How to get lost and find yourself in Newcastle: adventures of a Brazilian in Newcastle!
Derick was a student that found all the answers he was looking for in Newcastle. Want to read what he has to say about his time with us?
Derick was a student that found all the answers he was looking for in Newcastle. Want to read what he has to say about his time with us?
There is much to say about my experience in Newcastle, where should I start from? The school that received me with a warm welcome? The host family that was everything I could ask for and more? The city I fell in love with? My daily trips to Waterstones to indulge me to a book and a hot chocolate? Well … I shall start from the beginning.
It was a cold December day when I arrived at IH Newcastle. At the reception, some lovely members of staff instructed me to go to the student room – a place filled with tables and comfy sofas – where a teacher would be going in a little while to assess my English level. Needless to say how nervous I felt at that point.
However, I soon discovered that there was nothing to worry about. If you ever did – or know someone who did an exchange program, you’ll understand that the school is the place you spend most of your time and their main goal is to provide you with a safe and homey environment where you can learn without being afraid of making mistakes.
That first day was a vortex of emotions for me, not just because I was nervous, but because it was the beginning of a new chapter for me, one I would write by myself, without family or close friends near me. I was slight sad and afraid but excited about it.
Every week at IH Newcastle there is a plethora of different events for the students to engage in – the famous Social programme! One of the most exciting parts is the welcome party, a gathering of sorts that happens every Monday, always in a different pub, to welcome the new students – they became my weekly ritual.
I soon made friends with my classmates and people who were in different classes, each of them brought something new into the table, and each of them taught me a little bit about their country, their culture and their language. These are friendships I cherish till this day, nothing gives me more joy that to say “I have friends all around the world!”
We are all here for a different period of time and some of us leave before other, some of us stay a bit longer … time can be cruel in those situations. I remember how sad I felt when two of my closest friends (Lea and Emily) left Newcastle to go back to their home in Switzerland, however, after a few WhatsApp messages and some digging at Sky scanner me and two dear and close friends of mine (Jurema and Jin) had tickets booked to spend a weekend in Geneva with them!
Every minute I spent at the school was valuable, every Social activity that I – alongside my friends – did created a memory than will last my whole life. At the end of my time in Newcastle I had a better grasp of the English language, I had made dear friends and I had grown up as a person,
For that I can only say thank you.
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To live a similar experience to Derick, join our courses and discover this beautiful city!