{"id":34628,"date":"2017-02-20T02:20:00","date_gmt":"2017-02-20T01:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ihdemu.com\/viaje-colegio-glyn-surrey\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T15:16:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T13:16:19","slug":"school-trip-glyn-surrey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ihdemu.com\/en\/school-trip-glyn-surrey\/","title":{"rendered":"GLYN School Trip to Murcia: Sun, Spanish and an Unforgettable Cultural Adventure"},"content":{"rendered":"

From\u00a07th to 12th February<\/strong>, we had the absolute pleasure of welcoming a school group from\u00a0GLYN School<\/strong>\u00a0in\u00a0Surrey, England<\/strong>, to our beloved city of Murcia. This wasn\u2019t just any school visit\u2014it was the\u00a0fifth consecutive year<\/strong>\u00a0we hosted this amazing group of students, and every time they come, the experience just gets better!<\/p>\n

GLYN School, founded back in\u00a01927<\/strong>, holds a special place in Surrey\u2019s educational landscape. It\u2019s the only\u00a0boys\u2019 comprehensive school<\/strong>\u00a0in the county and has consistently stood out for its\u00a0excellent academic performance<\/strong>. With multiple\u00a0Ofsted<\/em>\u00a0inspections under its belt\u2014all resulting in the highest possible rating of\u00a0“outstanding”<\/strong>\u2014GLYN has more than earned its stellar reputation. In fact, in\u00a02012 and 2013<\/strong>, it was ranked as the\u00a0fourth best-performing non-selective boys\u2019 school<\/strong>\u00a0in England for GCSE results. Quite an achievement!<\/p>\n

A Week of Language, Culture, Sunshine and Surprises<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This year, we welcomed a group of\u00a011 brilliant students<\/strong>\u00a0accompanied by\u00a02 fantastic group leaders<\/strong>, who came all the way from the UK to experience\u00a0a full Spanish language immersion<\/strong>\u00a0here at Instituto Hisp\u00e1nico de Murcia. And what a week it was!<\/p>\n

From the moment they landed, the boys were thrown straight into the deep end of Spanish language and culture\u2014but in the best possible way. Their schedule was packed with fun, interactive and very \u201cMurcian\u201d activities. Let\u2019s just say: boredom wasn\u2019t an option!<\/p>\n

Morning Lessons, Murcian Style<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Each morning started with\u00a0Spanish lessons<\/strong>, but not your typical classroom grind. These were lively, dynamic classes designed to\u00a0get them speaking from the first minute<\/strong>, using real-world scenarios, games, and local expressions. Whether it was ordering breakfast in a caf\u00e9, asking directions in the street or sharing opinions on Spanish music, the focus was always on practical communication.<\/p>\n

One student jokingly said, \u201cI thought I knew some Spanish before coming here, but now I can actually survive in Spain without Google Translate!\u201d That\u2019s what we call\u00a0mission accomplished<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Hands-On Culture: Cooking, Salsa and More<\/strong><\/h2>\n

But of course, language is more than grammar and vocabulary. It\u2019s about\u00a0living<\/strong>\u00a0the culture. And the GLYN group did just that. One of the highlights of their stay was a\u00a0hands-on Spanish cooking workshop<\/strong>, where they learned to prepare classic dishes like\u00a0gazpacho<\/strong>,\u00a0ensalada murciana<\/strong>, and even the beloved\u00a0tortilla de patatas<\/strong>\u00a0(a dish that never fails to cause debate over whether it should contain onion or not!).<\/p>\n

No Murcian experience would be complete without a bit of rhythm, so the boys also took part in a\u00a0salsa dancing class<\/strong>, learning the basic steps and (to their surprise) absolutely loving it. For some, it was their first time dancing, but with music, energy and lots of laughter, it became an unforgettable part of the trip.<\/p>\n

Discovering Murcia: Past, Present and People<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The afternoons were dedicated to exploring\u00a0Murcia\u2019s most iconic spots<\/strong>, guided by our expert local guides. From the stunning\u00a0Cathedral of Murcia<\/strong>, which combines Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles, to the historical\u00a0Romea Theatre<\/strong>\u00a0and the picturesque\u00a0Plaza de las Flores<\/strong>, the group discovered how rich and vibrant the city\u2019s heritage is.<\/p>\n

They also visited\u00a0Monteagudo Castle<\/strong>, where the imposing statue of Christ stands guard over the city, and learned about Murcia\u2019s\u00a0Muslim and Christian roots<\/strong>\u2014a blend that still influences the region’s culture today. Did you know that the Segura River, which flows through Murcia, was once the lifeblood of the\u00a0Moorish irrigation system<\/strong>\u00a0that made the region\u2019s farmland so fertile? It\u2019s no coincidence that Murcia is still called\u00a0“the orchard of Europe”<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

A Special Welcome at the Town Hall<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One of the most memorable moments of the week was the\u00a0official welcome<\/strong>\u00a0at the\u00a0Murcia Town Hall<\/strong>, where the group was personally greeted by\u00a0Mr Jes\u00fas Pacheco<\/strong>, our local\u00a0Tourism & Culture Councillor<\/strong>. He spoke warmly about the importance of cultural exchange and how meaningful it is to see young people from different countries sharing experiences and learning from one another.<\/p>\n

It was a proud moment for everyone, and several students even took the opportunity to ask questions (in Spanish!) about Murcia’s history, festivals and food.<\/p>\n

So Much More Than a School Trip<\/strong><\/h2>\n

What made this experience so special wasn\u2019t just the weather (yes, even in February, Murcia treats you to glorious sunshine), or the delicious food (though we must admit, the boys quickly became addicted to\u00a0churros con chocolate<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0tostas murcianas<\/strong>). What truly stood out was the\u00a0positive attitude<\/strong>,\u00a0respectful curiosity<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0enthusiasm<\/strong>\u00a0that the students brought to every activity.<\/p>\n

They weren\u2019t just visitors\u2014they became part of our daily rhythm here in Murcia. From chatting with locals in shops to practising their Spanish at caf\u00e9s or enjoying the city\u2019s relaxed pace of life, the boys immersed themselves fully, and that made all the difference.<\/p>\n

Curious Facts the GLYN Students Discovered<\/strong><\/h2>\n