At the beginning of October, our students had the opportunity of spending some wonderful days with other students from a high school in England. Eva Mª Jesús Morales, the teacher in charge of the school exchange, is telling us about what these days. Keep on reading to know more about what they did...
More than 25 years have passed since our first Exchange with Bishop Heber High School in Malpas. It is still in our minds such a range of brilliant experiences of mutual life prints.
This year a group of 18 British students landed in Valdepeñas from 2nd to 9th October, eager to get a first but the best possible impression of Spanish culture. But, surprisingly, by the end of the week, they had entirely got the most complete comprehension about Spanish hospitality.
The ice breaking activities, prepared by the mediation group, introduced them into cooperation values. Then, Miguel Fisac, represented by the school facilities and its outstanding chapel, acted the role of Cicero.
More than 25 years have passed since our first Exchange with Bishop Heber High School in Malpas. It is still in our minds such a range of brilliant experiences of mutual life prints.
The first day in families led our guests to a sparkling visit to a Renaissance Palace in El Viso del Marqués on Thursday. The Italian atmosphere in La Mancha attracted them from the very beginning, before entering the Almagro Globe. Cervantes, Shakespeare, Lepanto, Spanish Armada, Philip II, Elizabeth I…we are, in depth, this kind of alike past´s heirs.
That evening, the mayor opened to us the gates of the City Hall in an emotional ceremony full of messages about erasing borders and keeping the key of Valdepeñas heart for ever and ever.
On Friday, the Spanish hosts and a pretty numerous group of pupils from 3rd and 4th ESO filled a two-storey bus headed for Toledo. The aim of the trip was clear: how to coexist within a diverse community. Sephardic Jew unfolded magic into Transito Synagoge. This was the first time they heard about a painter born in Crete who wanted to work in El Escorial…El Greco so-called. The train itinerary through the historic centre gave us an overview over the “city of three cultures”.
Recalling the speech of the mayor, Valdepeñas has become a city of opportunities.
The weekend made it possible for them to get to know the real Spanish free time. On Sunday, teachers, parents and students met all together in El Peral. The excuse was “we meet to share typical food from the area”, but we truly knew that we all wanted to say “come to enjoy time with us”.
On Monday morning, el Cerro de las Cabezas, an Iberian city, welcomed us thanks to the enriching guided tour provided by Orisos. In the afternoon, we could experience the process after the grape harvest in a modern winery, with an alcohol free wine tasting.
The last day, we were gifted with a medieval sunrise in the castle located in Carrión, the origin of Calatrava Military Order. The iconic Wine Museum would surprise us afterwards when it brought to our minds this precise resemblance with the wine production in a traditional way. Victorian era in Valdepeñas, led by an empowerised bourgeoisie. The ties with modern winery appeared crystal clear to us then.
Past and present, tradition and innovation. Recalling the speech of the mayor, Valdepeñas has become a city of opportunities, plenty of possible links with Cheshire and always ready to welcome our English visitors in another unbelievable Exchange.