On June 26, 2021 we set off for the last and long-awaited mobility of the GOAL project "Google Offers Applications for Lessons" coordinated by II Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. Gustaw Gizewiusz in Giżycko.An amazing, lively, tropical island of Martinique, students and teachers from Nord Atlantique High School were waiting for us.

After an almost 24-hour journey, we found ourselves in the charming city of Fort de France - the capital of the Overseas Department of France. Warmly welcomed by the partners of our EU project, we went to Sainte-Marie - a city located in the north-eastern part of the island. We spent the whole week there learning and exchanging experiences on the use of the Google application for lessons.

On the first day there was an official kick-off, during which we were warmly welcomed by students and teachers - both us and our remote partners from Turkey, Italy, Northern Ireland and Slovakia. We all worked together intensively at workshops during which we practiced using Google Earth and Google Maps. Next days we implemented new applications into practice - Google Calendar and Google Classroom. The main topic of the workshop was entrepreneurship, we worked on the template of the business model and the MVP concept necessary to build a start-up, which will undoubtedly be useful in our career path in the coming years. We already know how to plan time using Google tools to use it rationally and productively. During the lunch we had the opportunity to get to know each other better and exchange experiences. 

We also had an opportunity to visit northern part of the island. First, we visited the museum of the 1902 disaster in Saint-Pierre, where during an audio tour we learned about the tragedy that happened to the inhabitants of that time. As a result of the Mount Pelle volcano eruption, about 30,000 inhabitants died and the town was burnt. 

In the afternoon we went on a trip to a tropical forest completely different from European forests. The vegetation in Martinique is lush and wild, so we could not take our eyes off the surrounding nature. We ate lunch in a restaurant where we had the opportunity to try delicious regional dishes. Despite the rainy weather, this day was successful. On Thursday we took part in a class where we got to know the traditional Martinique dance - "Belle". We needed long dresses and a lot of energy because the dance was very fast and exhausting. We also learned how the drums needed to beat the rhythm of the dance are made and how many people are needed to be able to dance a real Creole Belle. On Friday, the evaluation of the project took place, during which, at a meeting with students, their parents and teachers participating in the project, we officially completed and summarized the three-year activities related to the use of the Google application. During the ceremony of handing out the diplomas to say goodbye to the participants, many people had tears in their eyes. There was a lot of emotions both on the part of Martinique students and teachers, as well as the invited guests. During the three years of the project, we managed to get to know each other better and make friends that we hope will stay with us for life. Awards were given for participation in the competition for the best blog in English using the Google Blogger application. We were also visited by a journalist who interviewed us for a local newspaper and radio. It was the last day of the mobility, so in the evening it was time to pack suitcases and prepare for the return trip.

Goodbyes are usually sad, but this time it was different. Although our mobility lasted only one week, each of us has learned a lot, and we will promote the acquired knowledge and experience in the local school community and use it in a practical way during lessons. Getting to know the cultures and customs of people from different parts of the world is something everyone should experience in life. Motivated and with wonderful memories and a new dose of knowledge, we got on the plane to return to Poland and tell our relatives about what we had experienced on the tropical island of Martinique.

The "Goal" project was implemented thanks to funding from the European Commission under the Erasmus + program in the years 2020-21.