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

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

[2]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[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

[3]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[26th] Gymnasium Thessaloniki

[4]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[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!

[5]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

Murina: It was terrifying, my son. I wish that nobody should ever experience the horror of war.

Marilina Dovletoglou Lina Papadopoulou Marina Mourtidou

[6]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[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

[7]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[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.

[8]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

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

[9]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[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 [10]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

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

[11]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

Gymnasium of [Rentina]

[12]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[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 [13]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

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

[14]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[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 coloredskinned 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.

[15]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

Sfondylis Stylianos Pasalis Alexandros Gkolidakis Ioannis Papadopoulos Nikolaos Mpotzis Vasileios

[16]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[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) [17]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

- 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?

[18]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

Liama Tania Kyriazidou Katerina Karipidou Ioanna Thomas Thanasis

[19]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[Escola] Rosa Oriol

[20]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[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...

[21]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

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 Fernåndez Gisela Perea Ricard Curado

[22]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[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 RodrĂ­guez Enrique Minguez Alex Sanchez Alex Martos

[23]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[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...

[24]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

Joan Serra Nerea de la Torre Adrià Villareal Andrea Martín Lucía González

[25]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[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

[26]

REWind: our back-in-time stories

[The End]

[27]