When envisioning a typical Spanish class experience, an 11-day expedition to Spain would likely not be the first thing that comes to mind for many. However, for 23 students at PHS, that’s just what their spring break will entail.
Chaperoned by three PUSD Spanish teachers, the students’ trip will take place from April 2 – 13.
They will be residing an hour and a half away from the Portuguese border in the northwestern city of Redondela for the majority of their trip. There, they will stay with the families of their exchange partners, shadowing them at their school for four days before leaving for Madrid to go sightseeing.
The trip will involve excursions throughout Spain, including a day trip to the historical city Santiago de Compostela, where the students will have the opportunity to visit the cathedral home to the remains of Saint James the Great.
For the past four months, students have been virtually communicating with their exchange partners to practice their respective languages, with the Piedmont students writing emails in Spanish and the Spanish students responding in English.
“We talk about what we like and what hobbies we do outside of school, and since it’s getting closer to them coming, we’ve been talking about what they want to do when they come,” sophomore Camille Edesess said.
Sophomore Madeline Booth said that she and her partner have been able to identify some commonalities despite their language barrier.
“She likes horror movies, I like horror movies; she likes makeup, I like makeup; she likes shopping, I like shopping; so it’s a pretty good match between us,” Booth said.
For some students, this trip is their first travel experience beyond the U.S. or North America, providing opportunities not only to build upon existing language skills but also to familiarize themselves with another culture.
“Obviously I want [my students] to practice the language, but mostly I want them to have the experience of living in another country, eating different foods, interacting with new people, and hopefully making really lasting relationships with the families that they’re staying with,” trip chaperone and Spanish teacher Joanne Guillén said
Guillén also said she hopes that through the trip students gain a better understanding of the Spanish educational system, a sentiment also shared by several of the students attending.
“I’m excited to see how the school system there differs from the school systems here,” said Booth. “I’ve never been to Spain or Europe, so it’ll be very fun to go there for the first time and learn about cultural differences.”
