Trip to Cabra ⛰🌿🌳🍁

On Thursday 15th November, I had the great opportunity to go on a trip with 1ESO to the natural park in Cabra as part of their social science lessons. I was really looking forward to going as the countryside here in Andalusia takes my breath away and it’s so beautiful! It’s really different to home though. At home the countryside is more flat and a more vibrant green, and we do not have olive trees. Whereas here it is more mountainous, I love looking at the shadows of the mountains because it is magical and I also love seeing all the olive groves dotted around. I fall a little more in love with Andalusia every time I immerse myself in the landscape here. But I do miss an autumnal walk through field and along the river Thames back home. However, I feel very lucky to have gone on this trip to experience more of the natural landscape here in the province of Cordoba. From talking to lots of you, it appears you all seem to enjoy going to the countryside with your families at the weekend. 

The first stop on the trip was the natural park visitor centre which was a cute white Andalusian building. Once there we watched an audiovisual and had the chance to look around interactive exhibitions which talked about the flora and fauna, the landscape and the history of this natural park. It was interesting to learn a little more about the spectacular landscape and the species that inhabit the area. It also seemed that in this building there was good lighting as lots of you took selfies to document the trip 😂

The next part of the trip was a 3KM hiking trail so we could see some of the landscape we learnt about in the visitor centre, although for some of you I know it felt like 100KM based on the ‘moaning’ I heard. 😂😛 I was shocked at the landscape on this trail as it reminded me of home due to the autumn colours and different types of trees. Also, the sensation of trying not to fall down a sloppy hill brought back many memories of walks in the uk after it rained in the woods and the ground was damp. I really enjoyed admiring the stunning views whilst on the hike, the sun made it look even lovelier. But what I enjoyed the most was being able to speak to lots of you during the hike and getting to know you more. You all tried really hard to speak English and you are all improving lots. I especially loved when you worked as little groups to form a sentence in English so you could speak to me. ☺️☺️ thank you for making an effort, otherwise it would have been a lonely walk 😛 and well, practice makes perfect with English, so you did a great job. Thank you for teaching me the word raisin in Spanish too ‘pasa’ I’m now basically fluent in Spanish 😂👏🏻 

After the hiking trail it was time to have our well deserved snack, of course in true Spanish style... a bocadillo! The weather was perfect to enjoy the picnic area and it was nice to see you relaxed and enjoying being in the middle of knowhere. During lunch I also tried a berry from a tree that Jorge said you can eat (for now, I’m still alive 😂😝) and they were very tasty. Also, you managed to find a SNAKE!!! I hate snakes, they’re one of my phobias. But I’m still unsure as to how you managed to find it, but at least you got a true wildlife experience and it added to the ‘excitement’ of the trip. 🐍 

After lunch it was time to travel up to the summit of the Sierra de Cabra. I visited there once before and was looking forward to going again. I loved looking at the views from the peak, they are very beautiful and I enjoyed looking as far as the eye can see! I’m sure you got many Instagram worthy shots whilst there. Apart from admiring the incredible landscape we also learnt more about the landscape from Jorge, who spoke about what you could see from the top and some facts about the Sierra de Cabra. I wish I could go there more often as I love the feeling of feeling free and relaxed looking over the world below. I find being in the countryside is good for thinking things over, so I hope you enjoyed some freedom there. 

After the talk and some free time to enjoy the views, it was time to do a bilingual activity. I guess this makes this trip the first bilingual trip at Clara. You listened to my instructions in English and the acted out one of the Andalusian provinces that we could see from the Sierra. Then, the other tutor groups had to guess what province you had selected from the cards. It was great to see your little pieces of theatre, and I learnt that Jaén is famous for olives. The last activity of the day was a kinder egg hunt, which you all seemed very engaged with. I suppose the chocolate motivated everyone. But those of you that asked for clues in English had the better chance of finding the eggs. 👍🏻👍🏻💃🏽💃🏽 I’m sorry you didn’t find all of them. 

Above all, I had a wonderful day with all of you. I hope you learnt more about the landscape you’re so lucky to be surrounded with. What was your favourite part?? (Some of you told me your favourite part was the bus, but I hope you were joking) 

Enjoy a relaxing weekend after the adventure in Cabra and I’ll see you Monday. 💚

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

Read the latest blog entry by Lissy and answer these questions:

1. What British and Spanish celebrations are mentioned in the text?
2. When is Bonfire Night celebrated in the UK? 
3. What happened in November 1605 in Britain?
4. What do British people usually wear on Bonfire Night?
5. What is the British traditional food for Bonfire Night?
6. Why is our Spanish celebration "Día de los Santos" mentioned in the text?

Firework ‘cue Katy Perry song’ 🎇🎆🔥💥

And so I was thinking about what I could write a blog about, and Halloween crossed my mind, but that’s something a lot of you celebrate too. On that note, I’d like to thank any of you who participated in the Halloween escape room activity, it was a success and the cakes you made were truly incredible and you should all be very proud of yourself, you’ve outdone yourself and I really was left without words. Watch this space for a Christmas bilingual activity. 🎄

So  I thought what better to talk about than a special celebration in the United Kingdom (afterall, I am the first assistant from the UK) It is called Bonfire night or Guy Fawkes night, and was celebrated on the 5th November. So this was celebrated on Monday. 

WHY DOES  BONFIRE NIGHT EXIST?

Bonfire night is a special celebration in the UK that happens every year on the 5th November. If you like History…Read on! (You should read on anyways if you want to practice English 😝) It is the day that King James escaped his death in the houses of parliament. Therefore, we celebrate the failiure of the Guy Fawkes plot on November 5th 1605. In November 1605 a group of men decided to make a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London.The plot is known as the ‘Gunpowder Plot’ and the leader of the plot was called Guy Fawkes. The plot was made as the men were angry about the way the Catholic people were being treated in England. The men thought of a plan and decided to put 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellar of Houses of Parliament
and then waited for the King to open Parliament, and blow it up. Guy Fawkes was the man who was going to light thegunpowder and cause the explosion. However, guards found the gunpowder before it  exploded and they caught all the men involved in the plot. They were caught because of a letter that was sent to friend who was a member of parliament warning him to avoid parliament that day because of the plot. Francis Tresham was the man who sent the letter thinking that it would never be sent to the king. The men involved were tortured and killed by being hung, drawn and quartered.

HOW IS BONFIRE NIGHT CELEBRATED?

Every year the people of the UK celebrate the survival of the Houses of Parliament and King James. In the early years, church bells rang every 5th November, but it has developed into a  big celebration. All over Britain there are firework displays with friends and families and light bonfires with models of Guy Fawkes which are burned on the fire. It’s normally quite cold on Bonfire Night so people wear warmclothes, hats, scarves and gloves to spend the evening outside. Traditional Bonfire Night food is jacket potatoes and toffee apples. Normally my family and I buy fireworks and sparklers for our garden, and also light a fire. I used to love making shapes with my sparklers.  We put sausages and jacket potatoes in the fire to eat and also toast marshmallows. At university, I go to a firework display with my friends and drink mulled wine. There are lots of fireworks displays over the UK in public spaces and the community gathers together (a little like the virgen of Araceli celebration) and the United Kingdom sky is lit up with so many colours and the bangs echo around the country. 

I have really missed Bonfire night this year, it was sad seeing everyone in England with fireworks on their snapchat and instagrams. But maybe next year! Luckily, i have the wonderful spanish traditions such as the the Dia De Los Santos to make up for it.

I really enjoyed this special day in Spain, and this year I was able to celebrate like a typical Spaniard. I find it very heartwarming visiting cemeteries and having a day to celebrate all the people that are no longer with us, but have touched and continue to touch our lives. I also got to make and try gachas, which I really enjoyed, although I couldn’t explain to you what it reminds me of. But anyways, anything sweet and I’ll like it. I feel very grateful to have been surrounded by an entire Spanish family and to have experienced a special celebration such as this. In the UK this day doesn’t exist, and well, this year I can relate to it more and so really enjoyed my day. 

What other exciting traditions or celebrations do you have here?

WE ARE BILINGUAL

Have you seen the new look of our hallway? Whenever you get into our school, the first thing you will see is a cute tree with flags from all over the European Union and, in a bigger size, the flags of the languages that students can study at our school. Next to them we have these letters with the message "We are bilingual", in case anyone has forgotten:). Our students from first ESO, and especially 1ºC did a very good job!! Have look at it all in these pictures and enjoying having a beautiful school. 

International Library Day

Do you like books?? I do! And so do many students at our school. As a proof of it, there is a very successful reader's club at our school Library every week and in the library there are also other interesting activities such as the one that took place for International Library Day, last 24th October. Students decorated all these lovely books with inspiring quotations by authors from all over the world. Have a look at them and let yourself be inspired!

Every beginning comes from some other end

And so I never thought I would get the opportunity to write on this blog again, but it seems I was wrong! Back in June whilst having a solo trip to Toledo I received the wonderful news (it actually brought me to tears🙈) that I would get to stay in your amazing school and only your school for one more year 🤩😃👌🏼 I couldn’t have been happier to receive the news and to be able to play a part in your bilingual adventure again. Also, to watch you all keep growing into fabulous young people, see your English grow and  hare many more smiles and laughs. However, I really should learn your names, and I promise I will even if it takes me until June, as this year I have no excuse.

The first 2 weeks have been really enjoyable, it’s been so nice to see all of your enthusiastic faces again, even if I did forget about how chatty you can be. It’s been a busy 2 weeks for me; catching up with friends I’m lucky to be able to spend another year with, meeting new language assistants, doing a presentation at the language assistant conference, travelling to Ronda and having my friend come to visit me. I forgot how beautiful Andalucia is and how kind, caring and special the people are. But I cannot wait to spend this year with you all again, to create more memories and cherish the time we kuckiky got given. So, unfortunately for you, here’s to another year together 🧡🧡  It’s time to make another year count, because I believed it happened for a reason! 

Lots of love, 

Your language assistant,

Lissy 🤓 

EUROPEAN DAY OF LANGUAGES

Hi again everyone!!!
We are happily back to school and I'm glad to say that the year has been started with a great positive attitude by everyone! To start with, last 26th September we celebrated European Day of Languages doing these cute wordclouds to make our students aware of the value of linguistic diversity in Europe. The students of 1st ESO created them with the help of their Linguistic Area Teachers (Spanish, English and French) as part of CIL, that is Curriculum Integrado de las Lenguas, a paramount component in our bilingual Clara Campoamor School. Enjoy them and enjoy being back to school!!:)

 

GOODBYE, LISSY!

As our dear Lissy wrote last week, on Tuesday 5th we had a very special break to say her goodbye, the warm goodbye that she deserves. We enjoyed ourselves quite a lot preparing all the things needed for the party: the posters, the balloons, the food, the music, the presents,...and as people say, "you reap what you sow" and so we got more than we gave. We received so much love from Lissy and all those who participated in the party but especially we received a wonderful massive hand-made card💗💖💙💓💝. In it you can read a heartfelt message from Lissy, written from the bottom of her heart and willing to encourage everyone to keep on improving their English and to fight for their dreams to come true. Here we can see it and enjoy it, as it is our present back:)

LISSY, WE WILL ALWAYS LOVE AND REMEMBER YOU!!!

Sometimes words aren't enough❤️

Well, it actually seems like the other blog wasn't my last (of course it wasn't, I couldn't not write again after leaving) but this actually is the end now... 😳😥

I honestly do not have the words to express how grateful, thankful and blessed I am about my last day in the amazing Clara Campoamor!! It was truly truly so special and I'll never ever forget it 💗💜💚 I'm not sure I really deserve an entire party, i just did my job and enjoyed doing it! The party is also for all of your hard work too and the bilingual teachers, and of course Marta (the one who coordinates this English/Spanish teaching that you either love or hate) so i hope you enjoyed the party as much as I did, and got to eat more than me 😂😂 but speaking to all of you and feeling like the paparazzi were following me was much more important than eating hahaha I couldn't have felt more emotions at once... it was bittersweet! The biggest smile on my face yet holding back the tears! 

Also, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the wonderful gifts, being at your school and meeting such lovely people has been a gift in itself. The flowers, well, I don't think I've ever seen such a big bunch and my arm was hurting by the time I got home haha they are so beautiful though, I really love flowers 💞💐🌸 also, my handmade notebook for la aula específica is truly magical and I can't wait to use it (i think it's going to be for Spanish phrases) but I'm truly grateful to have been given it, and I wish I had more time with you wonderful humans! Lastly, THE BOOK WITH ALLLLLLL OF YOUR MESSAGES!!! 😭😭❤️❤️😀😀 I have no words to explain how much that mean to me, I'm going to keep it forever and whenever I feel a little sad it will be read, I can never ever forget any of you and this book is perfect and I absolutely love it! I did In fact cry reading the messages, they are so lovely! Thank you for every single letter and the drawings and the thought and time! 😘😘

Well, thank you for not only an super special send off, but also for a wonderful last 2 days that I enjoyed so much (you crazy children running around the school doing a treasure hunt) and a spectacular year! I hope you manage to see the card I made for you, all of you truly deserve it and I wish I could've written one for each of you, but hey I'm human and I do enjoy having a life 😂🙈 I'll send the photos that I took with each of the classes to Marta should you want to see them! I'm going to print them and keep them in a special place!9

And I guess that's all, I mean I could go on forever, but let's save you anymore pain 😂😂 truly thank you so much for everything and remember you can do anything you put your mind to, and be kind always! 

I LOVE CLARA AND ALL OF YOU INSIDE!! Until we see eachother again, good luck with everything in your life, reach your dreams, keep smiling and do your best (nobody can ask for any more)

Lissy over and out 😘🤓

It's not goodbye, it's hasta luego! 😘

Well, as I begin to write my probably last blog (probably a good thing for you), I am just filled with emotions. But wow, where have the last 8 months gone, they seem to have flown by, too fast of course. I remember my first time I walked into this wonderful school with my mum all the way back in September, and I knew I was going to absolutely love it! Everybody was so friendly, it was so colourful and well, i just felt at home. Apart from the hundreds of kisses I got whilst meeting people  (i forgot you guys do that)  and that the lovely Marta left me behind when picking us up, but I think I might've just forgiven her!

 

But the first day I came to work, if I'm being totally honest, I was scared! (but mainly because I'm just so small and thought I'd get squashed in the corridor 😝) it honestly felt like I was restarting secondary school, with lots of new people and new teachers and a new timetable... well, you all know how that day feels, it's a whirlwind. Now I'm looking back and it feels like yesterday I was thinking to myself 'oh no, seriously, maths lessons' 'how do I even pronounce that word?' Or 'how do I make myself not seem like a student at the school?' because I really have been told to get off my phone or asked if I'm here for the exam 😂😂.

Now I'm faced with only 2 more days and that fills me with sadness, excitement, but more importantly gratefulness and lots of reflection, how is that even possible that less than 2 full days remain?? But seriously well done me for surviving because it hasn't all been a walk in the park with all sunshine and smiles... You Spanish kids can talk the legs off a hind donkey and well, sometimes I did wonder if I was a ghost because even after 100 times of pronouncing the same word for you, the pronunciation seemed to get worse (what we would call, in one ear and out the other) or whether you understood the word 'silence' because at times pffffff i needed a megaphone 😂 but you know what, even if at times I cried lots of tears or wanted to scream , I wouldn't change the job for the world, and that's what's made my experience at Clara Campoamor (which I only learnt the other day is named after an actual person 😂😂), sometimes the imperfections make things perfect!! Nothing in life is perfect and that's what makes it special, and why this school and the people in it will forever have a special place in my heart.

From the bottom of my heart, I'm genuinely so lucky to have met all of you wonderful children. You never failed to brighten up my day with your quirky personalities and that's why it's so hard to leave you all. You've all inspired me in some way, whether that's your perseverance with an English word, your friendliness, your faces when you get something right or just starting the day with a smile even if 'ergh no lo sé en inglés o 'pero no puedo decirlo en inglés'. Or when you shout my name across the corridor (maybe this is what it feels like to be a celebrity) you motivated me to get out bed somedays because there was never a dull moment and well, as you know my year wasn't all as it was supposed to be, but in your own way, this school kept me going. 

Please never ever stop being who you are, as you all have such bright futures doing whatever you choose to do, I have believed and will continue to believe in all of you, so do yourself a favour and believe too because 'if you believe you can do it, you're halfway there' and well, if any of you ever become famous, please don't forget to send me an autograph!! Each of you have brought something special to my year and the world deserves to see it too. You all have such a charm, a talent (whether that's maths, dance, sport or being a kind person) I'm so happy to have been part of the Clara canpoamor family and a part of me will always belong to it. I will forever be truly grateful that the junta de Andalucía placed me here.

I know you're probably thinking how cringe and corny this whole blog entry is, but I truly believe that everyone deserves to be told how great they are, and I am so grateful for the memories I have from this school- I'll cherish them forever because I don't think I'll ever get such a big cheer for walking into a room again hehe! Promise me one thing though: keep practicing your English because I will be visiting (England really isn't that far you know) and I expect your English to be EVEN better!! 💪🏻👌🏻 and never ever doubt yourself about anything, you can be whatever you want to be and go where you want to go! 

Well, before I burst into tears, A MASSIVE GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL AND I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST! I'm going to try enjoy my last 'weekend' (technically I'll just have a weekend forever after this one) and not get too upset about leaving you fabulous humans! But just know I'll never ever forget about the moments, the people, the love and the family at Clara! And please never lose the joy, enthusiasm and utter community feel that it encompasses; it's something amazing to hold onto.  

BUT FIRST LETS MAKE THE MOST OF THESE LAST 2 DAYS AND ENJOY THEM👌🏻💞🇬🇧 (please don't become rebellious before I leave hehe)

Lots and lots of small ginger English love, and remember you can do anything you put your mind to, so dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go and be what you want to be! and well I'm really just lucky that i have something that makes saying goodbye so hard!!

Your language assistant 2017/18-

Lissy 💗🌸🤓