Ireland (13th - 28th September)

(13/9/22) Day 1: Journey

After saying goodbye to our family at the Bus Station of Logroño. We took the first bus at 9:00 in the morning. I was very nervous in case I had left something, but fortunately everything was perfect.

The bus arrived in Bilbao around 11:00 in the morning and we had to be very careful to catch the next bus that left us at the airport. During so much travel we were able to get to know each other better among all the students of Spain that although we went to the same institute, we did not have a relationship with all of us.

We arrived at the airport. We ate, checked our bags and after a while we were able to enter the boarding area.

        

We saw some of the stores, we bought some food and finally it was time to get on the plane.

The plane ride was incredible. I was lucky to be at the window and to be able to take photos of the views from it.

By the time I realized we were already landing and finally stepping on Irish land. We picked up our bags and at the door of the Dublin airport we had our friends from this adventure: the Scoil Pol students. We introduced ourselves and they helped us with our bags so that we could all get to the bus that brought us to school together.

                                  

On the bus we talked, sang and got to know each other a little bit.

We made a stop at a service area to eat and stretch our legs.

                                                       

And after a long day we arrived at our destination. The mother of the student I was going to stay with (Sophie) came to pick me up and we arrived at the house. It was quite late and since I had already eaten, they only showed me the rooms and I went to sleep.

 

(14/9/22) Day 2: First Day of school

I woke up at 7 in the morning with a lot of desire to start the day. I got dressed, made the bed and had some cereal for breakfast that my mother offered me. I prepared everything I needed in my backpack and they gave me a container with lunch and food for that day. I was driven to school with Sophie and her sister. Once at school I was able to get together with the rest of the Delhuyar students and we picked up our schedules in the secretary's office. Was time for my first class. For the first hour I had a subject called Accounting. I liked it a lot but I had a hard time understanding what it explained.The rest of the hours were similar: we received classes on some subject in the classroom; not very different from Spain. For break and lunch we all got together. During the morning the director of the Scoil Pol gathered all the Erasmus students in the dining room and gave us a presentation as well as explaining the itinerary of our days in Ireland.

In the last class we had a subject that consisted of homework help but since we still didn't have any, some of us were able to take a tour of the institute.

 When all the classes were over, they came to pick me up by car and took me home. When I arrived they offered me some food and I spent the afternoon in the house getting to know each other a little better and organizing my things. We had dinner around 9 and I fell asleep by 10. (Although we had only been jet-lagged for an hour, it took me some days to get used to the hours of sleep.)

 

 

(15/9/22) Day 3: 2nd day of school + Camogie

The morning was nothing special, we went to class and met a lot of new people. The interesting thing was the afternoon. As soon as we left class we met in the stands of the school's hurling field. We all spent some time together and took a walk around the field. We found a park and had a great time. Then we went back to where we were and all together went to get something to eat in the village (Kilfinane).

When we were picked up by car in the middle of the afternoon to take us home, Sarah (Sophie's sister) offered me to go with her to camogie training. An Irish sport that is very similar to hurling. I obviously accepted. I was able to live the real experience of a game of camogie. It was a unique experience that many more students could not enjoy, so I was very grateful.

(16/9/22) Day 4: Cliffs oh Mohar + Surfing

Today we had our first school field trip. We arrived very early in the morning and took a bus to go to the Cliffs of Mohar. When we arrived we ate something and went to a very cool museum where we learned about the animals of the place. And finally we climbed to the top of the cliffs to see the incredible views. Silvia, Candela, Marta and I took a walk towards one of the corners of the cliff. Everything was beautiful.

In the afternoon we went to the beach to surf and I had a great time. When it was over we had fish and chips and more food that was available in some shops around. I enjoy until the return trip with the incredible views from the bus window. When we got home we were exhausted and went to bed pretty quickly after dinner.

    

(17/9/22) Day 5: Limerick

This day we went to visit the city of Limerick, we left school at 9 am, we visited the milk market, King John's castle and a very interesting museum where there were plenty of activities to do while we learned. Finally they took us to a shopping center where we could see the differences between the shops in Ireland and in Spain. Everything is an adventure there, even ordering food! not only because you have to order it in English but because they have infinite menus in which you never knew what to choose. I think my favorite thing of the day was the castle. Not only because of the monument and the views from its towers, but also because of all the curious things that were in it. We played games, we learned and we also used the instruments that were left to us.

                                                       

On 18 was Sophie´s birthay so we celebrate it with her friends in the house this night. I had so much fun.

(18/9/22) Day 6: Sophie´s birthday

Since it was Sophie's birthday, her mother, brother, sister, she and I went to Limerik to eat at an Asian restaurant that she loves. The food was great and then we spent some time shopping in the city center. Around 4 we returned to the town and I accompanied them to the camogie training. That day I wasn't feeling well at all so instead of training I stayed with Andrea (another Delhuyar student) walking around Kilfinane walking her host sister's dog.

                                    

(19/9/22) Day 7: Cooking + Music festival

Today we have class again. The coolest thing we did was the cooking class. Together with Sophie and Ainhoa ​​we cooked some spaghetti bolognese.

The rest of the class hours were also entertaining. We ate and went home. That afternoon they had prepared a very interesting activity for all the school exchange students.

It consisted of a night of Irish music in which a group of students from the school taught us popular songs and dances. My favorite was the one made with a broom. Then they put on a few songs to dance together. I had a great time! At the end they had a snack prepared in the dining room. We ate and laughed a lot.

 

(20/9/22) Day 8: Sport

The day at school was not much different until they gave us some classes about the typical sports of Iranda. First they taught us how to do it and then we practiced. It was a very fun time. The day was fine without many special things. In the afternoon I went to see a camogie game of Sarah. She is a goalkeeper and she played very well. At night the mother gave me a surprise that I loved. She made me an omelet with chorizo, it was very good. I am very grateful to her. We talked for a while and I went to sleep.

(21/9/22) Day 9: National Plowing Championship

Today was one of the best days of the entire trip. We went to the National Plowing Championship. A festival that is based on a plowing contest with tractors but that has an animal fair and all kinds of things related to livestock and agriculture. We spent the whole day visiting the stalls where they gave away many free things. In addition, there was an amusement fair nearby, although I didn't ride anything because each attraction cost between 10 and 15 euros! I had a great time and was able to immerse myself quite a bit in the Irish culture.

This day I came home very tired after spending all day walking around the stalls of the fair. So I had dinner and fell asleep very quickly.

(22/9/22) Day 10: Barista

Today we did a class on how to make coffee in a professional coffee machine. I find it very interesting that these things are taught at school and in such a practical way. We were all able to make a coffee and give very cool shapes to the milk that we poured on top.

In the afternoon I went to visit Sophie at her work, in a supermarket that sells prepared food. I walked around the town where Sophie works, with Sarah and I was able to see local shops that were very interesting and with quite curious products.

(23/9/22) Day 11:

In the morning I had an amazing breakfast. It's called porredge and it's like boiled oatmeal with berries and honey (although you can really put whatever you like on it)

We went to class and we had to give all the hours in the "prefabs". Almost every TY class is held here.

The day was normal, in the afternoon we were at the house talking and hanging out.

We had dinner just Sophie, Sarah and I because the rest of her family was swimming.

(24/9/22) Day 12: Dublin

Today was without a doubt the best day of all. Sophie's mother, Sophie, Sarah, Mathew (her little brother) and me left home at five in the morning. Because we were going to spend the day in Dublin! The trip lasted about 4 hours but we stopped a few times so it was not too heavy for me. Just when we arrived we got on a Viking ship that gave us a tour of Dublin in a very curious way. We wore viking hats and had to yell at people on the street from the boat when it was going down the road (it had wheels coming off). But the incredible thing was that it got also into the water!

When the trip ended we ate something and took a walk through the shopping street of Dublin. We visited the Lego store, the Disney store...

And the best was yet to come. When we finished our shopping we went to an amazing musical. It was without a doubt the best I have ever been to.

I am super grateful to the family for giving me this opportunity. It was incredible!

But everything does not end here because that night I went out with Sophie and her friends to a birthday party and I was able to see an Irish bar and meet many new people.

(25/9/22) Day 13: Cinema

This day in the morning I did not do anything special, we were in the house resting and talking. In the afternoon I went first to see a game of camogie in which Sophie was playing and later we both went to the cinema where the rest of the exchange students were. The movie was good and when it was over we had some food for dinner (I had some fries that were delicious).

(26/9/22) Day 14: Cooking at school

This day we went to class and with Sophie and another Irish we cooked potatoes a la brava. The sauce did not turn out very well but the potatoes were perfect. In the afternoon we spent time playing and talking, I went to sleep quite early.

(27/9/22) Day 15: Last day of school

It was the saddest day because we had to say goodbye to all the people we had met. In the morning I had to swim so we went to the University of Limerik to give swimming lessons, we went back to school and at the end of the day they gave us a talk about cybersecurity.

(28/9/22) Day 15: The Parting

The day to leave has come. We left home very early in the morning and I said goodbye to the whole family. It was very sad. We got on the bus and our exchange partners accompanied us to Dublin airport. We hugged everyone and had to go to the boarding area. The flight back seemed very short for me.

We arrived in Bilbao with plenty of time to catch the bus, so we ate, walked around and hung out in general.

Finally we took the bus to logroño and around 10 at night we saw our families again.

This has been one of the best experiences of my life and without a doubt it has made me change for the better in many aspects.