Europe on Air: Travel-Battle and the Cultural Code

On May 11, at the Faculty of Psychological-Pedagogical Education and Arts of Berdyansk State Pedagogical University, as part of the educational component “Intercultural Communication and the Development of European Mobility of Future Primary School Teachers,” a vibrant intellectual event took place – “Europe on Air: Travel-Battle and the Cultural Code,” dedicated to Europe Day in Ukraine. Under the guidance of moderator Krystyna Petryk, Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Pedagogy, participants embarked on a genuine Travel-Battle journey across the continent together with speakers Kateryna Polishchuk and Maryna Kononenko, members of the FPPEA Young Scientists Council and second-year (Master’s level) students of speciality A3 “Primary Education.”

The event unfolded as a captivating dialogue between theory and practice: participants explored how the “silent language of culture” shapes our reactions and behaviour in everyday life. From the gastronomic etiquette of different countries – where an empty plate in China is considered an insult, while loudly slurping noodles in Japan is a compliment – to the eco-code of modern Europe with its waste-sorting systems and culture of sustainable development. Particularly engaging was the discussion on power distance: why in Scandinavia a professor is addressed simply by first name, while in France dropping a title can cost one’s academic reputation. The “Peach” and “Coconut” model helped participants understand why an American’s open smile is not an invitation to friendship, and a German’s reserved silence is not a sign of hostility.

Interactive games “True or Fake,” a Zoom quiz, and the Kahoot quest “How to Survive in the EU” transformed theory into a lively team experience, proving that knowing the cultural code means not just avoiding awkward situations, but building real bridges between people.

This event became yet another vivid confirmation that Ukraine is an inseparable part of the European community – one that not only strives for integration, but thoughtfully embraces shared values. Students, faculty, and guests gained more than new knowledge; they gained a genuine experience of feeling Europe not as a distant dream, but as a living dialogue of cultures with a place for everyone. Because the road to a united Europe begins not at borders, but with understanding and it is precisely this understanding that we nurture within the walls of our university.

Based on materials from the Department of Pedagogy