Spanish Homestays
Over 30 Spanish students in Year 9 and 10 practised their language skills and explored the culture of Andalucía.
Our Modern Languages Department has been running homestay visits to the region for 15 years; Ora in Year 9 reports back on her highlights of this year’s adventure over the Easter holidays:
‘As soon as I stepped out of Malaga airport into the hot Spanish sun, surrounded by my friends, I knew that this was going to be an amazing trip. Our host family was so welcoming – as soon as we arrived after a long day of travelling, the daughter taught us KATSEYE’s Gabriela in 3 minutes on Just Dance. After a good night’s sleep and a delicious breakfast, we headed off to Maravillas Language School, where the teachers were all so patient, as I learned how to describe my house – or should I say, ‘mi casa’. For lunch we feasted on paella, cooked in a pot big enough to feed the whole of South Hampstead. We learned some classic moves with mantón de Manila and castanets at a Flamenco lesson, before visiting Molisur’s factory, where we watched how olive oil was made, learning the difference between extra virgin, virgin and basic olive oil. I would not recommend the extra extra extra virgin olive oil…
On day three, at Benalmadena Pueblo, we visited the uniquely modern Colomares Castle dedicated to the adventures of Christopher Columbus before stopping at Mijas Pueblo’s Mayan Monkey Mijas Chocolate factory where we decorated our own chocolate (I may have gone a little overboard with the chocolate buttons); given the cacao plant is technically a fruit, it was technically one of my five a day. After lunch, we made a visit to the Miniatures Museum; talented artists had carved art into dried beans and noodles, carved little chess players out of wood and (my personal favourite) painted faces on pin heads. Later, we entered the Hermitage of the Virgin of the Rock, a church carved into a cave, and visited the Stupa of Enlightenment, a beautiful Buddhist temple. We had to stay strictly silent, a challenge for some; it was wonderfully peaceful – especially for Señor Cabezas.
Waking up at 6.30am for a 2-hour coach ride to the Alhambra is not for the weak, but was definitely worth it. We saw the beautiful gardens, the Palace of Charles V, the Palace of the Lions, and the Hall of the Albencerrajes. Like the city of Jerusalem, la Alhambra is a meaningful site for three religions, and we learnt about its Muslim, Christian and Jewish history. We then hit the shops in Granada city centre where I had the second best cookie I’ve ever tasted (of course school cookies win top spot). That evening, despite being exhausted, we had a game night with our host family, having great fun arguing over the rules of Rummikub in Spanish.
On day 5, after our language lessons, we headed to Malaga city centre and visited the Picasso Museum and saw the beautifully discombobulating ‘la siesta’. Afterwards, we visited the Museum of Imagination which was full of optical illusions. At Casa Aranda, I ate the biggest churros I have ever eaten and felt a little sick. Lastly, we visited the city’s seaport where we went shopping in the market. Eventually, we headed home, where our host family took us to the beach and we got to witness a beautiful coral sunset. Thank you so much to all the teachers who put in so much hard work for us to have the best time possible.’