November 29, 2018
Neve MacRae Day Trip to Cordoba with 4 ESO
On Wednesday I had the opportunity to go with the fourth ESO classes to Cordoba.
I am a language assistant to the fourth ESO classes, but when we do activities it’s mostly about academics.
This was a great opportunity for me to connect more with the students
and learn about their interests while being in a casual setting.
I am a language assistant to the fourth ESO classes, but when we do activities it’s mostly about academics.
This was a great opportunity for me to connect more with the students
and learn about their interests while being in a casual setting.
The students were divided into two groups. One group led by Borja went to play in a volleyball tournament.
Maria José and Inés were group leaders of the second group,
which I was a part of, and we went to the Mezquita-Cathedral of Cordoba.
We left Villa del Rio early in the morning and took the bus to Cordoba.
While it was not considered a bilingual trip, the students all tried very hard to speak to me in English.
I really appreciated them trying their best and making me feel like a part of the group.
Once the first group was dropped off, we went to meet Inés on the Puente Romano.
She led us to a café to have breakfast. This was my first time having churros y chocolate.
The students helped to explain the best way to eat the churros either by dipping them in chocolate
or having them plain with sugar. I definitely learned a lot from the students.
Now, I feel I am a master at eating churros y chocolate!
After our delicious breakfast, we headed to the Mezquita Cathedral.
In the alcazar we got to take group pictures before heading inside. There are some pictures featured below.
As we entered there were brochures in the entryway. The students were so thoughtful
and made sure I had an English brochure, so I could understand the history and layout of the building.
Inés was an amazing guide and was extremely knowledgeable
and made sure that the students noticed details about the mosque-cathedral that may go unnoticed.
The Mezquita is beautiful. It’s a vast space with large coloured arches painted with red and white stripes.
The most impressive part around the perimeter, in my opinion, is the ceiling of the building
that is painted with intricate designs.
The amount of time and effort that was put into the original design and the upkeep of the building is very impressive.
After the Mezquita we headed to the narrowest street I’ve have ever been in.
It was difficult to make us all fit in a picture but somehow we managed.
One of the next streets over is Calle de los Flores.
It is beautiful. It has small shops and planted pots that hang from the walls that make the street distinctly Spanish.
As we reached the end, we could see the tower peeking through. It was amazing!
After shuffling through the narrow streets, we went to the Posada del Potro.
The inn made me feel like we were with Don Quijote and Sancho Panza. It was like we were in another time.
In the posada there are small exhibits that showcase information about famous flamenco singers and
musicians throughout Spain’s history.
musicians throughout Spain’s history.
It was fun to watch the students try to identify the artists they had heard of before.
There were videos of flamenco singers that they really enjoyed. I hadn’t listened to much flamenco music before,
so the students found it funny to watch me bob my head to the beat of the song.
Definitely the wrong dance moves for flamenco,
but it was a lot of fun. Fourth ESO said they would help me learn flamenco and sevillanas,
so before I leave I need to take some classes. It is a must!
Definitely the wrong dance moves for flamenco,
but it was a lot of fun. Fourth ESO said they would help me learn flamenco and sevillanas,
so before I leave I need to take some classes. It is a must!
After some free time, we headed back to the bus. We picked up Borja’s group from the volleyball tournament.
They said they had a lot of fun which was so nice to hear.
On the way back we listened to Crisitina and Maria José sing flamenco.
Their beautiful voices encouraged others to join in and sing. It was an incredible moment to take in and be a part of.
It is no surprise to me that the Historic Centre of Cordoba is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Cordoba is a city full of beauty and the thoughtful actions
exhibited by the students made the experience so much more enjoyable.
I am so happy that they had fun in Cordoba.
Thank you so much to all of the teachers: María José, Inés and Borja for chaperoning the trip.
I feel so lucky to have these experiences with the students and teachers
and be integrated into your community.
