The Abingdonian 2019

12 The Abingdonian Spanish Exchange In October a group of 47 pupils from Abingdon and St Helen’s experienced Spanish culture first hand in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. Our boys had the experience of going on exchange to Spain and interacting with other Spanish native speakers. They had to socialise and communicate in a foreign country, which requires an effort of adaptation and patience to understand and be understood in a foreign language and a totally different culture. We arrived on a cold and wet Friday morning in Santiago (yes, Spain is also cold sometimes!) and groups of Spanish families were huddled outside the bus to welcome and take the students home. The anxiety some students were feeling was immediately replaced with a feeling of relief, as all the exchange partners were happy and eager to get to know their new English friends. The boys were all made very welcome by them and their families, and felt instantly at home. Throughout the week, when the Spanish exchanges were in school, the Manuel Peleteiro School organized tours for the Abingdon boys around the most emblematic buildings in the city and nearby places, which helped them to acquire knowledge about the local culture. The boys spent a day in A Coruña visiting the Torre de Hércules, the oldest lighthouse in the world, and the Acuario, an interactive centre that promotes learning about the ocean and being more caring towards marine life. One of their favourite visits was to Domus, an interactive monographic museum on human beings. Pupils also travelled to Pontevedra and in Baiona had the chance to see a replica of the Pinta, one of Columbus’ ships. These places were such good days out, as not only did they allow our students to learn many things about the immense history and heritage of Galicia, but also allowed them to try out Spanish in shops and cafes, when they were given free time. The boys also spent some days at the school, attending interesting lectures on history, local folkore, and last but not least, lessons with their exchange partners (all in Spanish!). They tried their best to improve their skills and enjoyed the social aspects of Spanish life. Needless to say, the experience was extremely positive for all the students, who built a relationship with their exchange partners with some of them already looking forward to visiting them again! These words from Youssef O’Sullivan who went on the exchange summarise very well the experience they lived: “I initially was unsure about going on this exchange, as when the letter came out for it last October, I did not know if I would enjoy it or not. When I look back on that time now, I laugh, as this past week has been such an amazing time for me, and the others, and such unforgettable memories have been made for us and our exchange partners. I would urge anyone unsure about going to give it a go, as it is such a great trip to go on¨. Raquel Fraile