Hola! I'm Deepa, one of the six students from Leicester given the 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to come to Spain for the World Parliament of Religions - this is the biggest interfaith conference ever held.

Before the event which takes place in Barcelona, we are spending a week in the idyllic mountain retreat of Montserrat, surrounded by picturesque scenery.

When we arrived I was left speechless by the landscape, a clear reminder of how privileged I was to come to such a breathtaking place.

Simplicity dominates the place. It's everywhere - in the Basilica where the monks gather for their daily services, the hundreds of burning candles red and gold, which people purchase and light for loved ones, the bells ringing every hour, even through the night - very confusing when you're half asleep and you think it's your mobile phone!

The place makes up for the basic and bare facilities, which I share with Sumaiya and Rumena, also from Leicester.

However, I didn´t come here just to enjoy the tranquility. I've come to meet people from different backgrounds and faiths and prepare for the big parliament by brushing up my radio skills.

Armed with a BBC mini disc I've been practising interviews and even spoke to one of the Spanish policemen - (my Spanish is coming in handy!)

Deepa Mashru