''Verba volant, scripta manent"
     ''Spoken words fly away, what is written remains."
                                     Latin phrase
 
      ''You don’t know what you know, 
                until you write it."
                                   Ancient phrase
   
    ''A human who doesn’t think for himself,       
              doesn’t think at all."
                                    Oscar Wilde

The difference between simple diary and the reflection journal: Simple documentation of events. Writing thoughts and feelings in a metacognition process.

So, this is about more interactive and observational living of the situations and interactions, especially of the learning processes. Furthermore, this is about interpretation of what is happening for ourselves and the others. Finally, it is a chance for getting deeper into our souls.

Specifically, its usefulness:

• Ηighlighting personal ideas, meanings and theoretical principles.
• Better understanding of personal experiences.
• Analysis of personal progress and achievements.
• Capability of turning back for further analysis and processing.
• Stimulation of ideas for the way of thinking and action in similar context.
• Investigation of personal daily perspectives.
• Integration of theory and action.
• Observation of abilities and limitations.
• Ηighlighting goals.

Τhis is all about taking advantage of an education that accrues from direct participation in the events of life (Smith, 2001 ), as the largest volume of knowledge naturally does for most people.

In conclusion, as you get closer to the deeper meaning of the reflection of what happens inside, you gain self knowledge, self-critique and self-improvement. So, your interaction with the outside becomes more functional and effective. Your communicative ability and your power to create reality or change it are truly upgraded.

Then you become stronger to set the idea(l)s in action!

Forme’s inspiration of the selection of the structure appears to me really sophisticated and functional. There is a straight analogy with the sketch above. It contains the individual (1) before the journey, (2) during this and (3) back to his life. In this way it covers all the stages of the experience in order to highlight them and guide the individual all the time.

(1)Preparation stage- “the call” and “passing the threshold”:From where am I starting and where do I want to reach? What are the changes that I want to see in myself?

That was a chance to fingure out the central personal goal. To realize which were the limitations (obstacles) and the supporters (mentors) for the trip and the personal targets of this, as there are in any story for any hero. Surely, these might come from inside. Also, to format a clear idea of the personal objectives about feelings, skills and knowledge. For all these aspects we got the opportunity to retreat in order to evaluate our progress. That was the chance to find our starting point and visualize the ending one. (2) Εxperience stage-“the special world”.

The deep personal question(s) of each day were strongly related to the central activity of the day and furthermore to the basic goal of this. I believe that the travel diary’ s strategy for passing smoothly from individual to team spirit and community living was the main first concern. I felt it as a precious ally on this road and I found it deep to the point.

So, the first four days were dedicated to guide the individual from disparity and egotism to similarity and collectivity. Of course, its approach was not like quit the personal special characteristics and particular needs in order to be assimilated to the team. Instead of this, its strategy was to reveal the identification of person’ s principles and needs . Also, to reveal the preciousness of individual skills and talents for satisfy them. It highlighted the meaning of each personal contribution to the community living and the charm of our uniqueness. Additionally, it supported the participants to realize the roles that played in the group and supported us to take new ones. That was really motivated!

The next four days.