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Jon Kerr
29 July 2009

Teams meet up at Hazel Grove and say goodbye

Last night we eventually got to meet up together. The two GSE teams from Districts 1050 and 2481 met up at the Deanwater Hotel in Woodford. It felt wonderful to be together for an evening after following the blog. Rtn Zacharias, Panos and Vasilis presented an illustrated talk to tell us about the RC of Kerkyra, and the towns of Ioannina and Kozani.

Our team reported on our time in D2481. It was an emotional evening for all of us. We have been ambassadors for D1050. This was a privilege and it has been a wonderful journey.

There were 65 people in the audience and representatives from many clubs in our District. We told them how much we had learned from the GSE experience. We are pleased and proud of what we have achieved. The exchange has made our dreams real. We have enjoyed it, we have learned from it, we have been changed by it and we are grateful to Rotarians in both districts for the opportunities which it gave us.

Thank you to everyone in D2481 for making our exchange so special. We will never forget your kindness to us and your hospitality in each club that we visited.

We will tell the Rotarians about our exchange and we will remember our time with you. It has
helped us in our work and it has left us with many happy memories.

We have been asked to visit a number of clubs in our District to tell the Rotarians about our exchange. We wish the team from D2481 good luck in their remaining days here and hope that they will feel as much pleasure from their visit as we have felt from ours.

Goodbye from us all and thank you for everything.

Rtn Ian Johnson
Becky Cundy
Jon Kerr
Rich Hambleton

GSE Team D 1050 2008-2009

Day 28 - Arrival Home

We were met on arrival at Manchester by DG Ken Boylett and Rtn Derek Newman. We have not slept as we travelled through the night. It is always good to get home safely and we were pleased to be met by our friends and families too. How did we manage to carry all this luggage?

We are looking forward to some time at home before returning to normal routines. Are we surprised to find Manchester under cloud and heavy rain by midday? No, some things do not change.

We plan to meet up with the Team from 2481 this Thursday at the Hazel Grove Club. So watch this space.

Day 25 and Day 26 Vocational visit (Rich)

Maria Theodoridou

May 14th was spent at the offices of Margaropoulos and Associates of 61 Nikis Avenue, Thesssaloniki. These offices are located right on the harbour front with an amazing view of the sea. I was shown around these busy offices by associate solicitor Maria Theodoridou.

The business is owned by Nikolaos Margaropoulos who told me about the type of work the practice undertakes and the structure of the business. The business has a further branch in Athens and strong links with Italy. After, I was taken to the main civil/criminal combined court by Maria. We then went over the road and entered the Administration Court and watched a hearing taking place. After, we visited the land registry and looked at the deeds to properties in Greece.

Nikolaos Margaropoulos

On the 15th May I had an early start of 8.15am. I met with Maria again and returned to court. I was taken aback at how busy the court was. I had never seen so many Lawyers! Maria was representing a client on a criminal matter, and I was allowed to stand right up front with the judge. After, with temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius plus, I had an exhausting time trailing Maria around the huge court building as she went about lodging an appeal. The appeal meant three hours of lining up at windows to pay issue fees, photocopying documents, paying representation fees and getting to see a judge to sign papers. Maria says she has no need of a Gym , and I can see why! Nikolaos then treated the team and me to a delicious meal at the fashionable restaurant “Kitchen Bar” which has amazing views over the bay. I send my best wishes to Nikolaos and Maria and thank them for their kindness and taking time out of their busy days to explain their jobs and Greek legal process to me in such fine detail.

Day 27 - Good Bye 2481

We cannot believe that this is our last day here. Time for a bit of shopping, a last look at the beautiful city of Thessaloniki and a last Greek meal. Our flight leaves here at 4.45 am in the morning so late night and early taxi back to the airport.

We say goodbye and thank you to all the Rotarians here in Northern Greece. You have made us so welcome. We are sad to leave you but happy with the memories of our time here with you.

If you followed our blog, thanks. We are following the GSE team in Manchester now.

We will update the blog to record our presentation to 1050 and then we hope to save it on disc for our own record of the visit.

Next entries will be from our homes in UK.

Day 26 - Vocational Visit (Jon)

Once again, I spent the morning in the company of the Technical Department of the National Theatre of Northern Greece. I met with the Technical Manager, Stelios and his Assistant, Kostas. Also there was Sofia, the theatre's Public Relations Manager. Between the four of us we talked about the technical elements of their production of King Lear; the way the NTNG "institution" is ran; issues of politics and funding both within the institution and in government; health and safety policies and practices; technological advances in theatre and the working relationship between technicians and other theatre staff.

Kostas, Jon and Stelios
Jon and Sofia

They were keen to ask me questions about an equivalent theatre in the UK so we jumped onto the Internet and I showed them the websites of The Lowry, The Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre (London). I was surprised that they were not aware of these theatres and their initiatives and I have offered to try to establish contacts for them on my return.

The websites for the various theatres are...
National Theatre Northern Greece (Thessaloniki)
National Theatre (London)
Royal Shakespeare Company (Stratford)
The Lowry (Manchester)

The morning concluded with a detailed tour of the National Theatre. On the stage there was a rehearsal in progress of "Trojan Women" which the company is performing outdoors this summer. Kostas and I and another technician, George, made our way through the labyrinth building and I was able to see the hydraulics under the stage; the wings and access spaces; the flies; the gantry; the dressing rooms and the costume department.

Wardrobe display in the foyer
The lighting gantry with the rehearsal visible below

I would like to thank Stelios, Kostas, Sofia and George for their hospitality in the last two days. My visits to their theatre have been the icing on the cake during my stay here and I feel privileged to have met with them and seen their place of work.

__

The team all met up together to say farewell to District Governor Panos and Takis & Theano. We cannot express our sincere thanks greatly enough for everything that they have done for us and for the wonderful way that we have been received and treated across District 2481. Thank you again!

We concluded our daytime schedule by having lunch with members of the Rotary Club of Thessaloniki Panorama. We were grateful to them for seeing us on our final scheduled day and it was a pleasant way to end our contact with the Rotarians here. We have a night and day to ourselves in this fantastic city before we leave for home in the middle of Saturday night.

Team with RC Thessaloniki Panorama

Day 26 - Thessaloniki

We have returned to Hotel Luxembourg after a lunch with RC Thessaloniki Panorama.

This morning has been a final opportunity for vocational experience. Becky has spent the time in Anatolia Primary school, Jon returned to the National theatre and Richard met up with Rtn Nikos and spent a morning in court. Each of them descibed the experience as being fantastic so it completes the programme here on a high note.

Before lunch we have had our final meeting with DG Panos and Rtn Takis. We were pleased that Theano came along too to say goodbye to us. Tomorrow is our last day here. Time to pack our luggage, prepare for the journey home and the return to work.

Saying goodbye to D2481 is difficult because the team would like to stay longer. Jon has been offered a placement with the national theatre and both Becky and Richard are imagining working here in the Greek sunshine.

We wish to record here our thanks and appreciation to DG Panos and the Rotarians of District 2481. We have loved our time here, been treated as friends and learned a great deal. The GSE programme has changed our way of thinking, provided an opportunity to reflect on our own way of life and made dreams real.

Thank you to Rotarians here and in District 1050 for making this possible. Our intention is to continue with our blog and we look forward to sharing our experiences with you when invited to do so.

Day 25 - Vocational Visit (Jon)

I spent four hours in the company of the technical department of the National Theatre of Northern Greece today. I first met the Company Technical Director and his Assistant in a meeting room in the National Theatre, and they shared their design for an outdoor performance of Trojan Women with me. We then relocated to the Royal Theatre Thessaloniki which is just opposite. I watched a matinee performance of a children’s show called “Pirate In Love” and then was privileged to be invited onto the stage to assist with the turnaround for the evening performance of “King Lear”. I spoke to members of the crew responsible for set, stage hydraulics, video projections and lighting.

Pirate In Love

The lighting rig in position for gel changes, and the day's lighting team... me and Theodrous!

In the evening, I was invited to watch King Lear which, whilst it was in Greek, was a thrill as the effects were so striking and the music and sound quality especially so.

I am returning for a second day with the department on Friday.

King Lear poster:

Day 25 - Vocational Visit (Becky)

This morning I was taken to Pinewood, The American International School of Thessaloniki by Rtn Nikos Margaropoulos. There I was welcomed by the school Director, Dr. Peter Nanos who gave a detailed description of his school, background and where his school fits into the Greek education system. I was given a guided tour of the school, spending time in several classes (age 3 to 12), talking with children from many different countries. It was wonderful to see teachers so committed to meeting the needs of children with different languages, using a range of teaching methods to deliver a creative curriculum. I was impressed by the children’s ability to speak English as a second or third language and the progress made by each child. I met with several teachers and discussed the differences between private International Schools and state education. It is clear that both types of education have benefits within the Greek education system.

Day 24 - Return to Thessaloniki

This morning we left Prezeva. We are on the last leg of our journey through Northern Greece which has taken us from the shores of the Eastern Aegean sea across the country to the Ionian sea and the island of Corfu, South to Preveza and now returning to Thessaloniki.

We were waved off by President Labrini, the first lady president of the RC of Preveza and by ADG Aris who has been our host and guide here. We feel sad to leave but happy to have seen so much in our short stay. Ilias accompanied us around Nikopolis and answered many questions about history and politics. The naval college here teaches the skills needed to command a large vessel in the Greek's merchant shipping fleet.

Thank you to our new friends in Preveza for sharing your town with us.


The journey back to Thessaloniki is through the mountains again. We are amazed by the engineering which has constructed the bridges and tunnels to carry the road along its tortuous route. The signs refer to snow ploughs and escape lanes. We can imagine the landscape in winter. It is truely spectacular.




It took us nearly six hours to reach our final destination. We were pleased to find DG Panos and Rtn Takis waiting to meet us and we were ferried back to Hotel Luxembourg which has come to feel like home.

We were told that this evening we were to attend a meeting with 5 Rotary clubs from Thessaloniki. We were asked to say a few words to the meeting to give our impressions of the programme.

The meeting was held at the Mediterranean Hotel. We were delighted to meet up with ADG
Rtn George and his son Vassili from the RC of Alexandria. Our presentation gave us the opportunity to say thank you to the Rotarians. Our theme was 'Make Dreams Real'. We have all begun to realise that we are near the end of the programme. How much we have seen and learned.



The meeting went really well and we all enjoyed the atmosphere. Our hosts were very kind and presented us with gifts. We exchanged banners and tried to show how much this programme has meant to us.

We remembered our Rotary friends who have made our dreams real. Efharisto poli.

Tomorrow and Friday we have a final vocational experience planned for us. We are really looking forward to these two days.

Day 23 - Rotary Club of Preveza

We gave a successful presentation to the Rotary Club of Preveza tonight. We decided to edit our content considerably to allow for Aris to translate it into Greek for us. The conversation over dinner included the current projects the club were engaged in and the nuances of the Ancient Greek language Ian exchanged banners with the club President on behalf of the team. We thank the Rotarians of this club for their gracious hospitality during the evening.

Rich in full flow

Exchange of banners

Day 23 - Nicopolis and Kassopi

Today Ian, Becky and Jon were taken to Preveza’s main historical attraction, the Nicopolis. We were taken around the Roman and Byzantine fortifications and to the Odeon (a Roman amphitheatre-like place for singing). Jon gave a rendition of the Prologue from Henry V from the centre of the stage.

The importance of location of Preveza and the peninsular became clear as we learned about the strategic significance of the Nicopolis .

As a secondary visit, we travelled high up to into the hills to Kassopi and were given a stunning view over the Preveza Peninsular, the Ambracian Gulf, Lefkada and the Ionian Sea. This is the location for the last stand of the women of Souli who famously threw themselves and their children off the hilltop rather than be enslaved by the Ottoman Empire. We could see the stunning monument from where we were.

Richard spent the day at the Law Court in the town and he will bring news of his visit later.

We are now preparing for our Presentation this eveing which we are giving to the Rotary Club of Preveza.

Day 22 - Vocational visits in Preveza

Today we made a visit together to the education centre in Preveza. We had already learned many things through our visits to both the Primary sector and universities but we were looking forward to finding out more from the secondary sector. Our guide was Lambrini, a retired secondary school principal.

The education offices are located adjacent to a Lyceum. The building is relatively new and is positioned on the outskirts of Preveza. We met up with Kostas who works as an administrator in the offices but also teaches History 2 days each week. We were curious about the differences between the English and Greek systems of education.



Kostas answered all our questions. He explained some of the difficulties of integrating the children of immigrant Albanians.He outlined the education structure from the Ministry based in Athens to the regions and Prefectures. Students in Lyceum study many subjects and the entrance testing for university entrance are difficult. Most students take classes in the private sector during afternoon to improve their language skills.

We were shown around a regional science centre where students visit to experience high technology lessons in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.


At the end of the visit Lambrini drove us to a site overlooking the Gulf of Amvrakikos where we could see silver pelicans flying. It is a bird sanctuary where birds gather as they migrate across Europe.



This evening we were invited to visit a language school. Most children in Greece are paid for by their parents to spend up to three hours each week improving their use of English. In this school we met the Head Teacher, asked many questions and spoke with a small class of students. We enjoyed the visit and increased our understanding of why Greek children are so good at speaking English.

Jon visited Theatre Workshop Preveza and met one of their directors, Lily. The group had been formed 10 years prior and were settling into their new venue which is a converted military base. Jon talked with her about their membership and ticket policy and their programme which has included plays from Spain, Greece and England. They has recently mounted A Midsummer Night's Dream and Jon tried to describe the double meaning of "ass", which doesn't work in a Greek translation.

Poster for A Midsummer Night's Dream:
Lily of the Theatre Workshop Preveza:

Later we met up with Rtn Aris. Aris took us for an evening drive to discover Preveza. It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable evenings we have spent so far in Greece. Aris showed us a view across the prefecture from the heights overlooking Nikopolis. He took us to the castle to see one of the most beautiful sunsets in Greece. He drove on to see the fishing boats on the Gulf of . Amvrakikos. We watched fire flies darting in the woodland and heard owls calling in the twilight. This is truely a very special part of Northern Greece. As each day passes we are bewitched by the beauty of the landscape and we enjoy the warmth of Rotarian hospitality once again. Thank you Aris for adding a comment to our blog and for welcoming us to Preveza.