Erasmus Mataró --> Jihlava by Janina Puig

26th January

2009indi — 2025-02-04 12:11:48 UTC

Today is our second day here, after resting a bit from the flight yesterday, I went ice skating with some of the family members, two of the sisters, Filip's brother and father. I got along really well with one of the sisters because she's the same age as me, and while we were skating together we talked almost the whole time. It was a fun day.

30th January

2009indi — 2025-02-04 12:11:51 UTC

The day started with a shooting drill at school. Janina and I thought it was a fire drill, like in Mataro, but then they told us it was about shootings, because last year there was a shooting at a university. We got a little scared.

When we left school we went ice skating together, at a rink near the school and after that we went to the Jihlava shopping centre, we had a great time.

31st January

2009indi — 2025-02-04 12:11:57 UTC

Today is holiday here, so I went with part of the family to visit Tabor, we also went to two museums there, one that was about chocolate (Museum of chocolate and marzipan) and another that was about the history of the Hussite movement and the city of Tabor (Hussite Museum in Tabor), the one I liked the most was the chocolate one, there were very well made figures with chocolate, and there was a workshop where you could create your own chocolate, it was a very busy but fun day.

1st February

2009indi — 2025-02-04 12:12:00 UTC

Today after lunch we left home to quickly head to Brno. Filip, two of his sisters and I took a bus. When we arrived in Brno they showed me some of the sights. Afterwards we spent the rest of the afternoon in a shopping centre there. I really enjoyed the day.

25/01 - First Day - Janina

japuigmas — 2025-02-06 07:22:27 UTC

Today was my first day in the Czech Republic! We arrived by plane in Prague, and then we had to take the metro, train, and bus to Jihlava. It was a long journey, but when we arrived at night, I met the host family, who are very kind. Also, today is my birthday, and we celebrated together with a cake and flowers… a lovely gesture that made me feel welcome.

26/01 - Janina

japuigmas — 2025-02-06 07:25:05 UTC

Today, I got to know the city of Jihlava a little better with the family. We took a relaxed walk through the streets and then stopped for a coffee. It was a calm day, but it helped me start getting familiar with them, and it was a good opportunity to start talking and getting to know each other.

Week at School - Janina

japuigmas — 2025-02-06 07:29:32 UTC

We started classes and the Erasmus project. So far, the lessons have been quite easy; we don’t do much, but we use the time to complete homework from our school in Mataró. Little by little, we are finding our way around and getting to know the school better, adapting to the new schedule that is different from what we are used to.

30/01 in the morning - Janina

japuigmas — 2025-02-06 07:33:18 UTC

Today, during Spanish class, we had a drill, and at first, Indira and I thought it was a fire drill. But we were surprised to know that it was actually an active shooter drill. They explained to us that last year, there was a shooting at a nearby university, which is why they conduct these drills. It was shocking since it’s not something we are used to.

30/01 in the afternoon - Janina

japuigmas — 2025-02-06 07:37:15 UTC

This afternoon we had fun doing things around Jihlava! Indira and I went ice skating with Filip's sister and one of her friends. After that, we spent some time at the mall, Indira bought some clothes, and then we went to Starbucks to have a coffee and relax a bit.

First weekend - Janina

japuigmas — 2025-02-06 07:43:34 UTC

On Friday I went to Brno, the second largest city in the country, with my family; there were lots of interesting places to visit. On Saturday, we went on a trip to Tobiáš’s grandfather’s cottage with him and his family, which was a wonderful experience; it was a house in front of a frozen lake where people from there go ice skating. And to end the weekend, today, Sunday, we visited Telč, a gorgeous town with cheerful and charming architecture. They told me it’s even more beautiful in the summer sun, but I already found it stunning. It was a busy yet enjoyable weekend.

7th February

2009indi — 2025-02-17 18:37:07 UTC

During my second week here, in the Czech Republic, I don’t do a lot of things, only on the weekend, because the other days I only go to school and then I go back home.

Although Friday is not the weekend, at night we play different table games with all family, I enjoyed it a lot.

8th February

2009indi — 2025-02-17 18:37:09 UTC

The first day of the weekend, Saturday, we went to visit a very nice place, it’s called The Punkva Caves and Macocha Abyss. It is 110 km from Jihlava more or less. After all day out, when we arrived at home, we had dinner, and then we watched a movie. Last week, we watched another movie, in Spanish, but with subtitles in Czech, and this week in Czech, and subtitles in spanish.

9th February

2009indi — 2025-02-17 18:37:11 UTC

And on the last day of the weekend, Sunday, also all the family went to visit the mother's parents. We went to had a snack, and before going to the grandparents house, we went to visit a little bit Pelhřimov, is it the city where the grandparents live. I had a great time, because I love the little children and this day I spent a lot of time with the little sister. She is very cute.

12th February

2009indi — 2025-02-17 18:37:14 UTC

During my third, and last week here, in the Czech Republic, I had a great time. The students from 1st Batxillerat from Thos i Codina and two teachers (Olga and Elena)came to the Czech Republic.

On Wednesday Janina, the students from our school, their partners, the teachers and I went to Třebíč, I really liked it, because it was very beautiful and it was also snowing.It was quite cold and I don't want to stay there for a long time because I was cold, but I really liked it.

13th February

2009indi — 2025-02-17 18:37:17 UTC

On Thursday we went also with the same people than on Wednesday, to Prague, first, the students and teachers from Jihlava, taught us a little bit the Capital, and then we have a free time, and we went to lunch, shoop some souvenirs, and we wanted to go to some places we saw on tik tok, so we went, it was a hotel, but we want to went to the restaurant , because we saw that there are a very beautiful terrace, for take fotos, and the other place it was like a infinite tower of books, I really liked it this day.

15th February

2009indi — 2025-02-17 18:37:20 UTC

And finally, the last, I woke up and I just finished packing all the things, and then I went with the parents of Filip and the little sister to Jihlava, where we met all the students and teachers from spain, for return to barcelona, and we take a bus to Prague and another from Prague to airport. We took the plane at 19:50 and we arrived at 22:00, but we were supposed to arrive at 22:25

February 6th

japuigmas — 2025-05-15 08:55:46 UTC

I went with the family to see a circus performance by Tobiáš’s cousin. It was very exciting for me because I also used to do acrobatics when I was younger, although never as well as they did!

February 8th

japuigmas — 2025-05-15 09:09:10 UTC

We visited Veselý Kopec, a very old representation village. We saw how people used to live in the past, and as part of the show, they painted our faces black to represent the “chimney men.” It was a very interesting experience!

February 9th

japuigmas — 2025-05-15 09:10:19 UTC

We spent the day in Prague, exploring places that I probably wouldn’t visit with the school. I met Tobiáš’s aunt and her three dogs, and I tried sweet dumplings. In the afternoon, we visited an exhibition by a Czech artist about his time in the Peruvian jungle and we even saw the artist himself there!

12th February

japuigmas — 2025-05-15 09:11:05 UTC

Indira and I visited Třebíč with the high school students who were on a one-week exchange. It snowed all day, covering everything in white. Despite the intense cold, I enjoyed the charm of the village.

13th February

japuigmas — 2025-05-15 09:11:58 UTC

We went to Prague with the high school students. We explored historical and modern landmarks, visited the castle, and St. George’s Basilica. Not only that, we also saw an exhibition of very abstract art, which was interesting and fun.

14th February

japuigmas — 2025-05-15 09:12:54 UTC

It was our last day at school. During the English class, Iveta, the coordinator, gifted us a notebook, a pen, and a chocolate bar. We took a photo with our classmates and said goodbye to friends who had helped us a lot in the beginning.

15th February

japuigmas — 2025-05-15 09:13:56 UTC

The departure day arrived. I woke up early, packed my suitcase, and had a brunch with the family. Saying goodbye was emotional, especially to Tereza, who made me feel at home. I’ve grown very fond of her.