18 – 31 August 2007 Jesenik, CZECH REPUBLIC

It was the same boring day for me,like anyone else during the summer vacation,and as I just came in home,the telephone rang. The call was from my school,and they told me I had to go there,because they had something important to tell me. Still wondering,for what it could be,I went,and I was flattered to find out,that on a meeting for all the teachers in my school, I and three other school-mates (Daria Vasileva 12-a, Dimitar Koev 12-a, Kristina Kirilova 11-v,and me Sava Koev 11-b) were chosen to go on a journalism camp in the Czech Republic.
The camp was from 17th of august until 31st.The four of us gathered to think about some ideas,and things which we were going to use/do there.Our delegation leader was Dimitar Milanov,and with one other girl Vencislava (they are from Vidin) on board,we started our journey.
We travelled with a red mini-van Hundai,and along with us were also two girls from Vidin (Didka and Ivana),who were going on a camp in Hungary.Their leader and driver of the mini-van was Kiril. Our route was through Serbia,Budapest,Bratislava and finally the Czech Republic.
After ten tirring hours of travelling,we stopped in Budapest (the capital of Hungary),where we had the chance to see one really beautiful,magnificent,and bustling place,which somehow managed to keep balance between the medieval period,and the new time,not only in the buildings but also in its atmosphere.We saw their parliament,make small walks on big beautiful bridges,with one word we saw everything in it's sparkle (not only from the lights).After half an hour,we continued our journey and we where in the Czech Republic the next day at about 12.30.We arrived in Ostrava,the city from which we were going to travell to the camp.
In the beginning everyone,was watching everyone with a surprised face,and nobody said anything.There the railway station we saw one of the teamers Ian Eigenbrodt (Germany),who explained on which train and where exactly we have to sit.After ten or fifteen minutes travelling came the first surprise.All participants had to be in one carriage,and everybody hd to tore some toilet paper from a big roll,and according to how many pieces of paper you have,the more information you have to give about yourself.
After that with just making gestures,we had to explain to each other,the year,day,and month on which we are borner,and according to that they put us from the youngest to the eldest (oldest).The trip from Ostrava to Ostruzna (the small village-resort,where we were),was no coincidence that it was by train,because there were smashingly beatifull views in the mountains,where we passed through.After laughs,and other amusements,we finally arrived.There were delegations from ten countries:
Turkey,Bulgaria,Romania,Czech Republic,Hungary,Spain,Portugal,Slovenia,Slovac/k Republic,Germany.
We were accomodated in two big houses (Red House and Green House),and we had to choose if we want to be room-mates with someone we know,or with people from different countries participants.I was with Dimitar (Koev) , and one boy from Hungary,Lazslo Varga (we called him Laci),while our leader and the girls were in the room next to ours.The accomodation was wonderful,and we were in the mountain,with the beatifull views,you can only imagine what was it like.
The climate was the thing which surprised everyone (especially the spanish,and portuguese),because they're used to warmer climate,while there was really cold,almost all time cloudy,and sometimes raining.The first few days we recovered from the journey,and got to know the village.Every morning after breakfast we made a big circle in the yard between the two houses,where they presented our daily tasks.We were divided into five teams,and everyone had a scarf with a colour according to team in which he belongs.
The first evening was called "Casino Jesenik",and all participants had the chance to play poker,roulette and do other stuff (like in a real casino).And we didn't have to wait for a long time for the next surprise.One morning we were told,we're going to do something interesting,and half an hour later,every team was giving the best from it,to win the golf tournament,which was in the near forest.The fact that the railway station was so near to the camp,has to be marked because trains were passing every ten minutes and some times it was very annoying.Another game consisted of doing different tasks : for example every team had to prepare a small scene which had to be played,rewriting texts from books with the other hand (if you're right-handed you have to do it with your left one),and according to how good you were,you get points and money (not real of course).The main thing in all the games was the team work,and the teamers always asked us how's the comunication in our team going,what do we like or don't like,how should something be changed,with one word they were trying to make the camp a place similar to our home.
One of the most unforgivable things was a race in which every team had to carry one hundred metres and then back,a big tyre which weighted about 100 killograms,had to cross the whole layout,once carrying a team-mate,once holding hands all from the team,once running,once running backwards,and once jumping on one foot.Nobody understood why the teamers told us "bring some clothes,you want to destroy",untill the end of the competition.The black team (in which I was) one with time : 15 minutes,27 seconds.Again it was raining,and it was cold,and half of the layout was through a river,after the end every participant was given a bar of chocolate,hot vitamin C,and a Red Bull.The prize for the winner was a dinner in the restaurant,near the camp.Another unforgivable adventure was when we were divided again,and every team had to go to a place only looking on a map.We passed through one cave,where it was so cold,but so  beautifull,everyone were out of breath.After two hours of walking again,we reached some cliffs,and we had to go down with ropes.(another amazing adrenalin pack),after which all teams gathered on one place,we had dinner,and we had to go to sleep in a univercity (something like a camping site).But unfortunately the weather was not good again,raining and cold,and when we arrived at the place,everybody were wet like drown rats,and nobody had much enthusiasm to stay there,so we went by cars back to the camp.
But not everything was always games.In the afternoons we had work-shops,where we were shown different techniques of shooting,and other interesting things with cameras and everything which is connected with the digital media.One of our tasks was to make with about 40 pictures a story on the subject "Getting up".(we have to choose the pictures,where we have to make them,how we would make them etc.),and of course every group got a mark according on how well they did this.In another work-shop,our guests were people from the Czech national television who showed us interesting movies,and two men from Red Bull,who explained to us what's drink,how the bull became the symbol of the drink (it's doesn't insult any religion,and it's perceived in all countries in the same way),what people do they sponsor (on which index they choose them etc.).They showed us some videos of competitions with small BMX bikes,and there was a really great video,and they asked us "How many cameras do you think we used to make it?",everyone said "Probably 30-25",but the gentleman silenced the whole room by just saying "Two",and they showed us the techniques of shooting,the angles,where we have to be...
Another interesting thing were the delegation evenings.The Bulgarian delegation evening was third,after the hosts of the Czech Republic,and Slovak/c Republic.One of the main difference between their delegation evening and ours was the fact that we didn't want to present just information,like telling something you have read in an encyklopedia,but to present ourselves and our country in a combined way.Dimitar (Koev) showed a small film about Targovishte,Daria sang a traditional song with which she silenced the whole room (everybody clapped continuesly),Kristina said a national poem,and I made something like a quiz (to understand how much to they know about us,I mean how popular is Bulgaria to Europe...) ,and of course for every correct answer there was a prize.The final was a national dance from the four of us,but not everything was finished after that.Earlier,from 13.30 to 19.30 we spent preparing traditional bulgarina dishes (banitsa,bob,tarator,shop salad,we sliced some national meat delaicasy,and our leader made the national flag,by using rice for white,dill for green,and red pepper for red.The other delegations had also prepared many surprises,and we shared together more unforgivable momnets.
Day after day,the time was passing,we were getting to know each other better,and becoming better and better friends.
The main challenge of the European Students Journalism Camp in the Czech Republic 2007 began in the second week.According to the flag of team everyone belonged to,we had to make a small film.The ideas,writing of the script,the costumes were all of the teams.The teamers and organizers just explained to us,how to do something to make it look as good as possible.Each team divided its members to a : microphonist,editor,director,director of photography...Everyone knew what they wanted,and the results came very quickly.All of us had a great time,we really enjoyed what we did,and we learned lots of new interestin stuff.Because the cameras were limited,while one team was shooting,the others could relax or join drawing classes,play soccer,tennis,go cycling.Each film had a story,cuts for the different scenes,but the most inportant thing was the movie had to be funny as possible.
In one of the last days,we had a drama-work-shop in which the teamers told us improvisation is very important for the last-day surprise.
And after all we had done for those two weeks,time passed like sand through fingers...
The last day we gathered,the teamers said to us " We amused you,we made different challenges for you,now it's time for a small pay-back (they're laughing).We have booked the main square in the nearest town (Jesenik),where you're going to have to prepare a show which is going to be broadcasted on the internet.And after the final we'll come back here to have a final party.Choose your director,editors,costumes,everyone has to take part in this."
These news came out from nowhere.Everyone were happy but also shocked because this was the last thing we had expected.And so we organized everything againg for the final time,and made a hour and a half full programme.After the final we returned to the camp to have a final party.
Still nobody could believe that everything is over,we took pictures,changed our mails,and had fun for the last time together.
On the next morning,spanish,portuguese,turkish,and romanians started they journey to home.At noon we left the place,which was our second home for those amazing two weeks.And just as we were ready to hit the road home,it started snowing slowly....
And so friends,this is the end of my story.On the first of September we were back in Targovishte in 16:30.
I must express (say) my deepest gratitudes,to all.From the headmaser of Foreign Language Studying Modern Scholl "Mitropolit Andrei"Mr.Atanas Tsanev,the person without we wouldn't be there,Mr.Daniel Vankov,and Dimitar Milanov our not only leader,but a great person and friend,and to all of the people we had been together with for two weeks,and with who we did everything,crazy stuff,had a lot of fun,gained helpful experience,and hope to be friends and meet again as soon as possible!!