Hanna from Canada. My experience has been nothing but incredible. Upon joining this program I had very little experience with children, and had no idea what to expect from working with them. Now nearing the end of the program I am left in awe of how much the students worked with me!

Hanna 

Canadian

Bellpuig

Wow, where to start! My experience has been nothing but incredible and incredibly eyeopening. Upon joining this program I had very little experience with children, and had no idea what to expect from working with them. Now nearing the end of the program I am left in awe of how much the students worked with me! I am leaving inspired and grateful to have spent time with such a beautiful, creative, wacky, passionate and intelligent group of kids. The teachers of Vedruna Bellpuig are the same. I always felt well supported and encouraged to participate and ask for help when I needed. The teachers always made sure to have an activity planned for the class and I was always made aware of my role ahead of time. They also encouraged me to bring my own activities to class if I felt comfortable. Towards the end of the program I started bringing a guitar and teaching the younger kids some music from my own childhood. Singing with the kids was the highlight of my experience in the school; some of the warmest moments of my life.

Living with my host family has been an experience I won’t forget. For me, it has been a rollercoaster of emotions from the first day nervousness, to feeling like part of the family, to feeling the burnout that comes with busy summer schedules, to the love, the laughter, to the late nights and car rides and sports games every weekend etc…. Despite working full time, full extracurricular schedules for the kids, and managing a household, my host family has provided me beautiful experiences, delicious dinners and a safe, cozy home for me to rest my head. Through them, I was introduced to a wonderful community in Anglesola, and I’ve formed friendships with people here that I will undoubtedly stay in touch with.

I had no idea what to expect signing up to this program. I applied on a strong whim and trusted that if I was meant to go I would get selected. When I got the position I thought “oh boy it’s really happening!” I had never travelled abroad before and I had been working in the pub and restaurant industry for the past four years, so very limited exposure to children. Nevertheless this experience called to me and I knew that even if I hated every moment, I would be learning something invaluable and would be better equipped to move towards something I love. Luckily, I am overjoyed with my time here. Admittedly, some days I couldn’t wait to leave. I would count down til when the program was over. Working with kids can be very challenging. At times I have felt very homesick and homesick for my friends – it can be very isolating with the language barrier. However, I have learnt so much about myself, about what I am capable of. I have made many new friends; I have experienced moments I’d never dreamed of before! The world has unfolded and I feel that through doing this program I have unlocked a new series of possibilities for myself. I am leaving feeling more excited about life than ever!

I was hoping this experience would make me fall in love with teaching and that I would know now that that’s what I want to do with the rest of my life! It hasn’t had that effect on me. Don’t get me wrong, I love being in the school and working with the kids, but when I ask myself “what do I want to be when I grow up?” the answer is still not clear. It has been invaluable time for me to be around the children and watch their development, their tenderness and their enthusiasm for life. I have learnt a lot from them and I feel a reconnection to my own inner child. I know a lot more about what I like and what I don’t like; what I will and will not stand for. My values have been sharpened, my compassion has been strengthened and my patience has surely been tested. I know myself more than before, and I am excited for where I am going.

I feel so fortunate to have lived in Anglesola for the duration of the program. This town is small but mighty. If you are lucky enough to find yourself here in the Spring semester, the Hi-Fi festival is a must! It is a theatrical performance put on entirely by locals and it is sure to blow your mind! There is one small pub here family owned and operated. I ventured there one weekend night on my own and made the easiest of friends with many of the locals. The community here is incredibly welcoming and enthused to practice their English! With my newfound friends I was able to explore much of the local area including el pilar de almenara, el estany de ivars, and neighbouring city Tarrega. Tarrega has the closest bus station and I found myself there many times heading to Barcelona, Lleida, Girona! My biggest advice to anyone coming into this program and finding themselves in a small town is: Don’t be afraid to be independent! Your host family can and will be busy and if you start to feel stuck and limited in your town, book a bus ticket! Take yourself out for a picnic! Go explore! In doing this I was always surprised by the people I met and the places I got to see!

My school is a dream! Go into it with a smile, play with the kids, brush up on your Barcelona futbol knowledge and you will be good to go! If you have your own material or English-learning games then that’s even better! Not necessary, but I’m sure the teachers would appreciate it and it’s one thing I wish I had planned more of. Find ways in which you like to teach and connect with the kids, for me it was through music, for you it might be sports; games; food etc… but uniting these ideas from yourself with this all new experience will make it all the more worthwhile and fulfilling, for you and the students!

My host family took really good care of me. If there are ways in which you can give back to them I think it makes the situation better for everyone. This could look like sweeping the floors or doing the dishes when needed! Over and above could be cooking them a meal or baking a dessert! Remember that these are full time families opening their doors for free to an extra person. In addition, speaking English in the household and with the children is super important. Play with the kids! Share pieces of your culture, I found it super helpful and fun to bring pictures from my home and previous adventures. Sometimes my family could be very busy and in those cases I would find ways to entertain myself, whether booking a bus ticket to a new city or just going to read my book in the park. If you have an open-mind and a willingness to adventure and adapt then you will be great!

I’ve made many memorable moments here but there are a few that take the cake! I will never forget when I sang a song I had written to the I5 (5-6 years old) class, and the next day with my guitar they asked me to play it again and they tried to sing along all on their own! The sound of their sweet little voices and their hums when they didn’t know the words will ring in my ears forever. A highlight of my life and such a golden moment for me. Another beautiful day and by far the most scenic, was spent hiking with my host family in Camarasa, along the Segre River! Apparently a renowned spot for rock climbing as well. The sun was shining, the river runs a beautiful blueish green, and the views from the top of the mountain are incredible! I also want to mention that I have enjoyed spending time and getting to know the other volunteers immensely! What a wonderful group of people! I feel very fortunate that there were four Irish volunteers during the time of my program, and so I feel I got a small taste of their culture as well. Some of the most fun I’ve had in Catalonia has been in the Irish pubs! That’s another word of advice, for any English speaking traveller, if you are ever feeling lonely or struggling with a language barrier, find yourself an Irish pub and they will get you talking in no time!

I have zero regrets about joining this program. I have learnt so much about the Catalonian culture, about working with children, about travelling, about myself, the list goes on. From the very moment of submitting my application I have felt supported in this program. I cannot say enough good things about Educados, Vedruna Bellpuig and my host family. For anybody pondering this program, just go for it! It is for a short moment of time and you might be surprised by what doors begin to open for you!