Article written by Ms Heath, Head of Russian.

This October, our students embarked on an unforgettable adventure through the fascinating cities of Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, discovering the history, culture and hospitality of Uzbekistan.

Travelling between cities on fast, modern trains, we explored spectacular architecture dating back almost 2,000 years, wandered through historic streets and marvelled at the magnificent mosques, madrasas and colourful mosaics that make Uzbekistan so special.

Of course, no trip would be complete without sampling the local cuisine! Our pupils enjoyed an abundance of delicious food, including plov, Uzbekistan’s much-loved national dish, which quickly became a firm favourite.

A highlight of the visit was spending time at the Redbridge International School in Samarkand, where our pupils joined Russian lessons, met local students and put their language skills into practice. There was also plenty of time for friendly competition, with football and volleyball bringing everyone together, regardless of language.

Our creative side came to the fore during a traditional ceramics workshop, where pupils tried their hand at hand-painting beautiful pottery to take home as a reminder of their journey.

More than just a sightseeing tour, this trip was an opportunity to build friendships, step outside our comfort zones, experience another culture first-hand and discover the real value of learning a language.

From high-speed trains and ancient monuments to sporting challenges, shared meals and colourful ceramics, our pupils return with new perspectives, greater confidence in their Russian and memories to last a lifetime.