From May 2nd to 9th, a group of 4th-year ESO students, accompanied by two teachers. Alberto Sanjuán and Mª Amparo Prats, visited the Istituto Omnicomprensivo di Alanno in Italy. We have previously carried out other Erasmus exchanges with this school and actively collaborate with them on environmental and gardening activities. The school boasts extensive orchards and even produces its own wine, reinforcing its educational approach, which aligns with our vision of a education in harmony with the natural environment and traditional agricultural work.
Furthermore, we were amazed by Abruzzo: its stunning landscapes, its exquisite Mediterranean cuisine and, above all, the warmth and hospitality of its people, so friendly and authentic.
During this exchange, the students from our center participated in different gardening workshops such as planting tomato varieties from the Abruzzo area, rosemary cuttings and lettuce in the hydroponic system, as well as attending classes on fermentation and beer making, bread dough and pizza. Other workshops they attended included the analysis of water collected from the street in the institute’s laboratory, and they also went to the Tirino River to analyze its waters and carry out environmental maintenance activities (pictures).
In other activities we learned how doughs and pizzas are prepared by hand, we learned about the use of blunderbusses as a traditional fishing tool and we visited places with great environmental value.
Throughout the trip, we also discovered the cultural affinities between València and Abruzzo. In the architecture, the cuisine, and even in certain expressions of hospitality, we found echoes of a connection that, although sometimes forgotten, remains present in the identity of both regions.
Finally, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the school’s vice-principal, Sabatino Quieti, for his gentlemanly conduct, generosity, and intelligence. We have gained not only an enriching experience but also a friend with whom we look forward to collaborating in the future.