OUR TRIP TO … NUESTRO VIAJE A …

(UK) (Reino Unido) Fernando de Mena School Sunday 23rd – Saturday 29th September 2018 IES Fernando de Mena

Domingo 23 – Sábado 29 Septiembre 2018

Group photo outside the school with Naomi, Helen and Jane

On September 23rd 33 students from our school - studying 3rd and 4th ESO – together with two of their teachers embarked on an incredible journey to the city of Winchester, the ancient capital city of England. We left Socuéllamos very early - at 02.30! – because we had to take our plane at 8.30. Leaving sunny and hot Spain in summer, we arrived in London (Gatwick airport) on a rainy and windy day in Autumn. We took a coach which took us to Winchester, where most host families were waiting for us. Only two of the students had a taxi arranged because no family members were available to pick them up. Our students spent the rest of the day with their host families. El 23 de septiembre 33 alumnos de nuestro instituto – de 3º Y 4º ESO – junto con dos de sus profesoras se embarcaron en un increíble viaje a la ciudad de Winchester, la antigua capital de Inglaterra. Salimos de Socuéllamos muy temprano – a las 02.30! – porque nuestro avión salía a las 08.30. Dejamos la soleada y calurosa España un día de Verano para llegar a Londres un lluvioso y ventoso día de otoño. Un autocar nos llevó hasta Winchester, donde nos esperaban las casi todas las familias anfitrionas. Sólo dos de los alumnos fueron recogidos por un taxi porque su familia anfitriona no pudo estar disponible para recogerlos a tiempo. Nuestros alumnos pasaron el resto del día con sus familias anfitrionas. Monday, September 24th 8.45 – Winchester railway station as meeting point to walk together up to the Baptist Church building, where most classrooms were located. Although all the students had been told by their families how to get to the station, being the first day of school, some students couldn´t find their way easily. After some explanations on the phone and some moving around to find them half way, everything was solved happily. 8.45 – Quedamos en la estación de tren de Winchester como punto de encuentro para dirigirnos todos a la Iglesia Baptista, edificio social donde se encuentra la escuela. Aunque las familias han explicado a nuestros alumnos cómo llegar a la estación, siendo el primer día, a algunos alumnos les cuesta llegar a tiempo. Después de algunas explicaciones al teléfono e ir a recoger a algunos en las cercanías, todo se resuelve felizmente. 9.00 - 13.00 – classes at Winchester Baptist Church. 13.00 - 13.45 – lunch 13.45 – 16.30 – Guided tour of Winchester (tour guiado por la ciudad de Winchester)

WINCHESTER

16.30 – 18.00 – free time in the city centre of Winchester (tiempo libre por el centro de Winchester) 18.00 – students return to their host families (los alumnos vuelven a casa con las familias)

Tuesday, September 25th 9.00 - 13.00 – classes at Winchester Baptist Church. 13.00 - 13.45 – lunch 13.50 – 16.30 – bus to Science Museum (number 64) 14.10 – 16.00 – Visit to Intech Science Museum and Planetarium and then bus back to Winchester Visita al Museo de Ciencias y Planetario y Vuelta en autobus urbano 16.30 – 18.00 – free time in the city centre of Winchester 18.00 – students return to their host families Wednesday, September 26th 9.00 - 13.00 – classes at Winchester Baptist Church. 13.00 - 13.45 – lunch 13.50 – 16.30 – Scavenger Hunt / Treasure Hunt (Ghymkana) 16.30 – 18.00 – free time in the city centre of Winchester 18.00 – students return to their host families Thursday, September 27th 9.00 - 13.00 – classes at Winchester Baptist Church. 13.00 - 13.45 – lunch 13.50 – 16.30 – Visit to Stonehenge (by coach) – audioguide provided Visita a Stonehenge en autocar – se incluye audioguía por alumno. 16.30 – 18.00 – free time in the city centre of Winchester 18.00 – students return to their host families Friday, September 28th 08.00 – coach to London (salida a Londres en autocar)

The coach left us near the London Eye, and we walked along the Southbank of the Thames until we reached The Tower Bridge. Then we returned to the Millennium Bridge - opposite the Tate Modern- to cross the river Thames facing Saint Paul´s Cathedral. After that we headed to Covent Garden, where we had lunch and had some free time. We also visited Picadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square – with Nelson´s statue - on our way back to the London Eye, where our coach waited for us to take us back to Winchester. El autocar nos dejó cerca del London Eye (la famosa noria de Londres) y paseamos a lo largo del Southbank (orilla sur) del Támesis hasta llegar al impresionante Puente de la Torre. Volvimos sobre nuestros pasos hasta llegar al Puente Millennium – a la altura de la la galería Tate Modern – para cruzar el Támesis a la altura de la Catedral de San Pablo. Después nos dirigimos a Covent Garden, donde comimos y tuvimos un rato libre. También visitamos Picadilly Circus y la plaza de Trafalgar – con la estatua de Nelson – de camino de Vuelta al London Eye, donde nos esperaba el autocar para llevarnos de nuevo a Winchester.

19.00 – students return to Winchester (los alumnos regresan a Winchester) Saturday, September 28th 07.00 - Host families drop off students at the Winchester Hotel Car Park 11.10 – Flight back to Madrid – delayed! ☹ Vuelo de vuelta a Madrid – con retraso! 18.00 – We all arrived in Socuéllamos save and sound!!! Llegamos todos sanos y salvos a Socuéllamos!!! :D

Comments “I think the family was very good because they cared for us, they took us to meet their relatives and they bought us chocolate. Also the children were very kind with us. The parents sometimes left us alone with the children to take care of them and I also think like a fantastic experience to learn English and its customs” (Carolina Alarcón, 4º ESO)

“My experience in Winchester was amazing because of the family, the monuments, the school at Baptist Church, etc. EVERYTHING WAS VERY WELL and I recommend this trip”. (María López, 4º ESO)

“Winchester is a beautiful city, the people are so kind and polite. Thanks to that travel I have learned a lot of English, I have met a lot of people that I will never forget and I made friends with people who I already knew but had never talked to them. I would repeat it every year 😊”

(Irene López Muela, 4º ESO). “In general I love my trip. My family was very kind, my teachers in Winchester were very friendly and I was with my best friend Irene in my house. The best experience. On 29th September we came to Spain and it was my birthday. I really loved all of that country” (Cari Serrano, 4º ESO) “Winchester is a beautiful city and from now on it´s my favourite. Not only for the monuments, but also for the moments that I spent with my friends. In Winchester we met a nice family. They were very kind with us. But the best thing was going around the streets alone to meet so many people” (Adrián Romero, 4º ESO).

“It is an incredible experience and no one should miss it. You learn a lot of English and the families are so kind. You also meet a lot of people. Winchester is so beautiful that I want to repeat it 😊” (Miguel Delgado, 4º ESO). “It has been an amazing experience. The English lessons were really interesting and I had a lot o fun. The teachers were very nice. The host family was very kind with us. I like trips a lot. I recommend this trip”. (Miriam Vallejo, 4º ESO). “The best experience of my life” (Carlos Carrasco, 4º ESO)

THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING YOUR IMPRESSIONS ABOUT THE TRIP WITH US AND FOR YOUR GREAT PICS!!! ↓↓↓ See below for more pictures 😊