Just Along for the Mills and Views

One of the added bonuses that comes along with being a language assistant is that I am included in any of the class trips that I want to go along with at my school, IES Brión. Since I assist in the bilingual physical education classes as well, I am tagging along on all the outdoor activities!
All the hiking I did with my family on camping trips each summer paid off for the uphill climb I took with primero bachillerato students (juniors in high school).

We hiked in the area O Rosal, which is in Vigo, the southern region of Galicia, right above Portugal! We hiked up along los molinos de Picón, or the water mills of Picón. The guide explained to us (in Galician, so this is what I think he said!) that the water flowed downhill from one mill or the next, to keep them all going. Back in the day, the mills were used to grind corn, but now they are not in use. O Rosal is a region that is also known for producing great white wine!

The students hiking along the mills

Class photo!

My fellow teachers and I! Ana, Carmen, Senin and our guide

After the hike we had a picnic lunch. Its a little strange to be one of the teachers now instead of a student but I have good company! All of the teachers at my school are so welcoming and excited to have me there. Besides both the physical education teachers, one of the Math teachers, Senin came along. Senin's daughter is studying in the United States right now we are switching places! I told the guide he had a good taste in cities! (too bad he had never actually been to Chicago...)

Next we went to the border of Portugal and Galicia. We were standing on the Spanish side, and across the river was Portugal!

 

The first people to live in Galicia were actually Celtic, and we got to see some of the first Celtic villages, called castros. Castros were round houses made of stone and hay roofs and very close to each other. These groups of castros were on a hill and protected, any intruders who were trying to come up to attack were just shot down!

 

 The next stop was Valenca, Portugal, right inside the border. We went to a fortress inside Valenca, which is now just a shopping area, and of course a great view.

The fortress was still complete with cannons

I am so happy to be so involved and included in the activities of my school. I couldn't have asked for a better place to work and go each morning to teach English. They have made me feel welcome from the start and along the way I get to see beautiful sights. This coming week I am going on two more trips with different levels of kids, so be prepared for more pictures! And as long as there is a beautiful view, I am a happy girl.