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This course has been outstanding! It has been such a privilege to meet our inspiring and knowledgeable course leader Rita and learn about cultural heritage and the importance of safeguarding it. The course has been insightful on both a professional and personal level.

To learn about cultural heritage in such a practical and engaging way has really enabled me to develop a good understanding of what is it and the importance of it. Meeting the Icelandic people on the course and exploring the wonderful Icelandic natural world has given me a clear understanding of their culture and the respect they have for nature. The discussions with Rita and the group have been so informative too and have clarified my understanding and enabled me to reflect on what has been experienced. Through learning about cultural heritage in theory and seeing it practically in Iceland, I can clearly see the importance of developing the children's understanding of their own culture and the impact that this can have. The course has given me ideas, both small and large, to develop what has been taught further. Next steps will involve helping the children to learn about their own culture, storytelling and developing a greater respect for nature.

From a personal point, I have developed a great friendship with an amazing group of people and had time to reflect on different ways of life.

Thank you Rita for organising such a brilliant course.

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Our discussions among us teachers, whether primary or secondary, are kind of « reassuring » : we are facing mostly the same problems, but we are all sort of « cheered up » by this week, ready to come back in our schools with enthusiastic projects. Thank you Rita for this well thought program, combining so perfectly culture and nature, which was exactly what I was looking for ! I’m therefore very happy with this Erasmus training, which allowed me to meet inspiring people, including everybody in my group. I wish we could have more time to exchange together, but the week has passed so quickly that we have to be very satisfied with everything we experienced ! This week was all in all :  fresh air (all points of view…sometimes really fresh though !), cultural inputs, kind and rich relationships, eruption of beauty for the eyes, awareness of ourselves…so rich !

Thanks again, Rita ! Thank you too, guys of my group ! Working with you was so delightful ! Special thanks to Moomtaz who was our official biscuits and sweets supplier ! And our trollish expert !

We all became trolls, enjoying a very good time together as in this photo below !

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A heartfelt thank you everyone; Rita, Christelle, Eleonora, Paula,Kate and my flatmate Bina. You are in my heart and memories.

This week in preparation was full of challenges and anxiety. From the moment I landed Iceland has welcomed me and made my time genuinely exquisite. I feel our group bonded over ‘cream tea ‘ and we became a family.
Each day brought greater insight, inspiration and understanding. The sheer magnificence, power and uniqueness of this country is something I am still digesting. The people are so strong, content and firm in their cultural heritage and respect of nature that it beggars belief we have not maintained ours.
Being here in Iceland I feel privy to their knowledge and am deeply honoured to have been part of this exceptional journey.
The fact I actually met these marvellous, inspirational people; Vesturbaejarskoli staff & children, Sigurbjorg Karlsdottir, Bjarni Haroarson, Pall Guomundsson, Steiner Berg , Marten our guide, Eleonora, Christelle and the finally the fantastic Rita has been life changing. Despite sounding dramatic, it is genuinely true.
We have experienced, shared and discussed intimate information, thoughts, feelings and literally bared our souls.
The fact that this course was not conference style (academia based) but involved actually meeting real people, experiencing real culture and sharing reflections openly and honestly has made this project successful.
I am excited with this new found insightfulness and am eager to implement this acquired knowledge.

Thank you Iceland for opening my eyes, mind and soul.

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Thank you Rita for an awesome experience I have had. This international project has given me an opportunity not only to reflect on my self but to to respect other cultures and beliefs around me. Even though I live in a multicultural society it is easy to get caught up in the life and surroundings of day to day life that I live in. I am my self to blame for this as you pointed out today it is important to keep tradition alive. Throughout this whole week Iceland has given me this opportunity
to reconnect with my self once more. I will take back all the stories and folklore stories that I have heard and first implement this in my own home, implement and drip feed slowly in my other surroundings. I am optimistic that sharing cultural heritage will help to enrich the lives of others through diversity.
It has been a pleasure working with you Rita, along with Christelle, Eleonora and my colleagues Moomtaz, Kate and Paula. I do hope I have the opportunity to be able to work with you in the future!

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Firstly, I’d like to say thank you to Rita for organising this wonderful course. Thank you to Rita, Christelle, Eleanora, Kate, Moomtaz and Bina for sharing this experience with me. It has been eye opening and awe inspiring on many levels. Firstly, for the new friendships and deepening of existing professional relationships where we have had the time and space to get to know each other better. It doesn’t matter where you are from, you can always find experiences in common.
Secondly, I have learnt so much about Icelandic history and culture, which in turn has made me reflect on my own. It has been really interesting to learn about, and see first hand, the link between nature and cultural heritage in Iceland. I have so many ideas to take back to my school in England in order to teach the children about English cultural heritage. I Intend to begin by developing the children’s oral storytelling skills and teaching them about the this tradition.
The experience has also opened my mind more to the possibilities of those things that you cannot always see or touch. The experience of meeting people who spoke openly about hidden creatures and the impact on the lives of the communities has been truly magical.
Lastly, it didn’t take long to fall head over heels in love with Iceland. The people, the landscape and the stories have made this week one that I will never forget.

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Day 5

The Heritage Cycle was an important discovery for me today: if you understand your own culture, folklore and natural surroundings, you will succeed in making other people value those. By valueing them, it will help people to care for them. And if you care for something you will immediately enjoy it and will be eager to learn even more about it.
This is where school comes in. Since more and more families get out of touch with folklore and nature, it is up to schools and up to every single teacher to create the means to step into the awareness of natural culture. Start international projects! Start involving students and their parents as well! And soon they will re-know about their own culture as they will be confronted with a different one.
Therefore, share your story, enrich the lives of others and discover diversity to help preserving cultural heritage!