After a long day of working in the nice weather we decided to go to the beach and watch the sunset.

I made it into work just about on time but quickly got settled into painting. When work finished up, myself and Kyle spent about 40 minutes looking for a spot for lunch, afterwards, a group of us went to the beach and we watched the sunset over the mountains. It was nice to meet up with the other people on the trip and mix groups for the evening.

Today in work the 4th graders dissected a small little animals brain first class. There was no problems there – all the children were engaged. After was a class which is similar to communications where the children done activities that get them talking while also making it fun and engaging.

Next up was Maths, the kids are doing adding, subtraction and multiplication. After was recess which is 45 minutes which is their only break during the day. There is no split yard based on there grade they all run freely through the courtyard and PE yard. Last class was some sort of ethical/geographical education class, I didn’t understand at all what was going on and the child who can usually translate a small bit for me found it difficult trying to explain it. The teacher showed them a video of the haka. At 2pm school finishes.

After work I chilled out for a while then went to the beach with the girls and met up with a big group of us. Then we went on a bit of a walk. Some decided to go for food and others including myself just stayed in for the night.

Today my day in my work placement was pretty much the same as my previous days except that we had two extra people in to help. The morning was the same as in we played TV-time songs. Then afterwards the teachers set up a table with a backlit top. See through plastic pictures were put on the table top and the children each took their turns with shapes and numbers. There were pictures of tractors and animals and they had to find the corresponding shapes and put them on the pictures etc.. This afternoon after lunch and quiet time, the children all had free time on iPads until finish time.

We went up near the Amphitheater and found a lovely place to eat, ordered a Lasagne, chips and a cappuccino, the first decent coffee I’ve found since we got here. My meal only cost me €14.65, great value and a great service. Planning on going back there again before the return trip home.

I groomed more lovely dogs and got quite emotional at seeing how scared and vulnerable some of them were. I got quite teary and Paula and Laura decided to choose that moment to visit me in work and ask for a photo with the Erasmus flag which was great 😂😂 I have been really enjoying working for my supervisor Silvia so far, she’s been a great help and creates a lovely calm and pleasant environment to be in.

After work, we saw just around the corner from our accommodation where they make the huge thrones for the Holy Week in Malaga during Easter. We had learned about them on our city tour the day before but seeing them in real life and up close, and going inside to see how they make them was really surreal. The size of them really astonished me. We met some of the men that build and carry the platforms through the city, they are part of a brotherhood that perform this ritual around the city every year. The man showing us around was so so nice, he showed us photos of how he has been bringing his daughter every single year since she was born to the festivals, and showed us photos of his family every year for almost a decade. It was really nice and sentimental and gave me a whole new perspective of the ceremonies during Holy Week; I’d definitely like to experience the festival one day.

Our Erasmus+ students had the wonderful opportunity to embark on a walking tour of the historic city of Málaga, Spain. Surrounded by beautiful architecture and cultural landmarks, the group explored the bustling streets and soaked in the city’s rich history.

Highlights included the iconic Málaga Cathedral, where students admired the intricate designs and learned about its historical significance. The walking tour also passed through charming streets adorned with festive lights, offering a vibrant atmosphere.

This experience allowed students to not only engage with local history but also appreciate the diversity and cultural heritage of Málaga. It’s moments like these that make the Erasmus+ program truly enriching, fostering lifelong memories and broadening perspectives.

Erasmus+: Enriching lives, opening minds.