"For the experience, I've never been abroad. It was time to grow up a little bit, be a man," said Upward, who has had three weeks to acclimatise himself and admits it was a struggle at first.
Upward will have to play through injury after hurting ligaments in his fingers.
He could not get over the size of Wembley Park, saying at home they do not have an area that big with so many dedicated playing fields.
Both are coaching youth teams and want to play their part in helping Athletic do well in the Western Premiership, with an eye to returning to the Lotto Federation League in 2016.
They are scheduled to return home in September, although Lama said he is already considering staying on while Upward would be happy to come back.
