The 8 the Day of the Meeting: Evaluation and Farewell

The 7th Day of the Meeting: Tasting and Seeing

Today we had a flour dishes day. In the morning we started with the presentations about flour dishes and sweet pastries in Lithuania. Our German friends were more interested in desserts. After each presentation we had a short discussion about similarities between Lithuanian and German cuisine. German people also cook dumplings (only with different fillings), pancakes and all types of desserts. Later we had a practical work in which we cooked three kinds of dumplings. Most of us liked mashed potato and China style dumplings. After lunch we went to see how a “tree cake” (or baumkuchen) is made.

                                                                                                            Viktorija Kumpikaitė

After familiarising with Lithuanian flour dishes and having tasted our own made dumplings we went to STAKLIŠKĖS. There we had an educational activity about how the tree-cake ( šakotis) is baked, decorated and prepared for sale.  As we know the Llithuanian tree-cake is a variant of the German baumkuchen. We bought a few for ourself and for gifts. Next  we headed for one of the most famous Lithuanian geological monuments – the Devil's den, in Trakai district. There we admired a special natural monument of the Lithuanian forest and the stunning views. Later, we went to one of the most famous Lithuanian resort towns - Birštonas. We  walked around this exclusive town admiring the beautiful surroundings. We visited the mineral water source and informed the Germans about its healing properties. We also saw one of the most famous Lithuanian writers, the author of the first Lithuanian book Mažvydas‘  sculpture, climbed  the Birštonas mound (Vytautas Hill) and admired the Nemunas and the nature around us. Then we headed for Birštonas‘  main square and after some walking we finished our seventh day and with wonderful memories went back home.                                                                 

Paulina Jakučionytė

 

The 6th Day of the Meeting: Family Day

On Sunday morning, leaving the hotel we went to the shopping centre Mega to see one of the largest aquariums in Europe. After that we went to Kaunas Castle. We visited the oldest church in Kaunas, saw John Paul 2‘s monument and the embankment. Then we drove to Akropolis for lunch. Where we met other girls. I invited the German guest to my homewhere we watched an adventurous movie. After drinking tea and eating a cake we went back to the hotel.

                                                       Goda Šimkutė







We spent the Family day in a memoriable way. We took my German friend at the hotel and went home, where we spent time talking and tasting Lithuanian dishes. After lunch we drove to Juniper Valley. There we admired the beautiful Lithuanian nature and talked about everything. Later we went to the shopping and entertainment center MEGA. There we admired one of the most impressive and largest aquariums in Lithuania, saw The Human Body Exhibition  and went to a movie. During this day we consolidated our friendship got to know each other closer.                                      Paulina Jakučionytė










 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kaunas panorama from Aleksotas hill

 

Sunday was the day when teachers could relax and students could spend time with their families and a German guest. Our family guest was Annalena. Together we watched Kaunas panorama from Aleksotas viewpoint. It was very windy, so, without waiting too long, we went to devils - to the Devil museum, where we were frightened by various devils in every corner.,, Terrified" we ran away to the shopping centre Mega, where we regained breath and got new energy at a dinner table. In the shopping centre we met our friends and took the chance to have a look into two worlds: cinema and the depths of the human anatomy. Finally we returned to our real  world filled with impressions and took the guest back to the hotel.                       Erika Tūgaudytė
    

                      Gabija and Janna did the sights of Kaunas and visited Rumšiškės.
                                                                                       

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The 5th Day of the Meeting: Seeing and Tasting

Today our bus moved from Kaunas  towards Trakai. It was a truly memorable and enjoyable trip. On our way we sang songs, played funny games and, of course,  communicated with each other to strengthen our friendship.
In Trakai we were amazed to see views of the Castle and the lake and the antiquity of the town. As soon as we got off the bus we headed off towards the castle. Trakai is well known for Karaims and their traditional dish kybyn.  We had an educational program how to cook  it in the old kybyn restaurant built in the 18th century. After tasting kybyns in the restaurant, we headed for the Lithuanian capital and the largest city Vilnius, where we visited a lot of places in the Old Town. We climbed the Gediminas Castle, did the sights of the Cathedral and the City Hall, the President‘s residence  and the Gates of Dawn. However, a cozy and luxurious dinner in a nice restaurant Ida Basar located almost in the heart of Vilnius made the biggest impression on us. It is not only a restaurant, it houses the only museum of culinary heritage of Lithuania. Despite the bad weather it was still a day to remember.
                                                                                                                                        Rasa Krukaitė

The 4th day of the meeting: Learning, Tasting and ...Celebrating

In the morning we started  with the presentation of Lithuanian potato dishes. For the German  people it was interesting to know about cepelinai, Semogitian pancakes or potato sausvages. Then we spoke about the influence of the food of cultural minorities‘ in Lithuania on the Lithuanian cuisine. Our German guests had heard neither about kybyns nor cheburekki. Then our friends for the first time cooked  zeppelins with us and tasted them. We were surprised that they liked them pretty much.

Later we went to Pyplių farm to learn to bake traditional Lithuanian bread. Not only did we learn to make the bread, but also heard a wide variety of stories about it. We also saw some authentic ancient tools, such as antique irons, oil lamps, mills...  But the most pleasant thing was the smell of the bread that we baked. We couldn‘t help eating it hot though we were told that it‘s not very good for our stomach. Besides, there was no time to wait till it cools as we had to go back to school to prepare for the Cultural  party in the evening.                                                                       Goda Šimkutė

 

The Cultural party was one of the most memorable events of March 20^th. It all started very simply: students sat down in the school hall and listened to our choral songs, watched three 11^th graders’ dances and listened to two students’ from progymnasium instrumental performance. Later our German guests made a surprise for us and sang a very nice German song. Then their teacher Adam sang one more beautiful song in English. There was a storm of applause after that.

During the second part of the party three professional folklore specialists conducted the event in Lithuanian folk theme. We were very tired from various circles and games, but had real fun there. When we already thought that the celebration was slowly coming to the end, the eleventh form students turned on some loud music and started to invite everyone to dance. Although it seemed we had no strength, but managed to get up from the chairs and move again. We had to open the hall windows and the doors because it was incredibly hot. Everyone enjoyed the evening party!

  Akvilė Čepurnaitė

The 3rd Day of the Meeting: Seeing and Tasting

Today, students group of our school and the delegation, were in Anykščiai. We visited a small village Niuroniai in which we could visit the Horse museum and try horse riding. Later we spent an interesting time learning to decorate eggs, like our forefathers did. For us it was a routine activity before Easter, but for our friends from Germany a  possibility to get acquainted with the Lithuanian cultural traditions. After the eggs were decorated, we could start rolling eggs game. For us such a common game, aroused great interest for  our friends, so we tried to describe game rules, remembered various cheerful stories. After the numerous activities, we felt  hungry and could have dinner like our forefathers  dined at Easter. In the evening tired but full of impressions we returned home.                                                                                                                                    Gabija

SEEING AND TASTING CREATIVELY

A Seminar on Lithuanian Cuisine

March 17-24, 2015

Day	Time	Learning Activities	Project work
Tuesday, March 17	16.30	Arrival (meeting). Travel to the hotel.
	17.00- 18.00	Settling in.
	18.00- 20.00	Kaunas in the evening. The old town.
Wednesday, March 18	8.55- 10.00	Meeting at the school. Getting acquaintant with the school and the people involved in the Project.
	10.10- 10.50	·         Introductory course on Lithuanian culinary. The traditonal cuisine of Lithuanian regions. ·         Lithuanian Easter dishes.
	11.00- 13.00	Workshop: cooking doughnuts and ear-like crackers.	Project group meeting
	13.00- 14.00	Traditional Lithuanian cold snacks: presentation and tasting (lunch).
	14.45- 19.00	A trip to Kaunas town. Guided tour on foot. The town panorama. Shopping and leisure centre Akropolis
Thursday, March 19	8.30- 9.00	Visit to Culture, Education and Sports Department of Kaunas Region.
	9.00- 15.00	Departure to Anyksciai. Workshop: Colouring Easter eggs techniques. Other Easter dishes. Lunch.
	15.00- 19.00	A short tour of Anyksciai. Return to Kaunas.
Friday, March 20	8.55- 9.50	·         Lithuanian potato dishes. ·         Lithanian bread. ·         The influence of other cultures and nationalities on Lithuanian cuisine. Other  popular foods of cultural minorities of Lithuania.
	10.00- 12.30	Workshop: cooking  ‚cepelinai‘, grated potato soup.	Project group meeting
	12.30- 13.30	Laying the table. Presentation. Tasting (lunch).
	13.30- 16.00	Departure to Pypliai (Kaunas region). Workshop: baking Lithuanian bread.
	16.00- 16.30	Return to Kaunas.
	18.00- 20.00	Cultural party at the school.
Saturday, March 21	8.00- 12.00	Travel to Trakai. Workshop: cooking ‚kibinai‘ .
	12.15- 15.00	Travel to Vilnius. Doing the sights of the city.
	15.00- 16.30	Educational program in the restaurant Idabasar ,  the Museum of Culinary Heritage of Lithuania. Dinner.
	16.30-18.00	Doing the sights of the city.
	18.00- 19.30	Return to Kaunas.
Sunday, March 22	9.00- 20.00	Family Day. Students are ‘adopted‘ by Lithuanian families. Teachers- free time.
	17.00- 19.00?	German and Lithuanian teachers‘ dinner at SENIEJI RUSIAI restaurant in Kaunas (34 Vilniaus str.)
Monday,  March 23	8.55- 9.20	Lithuanian flour dishes.
	9.20- 11.30	Workshop: dumplings (with different fillings). Sorrel soup.	Project group meeting
	11.30- 12.00	Laying the table. Presentation. Tasting (lunch)
	12.00- 14.00	Departure to Stakliskes. Educational program: baking  a ‘tree‘ cake‘ (Baumkuchen).
	15.00- 19.00	A short tour of the resort town Birštonas. Return to Kaunas.
Tuesday, March 24	10.30- 11.50	Work in (mixed) groups: The best moments of the meeting.	Project evaluation
	12.10- 12.55	Work presentations. Project evaluation. Final ‘tips‘.
	13.05- 14.00	Lunch.
	14.00	Farewell- departure to the airport.

 

The 1st and the 2nd Days of the Meeting: Greeting, Tasting and Seeing

We spent the first long awaited day with guests from Germany. We familiarized with each other, shared our smiles and warmness in the gymnasium's corridors, during the cooking, beside the Eternal fire credence, while we were going up on a  funicular and even on the roof of Christ's Resurrection church.We tried out our strength not only during kneading process in the kitchen, but in a bowling alley too. It was the day when we boosted so much positive energy and made friends. 
                                                     Erika Tūgaudytė