Reports from Kalajoki

Mobility in Finland

Finspiration through senses.
Always surrounded in fairy-tale and breathtaking landscapes: expanses of snow, frozen sea, never-ending sunsets, evergreen forests, snowy bridges suspended over white rivers, unusual silence and unusual noises. Non-ordinary colors characterize the rhythm of time, surprising smells and flavours delight the palate.
Finspiration through emotions.
The wonder of discoveries: children cycling to school everymorning covering kilometers in the snow, guys walking without hats and gloves at -5, money for coffee left in the piggy bank, a school that looks like a home. The excitement of doing new marvellous things: lighting a fire in the snow, walking on a frozen sea, making holes and fishing in the ice, rolling in the snow after an hot smoked sauna.
Finspiration through heart.
Living everything with beloved friends, laughing without stopping and feeling pampered by the attentions and kindness of the hosts.

It has been more than a mobility, it has been the Finspiration to HAPPINESS.

Special thanks to Jouko Toskala and Paivi Siirila

Pina Tontodonato

Raffaele’s Diary

My Finnish Erasmus Experience

Hi! My name’s Raffaele and I’m from Italy. About two years ago I received an e-mail where there was a proposal, an unknown proposal about an Erasmus project. At the beginning I didn’t want to believe I would have took part in  an important project like this. Than there was the first meeting with our teachers and from the beginning I wanted  to give the best of me to my mates and to my teachers. Finally in October there was the first meeting  here in Italy. It was incredible! I couldn’t imagine all of those emotional and amusing moments. That group was like a family for me. We shared all of those moments living some amazing experiences about our tradition. I’m sure I won’t forget this experience all life long. 

But now I want to talk about my Finnish experience. From 11th to 17th February 2018 I and  other three Italian students  have been to Kalajoki, a town in the middle of Finland.

 I decided to write these words to explain the  beautiful memories I  lived there.

 I found a place of course really different from Sicily but I lived some unforgettable experiences about their traditions. I couldn’t imagine before how they live and how they approach to normal life with that weather. There I discovered how much I like that weather and that it’s amazing living with those spectacular landscapes. There I found special friends and teachers and I could share some interesting activities and workshops with them. I want to remember especially the forest experience where we could cook some pancakes in the middle of the forest, we could ski and jump inside paljou and sauna. I was interested in their prom that we could see during the last day. It was amazing!

I want to conclude thanking all my teachers and my mates who make this possible.

I love Erasmus!

Alessandra's diary 

There aren't any words to describe such a fantastic experience.
I'm so glad to have taken part in this project, it was very interesting and useful and it gave me great opportunities.
Thanks to this Erasmus project I have met new people, visited a new country, seen new landscapes and known different cultures.
In just one week, all the people I met has become  important friends for me and saying goodbye has been very difficult for everyone.
One of the best experience was the surival day.
Walking on iced sea or in the forest full of snow, having the sauna was exciting.
We have also taken part in some typical school events such as the "Abi's day" and the "Wanhat", it was an amazing way to get in touch with finnish culture and have fun as well.
I want to thank my host family and everyone who organized this meeting and took part in it.
I will always remember this experience, everything I've seen and everyone I met.
Thanks Erasmus ♥
Goodbye for now, Alessandra.

Giulia’s diary

A unique experience. I’ll never forget all powerful emotions that I felt during this amazing week and all the special friends that I met and that I hope to see again one day. When I arrived in Finland I wasn’t certain of what I would have found but the reality has largely exceeded expectation. I fell in love with that spectacular landscapes, so different from the sicilian ones. 

My favourite experience was the survival day. Cooking pancakes on the snow, building snowmen all together and having sauna and paljou was fantastic.

 I also liked taking part in the “Abi’s day” event and seeing their lovely prom.

 I’d like to thank everyone who took part in this great experience and who made it possible.

I love Erasmus!! 💓