Our Erasmus+ journey to the heart of Emilia-Romagna was a truly unforgettable experience. It was a full-on dive into the cultural and culinary Italian lifestyle. From the historical streets of Parma to the architectural memorials of Bologna, there was enough time to get a closer look onto a big variety of important places that represent italian culture and history, giving us a great opportunity to gain knowledge and build new international friendships.
Sunday: A Warm Welcome
The journey began with an evening arrival in Reggio Emilia. We were warmly greeted by our host families—the people who would become our „home away from home“ for the week. We spent the evening settling in, exploring our new surrounding, and getting to know our host families, by having traditional Italian dinner together.
Monday: Breaking the Ice and exploring “City Secrets”
Our first official day started at the local school- ,,IESS‘‘. We participated in several “getting-to-know-eachother” activities, including a guessing game (pictionary) and small-group discussions to help us build a deeper connection with the other international peers.
In the afternoon, we headed to the city center for a scavenger hunt (Ralley). While solving various puzzles, we got a closer look on the beautiful architecture of the city center, exploring the historical background of “reggio emilia”. The day was concluded with some free time, allowing everyone to explore the city at their own pace.
Tuesday: The Elegance of Parma
Tuesday was dedicated to Parma. After an insightful guided tour through the city’s elegant piazzas, we had the afternoon to ourselves. Many of us took the opportunity to enjoy some local shopping and, of course, indulge in the incredible local cuisine.
Wednesday: Tradition and History
On wednesday, we took a walk to the “Trampolini“ main square, before visiting a beautiful local church ,,Sant’ Agustino‘‘, representing italian culture in a wonderful way. The highlight of the day was a cooking workshop, on how to prepare “Tortelli verdi” – a traditional dish, including pasta stuffed with spinach,chard and the regional cheese “Parmigiano Reggiano”. After the hard work (just kidding – we really enjoyed it :-)), we had lunch all together, tasting the meal we prepared in the morning. The result was simply delicious!
Later, we visited the “Museo del Tricolore”, where we took a deeper dive into the fascinating history behind the birth of the Italian national flag.
Thursday: Dancing in Bologna
On Thursday, we made our way to Bologna. By travelling with the bus to the outskirts of the city, we already charged our energy for the upcoming dance class in a local dancing school. It was a fun afternoon as we learned the steps to the Cha-Cha-Cha, Salsa, and Mazurka. What a great way to bond through movement and music!
Friday: From Cheese to Storytelling
Our final full day began with a tour in the “Vakurosso cheese factory”, famous for producing some of the finest Parmesan in the world. We learned about the complex production process and ended the tour by tasting the differently aged cheeses.
Back in Reggio Emilia, we participated in a storytelling workshop with storyteller “Francesco Lenzini” and wrapped up our official program with a fun photo competition, reflecting on the best moments of the week.
Saturday: Ciao, Italia!
Our journey came to an end early Saturday morning. We gathered at the station for our 6:40 AM train, beginning our long, but reflective way back to Austria. While we were sad to leave, we returned home with full suitcases and even fuller hearts.
Summary: This Erasmus+ exchange provided us with a deep understanding of Italian culture, from its culinary heritage to its artistic history. We leave with improved language skills, a lot of new knowledge and lifelong lasting international friendships.