Third Saturday: Croke Park

Hello again! It’s Saturday so that means the group has gathered for another tour. Today we have visited Croke park, the national stadium for Gaelic football and hurling.

But before going to Croke Park the boys have got the chance to go to confession, to improve their English skills during the class and to sing happy birthday to Jan because his birthday was on Wednesday. We were on a little rush so we ate the cake at the stadium.

Once in Croke Park a tour guide has explained us the history of Irish sports and later on has shown us the stadium from the inside: the dressing rooms, the press room and the VIP places.
The boys have also touch a replique of the trophies and have seated in the prime minister’s seat!

The last part of the tour is what they have enjoyed much because they have challenged themselves shooting Gaelic and hurling balls or training specific skills such as jumping or reflexes.

It’s a pity Alvaro has missed this tour but he must enjoyed the rugby game he has watched in the Aviva stadium. I’m pretty sure they will understand better the Irish culture and they will understand why these sports are so important for Irish people when they play in their schools.

See you next week!

Second week: the Dublin zoo

Hello again!
The boys have completed the first week in Ireland and they are settling down in an excellent way. The Irish schools are also glad to have our students and this week both Pau Serrahima and Jan Pallarols have won the star award for the best student in their classes. Well done boys!

Today, the boys have had their English class in which they get familiar with the TP exam they will do at the end of the term. And after lunch, off the Dublin zoo! It was no time to loose because the weather was brilliant and there were lots of animals to see.
We have been accompanied by Lee, the English teacher, so the boys can keep practicing their English skills.
Once in the zoo the boys have seen lots of animals including lions, tigers, gorillas, penguins, flamingos and even elephants. The zoo allows the visitors to be really close to the animals and the boys have seen the animals like never before.
The most impressive thing for them have been when tiger has approached them until the security glass. Only a few inches separate the tiger from the boys! I’m sure they have really good pictures of it.
After the visit, a quick snack and back to the bus. Thanks God all the boys are happy, the weather it’s nice and I’m sure all of them will enjoy this experience.
See you next week!

First Saturday: Bowling!

Hello everyone! This is our first newsletter after two days in Ireland.
We arrived on Thursday after a long day of planes, flights, nervous and bags being missed. On Friday the boys went to the school to meet their teachers and new Irish friends. All of them seem very happy to be here and thanks God the weather is helping: Two super sunny days in a row!
Today we took a bus off to Oatlands College, in Dublin, where the boys have met Lee: their English teacher. After the class they have had their packed lunch and we took the bus to the bowling.
The boys not only have played bowling, they have also enjoyed some of the arcade games in which Lukas won Elmo (our new pet).

Sorry for the quality of the pictures but the lights were awful.

Finally we’ve visited the Krispy Kreme doughnut factory and the boys have seen how doughnuts are made and they tasted one of them.
We also missed Pedro who is with his host family in the beach, resting and enjoying. Lucky him!

This Monday they don’t have school because it’s bank holiday so the boys will spend the day with their families. What a great opportunity to get along with them!
See you next week!

Back home!

Hello, it’s our last day in Ireland and we are a little bit upset but we are happy to see our families again.

We have arrived to Rockbrook in the morning and after the lunch we have gone by bus to the airport. We have bought the last souvenirs at the duty free and gone to the plane.

The boys ready to go home

All the boys have enjoyed his experience in Ireland and I’m sure they will recommend it to their friends.

Enjoy the photos that haven’t appeared in the blog!

Edu Pliego experience

Hello, my name is Edu, I’m 12 years old and I live in Barcelona. I have 5 siblings and all my older brothers went to Ireland when they had my age.

At the begging I was in Wicklow but I moved to Dublin and now I go to st Olaf’s school with Aritz and Jan. The school is easier than in Spain and it has different timetables but the best of it is we don’t have homework in the weekend.

When the school finishes I use to play in the green with my brothers until it gets dark. Then we go home to have dinner and talk with the family. They are very friendly.

On Saturday I go to Rockbrook to have an English lesson and then I go with my friends to do funny activities like bowling or minigolf.

I hardly recommend coming to Ireland because you learn a lot of English, personal skills and you enjoy a lot.

Aritz Anton experience

Hello, my name is Aritz, I’m 12 years old and I study in La Farga.

I came to Ireland for 9 weeks to learn English and it is my second time here because I came last year. My Irish parents names are Philip and Jin, and my siblings names are Philip and Ella Marie. I’m very happy with my host family because they are really nice and take care of me.

Here I attend st Olaf’s school, the same as Jan and Edu and my best friends in Ireland are Felipe and David. You can do many after school activities and I choose tennis.

The Saturday is the best day of the week because I see my friends from La Farga and we do excursions all together. We have gone to play minigolf, bowling, footgolf but the best has been Explorium, a huge science museum. I really liked Explorium because I learned a lot about science and because you can experiment a lot of machines.

Jordi Leal experience

Hello, my name is Jordi and I’m going to explain how was my experience in Ireland.

My first two weeks were really hard because I miss my family but now I’m really happy to be here. I’m living in Greystones but my school is in Bray.

In the afternoon I play with my siblings Kalem, Josh and Macey. My Irish dad is amazing because he tells me the Barça results when they play. My Irish mum is a brilliant cooker and she cooks delicious food.

I’m learning a lot of English and also I’m enjoying my stay. I think Ireland is a very good experience and you will enjoy it but you have to put some effort.

9th Saturday: TP exam and city center

Hello!

It’s our last Saturday in Ireland and this morning the boys have made the TP exam so they will know which is his English level.

After the exam we have ate the lunch and have celebrate Edu’s birthday with a cake.

Later we have gone to visit the center of Dublin. Mr Bretons was our guide and he showed us the most important places and buildings. We have visited st Patrick’s cathedral, Christ Church, the City Hall, the Temple Bar pub and the O’Connell monument. We also have crossed the Halfpenny bridge and walked through Grafton street.

We have stopped at Carroll’s, an Irish shop to buy some souvenirs for our families and friends.

Finally, bus to Rockbrook, Holy Mass and batteries charged for the last week in Ireland.

8th Saturday: ice skating

Hi!

Our Irish experience is coming to the end. In 12 days we are coming back to Spain and the boys are really excited.

Today we have gone to Dundrum to do ice skating but first we have had the last English class because next week the boys will be taking the TIE exam. And after the class an intense soccer match while we wait Lucas and Jean Paul who were playing rugby with the Blessington team.

We put on our ice skates and sliced over the ice for an hour. There were lots of falls but when the learned to skate there was lots of fun. We used some penguins at the begging and then we dropped and skate by our own.

After the skating we have gone to the shopping center to buy some snacks.

Lucas Sánchez experience

Hello! Today Lucas is going to explain us his Irish adventure.

Hi, my name is Lucas and I’m living in Blessington and I’m attending at st. Mary’s school.

The weekdays I use to wake up at 7:45 and I eat something before going to school. The Irish school is different than the Spanish because you have two breaks and you eat your lunch in the classroom. It also finishes at 2:30 and I like it because you have a long afternoon.

After the school my host mum collects me and Jean Paul and drops us off in my house or Jean Paul’s house. There we change our uniform for sportswear and we go outside to play football or basket. We play with some neighbors and since two weeks ago with Samuel and Carlota, two Spanish students living in Blessington. On Tuesday I play rugby for the local team (and I’m really good at it)

Every Saturday I go to Rockbrook where we have an English class and later we go to an excursion. I missed one of the excursions because I was with my family in a trip and I enjoyed a lot! This Saturday I’ll miss the English class because I’m going with my family to watch a rugby game but I’ll join the group later.

These are my days in Ireland. I hope you have enjoyed reading my writing.

See you soon!