Wednesday 6 January 2016

My Spanish Exchange reflections


We are just entering 2016. What a good time for reflection. Looking back at the Spanish Exchange, I recall with much fondness many wonderful things about the trip.
Firstly, as we drew into La Vall in the late evening, the warm welcome we received from the host families waiting patiently in the bus station, the trips to historic towns with beautiful castles perched up above, one high up in the mountains, where the temperature dropped by some degrees, our breath rising up in the chilly air, the second one a seaside town with a castle overlooking the bright blue Mediterranean, a tour round an orange packing factory (interesting to see what the oranges that we buy in our local supermarkets have to go through), a walk round a nature reserve in the sun, a visit to the Science Museum in Valencia after a walk round the centre of town, the cathedral, The Silk Exchange, a foray into the impressive Central Market, with wonderful foodie sights to behold and a day in school during which we were welcomed into lessons. Just a snapshot of some of the wonderful things to which we were treated.


 LGGS girls and teachers received the very best welcome and, as in previous years, emerged from the experience having gained so much that is valuable – greater resilience, stamina (those Spanish days are long!), honing of listening and speaking skills, broader perspectives and, I hope, for many, inspiration to travel more and study languages with even greater zeal as well as a healthy curiosity for the big wide world. I feel very proud at the way in which you made your Spanish adventure into a truly positive experience!

It is time now to think ahead to the return visit. So, we’ll all be there at Queen Street at approximately 22. 30 on January 14th to give the Spaniards a very warm welcome! There is no way that we can compete with the fantastic 20-plus degrees in the Spanish sun, quite the contrary!  Tell your partners to bring warm coats and gloves and lend them an umbrella! However, despite our terrible weather, we can make sure that they have the best possible trip to England and that they enjoy it as much we did our visit to Spain.


Señora Fawcett





El Diario de Señorita Estribo


Chicas, mil gracias por un intercambio tan maravilloso. Me ha impresionado tanto lo mucho que os hayáis aprovechado de la experiencia, que sea llevaros bien con vuestras familias españolas, disfrutar de las excursiones, hablar castellano, o ¡comer montones de bocadillos! Seguro que habéis vuelto a casa con muchos recuerdos bonitos de La Vall ¡además de kilos de naranjas y de turrón!




Girls, many many thanks for such a wonderful exchange. I've been so impressed by how much you've made the most of the experience, whether getting on well with your Spanish families, enjoying the trips out, speaking Spanish, or eating loads of bocadillos (Spanish baguettes)!! I'm sure you've returned home with lots of lovely memories of La Vall as well as kilos of oranges and túrron (Spanish nougat)!!

Señorita Estribo