Students Soak Up Spanish Culture
The Spain Abroad concludes this weekend after four weeks of travel through Madrid, Córdoba, Granada, Sevilla, Toledo, and Alicante. Students took Spanish classes at Estudio Sempre in the heart of Madrid and lived with local families. Taking in spectacular Spanish architecture, they’ve toured the famous Alhambra fort built during the Moorish occupation, Alcázar, the Palacio Royale, and Mezquita Cathedral, along with beautiful tiled gardens and parks lined with countless orange trees.
Soaking up as much Spanish culture as possible, students discovered local festivals, attended a traditional bullfight, enjoyed a flamenco show, watched a highly competitive soccer match, toured the Reina Sofia Museum (known for works by Picasso and Goya), and happened upon a wedding. And they haven’t gone hungry! They’ve discovered sidewalk cafes along narrow city streets, where they’ve sampled tapas, churros, and more than a few gelato flavors.
The group also visited the Christian Science church in Madrid, joining members for a meal after the service—another good opportunity to practice their Spanish! Later that week they attended the Wednesday testimony meeting, and several students gave testimonies in Spanish. “It was great to get to know some of the local Christian Scientists, and they seemed delighted to get to know us,” wrote sophomore Dani McKenzie in a blog post.
Sophomore Lena Carlson posted this comment: “Every day has been full of places to go, things to do, Spanish to learn, and pastries to eat . . . ¡Ay de mí! This trip has been a blessing for many reasons. Our group gets along seamlessly, we support each other metaphysically, and we’re all excited to learn.”
See photos and read posts on the Spain Abroad blog.