Lithuania (edition 3) Lithuania_edition3 | Page 5

I learned to say many phrases in our partners’ languages. • What is the difference between Romanian and our school? In Romania, all the lessons are conducted in one classroom, children are not divided into subgroups in foreign language lessons. National costume • Was it difficult to learn Romanian words/phrases? How do you feel when you speak Romanian? It was difficult to pronounce the words with many consonants. When I spoke, I did not know if I said the words correctly, I was feeling uncomfortable that the Romanians would laugh at me. • Was it difficult to learn traditional Romanian dance? No, it was very easy. All the steps were repeating. • What new did you learn about Romania and its culture? I learned a lot. The most interesting thing was that the Romanian (men) na- tional costume includes a skirt. Initially, it made me laugh, but now I think I would like that too. I found out that when the spring begins, Romanians wear brooches with red and white stripes, because on March 1 they celebrate Spring Festival “MARCIŠOR”. Ugnė’s Father • How did you feel when your child was gone? I was concerned and thinking if everything is OK. If she likes the new country. • Did the child enjoy learning activities in Romania? From her story, it seems that she liked. • What did your child learn? A few phrases in Romanian, visited the country where she has never been before. The national costume is an important symbol of the state, a testimony to our an- cestors’ high standard of workmanship and reflection of their conception beauty. The traditional dress bears close resemblance to folk garments once worn by our ancestors in the 19th century, when every region and parish had their own style of clothing different from neighborhood fashions. Peasant outfits were influenced by many factors. First, tribal beliefs and super- stitions, both of which were pagan in origin, persisted for a long span of time. Some clothes, ornaments and decorations were chosen so as to protect against the forces of evil, help to enjoy excellent health and bring luck. Therefore, some elements of the folk costume remained almost unchanged for centuries. Nowadays there have been no areas left in Lithuania where people would still wear traditional festive clothes of antiquity. Only some families still keep bap- tismal or wedding sashes, their mother’s or grandmother’s kerchief, stole, neck- lace of coral or amber beads.