The end of my ESC experience in Italy. How it was.

Below are 365 days of practices and traits I have applied to my life and seen as a day-by-day improvement in reaching the goals and overcoming the obstacles that come along. 

During twelve months since my arrival to the northern part of Italy for long-term ESC Project ‘YOUng Culture’:

• I’ve been participated in three Erasmus+ training-courses in Bulgaria, Malta and Romania;
• acted as a Russian teacher assistant and held more than 12 lessons about wildlife and conservation areas in Russia at Belluno school (Renier Liceum) and more than 9 lessons at Feltre school (Colotti Instituto), 
• spoken on the conference in Feltre ‘The White Paper and the EU Future’, 
• worked for eight months in the office of Feltre tourist center and made guided tours to all English-speaking visitors, 
• had a research and presentation in Mezzano in the framework of training-course and ‘Stand Against Drugs’ Project on drug addiction issue in Belluno province, 
• have taken photos of Feltre city (people, buildings and facades, streets, ladders, churches) and have written the description for travellers of all types for IsoIpse and Izi.Travel.Italia Project,
• participated in Organizing committee of Giro d’Italia, the international cycling competition, and Tour de Friends, the annual festival for non-professional cyclists,
• have been doing a trekking to many places around the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park

The Dolomites are such an extraordinary area you never tire of seeking out those spots as soft dreamy pastures, rugged rock faces and the resplendence of its colours. 

So for more than eight months I’ve been working as a volunteer for tourist centre office in Feltre, the neighbouring ancient walled town with a 1000-long history. Being a guide I got acquainted with people from all over the world: New Zealand, China, Japan, Canada, France, Germany, Poland, USA, Netherlands, Russia, Australia, Brazil, Spain etc. giving information to visitors on transport, attractions and local services and activities. As a tour guide I’ve shown them sightseeing places and helped them to visit unfamiliar areas for hiking, describing places on the town’s map. Preparing the tour I’ve learnt enough historical sources about Feltre and Venetian Republic which led to Feltre’s destruction in 15 century. Such town with a rich history remind me the glory and power of that time.

So far I’ve already done hiking and trekking to the Dolomites several paths: Malga Erera Bredol (1708), Malga Pramper (1500), Nevegal (1618), Croce d’Aune (1993), Forcella di S.Mauro (1480). The scenery is spectacular and I was impressed by the colourful beauty of this province. I was also visited tiny places as Igne, Casso, Erto e Casso, Vinigo, Arsie, Celarda, Villai - these are the villages with a history of producing hand-made shoes (scarpeta), cheese and wine. In village of Sedico you can also find out the special ‘cheese’ street (la strada di formaggio).