Saturday: all day travelling

I'd dare to say that our trip really started on Friday evening when the travel agency called me to announce me a complete change of flights, but we got everything under control relatively soon, However, it took me a lot of my time to get the students' families informed, to make the necessary arrangements to change the buses and to get in contact with the Irish school to let them know about the last minute alteration. Basically, we would reach Dublin instead of Shannon through a two hours scale in Birmingham.

We first met at our school, IES GENERALIFE, at 11 o'clock. Five minutes later we were on our way to Malaga. I already thanked the families when we all said goodbye, but I'd like to do it again because parents are giving their sons and daughters a really good opportunity to improve their English and cultural awareness. I am sure they will never forget such an experience. It was the first time travelling abroad for many of the students, so they were very excited but at the same time a bit scared: first time on a plane, first time using English in a real context, new architecture, new families to live with, new teachers, new food, etc. JUST NOVELTY!

Once in Birmingham, we had some unexpected problems that we'd rather forget, but let me share a few thoughts on this. First, I realised how important it is to bear one company when facing problems, particularly when you are in charge a big group of students. Second, we knew needed to show quietness if we wanted our students to be calm too, so we really tried to simply solve the little issues the best that we could.Well, we literally jumped into the airplane at the very last minute but right on time! We had to run but that was a good exercise! :)

After we landed in Dublin and everyone got their suitcases, we easily found the bus driver who would take us to Galway, where we would finally meet our host families. It took us three more hours to reach Galway, but the whole day travelling was definitely worthy as students will spend a whole week of immersion in a totally different country with a new culture for most of them. Yeah! Bus drivers seats are on the right side of the bus, they drive on the left, they take roundabouts on the left, they pass other cars on the right... First cultural shock for some of the students :)

Finally, at 11,20 students started to get off the bus and meet their host families. They were all excited and enthusiastic even if we were all exhausted too.

 

Students meeting their host families