The Travel Experience and the Erasmus mobility looking at the Rutelli' students
The travel experience within the Erasmus programme is a form of journey in which students and teachers focus on experiencing a country, city or particular place by actively and meaningfully engaging with its history, people, culture, food and environment. The general objective of the Programme is to support, through lifelong learning, the educational, professional and personal development of people in education, training, youth and sport, in Europe and beyond, thereby contributing to sustainable growth, quality jobs and social cohesion, to driving innovation, and to strengthen European identity and active citizenship. During these last months, our Rutelli students made several Erasmus mobility. They visited interesting and beautiful places and became friendly with their peers. Here, we describe their experience reporting their personal opinion.
Starting from the beginning, the project objective was to make students work together in transnational groups using interesting tools, strategies and innovative learning methods. Romanian mobility was the first experience for the project made by students. It took place at Ramnicu Valcea, a beautiful small town situated near Bucarest. Owing to the war, we didn't get the authorisation to travel. Our families were worried looking at the news from Ukraine and Russia about the conflict. Despite everything, we participated through online mobility.
The activity
DAY 1 – Presentations of the school including the student’s community with their families, staff and local authorities. In the afternoon a walk through the city revealed the most important recreational values linked to the river: Capela Hill, „Antim Ivireanu” County Library, Anton Pann Memorial House, etc; DAY 2 was dedicated to An interactive touristic map of Cozia National Park using GIS, Lecturer, Gabriel Vasile Dascălu, PhD at “Simion Mehedinți-Nature and Sustainable Development” Doctoral School, Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest and to a workshop on how to develop creativity: DAY 3 – Visits to the Ciunget Hydropower plant, Cozia Monastery, and S. C. Călimănești Căciulata, the main actor in the exploitation of the geothermal waters used for treatment but also in Aqua Parks. DAY 4 – Methods and strategies used to promote Vâlcea region in Europe, taking into consideration the recreational values of Olt river, presented by missis Monica Gheorghiu from the National Center for Tourist Information and Promotion, Vâlcea and a Workshop – students, in transnational groups realized posters to promote the tourism in Vâlcea County, taking in consideration that recreation is a major ecosystem service and an important co-benefit of nature conservation; DAY 5 – Recreational values of the Olt River Valley – Hike to the Lotrișor waterfall and Arutela castrum to analyze recreational values and management effects in the River Olt basin - seeking recreational benefits through fishing, swimming, camping, walking, birdwatching, sporting events, social gatherings and other activities on or near the waterway. A teachers' progress meeting was held in order to discuss the next steps of the project and the program of next mobility.
On the first day, we showed our presentation. It was on local fauna. All the groups made a PowerPoint that explained their local fauna. It was interesting because we know new species and birds, but also regulations about protected areas and natural reserves. The first day was interesting because we know also the hosting school, the families and the students participating in the project.
During the evening, we had the possibility to find new friends and visit the town.
The mobility in Greece was importat for us. We had the possibility to explore everything interesting for us, including also the food, the hotels, and their beautiful natural places and beaches. This experience helped us to learn how is important nature and the local ecosystem. We don't think to find similar places everywhere, because every place is unique and with an exact identity.
The flight from Palermo to Barcelona was simple and relaxing. Torroella de Montgrì was our final destination. There, we met old and new friends, the teachers and the school where to do our next Erasmus activity.
The week was intense and full of activity. We visited the castle and the old town centre, moreover, we visited also the local museum where met the Mayor.
The week was so fast that is impossible to remember everything made. To walk, explore, learn, and fun were the key words of this mobility. We visited Girona, the natural park near Montgrì, Medes Island and Platera beach which is a space of natural interest and talked to a professor of environmental sciences.