A Piece of Barcelona 

Our Erasmus Student Exchange Full of Impressions

Ten students from the Maria-Merian-Gymnasium in Schkeuditz spent an exciting week in Barcelona. Our goal: to improve our English skills and experience a new culture. Thanks to Erasmus, we were able to participate in this unique exchange with ten Spanish students from the Jesuïtes Casp – Sagrat Cor de Jesús school from March 21st to March 28th.

On the first evening, we all ate together and got to know each other. We quickly realized that hospitality is highly valued in Spain. Everyone got along well right away, and it was a very nice evening.

School Life in Barcelona

Classes were, of course, in English. We participated in workshops where we learned more about Spanish and Catalan culture, history, and everyday life. We also became aware of the differences in teaching style compared to Germany – in Spain, the atmosphere is often more relaxed and informal. During our stay we also worked in binational groups to explore the difference of living in a small town and a big city like Barcelona.

Living with Host Families

Staying with our host families offered a look into everyday Catalan life. We tried new dishes at breakfast, and had interesting talks at dinner. In our daily lives, we heard Catalan, Spanish, and English, which was quite challenging at first. Often, Italian or French was also spoken in the families. But with each new situation, our language skills improved.

Cultural Highlights

Barcelona is a living work of art. Whether walking through the Barri Gòtic, on Barceloneta beach, or admiring the fascinating buildings of Antoni Gaudí – the city impressed us. At the Castellers workshop, we became part of a traditional human pyramid. This was a very funny workshop for us because most of us were not aware of the existence of Castellers. Several excursions were also on the agenda, where we had exciting challenges and explored the city. As an example, we visited the Picasso Museum which gave us an insight of Spanish art.

Also, we were able to cook our own Paella. None of us (the Germans) had ever eaten Paella before, so it was a special experience for us. 

Social Experiences and Personal Development

Real friendships developed quickly – both among ourselves and with our Spanish exchange partners. We learned to solve language misunderstandings and embrace an unfamiliar culture and way of life. This week allowed us to learn and grow.

Return and Conclusion

After an intense week, saying goodbye was difficult. We returned home with new friendships and new knowledge. The exchange not only improved our English skills, but also made us more open and curious about other cultures and Europe.

We wouldn’t want to have missed this experience for anything and are grateful to have had the opportunity.

Ricarda Gatzka und Amelie Bocher