From Spanish Floods to the Cinder Track

On October 29^th 2024, the Spanish city of Valencia was subjected to a year’s worth of rainfall in just eight hours. 

 

Devastating flash floods turned streets into rivers; homes were destroyed, cars were swept away and more than 220 people were killed.

 

Watching the horrifying pictures in the city of Gandia, 50 minutes away from the unfolding disaster, was Vicent Fabrá-Pastor. He felt so moved by what he saw, that he made plans to help.

 

“The floods started on the Tuesday evening and I went to Valencia the following Monday,” he explains. “I went with my friends and girlfriend for two or three days to help with the clean-up. We helped to give out food and to clean the streets. It was terrible there. There were broken cars, people crying. A lot of people from across Spain came to help; from Seville and Bilbao. A lot of people wanted to help.”

 

A month later and Vicent was in LWC’s contrasting 1200 acres, where he has been ever since. Mr Fabrá-Pastor will remain in Long Sutton, working as a Language Assistant until his placement comes to an end in March. He is currently studying for a master’s degree in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language, having completed a degree in Primary School Education beforehand.

 

“I wanted to experience leaving Spain and living in another country,” he reveals. “I think England is so different; the culture, the weather! Today in my town in Spain, it’s 15 degrees. Here it’s about two or three! I think this is the perfect moment in my life to travel. I can also improve my English, because I think it’s the most important language in the world.”

 

Flood-hit streets of Valencia, October 2024

   

Since his arrival at LWC, Vicent has assisted in Spanish classes and has found the experience rewarding. “I think the school and the pupils have a good level of Spanish,” he continues. “The older years have a very good level of Spanish. But I also enjoy working with the younger ones. They are young and improving. They are learning new and sometimes difficult words.  I think that the school has good teachers.”

 

Students learning Spanish not only get to benefit from Vicent’s vocabulary assistance, but they also surely catch a glimpse of what life is like in his Mediterranean homeland?

 

“I try to teach them a little about the culture of Spain,” he explains. “Like the fact that real paella doesn’t come with chorizo! Valencian people are always angry about this because real paella only has chicken and rabbit. You can do a paella with seafood, but it’s not a real Valencian paella. I know that for British people, a rabbit is like a friend!”

 

Whilst we’re on the subject of cultural differences, this seems like a good time to talk about the things that have taken him a while to get used to, since his arrival in the UK.

 

“I think that the strangest thing for me is that people have dinner so early!!!” he beams. “At five o’clock!! In Spain, we usually eat at 9 o’clock, maybe 10. The food is similar because in Spain, we eat a lot of beef, chicken and pork. But in England, you use more spices. The food is spicier than in Spain.”

 

Despite the obvious discrepancies with food, it remains one of his highlights at LWC. “Julyans is incredible. It has a lot of healthy food,” he says. “The banoffee sponge with custard is the best…and the beef goulash.”

 

Vicent has been resident at Junior House since his arrival in the 1200, giving him plenty of time to take in his surroundings on his daily trips along the Cinder Track. “The landscapes are beautiful,” he adds. “It’s so quiet.”

 

When he arrives back in Spain, he plans to finish his master’s degree and become a primary school tutor. But he’s clear that there are still a few things to tick off his ‘to do’ list before he heads back to warmer climes.

 

“At first, when I came here, I was a bit sad because my family and my girlfriend were in Spain. But when I met the teachers here and found all of the facilities, it was great. I think it’s an incredible school. I also like to visit places like Winchester, London and Bath. I want to enjoy the experience. The most important thing when you’re living in another country, is to discover new things and meet new people.”

 

…..and to eat plenty of banoffee sponge.