Erasmus in Gran Canaria
Logbook
SITO ALESSANDRA, 4D, LICEO SILVESTRI 23/11 - 28/11
DAY 1
The first day was spent traveling, meeting the families, and getting a first glimpse of the Canary Islands' territory and culture. Even upon landing, one could feel the shift to a warm, relaxed, welcoming reality, where even the beaches and the ocean dominating the landscape seemed to want to invite and accommodate the newcomers. At the same time, however, this first day was the inevitable first encounter with a diversity that carried a mix of fascination, curiosity, and bewilderment: everything was new, unfamiliar, and for that reason, incredibly stimulating.
The welcome and the first impression
DAY 2
THE SCHOOL
In addition to visiting the school, we had the opportunity to present our city and our school, and to notice how it differs from the foreign one. We learned that high school at this institution starts earlier and ends with a choice: two years of 'bachillerato' before university or a professional training. This difference also affects the size, the very large spaces, and the services that the school offers..
AN EXCHANGE OF CULTURES
On the second day we were able to get to know the Josè Zierpa institute. The most obvious features were the large presence of students from various parts of the world and the wide variety of educational paths offered in the same building: from theatrical activities to technical and manual training.
A DIFFERENT SCHOOL
The lessons we attended were always focused on debate and dialogue, centered on mutual exchange and personal expression rather than traditional teaching.
THE LESSONS
DAY 3
On the third day, we carried out group activities focusing on cultural, social, and historical topics. This was an important opportunity to interact with our Spanish classmates, strengthening our bond while also testing our language skills. In addition to English, there was a natural curiosity from both sides about the foreign language, making the exchange even more enjoyable and warm. Besides the activities carried out, the group bond is also fostered by the arrangement of the desks, the free organization of breaks, and the behavior of teachers and students: everything encourages interpersonal relationships.
RELATIONSHIPS
Cultural Activities
The fourth day was entirely dedicated to discovering the cultural heritage present in the Canary Islands, presented by foreign students in the form of a questionnaire. We also had the opportunity and pleasure to experience the local traditions firsthand, exploring the cities and trying typical local dishes.
VISITED PLACES :
DAY 4
Group Activities
In the 5th day we did group activities on the beach. It was one of the greatest days, as we had the opportunity to bond alla together and try many watersports, which we don’t usually do in our country. This was an occasion to come out of the comfort zone and try something i never Did before
DAY 5
Spending a week in another country, with another family, helped me handle every situation independently, even difficult ones.
In addition to developing English language skills, interacting with foreign students helped in learning how to communicate even when the language barrier gets in the way, to learn quickly and improvise useful phrases and words, and to form connections in different ways than usual.
AUTONOMY
PARLARE LA LINGUA E RELAZIONARSI
CONOSCERE CULTURE DIVERSE
What did I learn?
Quest’esperienza mi ha dimostrato che vale sempre la pena di aprirsi alle altre culture ed esplorarle a fondo, anche quando sembra difficile
Conclusion
This experience really felt like magic, and I still feel nostalgic. I've learnt a lot of things during the journey, like I have explained, but there’s a lot more about the things I’ve felt. I would love to do the Erasmus again, now knowing how make the most of it.