Students Return from Inaugural Spanish Exchange Trip
Posted July 19, 2010
Episcopal’s very first Spanish Exchange Program, comprised of Spanish III and IV students, returned from a two week visit to Zaragoza, Spain, on June 19. The students, chaperoned by Episcopal teachers Philippa Marks, Alex Nichols and Chantal Dulieu, stayed with host families and attended the Colegio Inglés with their host brother or sister. Students also went on cultural excursions within the city or to nearby cities and participated in other enrichment activities.
“An exchange program is a constant exercise in adapting to, and developing an appreciation for, a culture that is different to our own,” said Dulieu, the exchange director for the trip. “The students did an exceptional job of adapting to the Spanish culture and fully embraced the exchange experience. They were outstanding ambassadors for Episcopal, and we could not have been more proud of, or pleased with, this first group of Spanish students to represent their school on an exchange program!”
Exciting excursions included a visit to the Roman ruins in Zaragoza – which is built over an entire ancient Roman city. Students saw an amphitheater, a bathhouse and pool, a port and a city center, which have been excavated and preserved in the last 50 years. Another excursion took them to La Aljaferia, an Arabic palace built by the Moors. A third side trip was to El Monasterio de Piedra, a monastery in a small town in the mountains about two hours away from Zaragoza. Finally, students enjoyed a traditional three course meal at a Spanish restaurant. On the menu: octopus, gazpacho and ox beef! Students used their language skills to order each course and spent two and a half hours enjoying a leisurely meal, a very different cultural experience from eating out in the United States.
“Truly acquiring a language includes understanding and appreciating the culture of that language - our students lived the day-to-day life of their exchange partners and were exposed to every aspect of what being a teenager in Spain really means,” said Dulieu. “There is no language learning experience that can be more authentic or real life than this!”
The students who participated in the program include seniors Amelia Gallagher, Elena Goebertus, Katie Ladd, Mia Kelly, Max Mayes, Ary Nabizadeh, Camille Pilcher, Robert Shepherd, Satchel Siegel, Rachel Uitti; and juniors Conor Clark, Charley Fullerton, Mary Grace Henley and Drew Miller.
"These days, it’s very easy to get wrapped up in the ease of traveling. We kind of forget what a big deal it is to go over seas and be immersed in other cultures, especially at such a young age,” said Goebertus. “But when I went to Spain this summer I was constantly reminded of how blessed I was to be on this trip; whether it was by the beauty surrounding me or the amazing teachers that supported me!"
In April, Episcopal will welcome students from the Colegio Inglés who will attend classes with their hosts and also take part in excursions to St. Augustine, Ichetucknee Springs, and the Museum of Science and History. Hosting will bring the exchange experience full circle, allowing Episcopal students to reciprocate the fantastic experience they had when visiting Zaragoza and show their former hosts the way of life in Jacksonville.
