This year’s language trip took students interested in English to a beautiful coastal city called Brighton, in the south of UK. After arriving, the students had the chance to go bowling before returning to the school to meet their respective host families. The rest of the day was spent settling into the new environment, and most had the opportunity to talk to their host parents or siblings.
The next day began the same way all the other weekdays on the trip eventually would, by going to the international school. Afterwards, the photo hunt started. The students split into teams and received a list of things to find and take photos of. The pictures were later rated based on creativity, quality, and the number of participants visible. Still, the day wasn’t over yet, as the classes headed to the i360, one of Brighton’s best-known tourist attractions, famous for its stunning views of the city and of the neighbouring villages from a height of 140 meters.
The following day was just as exciting, as the students visited Brighton Stadium and got a behind-the-scenes look at how Premier league football games are organized. The weekend was spent in London, walking along the Thames and visiting the British Museum, Tower Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, and, of course, Big Ben.
On Monday, the students went mini-golfing in the dark and then had most of the afternoon to themselves. Many used the time to visit The Lanes, well known for their variety of souvenirs, jewellery, books, and clothing. Tuesday was spent in true Austrian fashion, hiking the Seven Sisters and battling the strong winds that seemed determined to ruin everyone’s hairstyles.
Wednesday involved a cultural trip to Lewes, where the classes got to see the remains of a famous castle and learned about its history. The next day was quite culturally diverse as well, with visits to the Royal Pavilion, known for its exotic appearance, followed by a stop at a traditional tea shop.
On Friday, the last full day the classes spent in the UK, the weather finally cleared up, allowing everyone to enjoy a wonderful boat trip along the beaches and around the new and old piers. Saturday began with heartfelt goodbyes, as the students departed from their host families and flew back to Austria, ready to share plenty of new stories with their waiting families.
Iana Luca, 7AG
