Disconnect to reconnect
Disconnect to reconnect
Italy. One imagines beautiful sea, sun, and a beach holiday, but for our Slovak team, it was, frankly, a shock that caused a change in our heart rhythm on the first day. Our project, named Disconnect to reconnect, took place on a farm on a hill near the town of Passignano sul Trasimeno. However, we Slovaks joined forces, pushed aside prejudices about outdoor showers or composting toilets, and plunged into the adventure with such enthusiasm that we won everything we could. It's worth mentioning that our six-member team consisted of completely different people, so our family had representation and talent in a wide range of areas.
The initial meeting with the Spanish and Latvians took place on the train from Rome. Since we had transfers, we managed to get off one stop further, which broke down initial barriers. In this relaxed atmosphere, the organizers found us and took us to the hill with sheep, where we also met the Italians, Romanians, and French. After getting off, we found out that we would be sleeping in tents for 6 people, along with other participants, which made this project even more interesting. After all, when you wake up in the morning with a grasshopper crawling on you, or you go to sleep and trip over 5 other nationalities because electricity is not a given at such altitudes, it affects you for the rest of your life.
As a challenge, they told us to try to function for 10 days with one 100% charged mobile phone battery. Then they put away our chargers, and we felt the true message of this project – to try to connect with nature instead of connecting with technologies that have influenced us so much that we forget how to have normal conversations. During a picnic among olive trees, we discussed how to avoid the pressure of apps and advertisements, and whether to look for the advantages and disadvantages of technologies. We always concluded that technological advancements move us forward, but we need to set boundaries for them. Funny energizers always boosted us, but I was surprised by tree hugging and rules like – don't kill insects. However, I must admit that I noticed a change in myself. When an ant crawled on me, I no longer squashed it mindlessly but seriously placed it on the ground and set it free!
We must not forget to mention the two-month volunteers from all over the world, about 30 of them, who participated with us in activities, logistics, and documenting these unforgettable moments. For example, they prepared authentic Italian pizza for us or held a workshop on the topic of women's position in society. They also prepared an evening bonfire where we were to present and act out myths and legends from our countries. Báthory won for us; we embellished her biography, and she was a success. A happy woman indeed. Other times, we spent evenings in informal conversations, deep discussions where you learned unique life stories, or dancing until morning. The Intercultural nights, where we were to present our beloved Slovakia, went excellently, and I think more than one volunteer will still remember the scent of traditional borovička.
I think that despite the lack of meat components in the diet, we managed and even grew fond of this eco-bio-raw-vegan food. But I must admit that the opinions, comments, and broad perspectives of people affected me more than the food. Long after saying goodbye, the feeling resonated within me that something extraordinary had happened, not only to our exterior (who would bother with that on a farm? 😊), but also to our interior. I want to thank all the members for giving us the opportunity to travel on an Erasmus+ project – a youth exchange – and learn something new, unknown, yet beautiful. I also want to encourage all of you who hesitate and have concerns: go. You will gain memories and experiences that you will remember for a long time.