Fresh Start - Olot, Spain

BACK TO NATURE OLOT’S MEETING

Between the 25^th and the 29^th of November Olot hosted the first meeting within the Back to Nature Erasmus + project which in short focuses on the implementation of natural elements in the everyday life.

Participants from Croatia, Macedonia and Italy were welcomed at the school by their host students who were impatient, excited and willing to meet them. Hosting is a challenge, but also an opportunity to involve loads of school staff and students, an opportunity to open the school to collaborations and alliances with external agents, and above all, an opportunity for all to meet and get to know people from other countries and cultures, and to build and tighten bonds between all.

The meeting kicked off with a visit around the school guided by some students, to later on meet all together to introduce ourselves and our schools and cities. As it was the first meeting, presentations were a must. After that, the participants visited the school’s Erasmus corner to vote for the favourite logo to represent the project. Then, the hosting school organised a welcoming event involving teachers and students from different ages. It was time to show the local and Catalan culture and traditions to the visitors. We finished the first day with a reception at the city hall and an English class based on food habits and diets of the participant nationalities.

The second day was an outdoors day. As Olot is surrounded by volcanoes, participants were taken on a guided tour to see the Croscat, one of the most iconic volcanoes in the area. We learnt about volcanism, and a bit about local farming too. The second part of the day was spent with a local association that produces creams, ointments and medicines from plants and herbs. They organised for us a workshop around the rosemary and its benefits and they showed the participants how to elaborate different products and its richness for the human body and health.

Third day was a cultural day as we visited Barcelona. First stop was in the Natural Science museum. Located in a privileged neighbourhood by the sea, it permitted the students to immerse in the origins of the earth and life. Then we were taken on a guided tour through the Gothic and Medieval parts of old the city. A fantastic experience that let us learn some legends, stories, and not really well-known facts about the city. We finished the day with some free time around the city centre, a good moment for shopping, sightseeing or a quick visit to Sagrada Família.

The meeting come to its end on Friday. The day started with a digital herbarium workshop. Students worked in small mixed groups to create them. Then, a great outdoors activity was organised and participants were taken on bikes and foot around the National Park that surrounds the city. They were guided through trails and paths by some of the school VET students, and discovered “Fageda d’en Jordà”, the most famous beech forest in Catalonia. To finally close the meeting, a farewell party was held mixing students, teachers and host families. Parents brought different food; it was a good opportunity for visitors to taste some of the local specialities. Participants strengthen their ties with some birthday cakes and dances. It was a nice and special moment, emotional and fulfilling.

Now, with the meeting finished, and after some days of reflection, we are in the position to say that a promising and powerful partnership has started. We are all looking forward to next meeting and shared activities.