Cultural exchange with Heathwood High School

  Heathwood High School as part of their PEAK program had chosen Sardinia as a destination for their trip to Italy this year instead of the more common touristic and overtrodden destinations of Venice, Rome and Florence.  The Heathwood team under the guidance of two amazing group leaders James Hane and Elizabeth Grove came excited and ready to get the best out of their week in Sardinia.

In collaboration with Genna, Liceo Pitagora Isili and the Country Living School we had all organized a fantastic week long itinerary.  Everything was all set up and ready for their arrival, with a welcoming buffet at the hotel and a great program at hand.  An hour before they were due to arrive in Isili, we received a call from the group.  They had just flown in from America and had a very long flight filled with delays that created the feeling of a bit of an auspicious start.  The group leaders informed me that there was a problem with the rental car agencies and asked if I could come down and lend a hand.  By the time the we all left the airport and got to Isili, alot of the students, for some their first time overseas, were exhausted, cranky and ready to go back home.  The team leaders from Heathwood, Mrs. Grove and Mr. Hane, patiently and confidently explained that these were all life lessons that are fundamental to learn.

Travelling can have all kinds of set backs they explained but it’s also filled with suprises, friendship and the strength that comes through overcoming obstacles.

Indeed, the experience of the students from Heathwood High School just kept getting better and better and from what seemed like a disaster turned out to be one of the best experiences of their life.

Here is their week-long program

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March 4th  -Morning: Pick up 8:10 Hotel Cardellino 9:00-12:00 Communication workshop at Liceo Pitagora Isili.  12:30-1:30 PM  Organic kilometer 0 lunch at the headquarters of Genna association 1:30 PM-2:45 PM break 3:00 PM-5:30 Meeting at Geoparc in Genoni.  Workshop with Michele Zucca expert and curator of the fossil museum. 7:00 Dinner Hotel Cardellino

5^th March    Morning: 9:00-11:45    Cheese workshop in Gesturi at the agritourism Sa Stiddia Droxia. 12:00-1:00 picnic in Giara Plateau national park 1:00 – 4:00  Bike tour and discovery of the park 5:30  Carnival Parade in Isili 7:00 Dinner Hotel Cardellino

6^th March              Morning: 9:00 – 1:00 PM  Hike to Sa Stiddiosa 2:00 PM – 3:00 Break 3:00-5:30  PM  Pasta workshop at the hq of Genna Association.  Second encounter with local students as part of program “Talking through food” 7:00 PM Dinner Hotel Cardellino

7^th March  Morning:  Meet up at 9:00 AM at the Country Living School 9:30-12:00 Group work planting olive trees, planting this spring’s vegetable garden, caring and tending for the winter garden.  Visit the beehives.  Small time for reflection on the experiences of the week. 12:00-1:30 PM lunch and visit to the Parco Aymerich Laconi 7:00 PM Final dinner with students from local high school.  Giving out gifts, high fives and certificates.

8^th of March 9:00 Departure for Cagliari 3:00 PM Guided visit of the Roman Amphitheater and the Archaeological Museum of Cagliari Meet up point:  Roman Amphitheater

9^th of March 10:00 AM Guided excursion of the underground and secret sites of Cagliari with Sardinia Magic Experience. Afternoon:  Free time

10^th of March Return home