Within the project „Praktyka czyni mistrza” / „Practice makes a master” (budget: 102888,00 EUR; no. 2017-1-PL01-KA102-038136) “Transnational mobility of students and graduates, and the vocational training staff” realized from PO WER funds under the framework of Erasmus+ program, Vocational education and trainings section in the date of 29.10.2017 – 11.11.2017 30 students from School Complex no. 3 in Krasnik, Poland took part in vocational trainings in Greece. Students attend II-nd and III-rd class of vocational school and come from different professions: IT technician, vehicle technician and CNC mechanics technician. There were 10 people from each profession participating in the internship. After the trip through Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia participants and two teachers arrived in the hotel Poseidon Palace in Leptokaria, at Olimpic Riviera. The whole group was located in spacious 2-, 3- and 4-people rooms with the view at snow-covered Olimp peaks and vast beaches of Thermaic Gulf.
During a 10-days stay in Greece students became acquainted with the functioning of enterprises, in which they underwent training and carried out professional tasks at different work stations. They participated in organizing workplaces and different activities under the supervision of experienced, Greek employees. They got to know the operation of particular organizational units and procedures. During the internship students from the profession of mechanics technician and vehicle technician had a chance to familiarize with the equipment of garages and companies related to mechanics field. Participants observed technological process of products production, machines designed for laser burning of details, CNC machine tools, carried out the service and repair od vehicles, familiarized with all mending stages of garage-qualified vehicles. Vocational training took place in the company producing door roller blinds, car elevators, Toyota and Citroen services, trucks and tires retreading service, and professional garage. Students learning in the profession of IT technician got to know the procedure concerning wires installation, computer equipment repairing and testing, defects and problems diagnosing, configuration, as well as with software installation according to the customer needs. Participants learned how to maintain computer equipment and how to use network supplies of the company – computer networks, databases, spread sheets and programs concerning the use of telephone/address book.
Vocational trainings enabled students from SC no. 3 in Krasnik to gain new experience, familiarize with operation of companies from particular industry branches in Greece and compare the with the situation of Polish companies. Student developed their professional competences and enabled them to join theoretical knowledge with practice.
After the training students and teachers took advantage of the wide offer concerning spending the free time: touristic trips, games, plays, competitions and animations. The sounds of traditional Greek melodies and moves of Greek folk-band were a great occasion to be carried away by the charm of the moment and try Zorba and a few other national danced during the “Greek night”. On Saturday – November, 4 – the whole group went to Thessaloniki – the city called a princess of Thermaic Gulf presented exposed numerous monuments, as well as Turkish and Byzantine alleys. A day after the group participated in a trip to Meteora, which is a complex of Orthodox monasteries, entered at UNESCO world’s cultural heritage list. These amazing buildings, placed at apparently inaccessible rock peaks are situated in Mountain valley at the North of the Kalambaka city. The name Meteora literally means „rocks hanged in the air”. There are 24 monasteries, among which 6 is available for the tourists – Ajos Nikolaos Anapafsas, Ajos Stefanos, Ajias Triados, Megalo Meteoro, Rusanu and Varlaam. The group visited the Big Meteor and admired the breathtaking views of the neighborhood from a view terrace. Participants made also a stop in icons factory, where they got to know the procedure of their writing.
What is more, the group visited famous places located in the neighborhood. One of them was a castle in Platamonas at the local hill, from where beautiful views of Olimpic Riveria and Olimp massif could be admired. Another stop was Litochoro – local canyon, called playfully (the Greek Zakopane). Participants visited also a local market in Leptokaria – saw and tasted regional products: baklava, loukumi or tzipouro. When speaking with local traders students used English but surprisingly, it soon turned out that communication in Polish was also possible.
The last day of the training, apart from the last tasks, was designed to sum up the internship, do the last shopping and share the impressions. As a bonus, the group went to see the old village of Peleos Panteleimonas. Picturesque landscapes will definitely be remembered by the participants for a long time, and numerous pictures with the snow-covered mountain peaks and Aegean Sea will constitute a proof of unforgettable experience, which a trip to Greece was.
All the training tasks and activities were conducted in nice and friendly atmosphere, adequate to Greek climate. At every corner the participants met kind and helpful people. It was beautiful time of study, work, fun and social relations.