rewind: our back in time stories

Our

[Back-in-time]

Stories

[REWind]

eTwinning Project 2015-2016

26th Gymnasium Thessaloniki (Greece)

Gymnasium Rentina (Greece)

Escola Rosa Oriol (Llica d’Amunt-Spain)

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[2]

This ebook was created by the students of the

Gymnasium of Rentina (Greece), the 26th

Gymnasium of Thessaloniki (Greece) and the Rosa

Oriol primary school of Llica d’ Amunt (Catalonia)

under the collaborative eTwinning Project REWind

(concerning Racism, Environment and War)

May 2016


[3]

[26th Gymnasium Thessaloniki]

The Trojan War......................................................................5

Asia Minor disaster................................................................7

The story of Sonam Gonpa..................................................8

The suffering of Cretans by Hitler.............................10

[Gymnasium of Rentina]

JFK..............................................................................................13

Being a Black servant in America...................................15

Terrorist attack in Batachai Theatre.........................17

[Escola Rosa Oriol]

Hirosima.....................................................................................21

Thirty years later..............................................................23

Titanic.......................................................................................24

The Twin Towers..................................................................26


[4]

[26th]

Gymnasium

Thessaloniki


[5]

[The Trojan War]

Boy: Mom, I fell down and

injured my leg. It hurts- I am

bleeding.

Murina: Come here and I'll

take care of it. I'll tell you a

story to comfort you. I was at

your age, young and carefree,

until the Trojan war broke

out.

Boy: How did it all start?

Murina: Hellespont, this

significant narrow waterway,

was the reason. So, when

Paris abducted Helen, the

Greeks took the opportunity to besiege Troy, in order to take Helen

back.

Boy: And what happened, mom?

Murina: We lived horrible things, hunger, fear, pain, death. First of all,

we lost our parents - your grandma died due to pestilence and your

grandpa was killed by our enemies at the battlefield. Fortunately, your

aunts and I were engaged, so we had someone to protect us... When the

war was over, your aunts and I were enslaved by the Greeks, who

took us to Sparti. It was the most strenuous part of our lives as we

worked hard to survive. We were humiliated and devastated as nobody

respected us as human beings. We lived in atrocious conditions - they

fed us leftovers and we slept next to the animals.

Boy: Oh mom, that was frightening!


[6]

Murina: It was terrifying, my son. I wish that nobody should ever

experience the horror of war.

Marilina Dovletoglou

Lina Papadopoulou

Marina Mourtidou


[7]

[Asia Minor disaster]

August, 1922: I and my two brothers, Iordanis and Nikos, were near

Smyrna's port, in front of our family's old fabric shop. Suddenly, we

heard some panicked people shouting in despair that there was fire

spreading all across the city. As we learned the shocking news, me and

my brothers rushed home to search for our family and save some

valuable belongings. After realizing that the rest of the family was

missing, we started looking for them at the port. Suddenly we came

across Iordani's children who were crying for him. We took them with

us and ran as fast as we could but there was no sign of the rest of our

family. We were desperate. Later, we found our parents, our sister and

Iordani's wife in a big over-crowded, French ship. We were separated

and promised that we would see each other again, sometime in the

future. While we were sitting and waiting for the next ship to get on, a

mysterious guy approached and dealt with us a cheap wooden boat

with broken seats. We agreed and traded the boat for 5 golden coins.

Nikos got afraid and wondered whether the boat would be safe enough

to rescue us. Finally, we embarked on the boat feeling devastated and

insecure about our future. Would we ever reunite with our family?

After a mile, we looked back and lamented for the victims of

this disaster.

Marios Letska

Mateo Metsoli

Kostas Kehagioglou

Kostas Doskoris


[8]

[The Story of Sonam Gonpa]

My name is Sonam Gonpa and this is my story. It was the 1930 when

the Sino-Tibetan War broke out. I was the Colonel of the Tibetan Army

in Qinghai. Unexpectedly, the Chinese Army attacked us. Many of my

soldiers lost their lives at this invasion and especially my dearest

friend Jinpa Repa, who while trying to save my life, got shot multiple

times. Thankfully, I survived but I lost my left arm. My best friend's

loss, made me really devastated and heartbroken.

Then, I was sent to the hospital because my injury had to be

healed. But what was really bothering me was the idea of unburied

Jinpa. So, I sent two of my men to find his body and take it to his family

in order to bury him in honors. Unfortunately, the doctors wouldn't let

me go for at least three weeks and so I lost the funeral. However, I paid

a visit to his family as

soon as I left the hospital

to give my deepest

condolences and tell them

I was truly honored to

fight by his side and have

my life saved by him.

Later, I gave my

detailed report about the

attack to the General. I

begged him to take me

back to the field but he

ordered me to go to my

family because I hadn't

seen them for eight

months. Thus,

accompanied by two men,

I returned to my

homeland, in Taktser.


[9]

There, my family welcomed and comforted me. After a long description

of the war to my children and wife, I took a long walk into the forest of

the Tibetan mountain. Only then I realized the true meaning of life and

that is PEACE!

Sofia Vlachou

Emily Baha

Ismini Moraitou


[10]

[The suffering of Cretans by

Hitler]

"Get out!" he shouted. The two generals panicked and obeyed him

immediately. That day, Hitler was bad-tempered. That day more than

one hundred people died.

It all started when Germans attacked Crete. Hitler was upset about his

heavy operational losses and casualties. He shouted several times to

his people and in the end he decided that he should execute both the

generals and the 30 Jewish people who were in the concentration

camps. These people were suffering every day by doing the bulk of

Germany's operations, like digging, building or working in giant

factories with nothing in return but some pieces of cloth and slices of

bread.

Actually, when Hitler

came to occupy Crete,

the Cretans and their

allies resisted knowing

they don't have a chance

against the numerous

German paratroopers.

However, they did their

best. Though Cretans

lost, they managed to

displease Hitler because

Germans had many

casualties. Thousands of

men were buried and an

equal number of women

and children were tortured.

Germans were so bloodthirsty that killed Cretans by pouring chemicals


[11]

on them or, after killing them, they made soaps from their corpses, to

mention but a few.

Thousands of people, mostly women, were going through this awful

situation because a man had a "vision": "to clean" Germany from

people of other countries and especially Jews. This vision was a

nightmare, not a dream. This vision was about death, not prosperity.

Christine Abartsoumova

Klelia Kabitsi


[12]

Gymnasium

of

[Rentina]


[13]

[JFK]

America, November 22nd 1963, Dealey Plaza

Screams and shouts everywhere! People in shock running around.

My sisters, Amelia and Cloe, and I are trying to figure out what had

just happened. Amelia asked a stranger what was going on and he told

her that the president was shot.

America, February 25th 1953

This is it! This is when my sisters and I decided to take a big step in

life, by moving to America. We are seeking for a better life and

a safer future.

We settled down in Dallas, Texas. The first time we were exploring

and learning about the city we were living in. My younger sister,

Chloe, was really impressed by the American lifestyle. In a short time

she made friends from school, started going out with them, studying

together.

That was the pretty side. One closer look, though, would be enough

to realize that behind the pretty picture lies a scary beast, that is

called racism. It was a tough time and we came to realize that when

Amelia went to college. Incidents towards African-American people,

like ignoring them when walking into a shop, not standing up to offer

a seat on the bus, suffering police interrogations for no specific reason,

being rejected in job applications were really often. We felt really

sad that a person's skin color would identify their personality. It was

unfair. Can we do something about it?

A few weeks later, we heard that there were elections in USA and

we would be voting for new president. Amongst others, there was a

nominee with a vision of a descrimination-free society, with respect to

human rights and peace. John Fitzgerald Kennedy left his mark on


[14]

history charts. In January 20th 1961, he won the US elections,

instilling hope and an air of freedom to the people.

America, November 21st 1963

It was 24 hours before the gunfire began. We were really excited that

we were about to attend the president's motorcade downtown.

We arrived at Dealey Plaza quite early, yet there were so many

people, and many more that kept lining up just for a single close up

look at the Kennedys. It was noon, when the car was crossing the Main

road. Suddenly, gunshots started! A sound that made us all freeze.

Bullets went through the president's neck and head. The car driver

increased speed and drove straight to the hospital. It was too late. A

few hours later there was an official announcement, confirming the

president's death. It was a severe loss. But his ideals won't die. Hopes

and efforts for a better society and a better life won't die. Let's try each

one of us to act as units against discrimination. These units will

compose a team. And when those teams unite, no one and nothing

can stand in the way.

Papadimitriou Giota Topali Eva

Dragoi Paschalina


[15]

[Being a black servant in America]

It's the end of the 18th century.

Being colored-skinned in America, is hard to bear. Being a colored-

skinned servant, is intolerable but has to become tolerable, because

there are no many options. Being a black-colored female servant

surpasses imagination. The truth lies far beyond what the eye can see.

Let me give you a hint by describing an ordinary day.

My day starts at 5 a.m., when I wake up to prepare my master's

breakfast. I am supposed to have it ready by 06:30. Afterwards I am off

for gardening, car washing and then start up with cleaning the house.

This includes undusting, brooming, washing and waxing the

floor. Lunch must be ready by noon. Right when I am done, master

arrives at home after a long and busy day at work. I have to serve lunch

and check that everyone is satisfied. If that happens then I 'm really

relieved. If they don't like it then I have to listen to yells and

really humiliating words, and that means new lunch has to be

prepared.By evening all the laundry and the ironing will be done. After

that there is more work to be done in the children's room as well as in

the master's room. This is the typical task part. It doesn't sound that

heavy. If my task what just a series of housework then I would have

been satisfied.

What hurts the most is the rank the society places you in. My rank

is there. Somewhere among half-eaten steaks, dirty

laundry, sexual harassment, manipulation, dust and bones. Yes, bones.

My ancestors bones, my bones and if nothing changes, my children's

bones in the service of the American nation.

After an exhaustive day, I get in my bed; close my eyes and dream of

having a chance to live free and the way I want. As an equal.


[16]

Sfondylis Stylianos

Pasalis Alexandros

Gkolidakis Ioannis

Papadopoulos Nikolaos

Mpotzis Vasileios


[17]

[The terrorist attack in

Bataclan theatre, Paris]

Wednesday, November 13th 2015, 10:27 a.m.

My friends and I have just arrived at the hotel, after a very exhausting

trip. We can't wait to explore the city of Paris and meet new people. We

have already booked the tickets for our favorite band's concert.

Michelle and Joan were really excited because they were also going to

meet another friend there, whom we met at the same place, about a

year ago.

In the evening we left the hotel and we were on our way to the

theater. Strangely enough, not many people were on the streets. We

took the metro line and headed downtown.

Half an hour later we arrived at our destination. We were a few

meters away from the theater. All of the sudden, we saw three men

dressed in black, coming out of an alley.

- Joan: That's strange...they look weird, don't they?

- Michelle: What do they want?

- Me: Don't walk that fast! Slow down!

- Michelle: Something seems off about this

- Me: Oh my god! They are holding guns! Crouch!

(There are gunshots - the girls fell down on the road)

- Joan: We are really close to the theater... This is our target, we’ll find

shelter there. (whispering)

- Me: First we have to make sure we’ll stay alive (wishpering)

(the girls look really worried)


[18]

- Michelle: What to do?

- Joan: Let's act as we've been shot (whispering)

- Me: Do you think they'll believe us?(whispering)

- Joan: They are coming! Do as I say!(whispering)

The three men seemed really determined. Police was nearby and tried

to stop them. At that time we ran into the theater, hoping to be safe

there. It was until we realized that they entered through the back

door and started shooting at free will. There was a massacre. Total

chaos. People screaming, children crying, everybody running trying to

get out.

In order to save our lives, we hid behind dead bodies.

I made my way to the toilets and succeeded in escaping. A woman who

saw the whole scene, hid me in her house.

Unfortunately, I was the only one to survive the shootings. I’ll have to

live with these memories. Knowing that I was unable to help my

friends. Unable to help somebody else. I’ll never forget those screams.

I’ll never forget people being shot. I’ll never forget those looks that

were in need of help but no one could help them. When I was over

from the shock I heard on the news it was a terrorists' attack. Politic

tactics and war. What is it good for?


[19]

Liama Tania

Kyriazidou Katerina

Karipidou Ioanna

Thomas Thanasis


[20]

[Escola]

Rosa Oriol


[21]

[Hiroshima]

Today, Sunday I told my husband Ryu to do some shopping.

At 8 I said goodbye recalling him he had to go shopping and for an

instant I looked upon the sky and I saw two planes. After some minutes

I saw something falling down from the airplanes, but I didn't mind

much.

BOOM!

I fall to the ground and shout in despair. I wake up shaking. From my

window I see now a big ball of black smoke. It comes closer and closer

to my house. The ball of smoke swallows the city. I close my eyes.

I open them again. I don't know how long I have had them closed.

Everything is destroyed. Ruins. I don't know what to do. I want to go to

the supermarket and try to find Ryu. The streets are full of dead bodies,

people crying...


[22]

At the supermarket there is not a living person. A voice... It's Ryu! He's alive, Thank God! I find him within ruins. He's lost his arm and leg... He looks at me in the eyes and tells me - I love you, Rioko... He dies in my arms, and I... I wish I die with him...

Oriol Luna Érica Fernández

Gisela Perea Ricard Curado


[23]

[Thirty years later]

August 26th 1986

We're sitting calmly on the sofa and suddenly we hear an explosion. A toxic cloud is in the sky. We look through the window and we see how the toxic cloud becomes bigger. It's very dense. We can't see a thing; it's like the end of the world. We leave home wearing special masks my father has on the basement. We ask a neighbor if she knows what happened. She says the explosion came from the nuclear power plant, sector 4. When we learn about the toxicity of the smoke in the cloud we start panicking, we don't know what to do. We run to the outskirts of Chernobyl with our parents. We just sit and see how the cloud moves on the sky. 5th April 2016 The tragedy is not over yet, everything around us is still contaminated...

Eloi Calvo

Aidan Hidalgo Erik Pinel

Daniella Rodríguez Enrique Minguez

Alex Sanchez Alex Martos


[24]

[Titanic]

It's April the 14th 1912. We're at the Atlantic Ocean on board of the magnificent transatlantic Titanic. We had to stop to get postals, letters and packages. Everything goes smooth but night has come. It's a night without a moon and it's difficult to see. It's foggy outside and it is freezing cold. We have seen an iceberg, but too late. We are trying to do whatever possible to avoid colliding with it, but nothing works.

... I jump to the water in a desperate try to save my life. I can see the magnificent Titanic breaking in two and sinking in these freezing waters. It's two o'clock in the morning. I can barely stand the cold. I can see small boats trying to get to us in order to rescue the lucky ones. I think they are getting closer. I try to

stay awake, but Morpheus seems like calling my name...


[25]

Joan Serra Nerea de la Torre

Adrià Villareal Andrea Martín Lucía González


[26]

[The twin towers]

It's early morning, and my brothers and I are visiting New York. It's 9:08 when we are one of the twin towers and we hear a terrific explosion. It looks like something has hit the other tower. We look out through the window and we see that something has crashed with the tower. The news say it was a plane. Q33 Ny. We can see people running away panicking; others simply jump from the windows, unable to get away from the flames of the fires inside the tower. We try to reach the bottom of the building in order to get out of there. We hear then another explosion. This time stronger but we have no idea what it is. Shoutings. Cries. Despair. We cannot get out, we run for our lives, everyone does. - the first tower collapses and falls down –

Nayara Barba Noemí Cabrera

Aniol García Dani Castillo Arnau Mirón Yanira Pujol

Alba Osuna


[27]

[The End]

rewind: our back in time stories

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