Spain 2020

February 8th, 2020

Eight students and two teachers traveled to León, Spain and spent two weeks living with local families and immersed themselves in the Spanish culture and language. This page is a photo blog and journal of their trip.

February 8th, 2020

February 9th, 2020

After a winding trip through Frankfurt and Harrisonburg, our Spanish student ambassadors arrived safely in Madrid. After a brief rest at their (pleasant, clean and modest) hotel in the center of the city, they headed out for a cooking class. Enjoying a taste of both local culture and American pop culture sprawl; they were saddened to see a Carl’s Jr. and to turn on the hotel tv to discover “Temptation Island.” But that’s dressing—so many things were different! And the dinner they were making for themselves was Paella and Tortilla de Patata (tortilla española). Delicious!

Josh was very proud of the students; they had been speaking Spanish almost exclusively since they left campus.

February 10th, 2020

A note from Josh :

“I continue to be very proud of our group. If my barbaric Spanish can be trusted, the tour guide at the Prado today shares that pride; we are apparently only the second American high school group she’s had who she spoke to entirely in Spanish. It helped that we were discussing art. Yutika flipped for Tintoretto, Jacob was able to share knowledge about Velazquez from Brian’s class, and Ella saw a Goya that stopped her cold. We all wish we had more time there, but our time in Madrid is limited. Happily the weather is kind, and we have spent much of today on foot, trotting from palace to square to ham museum with our city guide, Lola.”

February 10th, 2020

A note from Josh :

February 11th, 2020

Josh describes their journey to Léon:

“If you’ve ever been to Los Angeles and thought, “Oh. It’s not the movie studios; it really looks like this,” you have a hint of what it’s like to take a train across northern Spain after a day at the Prado. Occasional hazy mountains in the distance, and lots of green and golden land with few towns and fewer cities. To us Virginians, what was most remarkable was how few trees there were, just the odd Cyprus along a dirt road. Then, after three hours, a soccer stadium, some apartment blocks and Léon. We dropped off our bags, met our hosts and walked around the center of town. The Spanish siblings were very nice, a relief, but we naively found two things surprising:

We are tall here. (Well, maybe not all of us, but a lot of us.)

We are glamorous.

I guess Hollywood is responsible for this. All afternoon, kids were poking their heads out of rooms to say hello and gawk in a friendly way. They do send kids to America, but don’t get too many back, so we are novel at least.

Léon is a city where it seems like most people are either natives of many generations or from a village nearby. It is about the same size as Roanoke, and though it is ancient and has a university and a famous cathedral, it already seems modest and familiar. The teachers were eager to discuss the Appalachian Trail and its similarities to the Camino, and so on. They are glad we are here. It’s mutual.”

February 12th, 2020

Reflections from Josh:

“First of all, I need to say that one of the host sisters bears a striking resemblance to Jo from Facts of Life.

Other surprises from our first night with families:

They eat really late at night.

Many of our families wouldn’t let us help with dishes, or even make our own beds.

The light switches for the bathroom are for some reason in the hallway.

Of course, though our Spanish hosts know far more about us than we do about them–two people asked Josh about Andrew Yang’s exit–there are some interesting ideas. A cafe named after the Mississippi with art depicting grand mountains on its shores, for example. And lots of questions about guns.

Indeed, we were supposed to be observing classes today, but the students mostly wanted to ask us questions, and the teachers let them. Good practice for us!

Afterwards, we visited a Léonese cultural institute and enjoyed a lecture and some art. I understood parts, but confess that my Spanish mostly wasn’t up to the level of analysis offered. Not that I didn’t learn anything–if nothing else, I was reminded that Europeans, even in fairly small cities, invest in cultural heritage and artistic production to a humbling degree.

And after that, we were left (in groups) to navigate through the city center and back to Divina Pastora. (Google Maps!) Retail may be moribund in the United States, but in a pedestrian-centered European city, it seems at least more healthy. Everywhere there are pedestrians–in the middle of the work day, at night, in the morning–and hair-do shops and cafes and appliance stores as well as the fancier places for tourists visiting the Camino Real or churches.

And speaking of the churches: they date from the late Roman period through the medieval period and into the 19th Century. We’ve yet to tour them, but even from the outside, at night, they are quite something.”

February 12th, 2020

Reflections from Josh:

“First of all, I need to say that one of the host sisters bears a striking resemblance to Jo from Facts of Life.

Other surprises from our first night with families:

They eat really late at night.

Many of our families wouldn’t let us help with dishes, or even make our own beds.

The light switches for the bathroom are for some reason in the hallway.

Indeed, we were supposed to be observing classes today, but the students mostly wanted to ask us questions, and the teachers let them. Good practice for us!

February 13th, 2020

Today’s update from Josh:

“A short post today, because we have a giant trip to Burgos tomorrow. Today we visited more classes, including a Geography class where the poor kids were trying to wrap their heads around the size of the U.S.

This afternoon we visited the Basilica of San Isidro. We couldn’t take photos inside, but there are several videos online if you’d like to see. It was built more than 1,000 years ago, on the site of an old Roman temple, and it was like NOTHING I’ve seen before.”

February 13th, 2020

Today’s update from Josh:

February 14th, 2020

Josh tells us about the explorations:

“We took a bus to Palencia to start. I confess I wasn’t prepared for the wonders there. What we found was a giant museum structure covering a total excavation of an ancient Roman estate, complete with baths, bedrooms and a grand dining hall. The age of the place, and the scale, were remarkable enough, but the complexity of the tile work, and its level of preservation, were beyond exciting.

Then on to Burgos! It’s a city a few hours from León, of a similar age and population. We broke into a few groups and explored the center.

My group visited the grand gothic cathedral. I don’t have many words for the experience. I don’t share the faith of the builders, but it didn’t matter; the scale, the tenacious care, the total life commitment of thousands of artisans over hundreds of years is impossible to ignore.

And then, the museum of Human Evolution, arguably Europe’s best.

Burgos is near to the famous Atapuerca site, the location of an enormous dig site that’s home to the earliest genus Homo remains in the continent. Bert and I split off to nerd out on the hominid replicas while the others got the beginner’s tour. We had 90 minutes there, but the time went fast!

And now the weekend. Some of us are going to the mountains with our families, some to the sea, some to family villages to visit grandparents or cousins.

I plan to sleep.”

February 14th, 2020

Josh tells us about the explorations:

Then on to Burgos! It’s a city a few hours from León, of a similar age and population. We broke into a few groups and explored the center.

And then, the museum of Human Evolution, arguably Europe’s best.

And now the weekend. Some of us are going to the mountains with our families, some to the sea, some to family villages to visit grandparents or cousins.

I plan to sleep.”

February 15th- 16th, 2020

From Josh: The Weekend!

“The weekend is here, and time to visit with families. Some of us are relaxing in apartments, some hiking in the mountains, some visiting family villages.

Maria went shopping with Josh and Dani.

Paella is better in León.

On Sundays, all the stores are closed.

Most of Castile and León, and a great deal of the rest of Spain, lies on a flat, high table of land. But between the city of León and the ocean to the north lies a sudden, thin chain of limestone mountains. Rafa took Maria, Dani and me to drive around for the day, to see where he used to drink coca-cola and fish, to see where Brian’s host father broke a bunch of bones falling while mountain climbing, and to see where the Romans cut through looking for gold.

There are caves here, like in the Shenandoah Valley, and there’s coal here too. A lot of the pueblos have emptied out, but some of them are near mines, and are relatively prosperous.

Others have been turned into summer vacation rentals.

We hiked a little and ate at a roadside place.

It was kind of like driving around in West Virginia except for the thousand-year-old monastery.”

February 17th, 2020

Josh talks about the group reunion on Monday:

We started the day discussing our weekends.

Brian went roller blading, and Jacob ate tongue and brains, though he wasn’t sure from what animal. Archer drove all the way to the ocean, and Bert learned the name of all his fingers.

Most of us went to the mountains; it’s clear they play an enormous role in the culture here, even more than at home, if that’s possible. Of course, there are wolves and javelinas and Roman ghosts here. Also, wild oregano.

Today was warmer and more low-key. We visited classes as usual this morning.

Nothing new to report, except that Ella’s yellow crocs appear to have some kind of magic power over the hearts of the boys in English class.

Afterwards, we visited the León city archive and Roman artifact interpretation center.

We walked on an ancient fortress wall and examined a book of city records from the 1300’s.

Then, uncharacteristically, we had an hour to shop and mosey around the old town. Brian and I bought hats.”

February 17th, 2020

Josh talks about the group reunion on Monday:

We started the day discussing our weekends.

Brian went roller blading, and Jacob ate tongue and brains, though he wasn’t sure from what animal. Archer drove all the way to the ocean, and Bert learned the name of all his fingers.

Today was warmer and more low-key. We visited classes as usual this morning.

Nothing new to report, except that Ella’s yellow crocs appear to have some kind of magic power over the hearts of the boys in English class.

Afterwards, we visited the León city archive and Roman artifact interpretation center.

We walked on an ancient fortress wall and examined a book of city records from the 1300’s.

Then, uncharacteristically, we had an hour to shop and mosey around the old town. Brian and I bought hats.”

February 18th, 2020

From Josh:

“Today, no museums!

Instead, we visited classes all morning until the “recreo” when everyone heads outside to snack and take some sun.

After that, we visited 8th graders, where we presented a “kahoot” trivia game about CHS, Floyd, and the culture of Roanoke. (It turns out that the only place in Spain where Dr. Pepper is widely available are the Canary Islands, so we had some explaining to do.)

The school day ended with a performance by a troupe of actors who present English language plays to schools. It was quite a show!

It took some of us awhile to figure out that it was an adaptation of Macbeth, so the murders were surprising.”

From Satya:

Here is a picture of the family I have been staying with this past week in León. They live in a 3 bedroom flat around 15 minutes walking distance from Divina Pastora [our host school]. I am currently staying in Patricia’s room which is red and in the night has the perfect lighting for selfies!

Maria, my host mother, works in a clinic in the middle of León. I have two host sisters who are twins. Patricia, pictured next to me, is studying humanities and literature in colegio. Natalia, next to Maria, is focusing on the science and math side of things at school. They are both 16 and have a fantastic sense of style. I’m so glad to be paired with them during this trip!

From Satya:

February 19th, 2020

From Ethan:

Today, the spanish exchange students visited León’s local Santa María de León Cathedral, or the Pulchre Leonina. Constructed over 200 years beginning in 1205, it is a prime example of the classic Gothic style of architecture. Close to the hearts of León’s residents, its beauty and intricacy have kept the “Treasure of León” at the front of the city’s cultural identity since it was constructed, on the site of two previous cathedrals and a roman bath. It is also well known for the many large stained glass windows, the majority completely original, that still remain, earning it the nickname of “The House of Light”.

February 19th, 2020

From Ethan:

From Archer:

Hello Everyone! This is Archer writing. I’m having a great time in Spain! I’m writing this as we sit on the couch watching “El debate de la isla de tentaciones” The Debate of the Island of Temptations. It’s quite an… interesting show where several attractive partners go to an island, and more attractive people come to do their best to break up their love. So much drama.

Anyway, my family’s great! My dad’s name is Jose. He’s a social worker, and he’s pretty fun! He makes lots of dad jokes and plays the guitar in a band called Armonía.

My mom’s name is Teresa. She’s a doctor at a local hospital, a great cook, and she’s a very doting mom!

There are three siblings: Pablo (who doesn’t live at home and only visits sometimes), Alba (who is studying medicine and loves music), and Aitana. Aitana is my exchange partner who I spend the most time with. We play lots of card games, go out to town with all of the other Americans, and spend lots of time watching her favorite shows: La Isla de Tentaciones, First Dates, and How I Met Your Mother.

They are a fun, light-hearted family, and I’m getting better at understanding them every day!

I can’t believe we’ve already been here for more than a week! I’m feeling comfortable with my family and Spanish friends, and I know I will miss them a lot when we leave in… 4 days already! But I miss everyone at home and I’m excited to get back.

My house is just a few minutes away from the school. I have my own room in their fancy four-floored house. It has its own elevator! It’s crazy. We’ve visited their other vacation home in the Northern beach town of Gijón, and most recently we went to Riaño – a town on a lake about an hour away. It’s surrounded by a huge lake and beautiful mountains which are nothing like the flatter hills of Southwest Virginia.

So, I’m having a great time, and learning lots of Spanish. I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my ability to understand my family, and I’m really excited by my newfound ability to conjugate correctly while I talk!

From Archer:

Anyway, my family’s great! My dad’s name is Jose. He’s a social worker, and he’s pretty fun! He makes lots of dad jokes and plays the guitar in a band called Armonía.

My mom’s name is Teresa. She’s a doctor at a local hospital, a great cook, and she’s a very doting mom!

They are a fun, light-hearted family, and I’m getting better at understanding them every day!

February 20th, 2020

From Brian:

Money Heist

Vis a Vis

Elite
Peaky Blinders
Can I play Clash Royale on your phone?
Today we went took a bus to three nearby pueblos (small towns). We started our morning off by touring a cathedral in a pueblo known for their chocolate, and after this we roamed a ghost town enjoying the untraditional architecture. The vibrant green doors contrasted the naturalistic colors of the houses while reminding Maria of her house back in Virginia Beach. After all of this walking we were ready for some food, so we all had five plates of five-star cuisine. We only had to hike a small mountain for it too. And after that, we took our siesta on the bus back to our host families in Lèon.

February 20th, 2020

From Brian:

Money Heist

Vis a Vis

Jacob shares some pictures from his time this week with his host family. Among his top memorable experiences are seeing a monkey and also peacocks on the road, enjoying fancy ice cream, and seeing “Roman stuff”.

Castrillo de los Polvazares is a village in Leon, and is one of the few places of this ancient historical region which still keeps its traditions.

February 21st, 2020

From Yutika:

Here are a couple of pictures with my host family. The top is with my host sisters. The one farthest on the left is Laura who is 14, and Lucía is next to her and is 16. I share a room with Lucía which is painted orange because it is her favorite color. She is really into music and plays the violin, piano, and guitar. Laura loves the color blue and we love making fun of the musical Cats and Riverdale together. Both are amazing and I got super lucky to have two sisters. My host mom is named Elena who is absolutely amazing. She is so caring and patient with me and always talks with me. My host dad, Chema, is extremely funny and is always joking around with me. My whole family is wonderful and extremely caring. They have made sure that I have had enough to eat and we’re constantly looking for new ways to make vegetarian food for the first time. I have now successfully introduced grilled cheese and marinara sauce to them. I love eating lunch with the whole family around 3:00. Normally dinner tends to be late so we don’t go to bed until 11 or 12 o’clock but it’s worth it because I get to play cards with my family and play Mario Cart for long periods of time…

February 22nd, 2020

Today we say our goodbyes to our host families! It’s exciting that we’ll be seeing our old families again soon. At the same moment, however, it is sad that we’re leaving our new families behind. I’m sure this is only the very beginning of our relationships, but with the connections we’ve made, it’s a little hard to say goodbye.

They’ll have to come and visit!

February 22nd, 2020

They’ll have to come and visit!

On the way to Porto, the homeward bound group explored a castle.

They also explored exhausted Roman gold mines before finally arriving in Porto.

They also explored exhausted Roman gold mines before finally arriving in Porto.

Some final thoughts from Ella as the group started their trek home:

After having to leave our host families and riding away on the bus, we drove to a smaller city and toured: One more old building! Albeit it was actually a defensive castle, and a neat one at that. The sun was golden-tinted and out on the walkways we could overlook the buildings. There were some neat old books in a museum-thingy there.
Next we stopped at a countryside-type location and walked to an old mine, with red hills of dirt, clay, and rock. I thought the colors looked nice against the sky.
We had 6 hours to kill in the next city, and Josh, Satya, Yutika, Ethan and I all went out and explored for about an hour and a half. We got ice cream twice and both times it was a good choice. I bought some cool hats, and then we’ll went back to the hotel to sleep or talk for the 3 or so more hours we had remaining.
Now I sit in a closed cafe at the airport, there are no lights or sounds here and I like that. Soon we’ll be on the airplane to Alemania (or as the Americans say, Germany).

Some final thoughts from Ella as the group started their trek home:

This trip was an amazing adventure that has made a lifelong impact on us all. The experiences and memories will always be cherished.

We are very glad that we could provide this opportunity for our students, and we look forward to our next adventure to France in March 2023.

This trip was an amazing adventure that has made a lifelong impact on us all. The experiences and memories will always be cherished.

We are very glad that we could provide this opportunity for our students, and we look forward to future adventures.