Six hours of intensive language courses daily and practicing in the real world were extremely useful for EHU students. In relatively short time the students learned how to maintain an elementary discussion in Lithuanian, understand whole sentences and phrases used in daily life, read and translate texts, warning signs, and what’s even more important – get a deeper insight into the life of our neighbors – Lithuanians. To understand the Lithuanian national spirit EHU students celebrated the Anniversary of the Coronation of King Mindaugas by ascending the Hill of Three Crosses and singing the Lithuanian anthem.
Rich cultural program within the summer school allowed students to visit several museums and famous cultural and historical sites in Lithuania: the National Museum of Lithuania, Presidential Palace and Centre for Civic Education, Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania (in the courtyard the modern play “Mindaugas” was staged), Medininkai Castle, the highest point in Lithuania – Juozapinė Hill, etc.
EHU students visited the first capital of the Great Duchy of Lithuania – Kernavė, as according to the Lithuanian historiography, and took part in the International festival of live archeology, view the remnants of the ancient settlement and walk through a renovated medieval town.
A trip to the ethnographic Open Air Museum of Lithuania in Rumšiškės turned out to be particularly engaging and entertaining. It took a whole day for the students to go through the full exhibition of the mode of life, works, and traditions of peasants and townspeople of all Lithuanian ethnographic areas: Dzūkija, Aukštaitija, Suvalkija, Žemaitija and Lithuania Minor. The Summer school students also had a chance to see the interwar Lithuania and visit the authentic tavern with national Lithuanian dishes.
Without any exaggeration, the EHU students can say, that if one really wants to discover Lithuania one should start from studying the Lithuanian language! For example, with the help of the EHU Summer school.
Written by: 1st year low residence EHU “World Politics and Economics” program student Vasili Shelekhau
