Report from the Long-Term Erasmus+ Mobility:
On Thursday, 22nd February 2024, our students, Nikol Shánělová and Antonín Hošek, set off for Alicante, Spain, to study at the local conservatory. Their trip was supported by the Erasmus+ project coordinator, Jolana Kouřímová, and the principal of ZUŠ Iva Vrátilová.
Both students were welcomed into host families where they would stay for five weeks. We showed them the buildings of the conservatory, where they would attend lessons with their main instruments: Nikol - transverse flute (class of L. Štěpánková) and Antonín - guitar, electric guitar, and trombone (classes of J. Vedral and V. Drobný), as well as courses in music theory, history of music, audiovisual culture, orchestra, creativity in music, and chamber music.
Additionally, they started taking Spanish language courses in the mornings.
Before saying goodbye to the students for a few weeks, we visited mountains and small towns together and it was an unforgettable experience.
It is the first time we are breaking down barriers by sending students abroad on a long-term Erasmus+ exchange, and we are very proud of them. For these teenagers to travel to a big city in a foreign country, with a different language and culture, and to immerse themselves in everything new, is truly commendable.
"Nikol and Antonín, we are still with you, and we look forward to hearing about your experiences at the sister school in Spain."
First week in Alicante, the city of light is over.
Our families here are taking great care of us, organizing various outings and activities. Everything here runs on a slightly different schedule. We get to enjoy lunch around 3 p.m. and dinner, which is usually not served before 8:30 p.m. We’ve quickly adapted, and it already feels like home.
On Friday, 1st March, we said our temporary goodbye to Proyecto Español, the language school where we attended Spanish courses from Monday to Friday mornings. The classes are divided according to language levels, and so our group is joined by both young people and lively, talkative grandmothers. From 9 a.m. we have theoretical lessons, followed by Spanish conversation classes at 12:15 p.m.
Our main focus, however, is music. We attend the music conservatory (CPMA), which has two buildings. The larger one is situated on a hill, offering a beautiful view of the sea and the city. The smaller one is nestled between multi-story buildings near the harbor.
We participate in both individual lessons (flute, guitar, and trombone) and various courses, such as audiovisual culture, creativity in music, chamber music, choir, and history of music. All the teachers at the conservatory have welcomed us warmly, and we feel almost as comfortable as we do at our home school, ZUŠ Vysoké Mýto.
Second week in Alicante is over.
This week we had more free mornings, as we no longer attended Spanish language classes. Our conservatory sessions are now in the evenings, except for Wednesday when we attend advanced conservatory classes in creativity and songwriting.
In the mornings, we spent our time according to our preferences. Antonín would often study on the beach or walk through the city center, either buying something for lunch or heading home for a meal with his host family. I (Nikol) would go jogging along the beach or walk around the city center, then head to the conservatory in the afternoon.
On Wednesday, since our classes were canceled, we took a day trip to the Sierra de San Julián mountains, enjoying stunning views of the sea and the town. We hiked along rocky paths, some of which required climbing with ropes. Afterward, we took public transport to San Juan Beach, where we relaxed in the sun.
We’re very satisfied with the conservatory and are hopeful this won’t be our last visit, nor our last time in Alicante. Our Spanish is improving each day, and we’re curious to see our progress after a month here. We’re looking forward to what the next two weeks will bring.
Third Week in Alicante.
We’ve now completed our third week here, and I must say, we’re reluctant to return to the Czech Republic.
Mornings are spent in various activities: learning, playing musical instruments, running, sunbathing on the beach (where the constant calls of "Sangría fresquita!" or "Du ju want massage?" have become a familiar background), or exploring Alicante and its surroundings. By noon, we usually end our mornings with lunch, which for me is often a toast and fruit, or I go home to eat with my host family. I have to admit, I’m starting to look forward to school lunches again.
After lunch, we head to the conservatory, which we fully enjoy while we're here. The teaching approach here differs from what we're used to at ZUŠ in the Czech Republic, and we look forward to sharing more about it in upcoming reports or presentations.
This week has been a bit special for us, as we had the opportunity to select a few morning classes at an older students’ conservatory, which is more similar to our Czech conservatories. The two conservatories share the same building, though they operate at different times of the day. On Wednesdays, we attend music creativity and songwriting classes at the advanced level.
And here’s a quick bonus. The weather here is ever-changing, but the wind is the most noticeable factor affecting the perceived temperature. We've only been able to swim in the sea a couple of times so far, but we're hoping for more sunny afternoons.
That's all for now. We’ll see you again next week, this time from the Czech Republic!
