PAMPLONA EXCHANGE: SPANISH PERSPECTIVE Easter and the first weeks of July have meant only one thing to me for the last 15 years – The School Exchange with King Edward’s and my school in Spain, Colegio San Cernin in Pamplona.
Though both sets of exchange students are initially and naturally anxious about the experience, the confidence and security gained in living with a “foreign” family for 11 days are immeasurable, especially as they take place during some of the holidays. Most students return on both sides feeling and commenting It is with enormous pride that once again, students that their language skills are so much better. from the school are coming to the Bath area for Our students not only get to practice what the 25th time, something that underlines the excellent partnership our schools have had. It’s not they’ve been learning (with the added emphasis that the words, Please, Thank You and Excuse that common that schools maintain an exchange for so long and it’s something that doesn’t happen Me are also used!) but to also see that English food (which still has a poor reputation in Spain) by accident. It is to be celebrated. isn’t as bad as they’re led to believe and that Olive Oil is now also used for cooking and not The Exchange to Bath still remains one of the just for curing earache. most popular Colegio San Cernin offers to its students as English becomes the predominant Naturally the weather quickly becomes a “foreign” language in Spain, although with the talking point for our students (a healthy internet, easy access to popular culture and the sign they’re adapting to British culture). wide use of social media, English doesn’t appear as alien as it may have been when we first started Very occasionally they may say “Hace calor aqui” (It’s hot here!). But usually it’s “Otra the exchange.
vez lloviendo” (It’s raining again), but that’s no different to when KES students arrive in Pamplona to be greeted with torrential rain (as happened this year) whilst expecting glorious sunshine. Sorry! Northern Spain is different! I’ve been very lucky that the considerable work required to organise an exchange has been made substantially easier by my “partners” at KES. First Pamela Bougeard (and of course Alan Bougeard) and now Begoña Charlton. Through meetings and email, we try and facilitate the successful exchange but ultimately it’s down to the families, and of course the students themselves. Five students from San Cernin are returning again this year, which I think underlines what a positive experience the exchange can be. They’re not the first to return on an exchange and I am certain they aren’t the last. Here’s to the next 25 years! C Kyprianou
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