After six months of an impatient wait to see each other again, the 28th of September, the day of our arrival in Birmingham finally came. A bit insecure about the flight and meeting after such a long break, we showed up on Wednesday evening, very tired but ready to experience everything that England can offer.

Thursday and Friday were very busy, with an early start to arrive at school on time. We spent the days attending classes we’d chosen, preparing the presentation for Friday’s assembly and, most of all, meeting the families we were going to stay with, and speaking English 24/7. After school, we went out to see some of Birmingham at night (and it was very impressive!) and to hang out all together.

On Saturday morning we all met at the railway station, excited to visit London. An early start and unexpected heatwave made us exhausted by the end of the day, but we still managed to see the most important monuments, including The Tower Bridge, British Parliament, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Trafalgar Square. We had a few rides on the tube and a short cruise down the Thames. All in all, I think we will remember this day more than the others, because it was a beautiful experience and it definitely made us crave for more, when it comes to London.

Even though we had a great time on Sunday hanging out in the city centre all day, we could feel the atmosphere of the upcoming farewell. After everybody arrived at the meeting spot, we tried to make the best of the few moments we still had in England. We all enjoyed our last day when we could do whatever we felt like doing. The fact we finished that day with a lovely dinner eaten together for the last time made it even better. Monday morning was very busy for all of us as we had to pack our stuff and go to school with our luggage. Then, straight after lunch, we said goodbye to our friends and left for the airport to catch a flight back home.

And maybe after reading this article you think, what is so amazing about exchanges? Is it just a few days filled with school activities and sightseeing? Just to be clear, I really enjoyed experiencing England as a country and being a part of an English school for a few days, but the people involved in the exchange are the main factor that makes this time so special. Just the fact that somebody invites to stay at their home and lets you be a part of ther life for a few days makes you already their friend. And if you are very lucky, as we were, you can meet very funny, outgoing, amazing people who will not only treat you as exchange partners but like their best friends. You just have to try it yourselves to understand how hard it is to say goodbye afterwards…

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