Course of the meeting in Kaunas, Lithuania
The fourth meeting of Comenius project 'Only aware can act fair. Students for sustainable food and trade' was held in Kaunas, Lithuania. For us, Poles, it was an unusual trip. Both of our countries shared the same history for a few centuries; places like Vilnius or Kaunas sound familiar to us. Some of the greatest Polish poets were born in Lithuania. But still... it turned out that none of us (either teachers or students) have been there before. Although we are neighbouring countries we know very little about each other. In fact, we didn't know what to expect. Definitely, the climate is the same. At the time of our stay it was pretty cold both in Poland and in Lithuania. However, warm Lithuanian hospitality made us forget about the weather.
The Food Industry and Trade Training Center in Kaunas, the school which cooperates within the Comenius project, is wonderfully equipped, boasts of outstanding facilities, such as workshops, a restaurant and a hotel. They all serve as places for students' practice. Future cooks, bakers, waiters and hotel staff train there. In such a hotel (of high standard) our students were accommodated. Everybody felt comfortable. And the school restaurant served the best food to all participants. We were all impressed by the skills of young cooks and waiters.
Day 1: The schools also has a multimedia conference room in which the Lithuanian students prepared a presentation dealing with the problem of packaging. We learned what different signs on the packages mean, which of the packages are recyclable, which are biodegradable, what to choose when we buy some products if we want to be conscious consumers. Later on, after a tour of Kaunas, we went to a supermarket where we tried to find different kinds of packaging, deciding which of them are 'greeen' and which are not. In the afternoon, during a special workshop the students learned how to make different types of packaging. And then... they were asked to go to the kitchen and prepare dinner for the teachers and themselves. Now, the students have an idea what a restaurant kitchen looks like and what it takes to make good, healthy dinner for restaurant guests.
Day 2: Most of the packaging is made of paper. So the Lithuanian hosts decided to take us to a paper mill and to show us how it is made. Inside the mill it was hot, humid and noisy, but the guide showed us all the production line – from the place where the paper pulp is made to the finishing point where the rolls of toilet paper and other paper products were packed.
On the same day we had an opportunity to visit the whole school, and watch students working in the bakery and meat departments. Our students were invited to take part in the activities in the workshop and they tried to make the traditional Lithuanian tree cake, which is made on a special turnspit. As it takes a few hours to bake, so we didn't wait that long, but on the next day we could taste what our students had made, and it tasted great.
Day 3: The tree cake is part of the Lithuanian heritage. So is the mill to which we were taken on Day 3. We travelled by coach an hour to get there, but it was worth it! What we visited is a traditional mill built in 1929 and still working in the same way as years ago. The miller, who knows both the history of the mill and the technique of producing flour, showed us step by step how flour and other cereal is made. We could even try what different types of flour taste! The students had made buns which were baked when were visiting the mill. And then we could try different types of traditional pastries and drink tea. We were aware that what we ate was made on the spot, of organic products, in a traditional way. What is more – it was just delicious, and the smell of baked pastries was mouth watering!
Day 4: We were taken to an unusual museum – the Devil Museum, which prides in the collection of figures of devils from all Lithuania and from abroad. Amazing! On that day there was also some free time for students – they went to the shopping mall in the centre of the town accompanied by the Lithuanian friends – and they could even try skating there.
We came back to Poland impressed by the organisation of the meeting – everything was perfectly prepared, the atmosphere was warm, the students integrated so well that from the beginning they formed one big, friendly group, and what we saw will be well-remembered. We could learn a lot about traditional, organic Lithuanian food, learn how to be aware consumers. We were happy to find Lithuania a wonderful country full of friendly, hospitable people.