Crown Princess Mary's Official Visit to Estonia: April 1-2, 2014

[Roskilde]

Thanks Dazzling

Two BB articles and pictures from the "Free of Bullying" conference this morning

Kronprinsesse Mary og Estlands præsidentfrue på job | Billed Bladet

http://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige...erne-i-estland

Maryfonden's "Free of Bullying" program is used in more than half of all kindergarten in Estonia.

Gallery from the mornings events
GALERII: kroonprintsess Mary ja Evelin Ilves avasid konverentsi ja külastasid disainiseminari | Õhtuleht

Gallery from the Danish-Estonian seminar "Sustainable Fashion - A Business Model".
FOTOD: Stiilne Taani kroonprintsess ja Evelin Ilves võtavad osa moeseminarist! - Publik

Gallery
FOTOD: Stiilne Taani kroonprintsess ja Evelin Ilves võtavad osa moeseminarist! - Publik

Large gallery of Mary visiting the school, Kadrioru Saksa Gümnaasium, which has been a part of "Free Of Bullying" since last year.

Fotod: Taani kroonprintsess Kadrioru Saksa gümnaasiumis - Galeriid - Tallinn City

[Muhler]

Mary was asked about the implementation of Free From Bullying in the Estonian kindergarten she visited yesterday by BB's Ulrik Ulriksen and she said: VIDEO: Kronprinsesse Mary begejstret for oplevelserne i Estland | Billed Bladet

Now, I'm going to translate what she says, including grammatical mistakes (inserted in parentesis) to give you an idea of her mastery of Danish.

"That was a huge joy. Eh, (the) children were very dedicated, lively, eager and eh, really you could tell that they had embraced it. And, eh, to speak with the pedagogues (*) who were pleased with (the) tool(s). It was easily accessible and they could adapt it to their needs. I must say that I saw (the) children react and act as I have seen children do in Danish kindergartens, eh, was really a great joy.
But it was also very inspiration (inspiring) what we got yesterday, which we take with us back home".

- So a few typical problems with the endings of a few words, but otherwise no mistakes and fully mastering Danish on a high level.

(*) Teachers in kindergartens are always called pedagogues in DK, never teachers.

[polyesco]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Mary was asked about the implementation of Free From Bullying in the Estonian kindergarten she visited yesterday by BB's Ulrik Ulriksen and she said: VIDEO: Kronprinsesse Mary begejstret for oplevelserne i Estland | Billed Bladet

Now, I'm going to translate what she says, including grammatical mistakes (inserted in parentesis) to give you an idea of her mastery of Danish.

"That was a huge joy. Eh, (the) children were very dedicated, lively, eager and eh, really you could tell that they had embraced it. And, eh, to speak with the pedagogues (*) who were pleased with (the) tool(s). It was easily accessible and they could adapt it to their needs. I must say that I saw (the) children react and act as I have seen children do in Danish kindergartens, eh, was really a great joy.
But it was also very inspiration (inspiring) what we got yesterday, which we take with us back home".

- So a few typical problems with the endings of a few words, but otherwise no mistakes and fully mastering Danish on a high level.

(*) Teachers in kindergartens are always called pedagogues in DK, never teachers.

A big thanks to all that translate. and for the links
its nice to hear that Mary's Danish is great

[Roskilde]

Pictures from Facebook
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https://scontent-b-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/...4b&oe=53AC8AA9
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Gallery from sn.dk
http://www.sn.dk/danmark/se-billeder...6#.Uzw2RIyKDIU

[polyesco]

thank you

this is a lovely photo
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...44576704_n.jpg

and a group pic with the kids
http://g2.nh.ee/efe/1280x1280/7VwtwQ...y3WrWTLxym.jpg

[Barbara21]

Concert and reception for partners and Danes living in Estonia at Blackhead's House in Tallinn.

FOTOD: Viimane peatus! Taani kroonprintsess Mary külaskäigu lõpetas kontsert Mustpeade Majas - Publik

[Muhler]

An interesting video from BT of Mary talking about the Free From Bullying project in Estonia: Mary afslører: Satser stort i flere lande | Mary afslører: Satser stort i flere lande - Royale | www.bt.dk

She reveals that a pilot project with Free From Bullying will start shortly in Iceland and that there are contacts with other countries about adopting the concept.

It may come as a surprise to some but Danish pedagogue concepts is an export. Not least to countries like China, but also South Korea and now very recently Japan. However, I don't think the Mary Foundation actually intends to sell the concept in this case.

[Roskilde]

Thanks Muhler,

I can see BT's photographer Keld Navntoft and journalist Lotte Scharff has been with Mary in Estonia.

Mary tells it was a very positive impression to experience Free Of Bullying in practice together with the Estonian children. She was pleased to see the joy, commitment and enthusiasm there were among the children when they used the program. Mary mentions several times that the children's eagerness was delightful to experience.

And then to see how the Estonian pedagogues have taken the program to them and that it has become a part of their daily life. She could recognize the project from how we use it at home in Denmark. But also that the visit in Estonia has taught them a lot of new things and have given the inspiration for something we can learn at home in Denmark.

Berlingske gallery from today: Kronprinsesse Mary besøger Estland med »Fri for Mobberi« | www.b.dk

Originally Posted by Barbara21

Concert and reception for partners and Danes living in Estonia at Blackhead's House in Tallinn.

FOTOD: Viimane peatus! Taani kroonprintsess Mary külaskäigu lõpetas kontsert Mustpeade Majas - Publik

Thanks Barbara, I think that event was the last one at this visit? Mary is very likely back home in Denmark now and can kiss Frederik goodnight

[Muhler]

I've noticed Mary's adjutant several times: Kronprinsesse Mary besøger Estland med »Fri for Mobberi« | www.b.dk

And somehow he reminds me of Lurch from the Addams Family: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_cqaXBt9bkY...18-400-300.jpg

Aaandd perhaps the otherwise presentable First Lady should have chosen a longer skirt? In one of the pics there is a clear view to next week and back...

[polyesco]

Mary with kids
it looks like she gain an admirer
pictures 8 and 9
Kronprinsesse Mary besøger Estland med »Fri for Mobberi« | www.b.dk

[MaggieDenmark]

mary looks really great and happy..but most important..a very important topic..i know they also use the fri for mobberi in my littlesister's sfo..i often tell her who is behind the fri for mobberi thank you all for the information and many great photos from both days..

[gerry]

Originally Posted by MaggieDenmark

mary looks really great and happy..but most important..a very important topic..i know they also use the fri for mobberi in my littlesister's sfo..i often tell her who is behind the fri for mobberi thank you all for the information and many great photos from both days..

thank you also for the pictures and information about the relationship between Denmark and Estonia. I have been lucky enough to visit Tallinn and only hope that the Crown Princess had some free time to shop in the glorious old city centre. I was deeply impressed by the very high level of creativity demonstrated by Tallinn's artisans; I understand that Finns visit the city to learn from the expertise demonstrated by Estonian craftspeople. The food there is great too!

[Roskilde]

A quite large gallery from the visit at Kadrioru Saksa Gümnaasium:

https://picasaweb.google.com/1099353...nprintsessMary#

B.T. has today an interview with Mary in connection with a 20-page section with a guide to 'how to strengthen your child's self-esteem'. I assume Mary is a part of this section because the 'Free of Bullying' is a good way to strengthening children.

B.T's frontpage: http://epaper.infomedia.dk/teaser/bta/20140403

ADDED:

This also confirms that Mary's work is taken seriously and is recognized. Yesterday evening, I saw the tv-news where our Minister of Education was interviewed at her office. In the background I noticed a Free Of Bullying suitcase and a Read-Play book, which also is an initiative from the Mary Foundation.

[polyesco]

One pic from the exhibition opening (A Modern Royal Household):
http://linnamuuseum.ee/kok/files/2014/03/printsess.jpg

[Muhler]

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #15, 2014.
Written by our man in Talinn, the Ulrik Ulriksen.

Apart from cementing Danish-Estonian relations it was also a kind of fact-finding and review visit on behalf of the Mary Foundation, learning about how Free From Bullying had been implemented in Estonia and how Estonia had adapted and developed their version of the programme.

We know by now what went on, so let's go to what Mary had to say in that regard afterwards: "I've had a very positive impression of Estonia. We have been very positively recieved and it's an exciting schedule.
The primary focus has been to look at Free From Bullying and to see how they work with the project here in Estonia. I'm so incredibly pleased to see that we can totally recognise Free From Bullying (*) as we know from home in Denmark.
They have worked enormously professional and been skillful at changing it and owning it. (Make it their own). It has been lovely to see the way the children have embraced it and experience them talk about the project in a dedicated way. It's ahuge joy for me that their results are similar to the positive results we know from Denmark. Results which show that it's beneficial for the chidlren to work with the tools which is contained in Free From Bullying and which focus on creating an environment in which children can thrive".

Has she learned anything?
"We can be inspired too and I must say that yesterday I was very thrilled about hearing about their work in engaging the parents into the project and what you do to tell and extend the work done in the kindergarten. That means that the parents take the anit-bullying work with them home as well.
This we will have a closer look at and see whether that might also be brought back to Denmark and used there.
It can be an extension of the Free From Bullying project, as we already know it.
We must keep in mind that the idea of Free From Bullying is originally inspired by an Australian project, but we have adopted and adapted it to our culture and our language and school system.
It's a really nice feeling to help spreading a programme that has had such an effect and can benefit even more children.
We have met great interest from different countries and Estonia was one of the first countries on the mark, just as soon as they heard about the project at a conference back in 2007.
The co operation with Estonia and the experiences we have made here are important for the Mary Foundation, when we are to spread our projects to other countries.
There is an ongoing test of the progamme taking place in Iceland and then there are other countries as well, we are working on reaching".

- It's difficult to make predictions, especially about what takes place in the future, but I wonder if this will eventually turn out to be Mary's biggest national and perhaps regional legacy? Providing and promoting a tool that will greatly reduce bullying at schools. Surely school has been a hell for so many children over the past generations, so if that number could be reduced significanly, that wouldn't be the worst legacy at all.

We have already dealt with the legend of Dannebrog in this thread and the close relations between DK and Estonia, so briefly:
Mary gave a speech at the King's Garden, and spoke Estonian briefly, which was applauded by Estonian onlookers. Especially since the political situation in Ukraine makes the ethnic Estonians, Lithuanians and Latvians a bit nervous. Not that I personally think there will be trouble there, but still.

(*) It isn't for anything that Mary has a background in advertizing, I have over the years noticed how Mary invariably and repeatedly mentions the name of the project or organisation she is involved with, rather than just referring to it. I.e. help hammering it into the memory of people listening or reading. No coincidence I'm sure.

[marfre]

As always thanks Muhler for your translation.

I think the Estonians would have appreciated that Mary made the effort to learn a little of their language to be able to at least say a few words.