Bright and early on the morning of Saturday 9 September, a group of San Andrea Senior School students and teachers left our shores to visit the east-coast city of Valencia in Spain, as part of a language programme.

Once they arrived, they were warmly greeted by their school administrator and host families. They settled into their rooms, which would be their homes for the next week and then made their way to Plaza del Ayuntemiento to have lunch at a busy tapas restaurant. So began their journey to immerse themselves in the Spanish culture.

The students were given a photo challenge in order to familiarise themselves with the area; they managed to do all the things listed and as a reward had ice creams from one of the best gelaterias in Valencia.

Apart from practising the Spanish language, the students had the opportunity of visiting a number of landmarks in the city, including the Estacion del Nord train station, the Oceanographico (the largest aquarium in Europe), Mercado Central (a huge traditional food market bursting with colour and a variety of appetising smells) and La Lonja (one of the most famous gothic civil monuments in Europe).

At Gulliver Park, some students decided to rent bikes while others rented a small cart which toppled over; the students found it rather funny. They visited the Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe which offers them the opportunity to learn about the evolution of life, science and technology in various educational ways that were interactive and enjoyable. During the trip, the students also enjoyed a variety of different kinds of Spanish food and drink, including paella, churros and horchata, as well as entertainment in the form of flamenco.