Earlier, we have published reports on school visits of The Netherlands and Russia and excursion of Bulgaria. Now thanks to PBS Malta we can report about other countries.
Schools
The Netherlands - Our Lady Immaculate Girl's School - Hamrun
Sweden - Immaculate Conception School - Tarxien
Armenia - St Clare's Girl College - Pembroke
Russia - Russian Boarding School - Bugibba
Excursions
Italy with St. Ignatious Boy's College from Handaq Qormi - Inquisitors Palace
Ukraine with St. Theresa Girl's College from Mriehel - Ghar Dalam
Bulgaria with De la Salle College from Birgu - Archeology Museum
Cyprus with St. George Preca Boy's College from Hamrun - Fine Arts Museum
Ukraine
The three Ukrainian contestants, Marta, Sofia and Amaliia, got a taste of Maltese baking at the National Museum of Natural History at Mdina. They helped bake a traditional St Martin’s cake, helped by students from St Theresa Girl’s College, Mriehel and Heritage Malta staff. The cakes disappeared very quickly.
The rest of the group learnt about the Maltese National tree and planted one each at the museum. The girls had also time to sign autographs and postcards.
Together with the students the three girls participated in a treasure hunt around the museum, ending a fun morning in Mdina. (Mario Casha)
continued under 'more'
Cyprus
Sophia Patsalides from Cyprus has had an entertaining and educative visit to the Fine Arts Museum in Valletta, where she was joined by boys from St. George Preca College. The curator of the museum gave a warm welcome and organised a workshop for everyone to get involved in.
The students had fun learning the choreography of Sophia’s song. She made quite an impression and can expect support from the boys and all their families when they vote number 5 on Saturday.
Armenia
The Armenian group visited St. Clara’s College today where they were expecting Betty. Unfortunately, due to her sickness she was unable to make it but her friends and family still came to represent Betty.
The students performed a show for the Armenian visitors and then together with Gaia, they entertained the crowd with their happy energy.
After that they were invited to a more intimate gathering where they could taste Traditional Maltese food and some Armenian food.
Italy
Vincenzo and the Italian delegation have beent on a cultural outing to the Inquisitor’s Palace. They met students from St. Ignatious Boy’s College, Handaq Qormi, who eagerly welcomed Vincenzo by waving the Italian flag. The students had the opportunity to wear the costumes of the era and act out a typical tribunal session. Vincenzo was given the role of the Inquisitor and he read the final sentencing of the prisoner, accused of having a book of magic spells. The boys were given a tour of the historical palace and afterwards they had some time to get to know Vincenzo as he signed autographs. The next session involved cooking traditional biscuits known as “L-Ghadam tal-Mejtin”. Vincenzo also sent out a short video via Facebook to the Italian TV presenter Antonella Clerici, the host of “La Prova del Cuoco”.
Sweden
It was clear that students and staff had put in a lot of effort for a visit by Julia Kedhammar, from Sweden, to Immaculate Conception High School in Tarxien. Numerous white and blue balloons were tied to the railings on the outside and students dressed up in both traditional Maltese and Swedish attire.
The students excitedly welcomed Julia and showed her around their exhibition, celebrating Maltese and Swedish culture, landmarks, food and feasts.
“We knew it would be hard work to get everything ready,” said Assistant Head, Ms Melanie Ungaru, “But then we knew the students would have a lot of fun. It ended up being very educational for everyone since Sweden is a Nordic country, and so they learnt more about that part of Europe.”
Julia and her delegation were led to the auditorium, where an impressive line-up awaited. The first song was ‘Dancing Queen’, since Abba originated from Sweden. Then they sung ‘Euphoria’, the song that Loreen won with in Eurovision 2012. The students presented a Maltese play they had performed the previous academic year, called ‘The Two Faces of the Duchess Natalia’. Students of the school translated the play for Julia and her delegation.
Gaia Cauchi, the Maltese winner of JESC 2013, took to the stage and sung ‘#together’, the theme song of JESC 2014. Gaia said that she was very happy that this year’s competition was being held in Malta.
Julia, accompanied by her four dancers, gave a performance of her song You Are Not Alone in English. Before starting, Julia explained that the song was about how everyone has to deal with certain questions they ask themselves, and that her answer to these questions is to always be yourself, because that self is amazing.
“Today was fun,” commented Julia, “I’m glad some of these students are going to be there on Saturday, because they’re so happy and it’s going to be so much better knowing they’re there.”
Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s performers have been enjoying a trip to the magnificent National Museum of Archaeology in the Auberge de Provence in Valletta.
Krisia, Hasan and Ibrahim were accompanied by students from the De La Salle school, and together were they were taken through the ages.
The youngsters were sent on their own voyage of discovery; they had to go through different types of rubbish to check out different materials.
On the way back to their hotel, Krisia spotted police on horses and was delighted to get a picture with them.
The Netherlands
School visits are continuing with Julia from Netherlands performing her song Around for students at Our Lady Immaculate School in Hamrun. Julia tried some traditional Maltese food, signed autographs and planted a tree in the school’s garden. (Sarah Aquilina)
Russia
Russia’s Alisa and her delegation must have felt at home when they were welcomed at the Russian Boarding School in Malta. From food, to costumes, to balloons, everything the Russian students had prepared was perfectly faithful to Russian tradition.
After being given a tour of all their work, students led Alisa to the concert they had set-up for her. The hosts of the show emphasised how it was only #together that they had succeeded in pulling off the spectacle for Alisa’s honour. Russian dancing and singing was tastefully mixed with more contemporary performances.
Alisa stepped the stage herself to sing her song ‘Dreamer’ – live. Her voice dominated the room with its powerful emotion.
“The students were really over-excited when we knew we would be welcoming Russia – since they live away from their parents, this was a great opportunity to celebrate Russia,” commented Ms Andriana Fenech Yordanova, the Director of Music Teacher at the school, “I was also really impressed with Alisa’s big voice and presence.”
The contestant was then thanked with a large bunch of flowers, and wished the best of luck in the upcoming finals next Saturday. In turn, Alisa gave out tote bags with the JESC 2014 emblem and promotional goodies inside.
When asked how she felt being surrounded by such a lot of Russian culture so far away from home, Alisa replied, “It’s very nice – I like Malta, and it’s my first time outside of Russia, so I’m glad there are other people who understand me.”