ERASMUS STUDENTS FROM GERMANY VISIT CALDES DE MALAVELLA

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ERASMUS STUDENTS FROM GERMANY  VISIT  CALDES DE MALAVELLA

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ERASMUS IN CALDES  

VIDEO ABOUT THE CITY OF GIRONA

Here's the video about  GIRONA we prepared for our German partners. 

VISIT TO LA FAGEDA D'EN JORDÀ IN OLOT

                                                                             

 LA FAGEDA D'EN JORDÀ

Last Wednesday, our group experienced a day filled with educational and fun activities.

8:05 - Library: Construction of a Paper Planisphere

• Instructions by Paula and Joana: Paula and Joana taught us how to cut, fold, and glue pieces to create a paper planisphere, improving our manual skills and ability to follow instructions.

8:30 - Explanation of the Olot Trip:

• Led by Jofre and Me, Eloy: Jofre and I explained the trip details and distributed brochures. We were responsible for taking photos and writing the day's news.

9:00 - Bus to Olot:

• We prepared for the day's activities during the bus ride.

10:30 - Hike to Santa Margarida Volcano:

• We learned about volcanic geology and observed the volcano's crater, understanding how volcanoes shape the landscape.

12:00 - Guided Tour of La Fageda Cooperative:

• We learned about the cooperative's mission of labor integration for people with disabilities and their production processes, emphasizing social responsibility and teamwork.

13:30 - Picnic Lunch at Parc Nou in Olot:

• We enjoyed a picnic and shared impressions of the morning's activities.

15:00 - Return to the Center:

• We returned to the center after a day of learning and new experiences.

17:00 - Karaoke Party and Dinner at Home:

• We ended the day with a fun karaoke party.

Lessons Learned

• Manual Skills and Following Instructions: Building the paper planisphere improved our concentration and patience.

• Geology and Environment: The volcano hike taught us about volcanic geology and nature conservation.

• Social Responsibility and Teamwork: La Fageda Cooperative visit highlighted the importance of social responsibility and inclusion.

• Organization and Communication: Jofre and I showed the value of good organization and communication in documenting the trip.

• Socialization and Fun: The karaoke party increased the relationships among mates.

Eloy and Jofre 

BLANES : MARIMUTRA BOTANICAL GARDEN

 

VISIT TO THE BOTANICAL GARDEN 

The students participating in the Erasmus project went to the botanical garden of Blanes, the Marimurtra.

We started the day in the school library, where two classmates gave an explanation of what would be done during the day and the teachers gave the German students a challenge: they had to take a creative photograph,with their exchange partner, of a plant that they liked in the garden.

When we arrived in Blanes, we had breakfast in the Sant Francesc cove, and from there we went to the botanical garden.

They explained many interesting things to us, for example that its name comes from the fusion of the words "mar" and "murtra", (the latter is the name of a plant that was found a lot in that area). They also told us that they had plants from Cyprus, as they grow much more there, that their bamboos do not produce flowers, as they share genetics between them through their roots, that they have houses for insects to increase biodiversity and help pollinate the garden, or that in 2024, Marimurtra will be 100 years old.

The garden was created by Carl Faust, a man born in 1874 in Hadamar, who gave up everything to make his dream come true, to build a botanical garden.

We were able to talk to the 2 German volunteers who come every year to Marimurtra to help with the garden, and they explained their experience here.

 

Erika and Monse

VISIT TO FUNDACIÓ MONA (RIUDELLOTS DE LA SELVA)

 

MONA FOUNDATION

On Monday 22nd of April, the Erasmus group set off on our bikes and made our way to Mona Foundation. An 8 km ride that took us about an hour.

During our visit to Mona Foundation, an organization dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of chimpanzees that have been held captive and abused by humans, we learned a valuable lesson about the relationship between humans and animals.

If an animal is raised in captivity, it cannot and will never be able to return to its natural habitat, to nature. This happens because if the animal gets used to being fed, to living enclosed in a few square meters… it cannot develop the necessary skills to survive in the wild. Therefore, every time an animal is in captivity, we are directly depriving it of its freedom for life.

Some people have made a habit of humanizing animals as a form of entertainment, without considering the negative consequences this can have. By laughing or taking photos with animals that have been trained to perform tricks or unnatural behaviours, we are indirectly contributing to animal abuse.

It is important to reflect on the way we interact with animals and ask ourselves if we are contributing to harmful practices. We must be aware that animals deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, not as mere attractions for our entertainment.

In conclusion, this experience has taught us the importance of being empathetic and responsible in our relationship with wild animals, avoiding supporting practices that may cause them suffering. It is essential to educate ourselves and raise awareness about the importance of conservation and respect for all forms of life on the planet.

Lucía and Estefi

SAINT GEORGE'S DAY IN GIRONA AND SANT MAURICI

 

 

SAINT GEORGE'S DAY  IN  GIRONA 

On  Tuesday April 23rd, Saint George's Day, the exchange students and their partners were given very special bookmarks. 

These bookmarks had species of plants representative of the Mediterranean forest. 

Each bookmark had a dried plant with its scientific name and its common name in Catalan and German.

Each mixed pair of students had the same plant in their bookmark. 

They were also given a rose, a typical gift of Saint George's Day. 

We took the train to Girona where we could see the different book and rose stalls.

In Girona we went to the market of "La Plaça del LLeó" , where we did an activity about the vegetables sold in Spain, and we could compare them to the German ones, there are some vegetables which are only grown in our country.  After that, we visited the most important buildings like the  Cathedral, the Jewish quarter and "El cul de la lleona" (the Lioness ass) in les Rambles.  The legend says that if you kiss the lioness ass, you will come back to Girona.

HIKING TO SANT  MAURICI 

 That same afternoon at 7 p.m. all the members of the project went to Sant Maurici. Once there they were told the famous legend of our town, "the Malavella  legend".  They also toured the abandoned castle. After this route, we looked for a place where we could have a picnic. 

They all stood in a circle and began to eat. The night ended by looking at the stars and constellations with the help of the planistel set up in the morning and with Félix playing the guitar.

Paula B. and Joana

 

VISIT TO BARCELONA:

PARK GÜELL AND SAGRADA FAMILIA

Friday, April 26, was the last day with the exchange students. We went to Barcelona to see some of the most important monuments and places there.

First, we stopped at the Triumphal Arch to have breakfast and take some photos of this beautiful structure.

In the morning, we took a walk through Park Güell, a park comissioned by Eusebi Güell and designed by Antoni Gaudí.

Eusebi Güell was born on December 15, 1846, and he died on July 8, 1918 in Barcelona. He was an important politician, businessman and a patron of arts and letters. He studied science, economics and mathematics in different countries. He is famous because of his work, as a patron of Antoni Gaudí, he ordered to Gaudí to build Park Güell and Palau Güell.

After visiting Park Güell, we went to Plaça Catalunya to see this emblematic place in Barcelona.

At midday, we went in small groups to have lunch and visit some shops on our own. Afterwards, we visited the Sagrada Família. We had a guided tour at 5:30 p.m. Once there, a guide explained the history of the Sagrada Família. She told us that the construction follows the design of Antoni Gaudí, who had created all the drawings and models of the Sagrada Familia with specific instructions for how it should be built, before his death. We learnt about the facades, the Nativity Facade (which is the most detailed because it symbolizes the joy of life through nature) and the Passion Facade (which is less detailed and represents the death and resurrection of Jesus). The guide also explained that some columns are shaped like trees, and the glasses of the windows are of different colours, in one side of the wall there are red glasses and on the other one there are green and blue glasses. The red glasses symbolize the day, because when the sun appears inside the monument the light is red and orange like sunrise, and later it changes to the blues and greens of the later day, symbolizing nature.They explained to us the years of construction of each part. First, they built the chapel of Sant Josep, and the crypt, which was completed in 1885. Then, in 1891 they started the construction of the Nativity Facade. In 1954, when the Nativity Facade was completed, they started putting the foundations of the Passion Facade. After that they built the towers of the Evangelists Virgin Mary and Jesus. They continued with the cross on the top of the Passion Facade, in 2018. In 2022 the towers of Marc and Lluc and in 2023 the towers of Joan and Mateu (the Evangelists) were completed.

                                                                                                                                    Irina and Carla