Hola, this is Kate, Amelia and Bernie and we are three of the students who are on the School Spanish trip to Barcelona and Toledo. We will be talking about our adventures in Barcelona as well as our homestay and experience at school in Toledo.

Our trip to Spain was an unforgettable experience that allowed us to face our fears, challenge ourselves and learn new things. From the very first day we encountered many learning challenges such as adapting to the new culture, different teaching methods and, most challenging of all, the language barrier. We were encouraged to use Spanish as much as possible.

Barcelona

"Throughout this incredible journey we have attended a range of activities. After a long 30-hour flight to land in Barcelona, we finally arrived in the beautiful city. With very little rest, I, along with five others (including Carlos), got the opportunity to attend the football match between Barcelona and Mallorca. Personally, this was a highlight of the trip as we got to witness the passion and pride between the two teams and crowd. Within the following days we took a fascinating tour of La Sagrada Familia. La Sagrada Familia is a unique church covered in intricate details that display scenes from the Bible and Catholic faith."

"Later in the trip, we got a dose of adrenaline at Port Aventura Theme Park. We were able to split into groups and explore the park at our own pace. Finally, an interesting experience was grocery shopping for the apartment, where we were able to shop in groups of three or more and navigate the area around our apartment as well as have a taster course of independence and responsibility out on the streets of Barcelona."

Kate

Homestay

"My homestay was an incredible experience as I found myself paired with my new friend Henar. Straight away, I was greeted with warm hugs and welcoming arms. I had so many great opportunities to experience the Spanish culture and see how families live day to day. I was able to try so many typical Spanish foods and experience the difference in sleep schedules. My host parents, Esmeralda and Sergio, were so good at making sure I was comfortable in their home. When I was sick, they both made sure I was feeling better by giving me medicine and ensuring that I stayed warm if we went out."

"I have created such good memories with my host family, especially my host sister Henar, who has become a very special part of my trip, and our memories will live on forever. We had so much fun together, always laughing and smiling. I was able to meet lots of her friends, whether they had an exchange student or not, and everyone was so kind and quick to explain and translate for me. I always felt included in conversations at home. Since I don’t know much Spanish, they would always translate for me and tell me the definition so that I could use them in my own conversations. Overall, it was such a special thing. I was incredibly lucky to experience this adventure. I am so grateful for the family I got to stay with and would love to visit again!"

Amelia

School

"We were welcomed with warmth and excitement from the Spanish school, inviting us into their learning environment. Our corresponding host students were very helpful, taking their time to understand us and helping us speak Spanish, guiding us through the school, showing us different classes, as well as making presentations for us. We all showed lots of resilience by walking into school with joy and excitement to experience something new, as well as making new friends along the way and socialising with other students from the Spanish school."

"We quickly connected with our host students by doing activities such as a typical breakfast, “churros and chocolate”, which we all shared in the school cafeteria, bonding with one another and experiencing something new. We went on day trips to Consuegra and Cuenca, as well as having a guided tour of Toledo, learning so much about the history, culture and the eye-opening old buildings and churches. Rolleston College students and the two teachers who came along on the trip got to show their school culture and demonstrate the Rolleston Spirit by getting up there, being brave, performing and teaching our haka and waiata in front of an audience. We also attended classes at the institution, which exposed us to different subjects and teaching styles that were different from what we were used to. It was fascinating to see the different types of lessons, and we had lots of fun engaging in class activities. This gave us a deeper understanding of the Spanish education system and allowed us to experience a different form of teaching."

Bernie

This experience not only improved our Spanish skills but also opened our minds and helped us grow by introducing us to something new. It has helped us become more confident and resilient, having grit when new things come our way. This school exchange has helped us see and compare different teaching methods, a new school, different people, as well as a different language. We have all learnt so much from this once-in-a-lifetime experience, and have enjoyed every little part of it. This trip truly was an unforgettable experience.

Read more about the Spain trip here.