Last
year in February, I had the chance to change my life. I decided to go
to England to learn another language: English. English has become
one of the most important languages in the world if not the most
important. Everywhere you go you can find someone who speaks English
and in one way or another you can communicate. English is a very
simple language because it is a mix of a lot of different western
languages.
That
being said, I bought all the tickets I needed and I arrived in
England at the beginning of June. My host mom came and she picked me
up from the train station and before going home she took me around
the town for the first time. It seemed like a Disney film: 101
Dalmatians. You could see Pongo standing at the window and looking
for his soul mate. The style of English towns is amazing. I was
feeling good just walking around the streets.
On
the evening of the first day I met my host family. There were 10 of
us for the whole summer and sometimes more because during the summer
some guys from different countries came and went for shorter times
than me.
All
the people were very friendly and some people give me help without me
asking , especially on the trains.
On
the following Monday I arrived at the SES school. The first impact
was fantastic, the building is very old but with an incredible old
fashioned English style. It is made from wood and you feel at home.
SES is a big “family”: Steve, Sue, Adam, patty, Dermont, Gavin,
all the people who work in SES are like friends.
The
atmosphere in the school is the main stimulus to work hard. There was
not a day I got bored. Everyday there were some different activities
and lessons. Everyday started with a presentation, because everybody
needed to know all their classmates in the school. I met many
different people and I am still in touch with some of them.
During
my stay in Folkestone I had some different experiences thank to the
people who stayed with me. Gav is the best social organizer ever. We
went bowling, drinking beer (only for +18 years) and we ate many
different kinds of junk food (onion rings are the best!). He was very
kind to me and organised a trip to Warner Bros Studios to visit
Hogwartz so that I didn’t have to go on my own.
How
can I forget Patty and the delicious dinners she organized and which
were cooked by the students from lots of different countries. I
tried many different kinds of English cheese and my favourites were
those with fruit.
I
will never forget the typical English tea at 5 o’clock at the
Grand. I loved the scones with double cream. In England there are
the biggest selection of cakes and desserts so it is a paradise for
the people like me who have a sweet tooth.
I
stayed in Folkestone for 3 months and then I decided to stay longer.
I did not want to go home immediately and in the end I stayed for a
total of 4 months. Every weekend I visited as many places as I could.
In the end I had visited more places in England than in Italy. My
advice is go and travel as much as you can, it is the best chance you
have to check what you have learned and to learn more.
During
my 4 months in Folkestone I joined the local waterpolo team. I
played for them all summer. They were friendly and helpful to me. I
am still in touch with some of them. I have just organised a long
weekend next September to go surfing in Wales the same as last
September.
From
that experience, I have learned a lot. First, I have learned another
language, but not only this. Meeting and exchanging different points
of view is the best way to understand the life style and culture of
other countries and this is very interesting.
I
would like to say thank you very much to everyone who contributed to
make this experience possible . Furthermore, I would advise anyone
who has the chance to go and discover the world, please do go! It is
an incomparable experience!
From
Italy
