#STROOPWAFELS
Uitwisseling met INS Dolors Aleu Barcelona
Verbazing over stroopwafels, fietsen en hoe snel je vrienden maakt.
Door David Rous
In mei kregen onze h4e leerlingen hun Spaanse uitwisselscholieren op bezoek. Eerder dit jaar waren zij op bezoek geweest in Barcelona. We bezochten o.a. Museum Orientalis waar Gids Hetty vertelde over het conflict in het Midden-Oosten. Ook gingen we op avontuur naar Amsterdam voor een drama workshop in de schouwburg op het Leidseplein en een bezoek aan het Stedelijk Museum. Onze leerlingen en hun gezinnen muntten uit in gastvrijheid. Het prachtige weer droeg bij aan een onvergetelijke week.
The Nijmegen Perspective – Fenne, Host Student:
When I first found out that I’d be hosting a student from Spain through our school’s exchange program, I was excited but also nervous. Her name was Ariadna Seoane, and she arrived in Nijmegen on May 6th, 2025. I could tell this was going to be a fun experience!
At first, things were a little awkward. Ariadna didn’t speak Dutch, and I didn’t speak Spanish, but luckily we both could talk in English. We didn’t know each other that well, and we were both kind of shy. But that didn’t last long! Ariadna was super curious about everything in the Netherlands, especially the bikes. She couldn’t believe how everyone here rides bikes everywhere, even old people! I had to show her how it’s done.
On May 9th, we went to Amsterdam for the day. It was amazing. We walked along the canals, visited museums, and of course, tried lots of Dutch food. Ariadna couldn’t get enough of stroopwafels (which are soooo good), and we both loved the atmosphere of the city. It’s so different from Nijmegen, and definitely from Barcelona!
The best part of this whole exchange was how easy it was to become friends with Ariadna. Even though we come from completely different cultures, we have so many of the same interests. We spent loads of time gossiping together with Jelena and her buddy Jimena.
The Barcelona Perspective – Ariadna, Guest Student:
Coming to Nijmegen was totally unexpected. I’m from Barcelona, where it’s usually warm and sunny, so the cool weather in the Netherlands was a big change! I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Fenne was really friendly right from the start, and that made me feel better. The exchange was organized by our schools, and I was so excited to see what life in the Netherlands would be like.
At first, I was amazed by how many people use bikes here. In Barcelona, there are definitely bikes, but not like this. It’s like EVERYONE rides one! Fenne showed me around on bikes, and I was shocked by how easy it is to get around. I couldn’t get over how pretty everything was. It’s such a peaceful city compared to the busy streets of Barcelona.
We also went to Amsterdam on May 9th, which was one of the best days of the whole trip. Amsterdam is so different from Barcelona – the canals, the museums, and the cute narrow houses are something I’ve never seen before. I loved it! We even tried Dutch snacks, and I’m definitely bringing home a recipe for stroopwafels because they were amazing.
What I loved most about my exchange with Fenne was how easily we connected. Even though we don’t speak the same language, we had so much fun. We laughed at our mistakes when we tried to speak each other’s languages (Fenne’s Spanish isn’t perfect, and my Dutch is even worse!), but we still understood each other. It was so sad to say goodbye on May 13th, but I know we’ll keep in touch, and hopefully, I’ll see her again soon.