I am grateful, having now completed the four week placement near Valencia, to have gained the experience of observing the work of a private language school in a suburban town there, even if I didn't find much time to blog while at it! It was very helpful to learn about the Cambridge exams and the sorts of lessons taught and how the students need to prepare. Thankful too for the chances to practice skills learnt on Celta, to begin teaching full lessons and building on feedback on performance from the school's tutors. Confidence was helped by the end, meanwhile, by all the ideas bursting forth while assisting with others on the CPD course - over 10 evening classes - given at a teacher training centre in Valencia, where a comprehensive overview of up-to-date resources and techniques on teaching English for Spanish primary and secondary school teachers was presented by an amazing trainer - with contributions too from all the individual teachers attending. It was wonderful to experience the warmth and friendliness of these teachers and to spend a session during each evening focusing with some of them on their spoken English, as well as hearing from them their feedback on implementing the 'communicative approach' and on the challenges they face teaching English in state schools day to day.
Thanks to the tutors at the private school I was placed in - who were so gracious in allowing me to take their classes at a time of year when they are preoccupied with upcoming exams for the students - also to the very lovely placement group, as well as the coordinators and trainers at UKLC for all the organising, and not least - enormously - to the two teachers who invited me to observe classes at their very lovely state school in Albal. It was really nice to be so near Valencia - a bit of an unexpected treasure that would love to get to know better with a return trip sometime. It's always sad to leave Spain - not least after 4-weeks of trekking back and forth from classroom to desk - and then just starting to settle in as it's time for the plane back! However... now just need to build on the experience with the lesson plans coming next...
Friday 10 March 2017
Wednesday 8 March 2017
Last Post!
Well, a fabulous Erasmus placement has ended and I am now sat at home typing my last post while devouring coffee, toast and marmalade.
The last few days in Spain were full of wonderful experiences beginning with a day spent at a fantastic primary school in Favara where David, one of the teachers on the CEFIRE course, was among the teaching staff. It was great to work alongside such a gifted practitioner and see how well his creative ideas work in practise. I learned so much from him, not only the many ways he uses technology with his classes, but the importance of routines which he has developed over time to keep his students focused and on task during lessons which work so well. David had arranged for me to meet and interact with all but one class during the day which, given the absence of primary age teaching on my Schola timetable was a wonderful, unexpected bonus and I loved it! I always wanted to teach at primary level but this has never opened up for me as I'd hoped. One day with David at Favara simply confirmed my desire for this among all the fun and games, projects about sharks and cats, some lovely children and a fabulous team of teachers who seemed as thrilled to have a native speaker with them for the day as I was simply to be there. Thank you David and everyone else!
Immediately after my day at Favara, followed the final CEFIRE session, which for me was a highly emotive time and a session which despite not exactly going according to plan, summed up the very essence of CEFIRE for me. There were some excellent presentations from Spanish teachers as there have been throughout the course, including from David, who showcased all that I had seen during the day at school. He delivered a brilliant summary of his classroom practise lasting about half an hour but it was so worth giving him this time. I know these ideas and routines work folks! There wasn't a dry eye in the classroom after Oana had shown a You Tube clip of Musharaf, a student from a West Yorkshire Secondary School being supported to overcome his most debilitating stammer. Think the King's Speech! This is a modern tale which cannot help but touch you deeply unless you have no soul at all! I think at time of typing this blog that Channel 4 have removed this clip from You Tube but you can still see some shorter extracts from it which I encourage you to do. As the teacher who uses the same technique as in the King's Speech to help Musharaf says, the results are "insane"! After the final 1:1 sessions, the teachers were supposed to be presenting their ideas for teaching the topic to the age group they had been given in their 5:1 groups to the whole CEFIRE group. However, there simply wasn't time and instead this final session simply ended with conversation over some tasty snacks and soft drinks. New friends and contacts have definitely been made with some Spanish teachers expressing a desire to teach in the UK, while people like me plot a similar course in the opposite direction!! For all that CEFIRE has been, I firmly believe this initiative needs to continue and expand to reach even more teachers not only to help improve their command of the English language but also to raise the standards of teaching and thus engage and enthuse students to learn our beautiful language. With behavioural and other issues evident across the Spanish education system, as in the UK, notably at secondary level, if routines and practices such as those showcased by Jen and Emile (UKLC) and David for example are more widely employed, then surely this can only have a positive impact at all levels in the future. CEFIRE has provided a platform for teachers to come together to talk about their experiences and share ideas. On the evidence of this CEFIRE course, it is a successful initiative which has far exceeded my prior expectations and points the way forward for teachers in Spain, the UK and around the world. Please visit the CEFIRE blog to learn more.
Last Friday was a very poignant and reflective day for me but one which probably saw me deliver some of my best lessons of the whole placement. In my A2 class we simply used some of the adjectives learned in the previous lesson to describe people using textbook images and realia in the form of this teacher and her lovely, willing students before describing some family members and friends. Simple but effective with plenty of speaking using adjectives and adverbs. My B2 class was a classic example of changing planned activities because of something which came up in the lesson! The wonderful Mikhail and Manuel contributed greatly to a lesson focused on writing a review. I had planned to show some film trailers including Harry Potter, Star Wars and La La Land. It turned out that Manuel had already seen La La Land so I encouraged him to tell me all about it which he did. Then the three of us looked at an on-line review and discussed whether this mirrored how Manuel felt about the film. Then I asked Mikhail if he'd seen any films recently and he told me all about the true story of Desmond Doss in 'Hacksaw Ridge', the American conscientious objector in the second world war who was given a hard time over his pacifist stance only to become the hero who saves some of his platoon. We did the same thing with this film in what proved to be a really sttimulating lesson for the students and for me. After reviewing best practice for writing a review both Manuela nd Mihail agreed to write a review of their chosen film. We also looked at The King's Speech and the story of Musharaf to encourageand motivate them that whatever difficulties they may face in life, even in learning English, there is NOTHING that cannot be overcome! We ended the lesson with a group hug and the sounds of the wonderful Labi Siffre song "Something Inside So Strong" echoing all around us. What a brilliant way to end my teaching placement at Schola. I still have goose bumps thinking about it!
Saturday was just a brilliant day from start to finish. A planned 'team-building' activity proved to be a 'sing for your supper' activity except we had to cook it instead! After meeting up in central Valencia, we walked to a restaurant where we were given a masterclass in cooking paella Valencian style (with rabbit and chicken), a soup (my description!) of peppers and tomatoes and a light sponge dessert all washed down with much sangria and a little water!! This was a lovely thing for Alicia and Mampa to have organised which I think was enjoyed enormously by everyone, especially me! I will certainly be whipping my next cake mixture a lot more than I usually do!!
As fatigue started to set in and crowds began to gather for the evening firework display, while others went sightseeing, I returned to Moncada Alfara with Viv to ensure we didn't have problems catching a metro later in the evening. Well, what a brilliant decision that was! After a brief rest at the convent where Viv was staying overnight, we decided to go for a meal only to encounter the most spectacular carnival I personally have ever seen! For over two hours we saw loads of brass bands, people dressed in colourful costumes including candles, flowers, chefs and martians. People were dancing and singing, the children looked divine dressed as bees or butterflies and the spectacle was a joy to behold! A great way to end our time in Spain. We then found a great restaurant at just the right time where we had a lovely meal before the crowds joined us!! I also had some red meat in the form of lamb cutlets for the first time in four weeks which was lovely (sorry to all you vegetarians and vegans out there)!
I have never ever felt so much affinity with a place as I have with the people of Spain. Not only was this a new adventure, but also a first visit to Spain. The people, way and pace of life is what I feel we lack in the UK and so me! I just didn't want to come home and joked with everyone about buying a parachute with which to leap from the plane!! I have only happy memories of this placement which has given me more than I could ever have dreamed of. THANK YOU UKLC!! It will come as no surprise if I tell you I am already planning to move to Spain at the earliest opportunity. Now the end has come, I can reflect on so many good things, learn from the things which didn't go so well and look forward to a future which I could never have dreamed of in the middle of last year. "And this, much more than this, I did it my way"! Adios everyone and good luck with whatever the next chapters of your lives prove to be for you all. It's been a pleasure to meet you all and work with some of you. I hope we'll stay in touch. Con amor!
The last few days in Spain were full of wonderful experiences beginning with a day spent at a fantastic primary school in Favara where David, one of the teachers on the CEFIRE course, was among the teaching staff. It was great to work alongside such a gifted practitioner and see how well his creative ideas work in practise. I learned so much from him, not only the many ways he uses technology with his classes, but the importance of routines which he has developed over time to keep his students focused and on task during lessons which work so well. David had arranged for me to meet and interact with all but one class during the day which, given the absence of primary age teaching on my Schola timetable was a wonderful, unexpected bonus and I loved it! I always wanted to teach at primary level but this has never opened up for me as I'd hoped. One day with David at Favara simply confirmed my desire for this among all the fun and games, projects about sharks and cats, some lovely children and a fabulous team of teachers who seemed as thrilled to have a native speaker with them for the day as I was simply to be there. Thank you David and everyone else!
Immediately after my day at Favara, followed the final CEFIRE session, which for me was a highly emotive time and a session which despite not exactly going according to plan, summed up the very essence of CEFIRE for me. There were some excellent presentations from Spanish teachers as there have been throughout the course, including from David, who showcased all that I had seen during the day at school. He delivered a brilliant summary of his classroom practise lasting about half an hour but it was so worth giving him this time. I know these ideas and routines work folks! There wasn't a dry eye in the classroom after Oana had shown a You Tube clip of Musharaf, a student from a West Yorkshire Secondary School being supported to overcome his most debilitating stammer. Think the King's Speech! This is a modern tale which cannot help but touch you deeply unless you have no soul at all! I think at time of typing this blog that Channel 4 have removed this clip from You Tube but you can still see some shorter extracts from it which I encourage you to do. As the teacher who uses the same technique as in the King's Speech to help Musharaf says, the results are "insane"! After the final 1:1 sessions, the teachers were supposed to be presenting their ideas for teaching the topic to the age group they had been given in their 5:1 groups to the whole CEFIRE group. However, there simply wasn't time and instead this final session simply ended with conversation over some tasty snacks and soft drinks. New friends and contacts have definitely been made with some Spanish teachers expressing a desire to teach in the UK, while people like me plot a similar course in the opposite direction!! For all that CEFIRE has been, I firmly believe this initiative needs to continue and expand to reach even more teachers not only to help improve their command of the English language but also to raise the standards of teaching and thus engage and enthuse students to learn our beautiful language. With behavioural and other issues evident across the Spanish education system, as in the UK, notably at secondary level, if routines and practices such as those showcased by Jen and Emile (UKLC) and David for example are more widely employed, then surely this can only have a positive impact at all levels in the future. CEFIRE has provided a platform for teachers to come together to talk about their experiences and share ideas. On the evidence of this CEFIRE course, it is a successful initiative which has far exceeded my prior expectations and points the way forward for teachers in Spain, the UK and around the world. Please visit the CEFIRE blog to learn more.
Last Friday was a very poignant and reflective day for me but one which probably saw me deliver some of my best lessons of the whole placement. In my A2 class we simply used some of the adjectives learned in the previous lesson to describe people using textbook images and realia in the form of this teacher and her lovely, willing students before describing some family members and friends. Simple but effective with plenty of speaking using adjectives and adverbs. My B2 class was a classic example of changing planned activities because of something which came up in the lesson! The wonderful Mikhail and Manuel contributed greatly to a lesson focused on writing a review. I had planned to show some film trailers including Harry Potter, Star Wars and La La Land. It turned out that Manuel had already seen La La Land so I encouraged him to tell me all about it which he did. Then the three of us looked at an on-line review and discussed whether this mirrored how Manuel felt about the film. Then I asked Mikhail if he'd seen any films recently and he told me all about the true story of Desmond Doss in 'Hacksaw Ridge', the American conscientious objector in the second world war who was given a hard time over his pacifist stance only to become the hero who saves some of his platoon. We did the same thing with this film in what proved to be a really sttimulating lesson for the students and for me. After reviewing best practice for writing a review both Manuela nd Mihail agreed to write a review of their chosen film. We also looked at The King's Speech and the story of Musharaf to encourageand motivate them that whatever difficulties they may face in life, even in learning English, there is NOTHING that cannot be overcome! We ended the lesson with a group hug and the sounds of the wonderful Labi Siffre song "Something Inside So Strong" echoing all around us. What a brilliant way to end my teaching placement at Schola. I still have goose bumps thinking about it!
Saturday was just a brilliant day from start to finish. A planned 'team-building' activity proved to be a 'sing for your supper' activity except we had to cook it instead! After meeting up in central Valencia, we walked to a restaurant where we were given a masterclass in cooking paella Valencian style (with rabbit and chicken), a soup (my description!) of peppers and tomatoes and a light sponge dessert all washed down with much sangria and a little water!! This was a lovely thing for Alicia and Mampa to have organised which I think was enjoyed enormously by everyone, especially me! I will certainly be whipping my next cake mixture a lot more than I usually do!!
As fatigue started to set in and crowds began to gather for the evening firework display, while others went sightseeing, I returned to Moncada Alfara with Viv to ensure we didn't have problems catching a metro later in the evening. Well, what a brilliant decision that was! After a brief rest at the convent where Viv was staying overnight, we decided to go for a meal only to encounter the most spectacular carnival I personally have ever seen! For over two hours we saw loads of brass bands, people dressed in colourful costumes including candles, flowers, chefs and martians. People were dancing and singing, the children looked divine dressed as bees or butterflies and the spectacle was a joy to behold! A great way to end our time in Spain. We then found a great restaurant at just the right time where we had a lovely meal before the crowds joined us!! I also had some red meat in the form of lamb cutlets for the first time in four weeks which was lovely (sorry to all you vegetarians and vegans out there)!
I have never ever felt so much affinity with a place as I have with the people of Spain. Not only was this a new adventure, but also a first visit to Spain. The people, way and pace of life is what I feel we lack in the UK and so me! I just didn't want to come home and joked with everyone about buying a parachute with which to leap from the plane!! I have only happy memories of this placement which has given me more than I could ever have dreamed of. THANK YOU UKLC!! It will come as no surprise if I tell you I am already planning to move to Spain at the earliest opportunity. Now the end has come, I can reflect on so many good things, learn from the things which didn't go so well and look forward to a future which I could never have dreamed of in the middle of last year. "And this, much more than this, I did it my way"! Adios everyone and good luck with whatever the next chapters of your lives prove to be for you all. It's been a pleasure to meet you all and work with some of you. I hope we'll stay in touch. Con amor!
Saturday 4 March 2017
School of English Cooking
School of English Cooking
Today was the last day in Valencia and on the agenda was ‘teambuilding’.
I normally associate teambuilding with corporate away days where we end up playing
peculiar games which involve a lot of discussion and negotiating with others.
We all met at 1 pm and were led away down some streets to Esceula de cucina.
(Not an esceula ingles) I was intrigued. We entered and were given a glass of
Sangria, followed by a talk on how to make paella – a local dish to Valencia, due
to the rice grown in the Valencia region along with horchata - a drink made from tiger nuts typical to
Valencia, and a sponge cake made with pumpkin you guessed it - another
traditional dish from Valencia.
After the talk we were told we going to make
all these culinary delights. So it was all hands to deck: preparing vegetables,
chicken fried, tomatoes and red pepper blended for gazpacho soup. Sponge cake
mixed up and put in the oven. Cooking underway, spices paprika and saffron
explained and added by our chef. A couple of mixing bowls of water added and
brought to the boil and last but not least the rice is added. We were then
invited to sit down to eat all we had prepared.
Despite my misgivings on (a) teambuilding (b) my culinary skills, this
was a perfect way to relax and finalise a month in Valencia. Thank you UKLC .
The end is approaching...
Today I taught my last four lessons, it was a pleasure to
hear 12 year olds all reaching out of their seats, screaming ‘me, me’, vying to be the first to give the answers about computer games I had put them. In the
course of the past month, I have learned how to manage classes of over 12, the
importance of eye catching visuals to keep students engaged, give better step
by step instructions and I am learning not to panic when the technology doesn’t
work as planned. At lunchtime I bid
farewell to the teachers and we wished each other well.
Last night was the last of the CEFIRE sessions and the
director of the institute personally thanked us and we were given a gift and
certificate of appreciation. The evening
session, was spent listening to one of the primary teachers sharing a lot of
his knowledge on how he supervises and entertains the kids –very interesting. I
sensed similarities to what we learned in Chester. The session ended with some
Spanish type nibbles – savoury pastry with some tasty sauce inside, little
shortcake biscuits with nuts in them and a sponge cake made from pumpkin. At the end, as the Spanish love to talk,
everyone mingled and spoke to one other. This was so unlike in the UK when all
attendees would just say ‘bye’ and rush off. Hugs and kisses all round as
everyone finally left.
The day before was our last planning session for CEFIRE and
we had an end of course lunch. This was a very low key affair at the local bar.
This had been pre-booked with the owner Julio who served up homemade paella , light
fizzy sangria served with ice and lemon both of which were mouth-wateringly
delicious. A Valencian salad (lettuce,
tuna, olives, tomato) followed by a milk
pudding accompanied by a very moorish pastry which has added an
inch to my hips, and customary coffee to finish.
Tomorrow is a team building event; I am unsure what this entails
but the instructions are to be at my local metro station for 1 pm. So I get a lie in tomorrow morning as I have
already done most of my packing.
Then on Sunday it is the start of a disinclined journey
home. I have checked the BBC weather forecast and it is indicating typical
English Sunday afternoon of rain…
Bringing it all back home
So, we've reached the end of our four-week Valencian adventure. Yesterday was my observed lesson and it went ok despite computer issues that meant losing the first fifteen minutes or so. However, the students actively participated and at the end of the lesson, Almudena, the teacher, told me that they were concerned as to whether I had passed, which was sweet. It was graduation day for the 2nd year vocational students so the lesson I had with Vicente, my tutor, was spent with him and one of the energy efficiency students giving me a guided tour of their installation in the workshop. It was great to see everyone buzzing around trying to get their displays finished for the open evening taking place in a matter of hours.
Although I found my placement at Jesuitas difficult at times (Almudena told me that during her first year there she had no idea what she was supposed to be doing!), I left the school on a positive note. I don't think I could work there, but I guess that having your own classes from the beginning of the year, rather than just stopping by for a month, are two very different things.
I don't want to ramble on so here are my highlights of Valencia:
- Participating in Cefire. It was great to be involved in something from start to finish. We met some brilliant teachers, and I have learnt a great deal especially in terms of resources. Oana (the programme coordinator) is a truly lovely person and you cannot help but be infected by her enthusiasm.
- The occasions when my students made an effort to speak English because it showed that they have the ability but just lack confidence.
- The medieval carnival at Vicente Trenco. Seeing all the children dressed up as jesters, minstrels, dragons, knights, and princesses go parading through Moncada accompanied by a samba band was fantastic. It wouldn't happen back in the UK!
- The paella prepared by Julio. I ate so much I literally waddled back to the flat.
- The meal at Restaurante Bruselas.
- Strolling around the Jardin del Turia in the late afternoon sunshine.
So although the placement was perhaps not as I had anticipated, I have absolutely no regrets in coming out to Spain. If someone offered me the chance to stay in Valencia I would accept without hesitation.
I will finish by saying a big thank you to UKLC, Carolyn, Amy, Michael, Alicia, Mampa, all at Schola, and my fellow trainees.
Hasta que nos encontremos de nuevo.
Thursday 2 March 2017
Good-bye Valencian Oranges
Today was my last day of "in vogue" teaching which I concluded with the song "Save the Last Dance for Me", as it made use of relative pronouns. The students and the host teacher loved it.
Thanks to UKLC, I know now that I actually enjoy teaching teenagers, as much as I enjoy teaching adults. After I recovered from my flu, I was able to tab into the energy of these youngster and use it for their own benefit. Teaching at this school also boosted my confidence in running bigger and diverse classes. There were between 25 and 30 students in each class, some of whom had learning difficulties or physical disabilities.
Some students appreciated my presence. They thanked me for spending time with them. Bless them.
Hopefully, this experience would open the door to teaching in other countries... Thank you Valencia for offering me a taste of a new world and an inexhaustible supply of oranges!
Thanks to UKLC, I know now that I actually enjoy teaching teenagers, as much as I enjoy teaching adults. After I recovered from my flu, I was able to tab into the energy of these youngster and use it for their own benefit. Teaching at this school also boosted my confidence in running bigger and diverse classes. There were between 25 and 30 students in each class, some of whom had learning difficulties or physical disabilities.
Some students appreciated my presence. They thanked me for spending time with them. Bless them.
Hopefully, this experience would open the door to teaching in other countries... Thank you Valencia for offering me a taste of a new world and an inexhaustible supply of oranges!
Wednesday 1 March 2017
And now the end is near...!
Hi all
My what a lot has happened since my last blog post! More great lessons with my B1 and B2 classes on conditionals, essay and article writing and one of my best lessons of the whole placement with a C1 class on modal verbs last Saturday. I know I still have much to improve on but as this fantastic experience draws to a close, I feel more confident in myself and in how to deliver interesting and engaging lessons to non-native students. Whilst there were a few things I could have done differently during my observed lesson, I was broadly pleased with both my lesson pace and delivery and the students' engagement which I hope will be fully revealed in their homework!! I had planned my activities to introduce/revise the use of adjectives and adverbs for use in writing an article about 'my favourite space'. However the lesson lacked more opportunites for students to discuss their ideas; an observation I readily accept! This is a steep learning curve but I feel that I'm improving all the time and the rapport I have with all classes continues to encourage me and give me confidence. I am so grateful for all the erasmus experience has given me over the last month.
The social side too has provided many memorable moments too; especially last weekend. After another quick dip in the swimming poolon Saturday afternoon, it was time to catch the metro to Valencia to experience the spectacle of a pre-Fire Festival firework display. I´'ve never seen metro or any other trains so packed with people! The crowds filled the streets too as we all walked to a suitable vantage point from which we could watch the display. Unfortunately we ended up on a side street with a limited view of one of the noisiest and most spectacular fireworks displays I've ever been to and as you can see from clips on You Tube. Then, Laura, Hazel, Vivienne, Jonathan and me, found a brilliant restaurant for arguably the best meal we have had during our stay in Spain. La Bruselas offered us both wonderful food which just kept coming; great value and with fabulous service. The waiter reminded some of us of Basil Fawlty as he raced up and down stairs serving food and clearing dirty dishes but all done with one of the broadest smiles you have ever seen!! As we left, it was hugs alround and some fond memories to accompany a satisfied appetite!
On Sunday, I visited the Anglican church community again. There was no Eucharist this week but a very warm welcome once again with friendships formed amid promises to remain in touch on my return to the UK. This has also been a highlight of my stay in Spain and somewhere I would seek to engage with on a regular basis if I moved to Spain for any length of time in the future. In the afternoon, I spent a brilliant few hours walking to and along the beach with Laura in bright sunshine in February!! Not what I would have been doing in ole blighty! Although our paella was eaten in shade and rather on the pricey side, this had been another brilliant day!
"And now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain..." as I plan my last few lessons and prepare to fly home after one of the best experiences of my life. Thank you with all my heart to UKLC and all at Schola, Moncada.
My what a lot has happened since my last blog post! More great lessons with my B1 and B2 classes on conditionals, essay and article writing and one of my best lessons of the whole placement with a C1 class on modal verbs last Saturday. I know I still have much to improve on but as this fantastic experience draws to a close, I feel more confident in myself and in how to deliver interesting and engaging lessons to non-native students. Whilst there were a few things I could have done differently during my observed lesson, I was broadly pleased with both my lesson pace and delivery and the students' engagement which I hope will be fully revealed in their homework!! I had planned my activities to introduce/revise the use of adjectives and adverbs for use in writing an article about 'my favourite space'. However the lesson lacked more opportunites for students to discuss their ideas; an observation I readily accept! This is a steep learning curve but I feel that I'm improving all the time and the rapport I have with all classes continues to encourage me and give me confidence. I am so grateful for all the erasmus experience has given me over the last month.
The social side too has provided many memorable moments too; especially last weekend. After another quick dip in the swimming poolon Saturday afternoon, it was time to catch the metro to Valencia to experience the spectacle of a pre-Fire Festival firework display. I´'ve never seen metro or any other trains so packed with people! The crowds filled the streets too as we all walked to a suitable vantage point from which we could watch the display. Unfortunately we ended up on a side street with a limited view of one of the noisiest and most spectacular fireworks displays I've ever been to and as you can see from clips on You Tube. Then, Laura, Hazel, Vivienne, Jonathan and me, found a brilliant restaurant for arguably the best meal we have had during our stay in Spain. La Bruselas offered us both wonderful food which just kept coming; great value and with fabulous service. The waiter reminded some of us of Basil Fawlty as he raced up and down stairs serving food and clearing dirty dishes but all done with one of the broadest smiles you have ever seen!! As we left, it was hugs alround and some fond memories to accompany a satisfied appetite!
On Sunday, I visited the Anglican church community again. There was no Eucharist this week but a very warm welcome once again with friendships formed amid promises to remain in touch on my return to the UK. This has also been a highlight of my stay in Spain and somewhere I would seek to engage with on a regular basis if I moved to Spain for any length of time in the future. In the afternoon, I spent a brilliant few hours walking to and along the beach with Laura in bright sunshine in February!! Not what I would have been doing in ole blighty! Although our paella was eaten in shade and rather on the pricey side, this had been another brilliant day!
"And now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain..." as I plan my last few lessons and prepare to fly home after one of the best experiences of my life. Thank you with all my heart to UKLC and all at Schola, Moncada.
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