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"Hidden in the open Space"_ April 18th to 22nd, 2022. During this week I got to know a fantastic country, Iceland _ through Professor Rita, who with her intuition built a very intense training for teachers from the heritage and cultural point of view .  I acquired historical knowledge of Iceland at the Saga Museum.  Icelanders have shown that they have a strong belief related to fantastic beings _ Elves and Trolls, who protect them from life's adversities.  Icelanders are storytellers and Elves and Trolls are part of these stories, this is essentially their literary culture.  Icelanders have a very strong connection to nature, which is powerful in Iceland.  In Icelandic schools there is a concern for pedagogical work with children linked to literature (stories with trolls) and playing crickets with Icelandic wool.  I learned that the Icelandic people are free and that they have an original cultural and heritage heritage.

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This week I learned...
What a fantastic week of traning course in Iceland, discovering what is hidden in the open space! Iceland and its almost untouched nature of incomparable beauty was the perfect setting for us to reflect and deepen our knowledge of the cultural heritage of a people.

It was a pleasant surprise to see how the people of Iceland, from their beginnings, knew how to combine the visible and the invisible with nature, creating a culture of respect for nature and all beings that inhabit it, always leaving space for the sacred and the magical, as part of their identity and cultural heritage.

The experience of being able to learn outdoors and through experiences were unique opportunities to realize that there are other ways to teach our students in a more meaningful way.

The fact of being able to share these learning experiences with fantastic people from other countries and with other cultures was a great opportunity to improve interculturality, sharing experiences and collaborative work.

Finally, I would like to thank Rita and all the participants of the course for the fantastic opportunity I had of being able to learn more from all of you. It was a week I will never forget.

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Sónia Ferreira
In this incredible land, Iceland, I realized that all the answers to doubts, fears and problems are in Nature and in Beliefs.  Just stop, observe and listen to Nature.  Through it mystical beings come to us and help us.  In this land, wealth comes from the interior of the Earth (nourished water, minerals, rocks with portraits...) and blessings come from the sky (Northern Lights, Trolls, Elves...).  if we open our heart we will surely be gifted.
💞Be happy!

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It was the first time that I participated in an Erasmus+ program course. The experience exceeded my expectations. This course allowed me to deepen the concepts of tangible and intangible cultural heritage and the importance of each one in the cultural heritage of a country. Iceland is an island with a vast natural heritage and we were given the opportunity to get to know and understand it. The course was very well structured and sequenced. Throughout the 5 days of the course, all learnings were connected and interconnected. All the lessons learned in this course are applicable to the island where I live, the island of Madeira. I can also easily create activities for students based on the lessons learned in this course. I also learned about cultural diversity, biodiversity and respect for difference. Was an opportunity to feel the nature and places. Thanks for all.

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What I learned this week... well... I learned from the humanity of each person who taked the course et Rita inclued of course and person we met. I thanks you all for that.
I learned from the wind, the sun, the light, the rare rain, small and biggest stones and little and biggest people of Icelande. I thanks you all for that.
I learned that many of us defend the same pedagogical principles : The pedagogical experience, learning by doing is the most powerful way for growing together and respecting what we all are : children of cultural and natural heritage !
So last words will be, and we can mix the words, it works too ;)
LEARN FROM THE PAST
PREPARE IN THE PRESENT
TO DEFEND THE FUTURE

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I will use the methods of this course in the international education in my work. National traditions are important and through our national heritage we can also understand the culture of other countries. It would have been nice if I had read at least one Saga in Finnish before the course.
It was an amazing week and my head was so full of everything new that I couldn't read magazines or concentrate on any other new things. It is difficult to put in words. Thank you for everybody.

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Such an amazing week! Another great learning experience with incredible people and a wonderful trainner. Attending this course in Iceland  and getting embedded in its culture, history,nature and heritage its simply delightful... The respect for nature, how it's balanced, the importance of hidden creatures its just unbelievable, specially in nowadays.
Thanks!

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The learning during this course has been immense. The contact with the local culture and with the Icelanders has allowed me to understand more and better the importance of preserving our cultural heritage.
The magic of elves and trolls, combined with respect for nature, will stay with me throughout my life!
This week in Iceland was unforgettable!

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Iceland is special and so are its people who welcome foreigners and tourists being happy to teach them about their heritage and beliefs, above all the nature and its power.
Thank you very much for organising this tour and arranging the contents. I am more aware of being careful with natural and personal resources!

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During this week I have seen and experienced a lot. It is really difficult to try to put it in words. But lets try. First of all, Icelandic people are very welcoming and friendly. It feels like I am at home! Learned also about folklore here through stories. Little hidden beings like elves and gnomes are a living part of the culture here. Learning by doing has been the agenda this week. It is a good way to get things done. I have also seen a local school and heard about the local school system. And ,of course, talked with others about many kinds of things. Thanks for this great opportunity to be here.

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I think we need to try to take care of our own cultural heritage. I'm a Finnish teacher but I also teach history. I hope that I can in the future bring Finland's cultural heritage to the classroom more for the students to see and hear from it. In our area, for example, the food culture is unique, for example Finnish fish pasty. There are many interesting stories to tell about places nearby, and there are unique wooden boats which Finnish people have made during the centuries. So there is very much that is so important to tell for students that they don't forget their own roots. Also in Finland there is many, many songs and poems and stories which should be told. This was a very good course.

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I can’t describe what I have learned in a short paragraph.
There are so many things that I would like to write about…
But here it goes.
Iceland is a beautiful country. Despite the harsh weather it’s inhabitants are very friendly and welcoming. They are also truly connected to nature and that connection is passed on and on by folklore. Little people, elves, trolls, they all live in Iceland too and they are very respected by the Icelanders.
I’ve also learned about the school system in Iceland and in the countries from where the other participants came from, Germany, Iceland, Finland and France.
It was the best way to learn! Learning by doing! Learning by talking to each other. Learning by respecting nature, by respecting each other. Learning by taking time to feel the places.
Thank you so much Rita for this amazing learning experience.