09.00u. Therefore, we were able to sleep late.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday

 

Today is the last day in Aliveri and I find it very sad, because it is very fun and cosy with everybody and the activities are also very fun. This morning the alarm clock didn’t went off at 05.30u, but at 07,30u! Round 08.00u, Rosa’s mum picked us up and brought us to her house in Aliveri. There we would spent the last night so I had packed my suitcase already. We were there at 08.30u, but now we could put away our things. At 08.50u, we got in the car again and went to the collectors’ spot. We would go to a horse club, but once in the bus, one of the Greek teachers was called. They hadn’t had enough staff to welcome us, therefore we couldn’t come. The Greek teachers had to think of something else now. They planned to go to a small beach. Where we sat down at a restaurant there.

 

 

 

Round 13.00u, we were back at the collectors’ spot. In the afternoon from 13.00u-19.00u, we had free time to spend with our host families, but everybody liked the idea to go for a swim at the beach where we were on Tuesday. It was very hot, so we immediately went for a swim in the sea. We had a great time. At 16.00u, everybody had to go home to get ready for the farewell party. We got changed and put make-up on and left round 19.00u. The farewell party was at the same restaurant where we went for a swim this afternoon. After a while, we could take our own food. It was very delicious. There were sandwiches, pizzas, fries, some kind of chicken nuggets and all sorts of meat. Hanna and I went for a walk over the beach after dinner and had a nice chat. After a while, we all had to say goodbye to each other. We made pictures with each other and of course, I made a picture with my host Rosa on the beautiful beach. J

 

 

 

Then it was 23.00u and the teachers went home, but we stayed until 00.00u.  Then there was Rosa’s mum to pick us up, so I really had to say goodbye. I hugged everybody and then we left. When we got home I immediately went to sleep. We got to stay in bed longer the next morning because we had to be at 12.00u at the gathering spot. I had a very good and fun last night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday:

 

Today I had set the alarm clock at 10.30u. I got out of bed and packed my suitcase with the final things. Then it was really time to go. Round 12.00u, came at the gathering place and there I hugged everybody and sad goodbye to everyone.

 

 

 

Now it was really time to go. We got in the bus that would take us to the airport and then it was really over. L Round 14.30u, we were on the airport. Everybody went to the toilet and then we had to check-in. After that, we walked to the right gate. There we had to wait until 17.00u, so we got a hot meal from Mr Oosting. I had some sort of pasta with meat and orange jus. That was very delicious.

 

 

 

After dinner, we went back to the gate and had a chat and waiter until we could board. Round 17.00u, we went boarding and at 17.30u, we went flying. At the half of the flight, we also got something to eat and drink. We got a pizza slice and you could choose your own drink. It was very good.

 

 

 

Round 20.00u (Dutch time), we landed at Schiphol. We quickly left the airplane and went to collect the suitcases. That didn’t take long so after that we went to the train. Mr Oosting said goodbye to us at the train station, because he went to Curacao on holiday. It was round 20.40u and the first train would arrive at 21.04u, so we took that one.  Round 22.15u we were in Zwolle, there we had to switch trains. At 22.30u, we left from Zwolle to Hoogeveen. At about 23.00u we arrived in Hoogeveen. And there were all our parents. I was very glad to see my mum, Steph father and little sister again, but I missed Greece already. At the train station, we say goodbye to each other and then everybody did go home with his or her own family. I had a very fun week and I find it very sad that the exchangeses are over now!