my opinion about this experience

I'm currently writing this two months after my flight to Ireland, more than one month after my return to Spain, and almost a month after my Irish host sister left Spain and my house. Nevertheless, I still think about my stay in Ireland as if it was just yesterday.


I truly believe I've gained a lot from this exchange: I've gained a lot of new experiences and knowledge, not only in terms of language but also regarding the culture, and I've made new friendships.


It goes without saying that spending three weeks in another country, with a host family you don't even know until you arrive, and going to a completely new school, pushes you out of your comfort zone. Initially, this was a bit hard, at least for me, and I must admit that the first few days were challenging. However, it was really worth it. During those three weeks in Ireland, I tried numerous new things and participated in activities I wouldn't have even considered in Spain.


My main goal for going to Ireland was to improve my English, and I did so, thanks to six weeks of speaking English daily. However, I've come to realize that the most important thing of this exchange wasn't learning the language. For me, firsthand exposure to a new culture, getting to know people from another country, and the different experiences we shared were far more important.


I would like to say that contrary to my initial belief, my experience didn't end on the 27th of September when I returned to Spain. It lasted until the Irish participants left. During their time here, we grew closer, participated in school-related activities, and also did things by ourselves after school. I enjoyed their stay in Spain almost as much as my own experience in Ireland.







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