¡Adiós, Los Estados Unidos, y hola España!
What better way to kick off the brand new year than by hopping on a flight with a group of your MICDS peers and Spanish teacher chaperones to españa—Spain! On January 1, 27 MICDS sophomores, juniors, and seniors participated in the Spain global learning trip offered during Winter Term 2024. With almost all of these students currently taking Spanish as their world language in the Upper School, this trip was the perfect opportunity to be immersed in the language, culture, history, and so much more.
Señora Robin Begley, Upper School Spanish Teacher, shared, “Our journey to Spain with our Spanish students proved to be an incredible and invaluable experience. We gained profound insights, thoroughly enjoyed exploring the culture and history, and truly immersed ourselves in the tradition of “la sobremesa” – engaging in lengthy conversations during and after meals. I feel a deep sense of gratitude for MICDS for embracing experiential learning once again, allowing us to broaden our horizons and create lasting memories.”
The Spain 2024 trip from January 1 to 11 included visits to five different cities: Madrid, Sevilla, Granada, Córdoba, and Toledo. Read on to learn what students experienced in each special ciudad (city) and enjoy photos from each location.
Ciudad Uno: Madrid
¡Bienvenida a Madrid! (Welcome to Madrid!)
After a long flight, our 27 Rams and three chaperones, Sra. Begley, JK-12 World Languages Department Chair & Upper School Spanish Teacher Patrick Huewe, and Upper School Spanish Teacher Kelly Weidenmiller, officially arrived and set foot in the capital of Spain on January 2. They took a walking tour around the city center with a local guide, stopped in Plaza Mayor for a glimpse of past and present life in the capital, and enjoyed churros and chocolate—a sweet part of Madrid! In the evening, they relaxed at a welcome dinner.
The next day, they visited one of the renowned museums of Madrid for the chance to see some of the most influential art from the region. They also tried another tasty Spanish favorite at a contemporary tapas lunch. Then, they took a train south to Sevilla and viewed the countryside scenery along the way.
Ciudad Dos: Sevilla
¡Vamos a Seville! (Let’s go to Sevilla!)
Students got to know their next city with a tour of Sevilla by local guides. They walked the narrow streets and found hidden squares of the old city. Afterward, they had lunch in the Setas area and then went into this architectural gem to get the best views of Sevilla. Later on, they walked to their Flamenco dance lessons before concluding the day with dinner and some shopping.
Lilly Loeb ’25 was blown away by the Sevillian architecture. “For me, the top highlight of the trip was exploring Sevilla at night. My reason for joining the trip in the first place was because I am very interested in architecture, and even though I didn’t picture Sevilla to be so architecturally diverse, it was! It was like a fusion of different styles and cultures. And at night, lights enhanced the facades of the buildings to create an even more incredible atmosphere.”
On the second day in Sevilla, the group visited the Alcazar Palace and its beautiful, colorful courtyards and Moorish-style domes. They explored the historic city center and riverfront before watching a live flamenco performance.
The next day was January 5—the eve of Three Kings’ Day. Three Kings’ Day is a Christian celebration commemorating the Biblical story of the three kings/wise men who followed the star of Bethlehem to bring gifts to baby Jesus. Our Rams attended a Three Kings parade. They also learned about tilework in a ceramic of the Triana area through a ceramic tile class. Next, they were off to Granada!
“My favorite city that we visited was probably Sevilla,” echoes Kriya Doshi ’25. “Besides the best weather on the trip, the city is gorgeous and right along the river. We had an amazing time walking along the river, painting tiles, shopping, talking to locals, eating AMAZING crepes, and, of course, learning flamenco. We had the chance to experience all sorts of cultural and religious influences over there like the Three Kings Day parade and the castle of Real Alcázar. We had an amazing time and I would love to go back again!”
Ciudad Tres: Granada
¡Hola, Granada!
On the drive to Granada, the group stopped along the way for a walk and picnic in one of Andalucia’s beautiful natural areas. Then, after settling into their hotel in the heart of the city, they explored the very hilly and scenic Albaicin neighborhood, the old Moorish section of the city dating back to Medieval times. That night, they enjoyed dinner in “una cueva” (a cave) and were treated to a flamenco show.
The following day included climbing to the top of the Alhambra with private guides and learning about the different power dynamics of Spain over the last 1,000 years. Later, the students took a cooking class and visited the shops and tea houses in the center of Granada for a taste of the mix of cultures in the city. They learned about the various perspectives on cultural identity in the region as they met with different religious leaders and local community members.
Granada was the favorite city of Chloe Davis ’24. “During our walking tour, it was almost like a scavenger hunt as we looked for the symbol of the city—a pomegranate. This was a symbol of abundance and royalty. The city was an oasis! We also were able to see the beautiful Alhambra and the “cuevas” (caves) that surrounded the city which historically had been occupied by those persecuted during the Inquisition.”
Ciudad Cuatro: Córdoba
¡Saludos, Córdoba! (Greetings, Córdoba!)
On their way to Córdoba, the group stopped at an olive oil farm to learn how olive oil is made and get a tour. Afterward, they were treated to a tasting of three different types of olive oil as well as a bocadillo lunch. A bocadillo is a popular Spanish sandwich that is served on a baguette and filled with various meats, tuna, and cheeses. Right after checking into their hotel, they took off for the city center to allow for some free time. Students had the chance to shop and interact with the local community. They took in their first views of the central tower and winding stone streets.
Ciudad Cinco: Toledo
¡Gracias, Toledo!
The MICDS Spain group drove north and spent their final afternoon and evening in the city of Toledo, the former capital of Spain and “city of three cultures.” They took some time to reflect on what they experienced and got ready to return home. The next day, they took off from Madrid and flew their way back to the States full of life-changing memories!
Students really grew from this trip after being surrounded by these five cities and the wonderful people they met. Lilly shared, “This trip has impacted my perspective on people in general because I got to see how welcoming and hospitable locals were. At one point, my friends and I got a little lost walking around town and a local noticed and helped direct us right away. Throughout the whole trip, locals could have just as easily not spoken to us, but they exhibited lots of kindness and made us feel welcome. And my favorite city that we visited in Spain was Granada, not only because the city itself was beautiful, but also because we made some friends there who made the trip much more memorable.”
Chloe talked about a gained understanding. “I think this trip impacted my perspective in a few ways. First, it inspired me that instead of destroying pre-existing infrastructure, each new culture that influenced Spain only added on. I loved being able to see mosques, churches, and temples with influences from each culture. Also, my risk-taking abilities have improved by speaking to business owners and locals in Spanish. I was also thoroughly impressed by MICDS’s ability to prepare me to speak in real-world scenarios. I was amazed about how much information I retained and my capacity to communicate.”
Harris gained perspective as well. “This Spanish immersion opportunity has broadened my perspective on places, people, cultures, and faiths,” he explained. “Exploring historical sites like Córdoba and Toledo with their mix of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish influences deepened my historical awareness and allowed me to appreciate the diversity of Spanish culture.”
Sra. Weidenmiller summed up the trip well. “Traveling to Spain with students over Winter Term was an amazing experience for all involved, especially due to the meaningful focus of this trip—the coexistence of Muslims, Christians, and Jews in the south of Spain’s history and the beautiful architecture it has left behind. It was incredible to learn about this history surrounded by students of all three faiths, sparking thoughtful conversations among the entire group,” she shared. “Despite having had the opportunity to travel to this region several times before, it is always so fulfilling to live vicariously through the students’ first-time experiences and to support them in using their language in a real-world setting. Several students couldn’t believe how much they could understand in our Spanish-only walking tours that we took in every city, and there’s nothing more heartwarming than witnessing students realize that they truly not only have a very high proficiency in another language but incredibly deep intercultural competence that allows them to interact respectfully and authentically in a Spanish-speaking country.”
What a marvelous global learning trip for our 27 Rams and three teachers across five amazing Spanish cities for Winter Term 2024! ¡Hasta luego, España!