Erasmus Travel Book Spain

After lunch, we turned around Madrid’s shops to buy some souvenirs. In the afternoon, we visited the Guadalajara Conservatory “Sebastián Durón”, where the students, directed by Mr. Pascual Piqueras, played various tracks with their violins and contrabasses. In the Conservatory’s corridors, it was easy to notice a beautiful piano made of antique and precious wood. In the evening we went back to host families, we laid there and with had supper with them.

ALESSANDRA CAIAZZA and SIMONE PETRAZZUOLO IIA

We arrived very soon in our new house. It was a very tiny and nice house: there were three bedrooms, a living room, two bathrooms and a small kitchen. Once laid our suitcase we gave to our host family our Italian presents. Vincenzo gave them a statue of Pulcinella and I offered them a Moka with Neapolitan Kimbo coffee. Finally, I went to sleep very happy because the following day it will be my birthday. &nbsp;

ANDREA DIFFICILE IIIB

On Monday Morning, we went to IES Don Juan Manuel School in Cifuentes. When we arrived, we were immediately welcomed and moved to a classroom where students introduced us to the city and the school. Then teachers divided us in four groups: the first group had some insight on the culture, traditions of Cifuentes; the second group made some custom brooches; the third group made the flag of their own country, and the forth group went outside to eat churros with chocolate. Late in the morning and for all the afternoon, we went to visit the town; we saw the Castle, the Cathedral, the lake and the main square. Late in the evening, we stayed a lot of time with our host family and it was great! It was a really funny and interesting day!

LUIGI DI MATTEO IIIC

The morning of February 22nd, around 10-ò clock we all met together outside the Cifuentes municipal theatre (Cine San Francisco). As soon as we entered, we performed general pre-concert rehearsals. The actual gala started at 12:00. The first to perform were the English team that performed a song of Miles Davis. They played three different instruments: The trombone, the piano and the traverse flute. The second ones to perform were the Finnish team. They sang a song in Finnish accompanied by traverse flutes and a piano played by their teacher. The third team who performed was the French one. They were a trio with Mathis, Yaelle and Alicia accompanied by Arnaud at Cajon and a bass guitar. After French, it is finally up to Italians! We started presenting the whole group: the first one who performed were the pianists Alessandra and Aurora who played the song “The Entertainer” by Joplin. Then Dalila and I, we performed “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi and Deddy Yankee, with our violins. The thirds song was “Oye Come Va” by Tito Puente, performed by our drummer Simone and our percussionists Francesco, Vincenzo, Vincenzo, Andrea and Luigi.

At 3:00 pm, was lunchtime in Spain: we, all together, tasted paella in the school canteen. It was really very good, I enjoyed it and I hope to get it back. As soon as finished eating, we waited all together for the time to go and rehearse the long-awaited gala at Cifuentes in San Francisco Theatre. It was fun, because we, Italians have messed up a lot, but in the end, we did it. We also listened to the trials of others, which in my opinion were very good. Late we were spectators of a kind of band, in which many participants were the parents of Spanish students. When evening came, many of us, together with foreigners, we went to a party organized by our Spanish partner Marta. We ate several things, including chips and pizza, and we did typical Spanish dances all together. When night came, we returned home with others boys and girls and with our correspondent Pablo. Once this was done, we went to sleep ready to face Thursday.

Tuesday was the day we visited Madrid. It was a unique sensation to visit one of the most beautiful cities of Europe that you had only seen in digital photos. We were all looking forward also because you cannot visit these great cities every day. In the morning, we visited the Royal Palace, the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family. Today the Palace is exclusively used for ceremonies, conferences and official acts, seen that the Monarchs live in Palacio de la Zarzuela, situated in the outskirts of Madrid. We then went by Plaza Mayor, the great and wonderful square of Madrid, in the centre of the city. Around 2:30 pm we had lunch, where we tried one of the typical Madrid dishes: “Bocadillo con calamares”.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It all started from November 30th, when teachers told me that I would have to leave for Spain. I was happy, and together with my team- mates, I created a WhatsApp group in which we counted the start. The moment I am writing is 4 days after the trip, but during all this time, we have also sent messages together with our correspondents and also to other Spaniards who will welcome us. The correspondent of Martina and me is called Pablo, from his presentation; he really looks like a very nice person, just like the others people. He introduced us to his family that is composed by her mother Eva, his sister and his sweet little dog. We even video called with some of Spanish friends, for example with Felix, the correspondent of my comrades Francesco and Simone, with Sara a correspondent of two Finnish girls and with Thomas, a correspondent of two English guys. Already via chat, they seem like people to have fun with and to be able to spend a happy week. In addition, because, I really like doing this kind of experience, what is better than spending a week in Spain, with your friends, with your teachers along with other foreigners?

Before my Erasmus+ Experience

DALILA PISCOPO IIIA

After that we played an ensemble piece called “Il Profumo delle Rose”, arranged by our music teacher Giacomo Altrude. The instrumental performance was followed by a traditional Neapolitan song “A Città e pullecenella” sung by all together. After us, Romanian team went on the stage. They played single pieces with classical guitar, piano and solo singer (Rihanna), who sung in both Spanish and Romanian. They finish the performance by singing the traditional song “Andre Popa” a Cappella. The last team, who performs, was the host country, Spain. The first who performed was Pablo with his drum, accompanied by a rock background. Then they performed individually various wind instruments like Sax and traverse flute where Ximena and Julia on piano sang the song “The echo ne meno”. When concert finished, around 14:00, we went to have lunch in a restaurant in a village nearby. After the lunch, there was the delivery of diplomas. After this official ceremony, party started with DJ, and everybody danced and sung loudly tubes of nowadays. Late in the evening, we moved to another bar where we had dinner. After the dinner, around 22:00 we went to a small lounge bar where we laughed joked, but even cried because the next day, Romanians, French and Finnish would leave and go back to their countries. We came home around midnight! It was an amazing Movida Night!

French team from Collège Jean Baptiste Dumas

Romanian Team from "Mircea Eliade" School

The big day arrived! I woke up at six in the morning, I had breakfast with a “babà”, I prepared my backpack and I was waiting for Vincenzo to go together to the airport. At half past seven, we were out of the Capodichino International Airport waiting for the arrival of the others mates and teachers. At seven forty-five, we start our check-in to embark our suitcases. Finished the operations we head towards the gate. At 9:00, the gate opened and we boarded on the plane. In the airbus, I was near Simone and Francesco: Simone was afraid to flight because it was his very first time; however, Francesco was quiet, because he had already taken the plane, like me. The flight last two hours and half and they were the most devastating hours of my life because every time the plane went up and down, my ears got clogged and I felt very bad, but despite of all this, the view from the plane window was beautiful. Finally, we landed and we got off the plain to retire our suitcase and then we headed for the exit. At the airport of Madrid, we were full of anxiety for what we could see, but as soon as we exit from the exit doors of airport, we met Elena, a Spanish teacher (English teacher) who showed us some places in Madrid down town.

Sunday 17 February 2019

The months before the Erasmus+ second mobility to Spain, were very emotional for me because every day my schoolmates and me counted down until the big day arrived. The morning of departure passed very slowly, the only feeling I remember, is the anxiety because it was my first time on an airplane. Despite of my anxiety I knew that this experience was a great opportunity because it allowed me to visit a country I have always dreamed, since I was a child that is why once I entered in Capodichino Airport all my anxiety turned into pure happiness. Once we arrived in the cabin, we settled down to our seats, and suddenly the place start to move and then….the air took off&nbsp;and it was very strange, similar to when you are on roller coaster, but the emotions were totally different. From up there, the Mediterranean Sea is fabulous; it is not comparable in any way to the virtual reality of Google Maps. Once landed at the Barrajas Airport in Madrid, we met Elena the Erasmus+ coordinator teacher of IES Don Juan Manuel in Cifuentes. She talked English very well with a very nice Iberian accent that fascinated me, and stimulates me to improve my linguistic knowledge and fluency.

Departure- Destination Spain

At five o’ clock, we went in the nearby town of Trillo together with the host family of Luigi and Vincenzo; we saw its waterfalls and its river Tajo, which feed the Trillo nuclear plant. We were good that day because we were happy with the experience of that wonderful week but in the evening, we were sad because of the end of our “Erasmus adventure” in Spain. After dinner, all Italian and Spanish guys met to say goodbye before departure planned for Sunday morning. We were sad to leave people who became very important in just one week and so we cried but we promised to keep in touch each other through WhatsApp.&nbsp;In that way, our cultural exchange will go on despite of the distance.

AURORA GALLUCCIO IIA

I am here and I am writing. I am having feelings on these days. It is a long time that I am thinking of everything will happen in that week of February, all the adventures that I will live with my friends and with new ones. Now there is only one week to the start, the beginning of this trip I will remember all my life. A trip that will help me in both linguistic and cultural level and that will leave a large mark in my heart. I have been waiting since “February 17th” for such a long time; Time has stopped and does not want to go forward. But…it will come… yes indeed, it will come. Unfortunately, the day will come too when everything will be over, and I will realize that, this particular time, will be one among the most important of my lifetime. I am ready, I have to face this new adventure, that I am sure, will be full of great emotions!

ALESSANDRA CAIAZZA IIA

Wednesday 20th&nbsp;

After arriving at school, they brought together many guys who played the instruments, in a particular activity where we did group music, but not in a very difficult way. The whole conductor was Mr. Piqueras, the same as that of the Conservatory of Guadalajara, which subsequently allowed some of us to direct, like Simone and Vincenzo. Around 11:00 am, we made Zumba together with Patricia, dancing all together among the many laughs. Later we has a snack together, with the sandwiches offered to us by host families, where we then talked and made friends with other guys. After that, we played team games, nation against nation. The first game was to balance in a small path, with a spoon and a hard-boiled egg in the mouth. Needless to say, we laughed out loud. The second game was to be able to make the same path, but inside a bag, where I participated and I arrived in the final, but the same in which my friend Francesco fell down and I also have the video. The third was the famous game of chairs, where I won for Italy. The fourth game of the handkerchief, where 3 boys per nation formed a team of 9.

Travel Book Spain 17-24 February 2019

At the first we stopped at the spectacular central square were there were “El Buen retiro” wood (it looked like the wood of Capodimonte); then we continued our visit with the Reina Sofia Museum where we saw the amazing works of Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalì and other artists. One of the most famous works of the museum was “GUERNICA”, which represents the tragic attack of the homonymous town during the Spanish civil war. After visiting the museum, we went back to the central square and we visited Atocha train station. It was very beautiful. After this, we met French Students of Jean- Baptiste Dumas Middle School; they just arrived after a long journey of six hours by train. On the bus, we start to know each other with our new friends, Mathis, Mazarine, Yaelle, Arnaud etc.&nbsp;The bus, stopped at Santiago Barnabeu, one of the most famous stadiums in the world. We took there some pictures with our French friends. After the Santiago Barnabeu, we went back to the airport to meet the Finnish team. They arrive very late in the evening. They were only girls and 3 teachers. Finally, we moved towards Cifuentes, and to arrive there the bus took 2 hours. This was a very nice part of the day, because we sung with our Erasmus friends, but at the same time, we were very tired. At half past eleven p.m. we arrived in Cifuentes, I wanted only to sleep. We met Spanish students and their families. Vincenzo and me we were host by David and Javier Sanz. In addition, we met their parents who were very affective toward us.

After all this, together with my headmaster and my group we went around from Madrid, where we visited many historical monuments and characteristic streets who left me breathless. We visited the Contemporary Art Museum “Reina Sofia” where we could admire many great artists and the famous Guernica that shows the horror of the Civil war who decimated the population, brutally killing hundreds of thousands people including women and children, who, despite having not guilt, suffered and dead. Nevertheless, in all this chaos, many people managed to go on by raising. At the end of this day, we reached the town of Cifuentes by bus, where we met our correspondents who would have host us for one week.

VINCENZO VACCA IIIB

Italian team from Istituto Carducci-King Casoria.

Saturday 23rd - A Family Day

On Saturday, twenty-third of February, each Italian guys, spent all day with his or her host family: in the morning we went to see a football match of Cifontino team (the team of Cifuentes), where some of our new Spanish friend play. At the end of the match, Alessandra, our host family, and I went for a lunch in an Italian restaurant in Guadalajara, where we enjoyed our meal. In the afternoon, we came back home and we played videogames with our correspondent David and his brother Samuel; in the meantime they offered us some sport gadgets from the Cifontino team and a jar of local honey.

Alessandra Martina Aurora Dalila Vincenzo Luigi Andrea Simone Vincenzo Francesco

Thursday 21th&nbsp;

Today we visit the Trillo Nuclear plant. We have seen how the nuclear plant works. It was very interesting. After this visit, we have gone to the City of Siguenza, an ancient medieval town hold by bishops. We visited also the Cathedral where we assisted to a pipe organ concert, then, our class mate Alessandra, and another student from Romania, Clara played it. We really enjoyed it. After the Cathedral, at around three p.m. we had lunch in a restaurant in Siguenza, and here we tried a typical food of Castilla La Mancha: the “Migas”. After lunch, we came back to Cifuentes, where we had free time to spend with our host families. Then in the evening, we had a barbecue and tapas night in the Coat of Arms of Cifuentes, all together with, students, teachers and host families. We also assisted to a concert of Cifuentes Band, where some parents play too.

FRANCESCO GIOVANNI D’AMBROSIO IIIA

English team from English Martyr Catholic School

Delivering Diplomas and final party

Hi, I am Martina Russo and I want to tell you and share with you a bit of my pre-departure anxiety. Today is Wednesday, February 12th and there is really a very short day to go…. The one waiting for November 30th!!! I just got out of the pool and I do nothing but think about my first flight on the plane! I hope you can understand my anxiety… My friends and I, we have created a WhatsApp group since we learned of the departure of the trip, and now only see a figure before the place close to each number, a bit of anxiety arrives. 21:52 _ I am about to go to sleep and I cannot wait to go to school tomorrow to find out more about the departure!!! Today is Thursday, February 14th, at 5:55 PM, the anxiety rises and I cannot help talking about it with my best friend. On the group, we continue to talk and exchange messages; I cannot wait to strengthen our friendships. Tomorrow we should prepare with a rehearsal of musical instruments, choir and presentation in view of the departure. Today is finally February 16th, 2019… I waited too long this trip, both for the goal and for the company. The suitcase is almost ready, I have already prepared the clothes that I will have to wear tomorrow for departure by plane, and (it will be my first flight)!

MARTINA RUSSO IIIA

On this day, we passed throughout the day in Cifuentes School that looks like a palace surrounds the entire landscape. First, Students showed us the city with a video; later we were involved in an exercise that allowed us to know other foreign students and make them questions. After that, we have been divided into groups. I was in B1 group and I participated to a workshop where I learnt how to create a flag of Italy and some flowers. After the workshop, we went to a class where Spanish students showed us traditional objects and traditional musical instruments that they played Afterwards, students and teachers deal us to visit the town.

VINCENZO CERSOSIMO IIIC

Name

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