In our last newsletter, we brought you news of the Year 10 Spanish Exchange trip to Madrid. Here, two of the participants have written an account of their wonderful trip:
Our exchange trip to Spain started off with a visit to the Valley of Cuelgamuros in the mountains of Sierra de Guadarrama, previously known as the Valley of the Fallen, following our departure from Gatwick airport. It has the largest Christian cross in the world and today remains a largely controversial place as it was the resting place of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.
The same day we met our exchanges for the first time at the school, and not to mention it was monumental, where some of us boarded and most others were picked up to stay at our exchanges’ homes. For many the most nerve-wracking part was waiting for them, but the friendships we made had to start one way or another! Our families welcomed us, and though the first night was probably the hardest, it was comforting to know that we were now part of the family.
On Friday was our visit to the ginormous Royal site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial which the exchange school (Real Colegio Alfonso XII) is known for being a part of. We took a guided tour of the monastery and jaw-dropping basilica, learning about its history and the many monarchs who lived there, and then the school. Going from class to class we met some of the lovely younger children, then of course the class most of our exchanges were in for their English lesson. The school also essentially has their own Natural History Museum - their taxidermied animal displays were by far the most remarkable.
The weekend was spent completely with our families doing things such as going to football matches, theme parks, art galleries, the cinema, hiking in the mountains or even flamenco dance shows and much more! Visiting famous towns nearby mostly with museums and medieval cathedrals was a popular option too. There was also an unexpected blast of snow! It was a thrilling mix of spending time with friends, trying new things, experiencing Spanish culture and having a taste of teen life in Spain! Speaking of taste, we all ate out with our families, who also provided us with amazing traditional homemade dishes.
Monday was when we had the typical yet essential sightseeing trip to the heart of Madrid. We took an open-top bus tour of the city, passing iconic landmarks including the Royal Palace, Jardines de Sabatini, Plaza Mayor, and Retiro park. We then had a few hours for a shopping spree in Puerta del Sol, spending too much on souvenirs and the sort, of course.
The next day we went to Segovia, and it was probably the busiest day as it was a joint trip with our Spanish exchange partners, but this made it an amazing opportunity to get to know others across different friend groups. We saw the ancient roman aqueduct and took a guided tour around the small town and inside the Alcázar, the renowned castle known to have been the inspiration for the one in Disney’s Cinderella.
Our last day in Spain was full of goodbyes and last minute shopping, until we checked in at the airport for our flight home.
Not only did this trip give us a chance to grow so close to our Spanish pals, it was also a way to bring us twiglets together. In retrospect, it was an unforgettable experience and couldn’t have been a better way for practising Spanish - we were all more confident than ever - and sparking newfound love for new places. We can’t wait to see our exchanges again and continue to treasure the memories we made.. at the cost of our phone storage. The photos are all staying!
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