The preparations for the visit started as soon as the school started on the 8th of August. We confirmed the dates for the visit with the Italian colleagues, selected the students for the trip to Rome, who would also act as hosts for the Italians, and started to create the program for the visit based on the plans made for the application the previous spring.

Saturday, the 7th of September, was a school day for us, so we gathered all the students of Geolukio together and asked them to help prepare for the mobility, the Italian's visit to Finland. We planned the program for the welcome event, made decorations and posters as well as drew up some feedback questions to be used during the visit. We also took the first pictures for the Instagram account: GeoprojectIg

The first online meeting for the students was held on the 24th of September. The hosts paired up with their guests and introduced themselves. They had a chance to get to know each other face-to-face and relay some information about the visit. This meeting proved quite fruitful as many felt quite at ease with communicating and soon after the students had created a WhatsApp group for them all.

The same evening there was a parents' meeting with the hosts' families. They were introduced the program for the visit and they could discuss all the practical arrangements such as meals, raincoat and rubber boots for rainy weather and transport form place to place. The trip to Rome next spring was also touched upon as the excitement for the return visit is mounting day by day.

 as well as wrote down some feedback questions for the activities. The hosts prepared for the online meeting that was due the week before the visit. We also took the first pictures for the Instagram account.