Erasmus+ Project in the Czech Republic

 

 

Our Erasmus+ Meeting at Liceo Scientifico Statale Galileo Galilei in Catania, Italy, 29 May – 3 June 2022

On May 29, six Erasmus+ project participants and two teachers met at 4 a.m. to begin our journey to Catania, Sicily. Despite the lack of sleep, we were very excited to meet students from all over Europe and exchange ideas about our topic of Fake News and the Rise of Populism.

After arriving we met our hosts and their families and got to try our first Italian delicacies.

In the afternoon everyone met in the city centre and got a first impression of the city, the people and the incredibly hot weather.

On Monday we had our first day at school and presented ourselves and our school. Afterwards we had a lecture on the rise of populism by professor Maurizio Casertafrom the University of Catania. In the afternoon we visited the town of Taormina with its beautiful ancient theater.

The next day we took a trip to Syracuse, where a guide showed us a huge cave hollowed out by slaves over centuries, and the third largest Greek theater in the world. The city itself is built entirely of limestone, giving it a white appearance and emphasizing its Greek history.

On Wednesday, we all met at school again and presented our prepared panel discussion, while the other delegations presented an interesting variation of fake news and their spread in their countries. Afterwards, we participated in a workshop on how to recognize fake news, where we designed flyers and posters. Since we were divided into two groups, the other part of the group learned a typical Sicilian dance and had the pleasure of watching an original Sicilian puppeteer. At the end we all received our certificates for participation. We spent the evening at a pool party where we enjoyed the water, had the opportunity to talk to more people and taste the Sicilian specialty Arancino.

 

We started our last full day with a guided tour of Catania, where we got to see beautiful cathedrals, colorful streets and squares. We also learned a lot about Catania's history, which is closely linked to Etna, as the volcano destroyed the city several times and even changed the coastline! After checking out one of the many beautiful but crowded beaches, we all met at a rented soccer field and played a game of Italians vs. Mixed Europe. After a surprisingly clear win of 4 to 1 for us, we ended the day with a pizza.

On Friday we started our return journey to Berlin. After saying goodbye to the other delegations, we had some time to reflect on the past week and the experiences we gained. In workshop activities, we took part in a survey, worked on a presentation on the Catania experience and wrote the website article for our school website.

 

All in all, we were able to learn a lot about fake news, populism and Sicily with its diverse history. We also enjoyed the insight into Italian culture and the delicious culinary specialties. The opportunity to improve our presentation and communication skills as well as the great group dynamics were excellent. However, our highlight of the trip was the interaction and time spent with our hosts and the other delegations. We made many unforgettable memories and new friends!

 

Serhat Aslan (10f) & Team

 

                                                                         project number: VG-S2S-K-BE-19-24-059688