E+ Schüler*innenaustauch aus Giussano/Italien in Judenburg (7. Klassen)

Erasmus+ Austausch-Woche in Österreich – Eine unvergessliche Zeit

Unsere Erasmus+ Austausch-Woche mit den italienischen Schüler*innen aus Giussano (https://www.liceomodiglianigiussano.edu.it/)war ein unvergessliches Erlebnis – voller Kultur, Spaß, Freundschaft und (natürlich) Schnitzel!

Ankunftstag – Ein herzliches Willkommen
Die italienischen Schüler*innen kamen am Sonntag um 15:00 Uhr an. Nachdem sie sich bei ihren Gastfamilien eingerichtet hatten, gingen wir gemeinsam zum Wasserturm-Café, um bei einem Getränk ins Gespräch zu kommen. Am Abend trafen wir uns im Gasthaus Perschler, wo wir gemeinsam ein klassisches Wiener Schnitzel genossen – ein perfekter Einstieg!

Montag, 31. März – Der erste richtige Tag
Obwohl unsere Gäste schon am Sonntag ankamen, fühlte sich der Montag wie der echte Beginn unserer Austausch-Woche an. Der Tag begann mit Kennenlernspielen – anfangs etwas holprig, aber schon bald war das Eis gebrochen, und wir lachten und redeten wie alte Freunde.

Danach folgten zwei Workshops: ein Wiener Walzerkurs und eine energiegeladene Zumba-Stunde mit Prof. Wallner und Prof. Forstner. Den italienischen Schüler*innen die Grundschritte des Walzers beizubringen, war eine schöne Möglichkeit, unsere Traditionen zu teilen – und bei der Zumba-Session kamen alle ins Schwitzen und hatten richtig Spaß.

Am Nachmittag machten wir eine Schnitzeljagd durch Judenburg. Für uns Einheimische war es zwar nichts Neues, aber es machte Freude, unseren Gästen die Stadt zu zeigen. Anschließend hatten wir eine kleine Essenspause, bevor wir den Sternenturm besuchten. Die Sternenshow war ein ruhiger, fast magischer Moment – für einen Augenblick fühlte es sich an, als würden wir im Weltraum schweben.

Zum Abschluss des Tages entspannten wir uns in der Aqualux Therme in Fohnsdorf – ein perfekter Ausklang eines abwechslungsreichen ersten Tages.

Dienstag – Tagesausflug nach Wien
Am Dienstag starteten wir früh zu einem spannenden Ausflug nach Wien. Unser erster Halt war das Kunsthistorische Museum, wo wir beeindruckende Kunstwerke und historische Exponate bestaunten. Danach ging es zum Stephansdom – ein echtes Wiener Wahrzeichen.

Zu Mittag aßen wir bei Figlmüller, berühmt für seine riesigen Schnitzel. Das Essen war köstlich, und das gemütliche Ambiente machte die Pause perfekt.

Am Nachmittag besichtigten wir Schloss Schönbrunn. Mit Audioguides entdeckten wir die Geschichte des Schlosses, und danach konnten wir den stimmungsvollen Ostermarkt vor dem Schloss erkunden. Am Abend ging es zurück nach Judenburg – aber der Tag war noch nicht vorbei! In einem Pub spielten wir gemeinsam Dart und Billard – ein entspannter Abschluss eines tollen Tages.

Mittwoch – Graz erleben
Am Mittwoch fuhren wir um 8:00 Uhr mit dem Zug nach Graz. Gleich zu Beginn erwartete uns eine sportliche Herausforderung: der Aufstieg über die Schlossberg-Treppe! Oben wurden wir mit einem tollen Ausblick über die Stadt belohnt. Danach spazierten wir durch den Schlossberg-Park und genossen die frische Luft.

Im Anschluss startete unsere Stadtrallye durch die Grazer Innenstadt. In kleinen Gruppen entdeckten wir Sehenswürdigkeiten wie das Rathaus, den Hauptplatz und das futuristische Kunsthaus – auch bekannt als "Friendly Alien".

Nach der Mittagspause trafen wir uns im Landeszeughaus. Dort erhielten wir eine spannende Führung durch die beeindruckende Rüstungs- und Waffensammlung. Besonders cool: Wir durften einige Helme und Rüstungsteile sogar selbst anprobieren!

Zum Abschluss besuchten wir den Grazer Dom. Die gotische Architektur und die ruhige Atmosphäre bildeten einen schönen Kontrast zum Trubel des Tages. Danach ging’s mit dem Zug zurück nach Judenburg – und wieder endete der Abend ganz entspannt mit Billardspielen.

Österreichische Schule & Speed in Spielberg
Ein besonderes Highlight war der Besuch in der österreichischen Schule. Von Anfang an wurden wir herzlich empfangen – sowohl von den Lehrerinnen als auch von den Schülerinnen. Wir nahmen an regulären Unterrichtsstunden, Gruppenarbeiten und interkulturellen Workshops teil, bei denen der Austausch im Mittelpunkt stand.

Auffällig war die offene, kreative und schüler*innenzentrierte Unterrichtsweise. Trotz kleiner Sprachbarrieren fanden wir schnell durch gemeinsame Interessen, Humor und Teamwork zueinander. Es entstanden neue Freundschaften, und der kulturelle Austausch wurde persönlich und bedeutungsvoll.

Am nächsten Tag erwartete uns ein völlig anderes, aber ebenso spannendes Erlebnis – der Besuch des Red Bull Rings in Spielberg. Bei einer Führung erhielten wir spannende Einblicke hinter die Kulissen der berühmten Rennstrecke. Wir standen in der Boxengasse, am Siegerpodest, besichtigten das Media Center und die Tribünen.

Besonders beeindruckend war die Technik hinter dem Motorsport – von der Streckenplanung bis zur Fahrzeugtechnik. Für einige von uns war es sogar inspirierend in Hinblick auf mögliche Berufswünsche.

Abschied & Erinnerungen
Viel zu schnell war die Woche vorbei. Beim Abschied wurde es emotional – mit vielen Umarmungen und sogar ein paar Tränen. Aber wir gingen mit wundervollen Erinnerungen, neuen Freundschaften und einem erweiterten Blick auf die Welt nach Hause.

Erasmus+ hat uns gezeigt, wie bereichernd und verbindend ein kultureller Austausch sein kann – und wie viel Spaß es macht!

Link: https://padlet.com/letschallengethefuture/e-akk-sus-group-stx_guissano-in-austria24_25-iz8122ob5oekyzd0 

 

 

Students' Reports: 

On the day of their arrival, the Italian exchange students arrived at 3:00 PM. After they settled in, we went to Wassertrum to grab a drink and chat. In the evening, we all went to Gasthaus Perschler, where we enjoyed a classic Austrian schnitzel together.

When it was time for their departure, we gathered to say our goodbyes. There were lots of hugs and even a few tears as we parted ways, marking the end of a memorable time spent together.

Monday 31st March – The First Official Day of the Exchange Week

Even though the Italian exchange students had already arrived on Sunday, Monday felt like the real beginning of the exchange week. Until then, we had only gotten to know the students who were staying with us, so Monday was the first time we were all together as a big group.

We started the day with some getting-to-know-you activities. It was a little awkward at first as most of us didn’t really know what to expect. But once we started talking and playing the games, the atmosphere quickly became relaxed and friendly. It was actually really fun to meet everyone and be able to talk to the other students as well.

After that, we had two special sessions: a Vienna Waltz class and a Zumba class with Frau Prof. Wallner and Herr Prof. Forstner. Since most of us already know how to waltz, we had the chance to teach the Italian students the basic steps. It was really nice to be able to share a part of Austrian tradition with them, and it was cool to see how fast they picked it up. After that, the Zumba session brought a completely different kind of energy. Although it was was a bit akward at the beginning we were having a lot of fun.

Later in the day, we went to the city center of Judenburg for a scavenger hunt. To be honest, it wasn’t that exciting for us locals since we already knew all the places, but it was still fun to guide the Italians around and watch them discover our town for the first time.

After the hunt, we had a little break to grab something to eat before heading to the Sternenturm. There, we watched a short film and then looked at a simulation of the stars in the night sky from the evening before. It was honestly such a beautiful and calming experience. The room was dark, the stars were shining above us, and it felt like we were floating in space for a moment.

To finish off the day, we went to the Aqualux thermal bath in Fohnsdorf. We spent the rest of the afternoon and the evening relaxing in the water and just hanging out with the Italian students. It was a perfect way to end a really fun and exciting first day of the exchange week. 

A Day in Vienna

On Tuesday, we went on an amazing day trip to Vienna with the Italian exchange students from Giussano. We started our journey early in the morning by bus and arrived in Vienna ready to explore the city.

Our first stop was the Kunsthistorisches Museum. The building itself was super impressive, and we got to see some incredible art and historical artifacts. After the museum, we headed to the Stephansplatz where we admired the famous Stephansdom. The cathedral was really beautiful and definitely a must-see in Vienna.

For lunch, we went to Figlmüller, a traditional Viennese restaurant known for its giant schnitzels. The food was delicious, and we all enjoyed the cozy atmosphere of the old restaurant.

In the afternoon, we visited Schloss Schönbrunn. We took a tour inside the palace with audio guides, which helped us learn a lot about the history of the place. After the tour, we had some free time at the Easter market outside the palace. The stalls were full of local crafts, snacks, and cute decorations.

In the evening, we returned home, but the day wasn’t over yet! We ended it by going to a local pub where we played darts and billiards together. It was a fun and relaxing way to wrap up a packed and memorable day.

 

As part of our Erasmus program, we went on an exciting and eventful day trip to Graz on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Our journey began at Judenburg train station, where our train departed at 8:00 a.m. The trip kicked off with a physical challenge: climbing the famous Schlossberg stairs. Although the many steps were tiring, we were rewarded at the top with a beautiful view over the city. After taking a few photos in front of the clock tower, we took a relaxing walk through the Schlossberg Park and enjoyed the fresh air and peaceful atmosphere.

After the walk, our scavenger hunt through downtown Graz began. In small groups, we searched for important landmarks. Among others, we passed the magnificent town hall, visited the lively main square, and marvelled at the unusual architecture of the Kunsthaus – better known as the "Friendly Alien."

Around noon, we had some free time to grab lunch and recharge. Some of us found cozy cafés, while others enjoyed traditional Austrian dishes in small local restaurants.

In the early afternoon, we met at the Landeszeughaus, one of the most fascinating museums in the city. During a professional guided tour, we learned a lot about the history of Styria and its military past. Especially impressive was the huge collection of armor, helmets, swords, and other weapons – all original pieces from the time of the Ottoman wars. The tour was very informative and fascinating – many of us were amazed at how well-preserved and diverse the exhibits were. One of the highlights of the tour was definitely that we had the chance to try on some of the armour and helmets ourselves.

Before heading back to Judenburg, we visited the imposing Graz Cathedral. Its Gothic architecture and the peaceful atmosphere provided a beautiful conclusion to our cultural program.

We then took the train back to Judenburg. There, we ended our exciting day together with a fun evening of playing billiards. It was a great trip that not only left us with many interesting impressions but also brought us closer together as a group. 

As part of the Austrian-Italian Erasmus+ mobility program, we had the incredible opportunity to spend several days in Austria, engaging in cultural exchange, improving our language skills, and learning more about the Austrian way of life. Two of the most memorable and impactful experiences during this mobility were our visit to an Austrian school and our excursion to the famous Red Bull Ring in Spielberg.

Our visit to the school was not only educational but also eye-opening. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with kindness and enthusiasm by both teachers and students

During our stay, we took part in regular classes, group activities, and intercultural workshops that encouraged communication and teamwork between Austrian and Italian students.

What stood out to many of us was the interactive and student-centered teaching style used in Austrian schools. There was a strong emphasis on critical thinking, independent learning, and creativity. We had the chance to compare the differences and similarities between our school systems and daily routines, and we found it fascinating how education can vary while still aiming for the same goal: preparing students for the future.

Even though there were some language barriers at first, we quickly connected through shared interests, humor, and group work. Friendships began to form, and the cultural exchange became something personal and meaningful. It was truly inspiring to see how students from two different countries could collaborate so naturally.

The following day, we experienced a completely different, but equally exciting environment — the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. This world-renowned motorsport venue, known especially for hosting Formula 1 races, offered a thrilling glimpse into the world of professional racing and high-performance engineering.

Our guided tour took us through the heart of the circuit. We visited key areas such as the pit lane, the podium, the media center, and the grandstands. We learned about the history of the Red Bull Ring, its transformation over the years, and the major motorsport events it hosts. What fascinated many of us was the advanced technology and logistics behind organizing a race — from the precision of the track design to the engineering behind the vehicles.

Standing on the start/finish line and looking out over the impressive layout of the circuit was a surreal experience. For some of us, especially those interested in engineering, sports management, or automotive technology, it sparked a deeper interest and maybe even inspired some future career dreams.

Both the school visit and the Red Bull Ring tour showed us different sides of Austria — one focused on education, communication, and culture, the other on speed, innovation, and world-class events. These contrasting yet complementary experiences made the Erasmus+ program unforgettable.

We returned home not only with new knowledge, but also with stories to tell, connections made, and a broader perspective on the world around us.