London Trip 2022
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Phase I
"Day 0"
Date: November 22, 2022 - November 23, 2022
Participants: Ms. Christine, Ms. Fani, Ms. Francis, Ms. Helen, Mr. Leo, Ms. Natalia, Apostolos Sig, XBGamerX, +32 others
Period I - The Planning
The trip was first announced on October 3 and the following days for all classes that were on English levels ECCE and ECPE. Everyone had about a week to take decision whether to go or not until October 13.
In the final run, a total of 34 students were signed to go on the trip including 6 teachers. On later days, certain documents were handed to participants, including the passport they needed to issue, by Ms. Francis. Participants were given instructions when they were present at the language center. Late October was crucial nevertheless to complete the requirements needed for the trip, including the payment.
There were slight changes in the planning but the trip was finally settled by November. Everyone was ready to begin the lifetime experience soon, time by time.
Screenshot taken by XBGamerX showing the document he prepared a day before the trip.
Period II - The Day Before
On November 21, everything had come to the final line. At 8:08 pm UTC+0, XBGamerX signed a document giving information about the trip. Although not everything was clarified correctly, especially considering it was centered on his personal needs. Despite this, everyone had their handbags ready, as told by the teacher the previous days.
Period III - The Check-in in Athens
The day had come, it was November 22. The students were advised to be present at Elefterios Venizelos Airport in Athens at 1:30 pm.
All the participants started gathering in the airport, including the teachers. XBGamerX had trouble finding the class, until 1:58 pm. Everyone was there waiting to check-in. At approximately 2:05 pm however, the time had come to begin the journey so everyone got within their respective group and started waiting in the line to get their boarding pass.
It took some time, all the way until 2:24 pm, with XBGamerX and Ms. Christina being the last to obtain their boarding passes. Later, they returned back and waited until 2:30 pm, all talking there. Then, everyone was called to go through the checks, arriving at 2:34 pm, carrying their bags all the way there. It was stressful as they had to show their passports and boarding passes. They all made it into the terminal however, by around 2:48 pm.
It was only 2:54 pm that everyone finally sat in the terminal seats. With the duty-free shops being in the same compartment as the terminals, everyone went there by 3:00 pm.
Picture taken on November 22, at 4:58 pm UTC+2 by XBGamerX showing Elefterios Venizelos Airport terminal. All other pictures are also taken by XBGamerX.
Period IV - The Departure from Athens
It was the perfect time, the dusk approached and everyone was waiting in order to get in the plane to depart for this journey. They had fun exploring the stores. Mostly everyone returned at around 3:50 pm however.
At 4:00 pm, it was finally announced that the terminal had opened. The sky was dark outside and everyone started getting excited, having never done anything like this. Everyone made sure to had gone to the restroom.
Nevertheless, the class got in the plane fairly early, at 4:17 pm. XBGamerX was possibly the only one who was apart from the class, some seats in the front. They boarded an Airbus A20N.
Then, it was 4:38 pm, where the plane finally switched its engines on. It started moving shortly after, reaching the runway, at 4:46 pm. The moment had come, then suddenly, the lights went out, ready to take off. The takeoff was crazy. However, everything went fine a few minutes later.
Almost everyone lost data and location connection at 4:47 pm. Everyone was served the basic food they offered which was nothing more other than chips and water. A few minutes later, the lights were switched off, giving a great feel of the flight. Others took the decision to sleep however.
Period V - The Arrival in London
The flight seemed to come to an end at 8:00 pm, when the plane started getting ready to land. By 8:15 pm, it had gone below 10,000 ft and the city lights were visible. It shortly after took a turn which revealed most of the city. The plane finally landed successfully at 8:26 pm and class applauded.
It was a smooth landing. The airplane then reached the terminal at 8:37 pm. Everyone was filled was happiness. The teacher called everyone out to stay in the plane until everyone left, so the class could walk out more consistently.
Picture taken at 6:57 pm UTC+2 inside the airplane.
XBGamerX along with some of the girls were one of the first to have exited the plane. It was approximately 8:42 pm. The first thing everyone noticed was how cold it actually was but they did not mind as they were busy exploring around. The teachers and the students then settled in the entrance of the terminal 5B, at 8:49 pm. Some called and informed their parents about their arrival. The journey had started.
Everyone was ordered to start walking at 8:56 pm. They went forward on the conveyor and took a left turn shortly after. They went down the escalators at 8:59 pm where they ended up in an empty, large and spacious area. The class simply had to go 3 floors down in order to get into the transit train in order to go to terminal 5A. Some of the students took photos around while getting down. They arrived in the train station at approximately 9:01 pm, where the train came shortly after. Despite this, the train left and everyone knew they had to walk along the long tunnel, so they left shortly after at 9:03 pm.
It was a long tunnel, consisting of 5 long conveyors. XBGamerX was in the front, looking around fascinated much as all the others. Everyone could not wait to see how the city would look like from outside. After long walking, the class finally reached the end at 9:10 pm. They had to go 2 floors up again for passport control at 9:12 pm. It took quite some time to get checked and pass through as the booths were electronic. The only advantage perhaps was that there were few people around which made the process faster and easier. It was 9:27 pm until they finally finished and everyone had officially crossed the UK border. The class was then guided downstairs again to the ground floor, in order to collect their luggage and settled in the end of the compartment at 9:32 pm. There, most of them took the decision to finally go to the restroom.
Spending little time there until 9:36 pm, the class had to start walking in order to pass the gates and enter the main airport compartment. At 9:42 pm, Ms. Francis told everyone to stay in one place to issue tickets for the train. The ticket costed an entire £30.00 for each and was issued as one group ticket. The class then took photos with the assistant who issued the tickets.
Picture taken at 9:36 pm UTC+0, in Heathrow Airport.
Period VI - The Long Train Journey
It was time to get going however. The warmth of the airport wore off once everyone entered the Underground train station and was replaced by the cold feel of London, an experience that was getting intense. Everyone arrived down there at 10:00 pm, who had to wait for the train in Piccadilly line. It seemed that there was 15 minutes until it would finally depart, however, the train arrived earlier at 10:07 pm, giving everyone the chance to finally sit after those hours.
Everyone was tired. They were all waiting for the train to leave. It was approximately 10:20 pm when it finally started moving however. Some of the students later fell asleep but others did not, as they were constantly looking outside. Their final destination was Russell Square, which was pretty far.
During the ride, they all got amazed of the surroundings, something they had never seen. The ride was smooth and calming which helped everyone relax.
Picture taken at 11:25 pm UTC+0 near Russel Square.
Period VII - The Hotel Check-in
After almost an hour however, they finally arrived to their destination. It was 11:18 pm when the class got off the train. It came to a surprise once everyone saw the sign about the 175 steps the staircase had so the class had to split to fit and use the elevators.
However, the biggest surprise was when they finally exited the station at 11:23 pm and saw the buildings around. It was a brand new and different atmospheric feel. Everyone made their way to the hotel at 11:29 pm. When the class arrived, they waited outside and Ms. Francis then asked the reception to check everyone in. At last, students and teachers finally entered the building at 11:32 pm and sat down in the reception. Later, at 11:52 pm, everyone was also given their keys along with the accommodation paper. XBGamerX was among those who were in a 2-bed room assigned with his roommate, Apostolos Sig.
Period VIII - Shop by the Hotel
After that, everyone entered the neighboring building and used the elevators to go up. They all got into their rooms at about 11:57 pm. Everyone was in the 5th floor, mainly in the right corridor from the elevators. Ms. Francis later got into each one’s room to inform them the class would soon have to go downstairs to buy some of the basics from the shop by the hotel. During this time, everyone unpacked their stuff.
Shortly after, on November 23, at about 12:20 am, almost everyone got out of their rooms, who then met with the rest back in the ground floor. It took quite some time, until they finally got in the nearby shop at 12:38 am. Everyone mostly purchased water bottles while others were busy exploring the shop, until they finished at 12:56 am. It was late, so they all returned to the hotel by 1:30 am.
Period IX - The End
As everyone got into the hotel, it was time for sleep, especially considering the time everyone was up. Some of them went to sleep almost immediately while others decided to stay a little more to relax.
Picture taken on November 23, at 12:50 am UTC+0 outside the shop.
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