Dublin (Ireland)
(October 2024)

Today we began our next adventure. This time we came to Dublin or Ath Cliath. We had a quiet trip here, there was no problem at the checkpoints and the flight left and arrived on time. The flight was straight from Loiu to Dublin and all the suitcases arrived with us. Despite the heavy fog and the rain in Bilbao, the flight has been quiet. We had some turbulence when we were flying over Britain but in a couple of hours we arrived at Dublin airport.

During the journey, we had some laughter, conversation and sleep. Even those who have never flown before have been delighted. There was joy and nervousness in meeting families. At the airport, teachers Alex and Carolina, the host families and the Irish students were waiting and the weather wasn’t as bad as we expected, about 14 degrees and no rain. The sun was struggling to show its splendor.

After a few minutes of first contact the families were smiling and happy. From there each student went straight to the house which will be their home for a week. Dublin is 20 minutes away from the town where the school is, Clonee, and very soon after we all got there.

It’s been six hours since we arrived and we haven’t received any messages from our students. This means the Irish adventure has started well.

[EUSK]

Gaur hasi dugu gure hurrengo abentura. Oraingoan Dublinera edo Ath Cliathera etorri gara. Bidaia lasaia izan genuen hemen, kontroletan ez zegoen arazorik, eta hegaldia irten eta garaiz iritsi zen. Hegaldia zuzena zen Loiutik Dublinera, eta maleta guztiak gurekin iritsi ziren. Bilboko behe-lainoa eta euria gorabehera, hegaldia lasaia izan da. Turbulentzia batzuk izan genituen Britainia Handitik hegan gindoazela baina ordu pare baten buruan Dublingo aireportura iritsi ginen.

Bidaian barrea, elkarrizketa eta loa izan genituen. Inoiz hegan egin ez dutenak ere pozez egon dira. Poza eta urduritasuna nabari ziren familiekin elkartzean. Aireportuan, Alex eta Carolina irakasleak, harrera familiak eta ikasle irlandarrak zain zeuden eta eguraldia ez zen espero bezain txarra izan, 14 gradu inguru eta euririk ez. Eguzkia bere distira erakusteko borrokan ari zen.
Lehen kontaktuko minutu batzuen ondoren, familiak irribarretsu eta pozik zeuden. Handik ikasle bakoitza zuzenean joan zen astebetez beren etxea izango den etxera. Dublin eskola dagoen hiritik 20 minutura dago, Cloneen, eta handik gutxira denok iritsi ginen.
Sei ordu igaro dira iritsi ginenetik eta ez dugu gure ikasleen mezurik jaso. Horrek esan nahi du irlandar abentura ondo hasi dela.

Pictures

Today the sun went out to greet us. Being our first day here, we went to meet CP Setanta School in Clonee. Our students have told us how they got along with their families, what dinner they had yesterday, what the family is like, and we've been glad they've all started the week well and happily.
Life here is very different and our students will have to get used to it for a week. Apart from that, we've met the Valencian students and teachers who will be here with us, a very nice group.

After school, a bus came looking for us and we passed the coastal town of Malahide and then we got to Howth. In front of Howth there is a small island, known as Ireland's Eye (the Eye of Ireland), which gathers many birds; we have taken an hour's walk among birds looking at the sea, surrounded by sea dogs, ducks, and thousands of seagulls. When we got to the beach, we took a group photo and went to lunch. After seeing this lovely town in the movies, we took the bus and went back to Clonee. Each student has gone with his Irish family some of them already making plans for the afternoon.

[EUSK]

Gaurko egunean eguzkia gu agurtzera atera da. Hemen gure lehen eguna izanda Cloneeko CP Setanta eskola ezagutzera joan gara. Gure ikasleek beraien familiekin zelan moldatu diren kontatu digute, zer afaldu zuten atzo, familia nolakoa den… eta pozik gelditu gara guztiak ondo eta gustura hasi dutelako astea jakinda.

Hemengo bizimodua oso desberdina da eta gure ikasleak horretara ohitu beharko dira astebetez. Horretaz aparte, gurekin batera hemen egongo diren ikasle eta irakasle Valentziarrak ezagutu ditugu, oso talde atsegina.

Eskola ikusi eta gero, autobus bat etorri da gure bila eta kostaldeko Malahide herritik pasa eta gero Howthera heldu gara. Howth parean uharte txiki bat dago, Ireland 's Eye (Irlandaren begia) izenez ezagutzen dena eta hegazti asko biltzen dituena; hegazti artean ordubeteko ibilaldia egin dugu itsasoari begira, itsas txakurrak, ahateak eta milaka antxeta inguruan genituela. Hondartzara heltzerakoan, talde argazkia egin eta bazkaltzera joan gara. Filmeetan agertzen diren herri xarmagarri hau ondo ikusi ondoren, autobusa hartu eta Cloneera bueltatu gara. Ikasle bakoitza bere irlandar familiarekin joan da haietako batzuk jadanik arratsalderako planak egiten.

Pictures

We got to school today and stayed there, there was no day trip. At school, we were taught Gaelic language numbers, colors, … Through the presentations, we've been told who St. Patrick was or who the Irish musicians and sportsmen are. In Gaelic the number “one” is called “a hain “or “four” is called “a ceathair”. We have also seen how things are said in different circumstances, "Hello" is "Día duit" or "Good morning" is “Máidin mhaith” in the Irish language.

Apart from the above, we went out to the green outdoor fields, they explained to us the rules of local sports, and then put them into practice. First we played Gaelic football and then we played hurling (the fastest sport on grass in the world). Then we went into school and learned three local dances. One in couples, the other one by jumping and clapping our hands.

As the school ended at noon, the students went home with their Irish colleagues to spend the afternoon and evening with their host family.

Today the weather was cloudy and chilly , but with sport and dancing we warmed our bodies. Let’s see what the weekend brings!

[EUSK]

Gaur eskolara iritsi eta han geratu gara, ez dago eguneko bidaiarik. Eskolan gaelikoa irakatsi ziguten zenbakiak, koloreak... Aurkezpenen bidez esan digute nor zen Saint Patrick edo nortzuk diren musikari eta kirolari irlandarrak. Gaelikoz "bat" deitzen da "hain" edo "lau" "ceathair". "Kaixo" "Día duit" da eta "Egun on" "Máidin mhaith" da irlanderaz.

Aurrekoa alde batera utzita, kanpoko zelai berdeetara atera ginen, eta bertako kirolen arauak azaldu zizkiguten, gero praktikan jartzeko. Lehenengo futbol gaelikoan aritu ginen eta gero hurling-ean (munduko belar kirolik azkarrena). Gero eskolan sartu eta bertako hiru dantza ikasi genituen. Bata binaka, bestea saltoka eta txaloka.

Eskola eguerdian amaitu zenez, ikasleak beren ikaskide irlandarrekin joan ziren etxera, arratsaldea eta gaua familia anfitrioiarekin pasatzera.
Gaur eguraldi lainotsua eta hotza zegoen, baina kirol eta dantzarekin gorputza berotzen genuen. Ea zer dakarren asteburuak!

Pictures

Weekend with the families. Our students spent the weekend with their families. From Friday afternoon until Sunday night, the Irish have known, internalized and enjoyed the lives of their families. Families not only show the corners of the area, but have also organized fun activities for them. Although each student has been with his family, most have taken them to visit similar places: Emerald Park, Dublin City, Dun Laoghaire, Phoenix Park, Meath Castle... have been the places we’ve seen, sometimes collectively with the Irish and Valencians and sometimes with the family. It has generally been an entertaining and enriching weekend for everyone.

[EUSK]

Asteburuan familiekin. Gure ikasleek asteburua pasatu dute familiekin. Ostiral arratsaldetik igande gauera, irlandarrek beren familien bizitza ezagutu, barneratu eta gozatu dute. Familiek inguruko bazterrak erakusteaz gain, jarduera dibertigarriak antolatu dituzte haientzat. Ikasle bakoitza familiarekin egon den arren, gehienek antzeko lekuak bisitatzera eraman dituzte: Emerald Park, Dublin City, Dun Laoghaire, Phoenix Park, Meath Castle... Oro har, asteburu entretenigarri eta aberasgarria izan da guztiontzat.

Dublin (Ireland) (October 2024)

Dublin (Ireland)
(October 2024)