John J.

My name is John, and I live in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. I’m 15 years old and looking to do some volunteer work that will help me prepare for the future. I’m a twin — my brother Harry and I are very alike, both with loving and caring personalities. We come from a big family. Growing up in such a large family has really helped me develop strong social skills and confidence when communicating with others. I know the Welsh language, which I speak fluently. At home, we speak Welsh with our parents every day, and I also know a bit of Spanish thanks to my cousin Fernando, who has been teaching me.

Sports are a huge part of my life. I’ve been playing rugby since I was five years old and now play for the under-16s squad at my local club, alongside my brother. We train and play matches every weekend, and I really enjoy being part of a team. Outside of sports, I’ve done quite a bit of volunteering. I’ve helped at the local homeless shelter several times, which has improved both my communication and cooking skills. I earned my Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, where I volunteered for three months.  I’ve been lucky enough to visit Spain twice in the past years — once for a family holiday in Barcelona and once on a football tour in Madrid. I loved seeing the amazing landmarks in Barcelona, especially Park Güell, and visiting Camp Nou was a dream come true since I’ve always admired Lionel Messi, when he played there. Madrid, though, is my favorite city in Spain, although I do not support Real Madrid. I made friends there while playing football, and one of them even helped me practice my Spanish. In Spain I made some of my dreams come true. The kindness of the Spanish people, the lively life, and the welcoming atmosphere made it an unforgettable experience. I’d love to return and experience that warmth again. Spain truly is an amazing country! Honestly! I never felt like a foreigner with Pueblo Inglés, the experience was amazing in every detail and my mum loved-loved-loved it because, at first, she was kind of nervous.