My recent trip to Spain was nothing short of unforgettable. As part of the school’s planned ‘immersion trip’, A-level Spanish students spent a week exploring Madrid’s rich history, delicious cuisine, and kind hospitality. Organised by Bannside Languages, we got the opportunity to try some freshly made churros and attend classes fully in Spanish. Every day was filled with new experiences that left us with a deeper appreciation for the Spanish way of life.
We started the trip very early at 5:00 am on 8th February but thankfully got to sleep on the bus down to Dublin. Once at the airport, our excitement began to unravel as we did some last-minute practising. Although the flight into Madrid was filled with nerves, they were instantly put out by the warm welcome of our lovely host families (and the warm weather!). After saying goodbye to each other we headed for our final destination -Rivas Vacia-Madrid- a town near Madrid where our host families live.
We spent each evening of the trip with our families, getting to know them, eating their foods (like paella or patatas bravas), watching Spanish tv & films, playing sports and learning about their customs (they have dinner late at night or live in apartments, for example). Some even went shopping or out to eat with their host family. It was definitely a challenge to keep up with the conversation at times but was incredibly fun trying to communicate in a different language entirely. Thankfully “por favor” and “gracias, estaba delicioso” came in very handy.
On day 2 of the trip, we visited Madrid city centre along with some of our host families’ children, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the Puerta del Sol, the historic Plaza Mayor and the mouth-watering tapas of the San Miguel Market. We also visited the Royal Palace (Palacio Real), the official residency of the Spanish Royal Family and a luxurious building where each room was a work of art, displaying paintings of past monarchs, heavily decorated walls and ceilings and fancy furnishings. Afterwards, we walked around the streets of Madrid buying gifts for our folks while practising our Spanish. Finally, at a traditional churrería, we were treated to the best churros I’ve ever had, dipped in a delicious & sweet chocolate. We then returned to Rivas by metro, back to our host families to enjoy the evening.
Whilst the whole week was amazing, day 3 had to be my favourite. We started heading straight for school. It was exhilarating to go to classes in another language, a fantastic opportunity to put our Spanish learning to the test. Thankfully however many of the students were eager to practice their English with us. After school, we travelled back into Madrid to walk around the beautiful park of El Retiro, a peaceful oasis in the heart of the city, where we had our lunch overlooking a lake. Later, we visited the Reina Sofía Museum to explore the works of some of Spain’s most influential 20th-century artists, such as Dalí and Miró. We also had the chance to admire Picasso’s iconic masterpiece, Guernica.
Our last full day in Madrid started at our host school, where a few activities had been organised for us. First, we had a debate with Spanish students our age about the differences between the Northern-Irish and Spanish educational systems. How grateful were we that we don’t have to study 11 different subjects for A-Level! After that, we attended a music workshop, where they taught us how to play a traditional flamenco instrument – el cajón flamenco. The afternoon was spent touring the newly renovated and state-of-the-art Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, home of the legendary Real Madrid Football Club, an impressive building which exhibits the club’s eventful history and their endless collection of trophies.
As the final day of our Spanish immersion trip arrived, emotions ran high. Reflecting on the unforgettable memories we had made over the past week, we said goodbye to our host families and new friends. It was bittersweet, as we had grown so close in such a short time but many of us exchanged contact details, promising to stay in touch and visit each other again. The trip not only improved our Spanish language skills but also deepened our understanding of Spanish traditions and made us appreciate cultural diversity.
I would like to finish by thanking Bannside Languages for their excellent organisation, Mrs Sánchez and Mrs Corrigan for their time, dedication and supervision, and our phenomenal host families for making us all feel so welcome. It was truly an experience that we will all cherish for years to come.
Boyd O
