Erasmus+ in Rome: Our Week with Heritage of Health

Ciao from Rome! We, Joséphine, Emma, Miruna, Alexia and Nica spent five days at the Liceo Vittoria Colonna in Rome for the fifth meeting our Erasmus+ project "Heritage of Health: Sport, Wellbeing and Nutrition across Europe". We weren't alone: students from Finland, Estonia, Spain and Norway were there too. So it was basically a mini Europe in one school, and honestly, it was one of the best weeks of the year.

The Italian students gave us a warm welcome with a Kahoot quiz, a speed-dating game and a tour of the city centre, from Piazza Navona to the Trevi Fountain. We started one morning with a mindfulness session and then walked through ancient Rome all the way into the Colosseum, which is way more impressive than in any photo. Another highlight was a three-hour bike tour along the Circus Maximus and the Appian Way. Tired legs, but totally worth it.

Of course, nutrition was part of the project too, so we visited one of Rome's oldest gelato makers and learned how real gelato is made (and tasted it, obviously). A more serious moment was the presentation about the "School in Hospital" project, where teachers teach sick children at the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital. It made us realise how lucky we are to be healthy. The week ended with a big farewell party, a visit to the EU space "Esperienza Europa", pizza and a last walk through Trastevere.

We practised our English every day, made friends from five countries and learned that health is about more than sport. A huge "grazie mille" to our Italian hosts and their families and to our teachers for making this trip possible. Arrivederci, Roma!