News May 2010

The palm trees waved in the breeze and the sky was blue – a promising start to the two week project at the F+U International Academy Tenerife with project coordinator, Deborah Good.

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Having had little sleep the night before the girls went to bed early and looked forward to the trip to Loro Parque the next morning. Up early and out of the hotel by half past nine they took the mini train from the centre of town to the park and had a great day going to all the shows and strolling round the exotic gardens.

Monday saw the first day of their week’s visit to the IES Maria Trujillo Perez, the training school in Puerto de la Cruz. They were met by the Director, María Asunción Ferrera, and given a tour of the facilities and a welcome pack from the Puerto de la Cruz tourist board.

With interpretation Daphne Harris López, their Spanish teacher, the help of a phrase book and gesticulations they set off on a week of discovery and practical workshops. They enjoyed finding out the differences and similarities in the British and Spanish systems. Without exception the Spanish teachers were helpful and interested in the visitors and it wasn’t long before the students were exchanging Facebook details!

At one fifteen it was back in the mini bus for lunch in the Academy Café followed by Spanish lessons from Daphne. The girls had already had some classes back in Scotland but this was an opportunity to improve and practice their language skills with and emphasis of the vocabulary they would be using in the work experience. After classes there were activities including a trip to the Botanical Gardens, and then it was back to the hotel for a swim, siesta and relaxation. On Thursday those with the energy had a fun evening learning salsa dancing.

On Sunday 28th the group went with Turkish students on another F+U Leonardo project to the National Park El Teide. The coach, complete with official guide, took them up to the Teide, which at 3,718m is the highest peak in Spain.

In week two of the project the group split up to go to their different work placements in local businesses they were accompanied by Susanna Wenderoth, the placement coordinator. All the students, except one, were in Puerto de la Cruz. The other placement was in the Spa hotel at La Quinta Park just a short bus journey from Puerto. The participating companies were; Hairdressers: Peluqueria Lidija, Futorocoup, De Ara, Ozone. Beauty salons: La Quinta Park Hotel, Estudio Estética, Ozone.

On the last day, Friday 26th March, the students, tutors, and coordinators met with Frank Sellingsloh, the Director of the F+U International Academy Tenerife, for an informal discussion about the project and distribution of the Language course certificates and Europasses. The students and tutors all agreed it had been an enjoyable and worthwhile experience; they had met so many new people from different countries and the Canarian people had been warm and friendly. One student went so far as to say it had been the best two weeks of her life!

So it was a sad farewell but the end of a very successful project and for some more lucky students there is still funding for another trip next year. On this occasion Tenerife Amabale really lived up to its name and there is no doubt that the students will be recounting their experience for years to come.