https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox Daily diary en-us 2018-07-28 19:18:30 UTC 2026-02-07 10:04:22 UTC hello@padlet.com AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271341682 Our adventure started today. Our flight from Orio was at six thirty in the morning so we had to wake up very early. Unfortunately, we arrived in London because flights are cheaper, so we had to take a coach to get to Chester. During the journey we stopped to have lunch and we ate at Mc Donald's. We finally arrived in Chester where our host families were waiting for us. They took us home and showed us the way to arrive at school from it. Then we had a walk in the centre and we went shopping. We also  a frappuccino at Starbucks.
Coming back home, we met four girls who are also staying in our house. They are Italian too and they are very nice and they gave us some advice about life here in England. We are very lucky to have someone we can turn to. I think we will become very close friends.
Then we had dinner with the other girls and spent some time with them in the garden. ]]> 2018-07-28 19:24:51 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271341682 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271341986 Today is a special day because it is my birthday! I turned 17 and my friends gave me a gift: a bracelet with a star. They also bought me balloons with the shape of number 17. 
This morning our host mum drove us to school where we did a test. Then we went sightseeing and we had lunch in the park. In the afternoon we had some free time so we did a boat tour on the river Dee. After that we went shopping again and then to Starbucks.
For dinner our family cooked us pasta. It wasn't so bad so we ate it. My host parents bought me a birthday present, too: they gave me a bottle full of candies. They are really cute and I already love them! ]]> 2018-07-28 19:36:43 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271341986 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342074 This morning we had lessons at school. During the first one we talked about a man, Trevor, who went to the Sahara desert by bike. In the second one we learnt how to prepare a pitch, a short speech to persuade someone to give you money. We had to convince our classmates that they had to spend their money on our idea: the idea was an app which helps you unroll your earphones.
We had a short lunch break and then we took the coach to get to Llangollen, in Wales.
In the evening our family cooked us chicken and French fries.]]> 2018-07-28 19:40:19 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342074 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342111 This morning we had lessons as usual and we talked about sports. I'm not a sporty person but I enjoyed talking about this topic.
In the afternoon we visited the University of Chester where a professor gave us a lecture about sustainable tourism.
Then we had free time this afternoon while some of our friends went to visit their work placement, and we had a walk in the center of Chester.
Tomorrow it's the first day of our work experience and I'm a little bit nervous. I hope everything will be fine and that the people who work with me are nice and friendly. ]]> 2018-07-28 19:42:22 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342111 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342128 Today was the first day of work. I work in a hotel, the Holiday Inn Express, just outside the city centre. In the morning I washed the dishes after breakfast but in the afternoon I just observed what they usually do at the reception. They told me that next week I’ll start working seriously and I will try doing some check-ins. The people who work here seem to be friendly and nice even though I haven't had the chance to talk to them yet.
Then we went home to have dinner and our friends, Simone and Gabriele, came to our house. We drank tea and ate a lot of candies with our friends from Asti.]]> 2018-07-28 19:43:05 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342128 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342211 Today was Sunday and so it was our day off. Finally we could get up later and just after breakfast, we went to the city center. From 10 am to 12 am we went shopping, buying some presents for our friends and our relatives but also something for us. Then we met our friends and we ate our packed lunch together in the Cathedral park.
The afternoon was dedicated to the exploration of Chester: first of all, we visited the cathedral even though a part of it was closed. Then we did a tour of Chester walking on the city walls and reached the Grosvenor Museum. Against all expectations, I really liked it because it was also interactive. 
In the evening with had dinner with our friends in an Italian restaurant, in the center of Chester, called Sergio's. I decided to eat the typical Italian pizza: Margherita. It seemed to be the best pizza I have ever eaten: probably because I've been staying in England for one week eating English dishes. After a quick walk in the center we reached our home and went to bed since tomorrow we have to work.]]> 2018-07-28 19:46:24 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342211 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342260 Today was our second day of work. As I said, I work in a hotel just outside the city center. As I did on Friday, today I helped in the kitchen, washing the dishes. Then I moved to the reception and there I learned how to check in the guests. I had a lot of fun because the guys who work with me, Graham and Tony, are very nice. Even though they taught me how to do it, I didn’t feel ready and so I didn’t do any check-ins today. Then they made me fill some documents at the computer.
After work I went straight home because I felt very tired and, after having a shower, I ate with our friends who are staying with us. ]]> 2018-07-28 19:47:49 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342260 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342281 Days at work are more or less the same every day. In the morning I helped in the kitchen for one hour as I always do, I washed and dried the dishes.
After that I went to the reception and I saved some database on the computer. They are a list of all the guests in the hotel.
After the lunch break, in the afternoon, I worked a bit on the computer: I had to search all the prices of some hotels here in Chester from today until next December.
Then I talked a bit to my colleagues, most of them are nice and friendly and we exchanged opinions about singers and tv series.
In the evening we all went to eat out in a pub: The Church. It was originally a church and that's the reason of its name. I ate a cheeseburger, which was delicious, and chips, which were few. After that we had a walk in the center of the town with our friends from Asti but we went back home early because it was raining. ]]> 2018-07-28 19:48:50 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342281 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342309 Friday at last! Last day of the week and last day of work. I did the same things as every day: in the morning I helped in the kitchen washing the dishes and after the lunch break I helped at the reception. Today is Friday and so this evening there are the races: the hotel was very busy and there were a lot of people checking in. Then I helped counting all the money of the bar. 
In the evening, after dinner, we watched a film with the other Italian girls who are staying with us.]]> 2018-07-28 19:49:24 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342309 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342323 Today we went to Liverpool! Last week we were in Manchester so everyone was wondering which city is the best: I definitely prefer Liverpool.
In the morning we visited the stadium with James but only from the outside. Then some of us went to visit the Beatles’ museum but Megan, other girls and I decided to go to the maritime museum. Contrary to expectations, I really enjoyed it. There was a floor dedicated to the Titanic because it was designed in Liverpool: we found out how it was built, who did it and all the details about the sinking of the Titanic.
After lunch we went to the city center,  saw the Beatles' statues, took some photos and had a walk along the river. Then we had some free time and we went shopping through Liverpool’s street. Unfortunately we had to come back to Chester early, which was a pity because we couldn’t go on the Ferris wheel, which could have been a beautiful experience and a great opportunity to take good photos.]]> 2018-07-28 19:50:02 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342323 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342331 Today was another day of excursion. We went to Conwy Castle and then to Llandudno and the most beautiful thing is that with us there were also our friends from Asti.
We left Chester at 10:00 and the first stop was the castle: we had some free time in it and we ate our sandwiches while we were there.
Then we went to see the smallest house in Great Britain: it was very small but unfortunately we couldn’t see it inside because we didn’t have enough time.
Then we went to Llandudno, a seaside resort in the north of Wales. There we had some free time, we bought some food and souvenirs for our relatives and friends. We had a walk in the shopping district and then we came back to Chester.
When we got to Chester, we had the worst part of the day: we had to say goodbye to our friends. We all started crying because we realized that they were going back to Italy. We are so happy that we met them because they helped us a lot and we became very close friends. We promised each other to keep in touch and to meet again when we are back in Italy. ]]> 2018-07-28 19:50:26 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342331 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342352 Today is Monday and so we are back to work. Like every day I helped in the kitchen, drying the dishes. Then I helped my colleagues at the reception with the check-outs and I did the database of the day and of the past weekend using the computer.
For lunch I went to the park near the cathedral with my friends and I ate my packed lunch.
In the afternoon I tidied up the kitchen with Claire and filled in some documents at the computer.
After work we went to visit the town hall in Chester and we had great fun because we found a court. My dream is to become a judge, so my friends and I pretended to be in a real trial and I was at the place of the judge 😂
Unfortunately today the weather was not good and it was raining so after the visit we went straight home.]]> 2018-07-28 19:51:08 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342352 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342363 Like every day, this morning I went to work. I do the same things every day: I help in the kitchen in the morning, washing and drying the dishes and then I stay at the front desk. There I do the database, which are lists of all the guests of the hotel that I have to copy on the computer. In the afternoon, after the lunch break, my colleagues gave me a gift. I was so embarrassed and I kept repeating “thank you”. They gave me a mug, a cover for the phone, some bracelets, candies and a thank-you card with all the thanks from all of them. I almost started crying. I think I will miss them a lot when I go back to Italy. ]]> 2018-07-28 19:51:33 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342363 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342387 Today was our last day in Chester. We worked only in the morning, until 12:30 because in the afternoon we went to the school. Since it was the last day of work I decided to take some chocolates at work and share them with my colleagues. They all enjoyed them and when they read my little letter to them, they got very emotional. I am very grateful for this experience because it gave me the chance to meet beautiful people, friendly, kind and patient. I will miss all of them, the chefs and the hoteliers.
In the afternoon, as I said, we went to Conlan. They gave us our certificates and they asked us to fill in a questionnaire to know our opinion about the host family and our work placement.
Then we all went to the cathedral and since it was raining we went straight home. There we packed and prepared our luggage very quickly because our host family decided to take us out for our last English dinner. We ate a burger and we gave our present to our host parents: a frame with a picture of me, Megan and the four girls from Asti who stayed with us for two weeks. They were very happy and they got very emotional, Jackie (our host mum) cried! ]]> 2018-07-28 19:52:37 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342387 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342504 Today I was a little bit sad because I’m starting to realise that these are the last days at work. I also had to say goodbye to Graham, one of my favourite colleagues in the hotel. I did the same things as the other days and I had a lot of fun because Graham is very funny and nice! I was starting to grow attached to all my colleagues and it is a pity that in two days I will have finished my work experience. I also prepared a thank- you card and my idea is to give it to them with some chocolates on my last day at work, on Friday.
After work we went straight home because we were very tired and after dinner we went for a walk in Lache. 

]]> 2018-07-28 19:58:30 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342504 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342581 2018-07-28 20:02:01 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342581 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342695 2018-07-28 20:06:53 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342695 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342880 2018-07-28 20:14:15 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271342880 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271343593 2018-07-28 20:25:03 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271343593 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271343673 2018-07-28 20:29:18 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271343673 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271344046 2018-07-28 20:36:15 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271344046 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271344088 2018-07-28 20:38:21 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271344088 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271344412 2018-07-28 20:54:30 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271344412 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271344594 2018-07-28 21:01:28 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271344594 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271344863 2018-07-28 21:11:55 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271344863 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271344953 2018-07-28 21:15:28 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271344953 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271345153 2018-07-28 21:24:36 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271345153 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271345236 2018-07-28 21:27:47 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271345236 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271345368 2018-07-28 21:32:32 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271345368 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271345912 2018-07-28 21:52:12 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271345912 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271345949 The last day has finally arrived. This morning we woke up early because we had to be in front of Conlan School quite early and we hadn’t finished our luggage yet. We quickly greeted our host mum Jackie because she had to go to work. After breakfast Mick, our host father, drove us to school and there we started crying. This experience wouldn’t have been the same without our host parents. We flew from London so we had to take the coach. On the coach I slept, I watched a tv series and I listened to music. When we arrived at the airport we had one hour free because we had arrived there too early. 
Our flight was due to take off at 4:00 pm. but it was late: we took off two hours later! On the plane I met two Italian boys and we started chatting so it wasn’t so boring. We arrived in Italy at 9 pm and there there were my parents waiting for me. I was very happy to see them! ]]> 2018-07-28 21:53:18 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271345949 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271346508 2018-07-28 22:14:36 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271346508 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271348268 Third day of work. I do the same things every day but I always meet new people who work with me. Today I met Claire, a Welsh woman who works in the kitchen. She is very nice and she also taught me some words in Welsh, it was very funny. After breakfast I went to the front desk and I did the database, which means to copy some files on the computer. Today there were Graham and Tony again, two amazing young men (they are only 27 years old), and they are very nice and we laughed a lot. The beautiful thing of working in this hotel is that, even though I haven’t got much to do, the people who are working with me are very kind and friendly and so time flies. ]]> 2018-07-28 23:41:52 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271348268 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271350207 2018-07-29 01:27:13 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271350207 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271365474 This morning we took the bus for the first time to get to school: surprisingly we succeeded and we didn’t get lost!
Lessons were about tourism, Chester and other cities and attractions.
After lunch, in the afternoon, we did a historical tour of the city with Ed, a very nice guide who told us about the history of Chester. He was also dressed like a Roman!
Then Jessica, a woman who works at Conlan, took me to visit the hotel where I am going to work. I met my supervisor, Emma, and she seems to be very nice and kind. The hotel is really big and I found out that it is very near to the racecourse and so when there are races it gets very busy. 
In the evening we had dinner at home with our friends from Asti and then we all decided to have a walk near home. ]]> 2018-07-29 12:17:03 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271365474 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271365665 2018-07-29 12:26:05 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271365665 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271365683 2018-07-29 12:26:57 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271365683 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271366385 2018-07-29 12:53:03 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271366385 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271484314 Today was our last full day of our work experience. As usual in the morning I helped in the kitchen and I had to say goodbye to Claire, the cook. She helped me a lot with my English and she has always been very nice to me. In the afternoon I stayed at the front desk, finishing the database. Then I did my first check-in! Even though I was very nervous, everything was fine and I succeeded. 
After work I went to buy a present for our host family and we also bought a thank-you card. After this I went to the cinema with all my classmates to watch a film called Mary Shelley. The film was the biography of the author of the famous book Frankenstein. We really liked it and surprisingly we could understand almost everything. After the cinema some of us went to eat a burger in the center of Chester. ]]> 2018-07-30 22:20:12 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271484314 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271485032 Fourth day of work. The job is becoming more interesting because now that I know all my colleagues and we have become almost friends. It’s a little bit boring because I do the same things every day: in the morning I clean and dry the dishes and then I help at the front desk copying files on the computer. In the afternoon I observe how they check in guests and I’m learning something more every day. I hope I will be able to do it myself next week.
After work we went straight home because tonight there was a very important football match, so dinner was at 6:00. England played against Croatia and after dinner Megan and I watched the match with our host parents. Unfortunately England lost and we were all sad. ]]> 2018-07-30 22:29:20 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/271485032 AlessiaAdragna https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/272765028 Today we finally went to Manchester! We left at 9:30 and arrived there an hour later. The first stop was at the Manchester United stadium shop where I bought a ball with all the signatures of the most important footballers of the team for my brother. Then we visited the Museum of Science and Industry, which was very interesting and interactive. There were different rooms and in the one dedicated to planes there was a flight simulator. Only Chiara and I were brave enough to try it. I have to say that it has been a fantastic experience and we laughed a lot. We ate our lunch at the museum.
Then we went to the library that cointains a lot of ancient books. Then we had some free time that we spent doing some shopping, eating and exploring the city. ]]> 2018-08-12 18:30:39 UTC https://padlet.com/AlessiaAdragna/gggsim7u9cox/wish/272765028