Sara Ruiz Notario. 4º ESO D

Almost two months ago, an incredible adventure started for me: it was the first time I went abroad without my family. I went to Amiens, a town in North-France. I travelled for Comenius Project and I felt very insecure and afraid when I learnt I had been chosen for this trip. But insecurity and fear were bigger when I arrived there, with my four partners and my two teachers. At first, we visited the city centre and I was quite nervous because I was thinking all the time about the moment of meeting my host family. So can you imagine how I felt when I had to go with them to their house? I can’t describe without starting to laugh! The parents names’ were Olivier and Corinne. My partner was Antoine and his younger sister, Anna. They were all nice with me, especially Corinne and Olivier. But when I met them and I saw that my partners and my teachers were going to separate of me, I felt very frightened- I didn’t know why!

They took me to their house by car because they lived in a little village full of amazing houses. During the journey I wasn’t able to say anything. The words didn’t appear in my head. I only wanted three things: drink some water, eat and sleep! I couldn’t concentrate in another thing. However, Olivier tried to talk to me because he could speak Spanish. This saved me the first day.
When I achieved to pass my first day- with some tears streaming down my face in the bathroom because I think I couldn’t comunicate with them during a week- days started to run for me.

The first day we met the other countries’ teams. I have to name the Portuguese and the Croatian teams. They were fantastic! We talked more to Portuguese people and we were so comfortable because we understood them speaking our language! I mean, they spoke in Portuguese and we spoke in Spanish. We were lucky because we had the chance to be with them and I’ll never forget them. They were the best.

Another important person is the host partner of Irene, Émilie. She was very nice and she was my real partner when we weren´’t at Antoine’s home. My partner was friendly but when we finished the activities of the day, he went with his friends or with his girlfriend. He always noticed it to me, but I didn’t consider it properly because he had to be with me. So the person who really did it was Émilie. I hope I’ll see her some day in the future.

I have so much memories, taht I think I won’t be able to write all of them on this paper. It took me a lot of time, so I’m talking about the parts of this experience that were the best for me.

Another normal question from my friends and my family when I returned was about food. `Did you eat well?, they asked. And I always answered that in Antoine’s home was amazing but at the canteen food was terrible! But I was so hungry, that I ate everything, trust me. Corinne cooked only for me-what a nice woman!- typicall French recipes. More over, they gave me some cheese to try and I loved it!

Furthermore, I have realized that I’ve improved my English, especially in the way of speaking- I spoke opposite one hundred people at least with a microphone in my hand! I had to improve, there wasn’t another possibility. So I think that people learn much more a language if they’re forced to speak it to comunicate. Now I understand French better too.

In conclusion, this fantastic jouney has been an excellent opportunity not only to improve my languages; it has learnt me to manage to comunicate with foreigner people- well, the foreigner was me in this way!-, I have met a lot of interesting people and ideas and I’m looking forward to receiving a guy in my house. I must say that there were times that I wanted to return to my house because I missed my family an d my friends but when I was here, I missed France and my host family! Even I felt sad during four days because I wanted to be there with Portuguese people, my partner and his parents; all are in my heart now and are a new part of me. I would want to be with that people or go to another country; but now is the chance for my partners and my friends, and I only can be happy for them because they’re going to live the best experience in tehir lives.
Thanks for all, French, Portuguese, Croatian, Italian. Turkish and German people. You are all amazing.