Madrid 2.18.19

“Our tour of the royal palace in Madrid was fun. Unfortunately, we were not able to take pictures of the interior. There are some pictures of the exterior though. Other than the royal palace we visited an ancient Egyptian temple which was also really cool. It was a great day! I also have a lot of homework, which is why this is so brief.” – Melinda

“The second field trip to Madrid showcased a completely different side of the city. We were able to tour the royal palace, which has been the most modern palace we have seen compared to the Alcázar in Segovia and the Alhambra in Granada.  We visited only 22 of the 2,800 rooms, each one was more extravagant than the last. My favorite room was the dining hall that can comfortably fit over 100 people at the table! We ended the day by visiting the Temple of Debod, an ancient Egyptian temple, and watching the sunset at the park.” –Dyanna

“We just went back to Madrid for the second time to tour the Royal Palace. It was huge inside and absolutely gorgeous. We got to go inside all the rooms and learn about what each room is used for. After the palace we had a few hours of free time to further explore Madrid. Everything we saw was breathtaking and unforgettable!” – Grace C.

“Today we went to Madrid and explored the Palacio Real with the one and only Ramon. The palace contained big beautiful rooms, none of the rooms being the same. They were all unique with different colors and luxurious decorations. The palace was unlike anything I had ever seen! Ramon was very eager to take some fun selfies and pictures with us and the statue today too, so now we have lots of pictures with him! After, we had free time which Grace, Audrey, and I spent eating good food and impulsively buying souvenirs at the gift shop; we definitely spent a little much at that store. However, we have some really cool things from Madrid to bring back home to our family and friends now! Then, we went to the Templo de Debod, where Ramon was eager to take another picture, but with the saxophone player playing on the road. Ramon has made this trip even more memorable and I am so grateful that I have been able to get to know him on this amazing trip!” – Jackie

“My third trip to Madrid ended up being the most energy consuming. However along with that I got to see Ramón again so how could I complain. He even asked to take a picture with me and it’s definitely my proudest moment of this trip. As for the activities of the trip, we went to the Royal palace which had way to many clocks in my opinion. We also walked and walked and walked to several different sites in Madrid and I enjoyed learning about them.” – Ryan

“In Madrid, we were so lucky to have Ramón as our guide through the city once again! Even though he didn’t take us through El Palacio Real, I learned a lot from the tour guide there and was amazed by all of the different rooms we saw. After, we visited the Temple of Debod, and Ramón taught us about Egyptian architecture. From there we got a beautiful view of Spain and took a group photo with an incredible saxophonist on the street.” – Julianna

“Today we went back to Madrid. We visited El Palacio Real and a cathedral. I liked seeing a different part of Madrid that we didn’t see last time. I also loved taking pictures with Ramón!” – Savanna

“Today, we visited El Palacio Real and it was amazing! The architecture and detail of the palace was amazing. I loved being able to see some of the original rooms and furniture too. It was so beautiful and truly unforgettable!” – Kelly

“I love Spain but I gotta say, all this running around is pretty exhausting. And yet I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world because every day I have so much fun exploring new places and meeting new people and trying new, exciting things. Today we took a field trip into Madrid to see El Palacio Real and El Templo de Debod. El Palacio was so beautiful and ornate, it made me want to be a Spanish royal so I could go to fancy functions and eat dinner at the 150 person dining table. I’d have to say that the chandeliers and the different clocks everywhere were my favorite part; especially the clock that was a part of a globe from 200 years ago. Wednesday is Toledo but first, back to school tomorrow! See ya next blog post.   ;)” – Alison

“My third time in Madrid was amazing. I enjoyed touring the Palacio Real, as well as taking photos with Ramón. However, my favorite part was definitely learning different dances that the Spaniards taught us. The weather here is incredible, and I never ever want to leave.” – Sarah

“I’ve been running out of words to use to describe how much of a good time I’m having in Spain. There are so many friendships being made and so many euros being spent on hoodies, I’m really in heaven. There’s also a cat asleep in my lap as I type this and it really doesn’t get much better than that. Anyways, Madrid never gets old and there’s always something to see. I’ve really enjoyed being able to walk around the streets of Madrid and learning about the history behind everything. 10/10″ – Neha

“Today we visited El Palacio Real in Madrid, it was so amazing and we got a tour of all the rooms in the palace. After that, we had free time and we got to explore Madrid. It was an unforgettable day!” – Sophie

“Hoy tuvimos un día magnífico por las calles de Madrid! El local más importante que fuimos fue el Palacio Real, en general hoy nosotros aprendimos mucho sobre la historia de los reyes de Madrid y fue muy divertido.” – Vinny

“My favorite part of today was seeing the Royal Palace because all of the detailed gold objects and extravagant chandeliers were very cool. Besides that we had McDonalds for lunch ad I got a salad which was interesting to say the least, but I can’t eat bread meat or cheese any longer on this trip. I can see why a majority of the people here are vegetarians.” – Ariella

“Today we spent a wonderful day in Madrid! We arrived and walked around with Ramón before going on a tour of Palacio Real. The Royal Palace was absolutely stunning. My favorite room was the dining room because the table was huge and it reminded me so much of Disney princess movies because they often feature huge dinner parties. After taking a tour of the palace, we had some free time where we walked around. When we met at the meeting spot, the teachers were late (shocker. Don’t worry they’re still the best.), but that meant we had time for some dancing! A group of us stood on this fountain and danced to a routine the Spaniards taught us while they were in America. Dancing has been such a fun part of this exchange for me. We can’t all speak perfect Spanish, we can’t all speak perfect English, but we can all dance.” – Grace V.

“We went to Madrid today. I tried a Burger King brownie and enjoyed it. Good stuff overall, in my opinion.” – Miguel

 

Weekend in Granada!

“Granada is so pretty! My favorite part was probably the Alhambra because of the views of the city and the architecture. My favorite picture was the mirror of the Alhambra in the reflective pool. On a side note, the flamenco show was also good, I don’t think I could dance like that for hours!” – Melinda

“In Granada, the group was able to tour the Alhambra, both a palace and a fortress to the Muslims who once ruled Spain long ago. We were able to see the architecture influenced by the Muslims; as well as the Christians who later reclaimed Spain. The Alhambra is without a doubt the most beautiful place I have ever been to in my life. We also experienced a dinner and flamenco show on Saturday night. The band and dancers were so incredibly talented. This weekend has been my favorite moment of the exchange thus far.”- Dyanna

“Granada was absolutely beautiful! Starting off the trip with an unbelievable view of La Alhambra and the sunset. We toured La Alhambra the next morning and learned so much new information. On Saturday we went to a Flamenco show, which was nothing like what I thought it would be. It was very energetic and different from anything I’ve seen before. Throughout the weekend I bought so many gifts for my family and friends because Granada has been my favorite trip so far. I’m excited to go on our last few trips and capture more of this breathtaking country!” – Grace C.

“This weekend we went to Granada! There were sooo many beautiful views! We had a really cool, guided tour of the Alhambra where we got to go inside of all the palaces. We also went to a flamenco show which was really interesting to see how talented the dancers were. Additionally, we had a lot of free time to walk around and go in some shops and most let you bargain for prices which was fun to learn how to do especially in Spanish. Lastly, we since we were not staying with our families, we went out to eat a lot and I tried something different every night, which was really fun to do with friends because we all got to try each others’ foods. Overall, Granada was super fun!” – Ella

“Granada was simply amazing; the weekend was full of beautiful views and many, many laughs. The first day we all went out to dinner, where I had some delicious paella. On Saturday, we toured the Alhambra palace which was beautiful. The views from the palace were amazing and the tour was very interesting. After a day of shopping and eating some good food, we went to the Flamenco show. I ran up the hill and was lucky to get a front row seat (thanks for the tip Profe)! The show was amazing and unlike anything I had ever seen in my life. On the way home, our bus had fun laughing at funny stories and memes almost the entire ride home. It was a night I’ll never forget, and I hope to go back to Granada sometime!” – Jackie

“Granada = Walking, Alhambra, Walking, Dinner in a cave, Scary bus rides, Singing in the streets, and finally quality showers!!” – Ryan

“Granada was so beautiful and had such a rich culture! I never got tired of just meandering around the streets and admiring all the unique buildings. The Alhambra and its history really amazed me, and we got such a beautiful view of Granada. Also, the flamenco show absolutely blew me away. I would take forever to eat my food because I couldn’t look away from the dancers. Plus, the hotel we stayed at was super nice. Overall, 11/10 viaje.” – Julianna

“This weekend we went to Granada. I loved being able to walk around the city and go to all the shops. We visited the Alhambra, and I enjoyed learning about its history. The view of the city from the Alhambra was amazing.” – Savanna

“This weekend in Granada was amazing! We toured the Alhambra and it was so beautiful. It is so well preserved and the architecture of all the palaces were brilliant and intricate. It was so cool to be on the other side of the breathtaking view we saw Friday night!” – Kelly

“These last few days have been a whirlwind! On Friday we took a bus from Collado Villalba to Granada which was very scenic and pretty so I didn’t mind the 5 hour cooped up in there. When we finally got to Granada, Profe DiCroce gave us a mini tour of the town. She showed us the Cathedral and we eventually all walked to a very crowded plaza that overlooked Granada and La Alhambra was towering over the city. It was a very beautiful view. It’s a shame it was very crowded because it was difficult to get photos (I’m such a tourist whoops). Next we went to an amazing restaurant where I had some beef ragout and some good tasting soup and some Lolita (Spanish pudding with burnt sugar on top). It was so good!! Yesterday we all got up bright and early to visit La Alhambra. I was too in awe of its beauty and incredible history to realize how much my feet hurt from walking around but it was ok because I was incredibly happy to be there. After La Alhambra we went to a flamenco show and it was so incredible. The passion in the dancer’s faces was awe inspiring. It made me realize I need more Spanish dance lessons in my life.” – Alison

“Looking for the best vacation spot on Earth? Go to Granada! Although we did not have Ramón, we had amazing tours of the city. Some of my favorite parts included the Alhambra and its glorious gardens, the Flamenco show (even though the dancer almost killed Audrey), and walking throughout the city. Everything was within walking distance, and there is so much culture on every street. However, I’d have to say the best part was impulse buying three pairs of pants at souvenir shops because they are the most comfortable pants on the planet. Thank you for everything!” – Sarah

“Spain never fails to amaze me. Granada was absolutely incredible. The views were great, the food was great and the conversations were greater. I couldn’t stop smiling throughout the entire trip.” – Neha

“Granada!! This weekend was my favorite part of the trip so far. The Alhambra was absolutely breathtaking and it was really interesting to learn about its history in Granada. The best part of our stay in Granada was the Flamenco show. Any expectation I had was surpassed. I loved seeing the dancers and their passion and emotion for Flamenco. The dessert was also pretty good.” – Nicole

“This weekend we went to Granada. It was so beautiful and the weather was so nice. The first night we were there, we walked up to the top of Granada and got to see the sun set over the whole town. On Saturday, we had a 3 hour tour of the Alhambra, it was amazing. We then went to have dinner and see a Flamenco show. I had so much fun in Granada and it was such a beautiful place!” – Sophie

“We spent the weekend in Granada which was an amazing city! We walked around the city and the small shops all the way to what was an amazing view overlooking all the houses and the Alhambra. We visited the Alhambra the next day which was incredible. Seeing the detailed architecture and display of art in the building was amazing. We also ate at a restaurant in a cave where we watched flamenco, a dance originated in the south of Spain. Granada was amazing and a very big highlight of the trip so far.” – Danny

“Granada was so much fun. Bre and I had the best view from our balcony ever. We also shopped a lot.” – Marisa

“So far, Granada might have been my favorite part of this whole vacation from negotiating prices on many different things from small shops to watching the sunset over the city from the top of a hill. Especially when Marisa asked the man to pay more for the bracelets than the actual price because she didn’t understand. It was also interesting to see the inside of the Alhambra and its amazing views of the city as well as the cute cats that guarded the area from mice. We learned a lot about the history of Granada, but we also learned that Leah is a great selfie taker, but in general, our pictures are not great at all.” – Ariella

“We arrived in Granada on Friday and Señora DiCroce took us on a walk of the city. The next morning we went to visit the Alhambra. Hearing about all the history was super interesting and the palace is absolutely stunning. After touring the Alhambra, we had some free time to walk around Granada which was fun. During our free time, I tried the brownie from Burger King that has been hyped up by the entire exchange. It was amazing and definitely did not disappoint. I may or may not have gone back the next day to get a second one. We also had the pleasure of seeing a flamenco show during dinner which exceeded my expectations. I got to sit close to the stage which made me feel like I was a part of the show. Overall, Granada is a beautiful city and I would love to visit it again.” – Grace V.

“We have been in Granada for approximately 2 days and we are thriving. Incredible flamenco show, check. Comfortable beds, check. Mr. Brightside on the busride, check.” – Miguel

“Granada was everything I was expecting it to be and then a whole lot more; the views, the smells, the environment, the WEATHER, and everything else was amazing. I absolutely enjoyed everything that the city had to offer, especially the Alhambra. The blend of Islamic and Christian architecture blew my mind away; everything that was built had a purpose whether it be functional, religious, or historical. I would 11/10 recommend that everyone takes a tour of it; it’s history is so fascinating and the view from the towers are worth it.” – Halleluia

Segovia 2.14.19

“The trip to Segovia was so much fun. We toured El Alcázar and learned of its history from Ramón. Then, we proceeded to walk down the steep stairs next to the castle until we eventually sat as a group. Ramón once again treated us to a live performance of his singing and gave out chocolate to everyone. The city of Segovia is incredibly picturesque, and even though it completely contrasted Madrid, I think they are both equally beautiful cities.” – Dyanna

“Today we went to Segovia and we visited the Alhambra which had really pretty views. We had free time after that and we went to get churros, but they weren’t as good as the ones in Madrid. We then ate lunch in the sun since the sun here is super warm and then walked down 7 million stairs and back up 7 million stairs after that.” – Hailey 

“This day was amazing. Segovia was so peaceful. In the afternoon all the shops close so people can eat and siesta. I also tried tapas for the first time and had croquettes.

I went to Maider’s english academy which she goes to on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s to get extra help with her English. The class was really excited to see me and tell me about themselves in English. The teacher spoke in English to the students really slowly and articulately, and made me wonder if that’s how our Spanish teachers speak to us and we just don’t realize it because it’s not our first language.

For dinner, Maider’s family had Marta, Breanna, and Leah over, and Maider’s two dance teachers that have known her family for 13 years. They were so fun and taught us Spanish swear words. They didn’t speak much English and it forced me to speak in Spanish for hours and I really enjoyed it. We stayed at the table until 1 in the morning and they talked about how Spanish politics suck right now and that was something I didn’t know. They also talked about all the places they have traveled to and the differences they notice between Spain and America.” – Taylor

“Segovia was so beautiful! We climbed 152 stairs in the Alcázar de Segovia (a castle) but the view at the top was soo worth it!! We had some free time and I did a lot of shopping because there were so many small shops in the town. I also went to a little cafe with some friends and we all ordered different snacks to try such as croissants and muffins. Ramón hosted a chocolate picnic for us and sang us songs in different languages which was really fun too! I am having sooo much fun here!!” – Ella

“Today we went to Segovia where we spent another great day with Ramon. He brought us to the palace that Cinderella was based off of and we climbed to the top. It took many stairs to get there, but it was all worth it when we reached the top and saw the beautiful view. Afterwards, my friends and I explored the city, eating good food and shopping in cute stores. Then we found Ramon again and traveled down many flights of stairs to have a cute “chocolate picnic,” where we sang and ate delicious chocolate from him on the lawn near the castle. It was another amazing day!” – Jackie

“Today we went to Segovia. Our first stop was the aqueducts. After, we walked by two churches to see both Gothic and Roman structures. Then we climbed up lotsssss of stairs to the top of a beautiful castle. This was my favorite trip so far and it was very beautiful. We had very good churros and sandwiches too.” – Casey

“Ok so Segovia is an amazing city, but the things I’m going to remember from today are what people did that made it amazing. First we dreadfully climbed the Alcázar, unaware this would be the easiest part of the day. When we got to the top it felt like you could see forever. I talked with Ramón after taking his picture and he continued to call me the future present of the United States. The 152 steps didn’t seem to phase him at all and his energy was contagious. He gave me the strength I needed for the next few hours. After we experienced Segovian food, which included a lot of pig, we returned to the Alcázar to find out what was next… it will forever be one of my favorite memories. We walked down the side of the city on steps that overlooked the rural areas in the distance. As we walked all of us took our time, but not Ramón. We were halfway down by the time he was crossing the street at the bottom of the stairs. This man never ceases to amaze me. As if this wasn’t enough, after a quick scenic walk by a river we reached a grass field. Ramón told us we were going to have a picnic and he would sing for us. And sing he did! He ended up using 3 languages to serenade us. All of his songs were inclusive and got everyone singing and clapping. After packing up we headed back toward the city. After deciding we didn’t want to go up the stairs again we looked for an alternate route… we couldn’t find one, so we had to walk all the way back to the stairs and someone manage to climb them. With a group effort of shared waters and friendly pushes upward we all made it to the top. When we got there I was in the back of the group because I had waited for Ramón who made sure he knew we had all made it. He congratulated me for “not failing” and thanked me for helping others make it to the top. I’m pretty sure my life will be all downhill after this point.” – Ryan

“Today we went to Segovia and went to a castle. The town was very pretty and I got to take a picture with the Ms.Deb Deacon. Also naps are very important on the bus .” – Meaghan

“Today we went to Segovia, and it is definitely my favorite place so far in Spain. I enjoyed learning about the aqueducts and the different types of churches. The Alcázar de Segovia was amazing to see, and I loved taking pictures at the top.” – Savanna

“Today we visited Segovia and it was beautiful! We began the day by seeing the Aqueduct. It is amazing how it still stands today and is so greatly preserved. I also really enjoyed visiting the Alcázar of Segovia. Though the stairs were tiring, the view was definitely worth the climb! It was amazing to look out and see the city of Segovia below us, with the mountains in the distance. I also loved walking around the city during free time, all the architecture was so beautiful and timeless.” – Kelly
“These last two days have literally been the best two days of my entire life—no joke. Yesterday we went to school and Patricia’s friend Jorge took me to his music class where I learned to play the xylophone. It was really inspiring to see other young students excited about music and it really made me think about how lucky I am to have the music program I am a part of. Then after school I went to Madrid and El Plaza del Sol to do some more shopping. Neha’s exchange partner, Edu,  took us to the top of El Corte Ingles where we saw the sun set over Madrid (and bought some gluten-free Alfajores and Macaroons). I didn’t think today could top yesterday but it absolutely did. Ramón is my new favorite human being and he lead us through Segovia, pointing out all the architecture and educating us about the history of the buildings. El Alcázar de Segovia was incredible and the view from the top has been my favorite sight so far. And then, because apparently climbing 304+ stairs wasn’t enough, Ramón lead us down these stairs on the side of a mountain and we walked along a beautiful pathway. After getting a little lost we ended up back at the stairs we came down on and—painfully—we travelled back up them. I’m having so much fun here with all my friends and I never want this trip to end.” – Alison

“Minus almost falling off the edge of the cliff next to the Alcázar, I had an incredible experience in Segovia. Viewing practically everything from the top of the tower, I have never been so impressed. One of my favorite parts of the day was walking down the stairs and having a chocolate picnic with Ramón. Is there really any song he can’t sing? Thank you Segovia and thank you Ramón! Off to Granada!” – Sarah

“Segovia was by far the most incredible experience I’ve had up to this point in the trip. Everything there is incredibly beautiful. However, the most beautiful thing that happened today was hearing Ramón sing. I’m pretty sure today was one of the most happiest days of my life. In fact, everything about today was perfect.” – Neha

“Today we went to Segovia and it was so beautiful. We went to the Alcázar de Segovia, and walked to the very top and we could see all of Segovia, it was so pretty. After the Alcázar, we had free time, so I went shopping and I ate a chocolate croissant in one of the cafes, which was so good! We then walked down a ton of stairs that looked over Segovia and went by a river where Ramón gave us chocolate and we all sang. So far, Segovia has been my favorite place we have visited in Spain!” – Sophie

“Today we went to Segovia and climbed to the top of a castle. It truly challenged my claustrophobia but was rewarding at the top. I got a pig-shaped soap at a tienda too!” – Miguel

 

 

 

Madrid 2/12/19

“Today we spent the day in Madrid. We began the day seeing El Prado where we got to see some of the paintings we learned about in Spanish 4, which was actually cooler than I had anticipated. After El Prado, we had some time to walk around Madrid with our friends eating all the food we wanted! My group ate churros and paella, which was delicious. After making some tiktoks for descub (which were pretty great if you ask me), we went to row boats. As soon as we were back in Villalba, Luna took me to a restaurant for dinner with some other exchange friends and some new Spaniards I hadn’t met before. Sarah and I practiced our Spanish all throughout  and had such a great night learning, laughing, and making new friends. We even gave our new Spanish friends a one dollar bill as a small regalo!” – Grace V.

“Walking  all over Madrid with Ramon was quite an experience, but my favorite part of the day was trying out different foods at puerta de sol such as paella con mariscos. Even though it was a little challenging trying to order food without our spaniards it was still funny watching Leah point at what she wanted on the menu and say “por favor”. I also loved walking around and seeing all the beautiful architecture of many different buildings and having Ramon explain the history behind them.” – Ariella

“Today in Madrid, we saw El Prado and el Sol. It was a lot of fun to walk around and see everything here with all the old architecture. I also had some really good food, waffles and a mocha latte. They have the best coffee here!”- Marisa

“Yesterday we went to El Museo del Prado and Ramón showed us around and we saw a lot of famous paintings by Goya, Velázquez and many others. Then, we had free time in Puerta de Sol, where I ate churros and went shopping. After that, we went to Parque del Retiro, we rowed boats on the water and it was so beautiful and fun!” – Sophie

“Today we visited el Prado, which is home to many of the famous paintings we learned about in Spanish class earlier this year. It was so cool to be able to see them in person and learn even more about each painting from an icon (Ramon). Madrid was so beautiful and the architecture was amazing. After the museum, we had some free time to eat and explore Madrid a bit more. My friends and I decided to immerse ourselves into the Spanish culture by trying some Paella and después, churros. We ended our day at el Parque del Retiro, where I learned that I am absolutely horrible at rowing a boat.” – Nicole

“Being able to walk to and from places is one of my favorite things about Spain. Everything here is so beautiful and calming and it’s definitely a nice change of pace.” – Neha

“I had such a great time at El Prado, as well as Sol. Ramón is the best tour guide ever, and I will never ever forget this experience. Not only has Spain given me so many new friends, a second family, and amazing food, but it has taught me how to smile. If that is not saying something, then I do not know what is. Te Amo, España.” – Sarah

“Today was pretty cool. We went to El Prado with Ramón who is literally the most spritely human I’ve ever met and he gave us a lot of art history which was really cool. I got to see my favorite Goya painting, Saturno Devorando a Su Hijo and it made my day. Then we walked around Plaza del Sol and I had gluten free churros and they were sooooo good. Lastly, we went to el Parque de Retiro and took a boat ride around the lake there and watched the sun go down. It was a very long but very fun day. Off to school bright and early tomorrow to go to music and biology classes with my new friend Jorge. ¡Hasta luego!” – Alison

“Our first field trip was amazing! While in Madrid, I really enjoyed “El Prado” and Puerta del Sol. I loved being able to see some of the beautiful paintings we studied in class in person, only a few feet away. After the museum, we visited other famous spots in Madrid, but I think Puerta del Sol was most memorable for me. I ate some of the best churros I have ever had, and really enjoyed visiting all of the small, unique shops and larger more popular ones around the square.” – Kelly

“Today we went to Madrid! My favorite part was when we had free time to walk around Puerta Del Sol. We ate paella and churros and were able to go shopping. I also had a lot of fun on the boats.” – Savanna

“Before I start talking about today, let me just say Profe is so right: brownies at Burger King are another level of delicious. Definitely superior to all brownies. Last night I tried one with my friends and realized my life had been forever changed by the brownie (yes, it was that good). For today, it was one of the greatest days in a while. Madrid was so amazing and I cannot believe I am so lucky to be able to visit. We did so many fun things such as look at art (some that I could recognize from class!), ate paellas and churros and so much other great food, had fun on the boats, and explored the city. I felt so happy and excited all day and was so eager to explore as much of Madrid as I could with the time we had. Everything we did was fun, but one thing made it all even better: Ramón. I never doubted Profe (I promise), but he is truly so amazing and exceeded all my high expectations. He is so intelligent and is so invested in sharing his knowledge with us all. It was so incredible to meet such an amazing person in the best city I’ve ever explored!”- Jackie

“Yesterday at La Puerta del Sol in Madrid we saw the National Library of Spain and met Ramón! From the library we made our way around the city looking at different landmarks, and Ramón teaching us everything! We made our way to Puerta del Sol, I got churros, some souvenirs, and took some beautiful pictures of the area. Later, we went to El Retiro Park to ride the boats and take more pictures. I can’t wait to go to Segovia and learn so much more!” – Grace C.

“Yesterday, the exchange took on Madrid. We visited El Prado, El Parque de Retiro, and learned the significance of many historical buildings and statues in the city from none other than our world-class tour guide, Ramón. The highlight of my day was being serenaded by him on the boats, and most definitely the mini churros drenched in nutella. The trip to Madrid has so far been my favorite of all the days, and we still have so much to come!

Hi mom!! ♥” – Dyanna

“Madrid is beautiful! When we went there yesterday, we saw the national library, Columbus square, El Prado (a museum), El Parque de Retiro, and some other places we walked by. And we met Ramón! He is so knowledgeable and he remembered my brother… then sent a message to my brother. It was so nice. In the Parque de Retiro we rented boats and paddled for a bit. Madrid was really nice and since I can’t write, here are some pictures!” – Melinda

Back at it again! Spanish Exchange 2019

We are back at it again.  Our friends came to visit us in November and now we are with them.  We arrived on Saturday and had out first day of school today.  Here is what our students have to say:

“This first weekend of Spain went by very fast! I was welcomed by Martas dad, mom, and brother. On the first night we went out to breakfast with most of the group and got to try new foods. So far the different foods have been very good. Marta’s mother has also made some Spanish meals at home that i liked very much. Sunday we went shopping and got to see all the different stores and how much cheaper it is here. I am excited for the following weeks.” – Breanna

“So after taking a look back at my photos I took over the weekend, I realized I’m REALLY bad at taking pictures during trips. After looking at what I have to work with, I guess I’ll just do my best. After arriving on Saturday around noon, Georgina’s whole extended family came over. And even though I was basically asleep, it was really nice to meet them all. Then Saturday night Georgina showed me some of the town and we met up with some friends of hers (including Allison and her Spaniard Patricia). As for Sunday, there isn’t really a lot to be said. I slept until 1:30 and then we went to the basketball game shortly after. The rest of the day I just rested.” – Melinda

“Top five favorite things so far:
-The apartments/houses

 

-The food (I’ve had churros, Turkish food, jamón de españa, sobados, tosta rica, galletas de chocolate)

-The weather

-Speaking with people in Spanish

-How cheap everything was at the mall

I like it here because the people are easy-going and adventurous. A guy who was talking with me at school today said he likes Villalba because it is like one big fiesta, everyone is one big family and people look out for one another; he said that the adults would protect any kid even if it was not their own.” – Taylor

 

“This trip so far has consisted of doing many fun things while running on only a couple hours of sleep. Little did I know that leaving Boston was the start of an 18 hour journey with no sleep, but I’m not even that mad because Spain has already been so amazing that it has all been so worth it. During my first day in Spain, I went to Helena’s house and had some of the most delicious rice and chicken I have ever had. From there on out, everything that I have eaten has been nothing short of delicious. The food here is all already some of the best food I have had (sorry America). I also got to take a walk with Helena and her friends into town where we went to a sandwich restaurant and had fun talking and relaxing. The next day, after a wonder 12 hour sleep, we went to the monastery which was beautiful. It was unlike anything I have seen before. Later in the day we went to Madrid for a basketball game, where I met more Spaniards and made more friends. I am more than excited for what is to come next, for the beginning of my trip had already been so busy with fun things and I know each day is going to have so many more amazing things in store for us!” – Jackie

“This weekend I learned the pizza delivery guys in Spain are no joke. I watched one guy deliver 10 pizzas in an hour and a half. They ride scooters with the pizza attached to the back. On top of driving a scooter in a busy section of town it was very cold the night I saw them. Mucho respeto para ellos.” – Ryan

“On my first day, after traveling, Laura and Ángela took me and Nicole walking around Villalba. Then, we met a bunch of people at VIPS (Nicole and I shared chicken fingers, “tex-mex” nachos, and fries—the tex-mex wasn’t actually anything like actual tex-mex, but still really good). I was totally exhausted the whole time but it was still a good experience. The next day I got to sleep until 11am (bless) and Lau’s parents took us to Madrid! Lau’s mom came with us to the wax museum (which was WILD! I loved it) and then we got lunch. I had judías verdes con jamón and solomillo a la pimienta. It was awesome! Then we went to El Corte Inglés (the Macy’s of Spain) and I bought two pairs of earrings for 6€ (my first purchase in Spain!). And then, of course, we met everyone at the basketball game.” – Julianna

 

“After we arrived in Spain on Saturday, Sharol, her friends and I walked around Collado Villalba. This was my first view of the town. I loved seeing the mountains and hearing her talk about her town.” – Savanna 

“My first few days in Spain have been “increíble”. The first thing I did when I arrived was go to Patricia’s house and her mom had these gluten free pastries called palmeras and I don’t think I’ve ever eating anything so good in my entire life. The food here is amazing. Then, on Sunday, I took a trip with Patricia and her mom to San Lorenzo de El Escorial which is an old castle/monastery/church/school. El Escorial is not only home to hundreds of pieces of art but is covered in ceiling murals that are absolutely stunning. One interesting fact I learned while listening to my English audio tablet is that all of the old Spanish monarchs are buried here. This means every king, queen, prince, and young child that died is buried here and there are still spaces left for the king and queen that reign today. All of the marble rooms were Erie and beautiful. Lastly, the King’s gardens provided a spectacular view of the valley below and all of the other towns surrounding us. I would highly recommend you visit El Escorial if you ever visit Spain. I can’t wait for the other adventures to come!” – Alison

“ I had a great time with my second family in Spain this weekend! We went to El Escorial, had an audio tour, and enjoyed some of the best food I’ve ever had. I could stay at the beautiful gardens of El Escorial for the rest of my life, and the croquettes at El Telo were so delicious. I have already made so many new friends and I never want to leave.” – Sarah

“As soon as we got off the plane, my heart was warm. It feels so good to be back with our friends from the exchange. It also feels good to have 6 more cat friends in my life. I’ve never been happier.” – Neha

“This weekend my spaniard brought me to a Queen tribute concert in la Puerta del Sol. After we met with her friends and got lunch and dessert.” – Nicole

“On Saturday afternoon when we first got here, I ate paella, which is rice with lots of seafood and it was delicious! Then, on Sunday I went shopping in Madrid all day which was so much fun and then I went to a basketball game at night, Real Madrid won! I am having an awesome time!” – Sophie

“Over the weekend Pablo brought me to his mom’s old university she attended. The university is in the mountains so there is very nice scenery. Also, the buildings have very detailed architecture which makes them look beautiful. At night, the pateo is lit up where many people go to dine on classic Spanish dishes.” – Danny

“This weekend I went out to lunch when I got here with Julia and her family then met up with her friends for dinner. The next day we went shopping with Breanna, Leah, Taylor, and Julia. Then me Breanna Taylor and Julia went out to lunch with her friend Carlos. I ALSO HAD CHURROS FOR BREAKFAST!!! And the view from my room is so beautiful!!!” – Marisa

“After getting off the plane this weekend my new family took me to El Escorial where I ate judias con chorizo and pincho de pollo for lunch. I then visited the monastery where we saw the tombs of past kings along with their library and gardens. When we came home, I unpacked some of my things and later went to a plaza that had a lot of restaurants, and we went to dinner with a majority of the exchange students. Sunday morning I got up at 7:00 to drive to Toledo to watch his sisters dance competition, I saw a lot of dances similar to ones in America, but I also saw Flamenco and Jota Aragonesa which were very different and not as fun to watch. Although, seeing how serious the little kids were performing these dances was funny. For lunch I had the best homemade chicken with rice that looked like Chinese white rice but had a lot more flavor to it. Lastly, we went to the basketball game at night after taking a nap, and even though I’m not a big basketball fan it was still an interesting experience comparing their games to ours back home.” – Ariella

“My first weekend in Spain with my family was so fun. First, I went to lunch with Laura’s grandparents and mom and that is when I started trying new foods. Then, I went to Laura’s flamenco class with her which was very interesting because we don’t have that back home that I have seen. After, I went out with Breanna and Marta for the rest of the day. On Sunday, I went shopping at the mall in Madrid and I was very surprised at how much cheaper clothes are here in Spain compared to the clothes back home. Finally, for dinner I tried tortilla española with potatoes and onions. I am very excited for the rest of the time here in Spain.” – Leah

“   While our Spaniards were doing their homework and studying, Grace, Taylor, Sarah, and I went to Sofia’s house. We watched a movie, ate popcorn, drank some tea, and did some homework. It was super chill and fun!” – Audrey