¡Adios Pingry – Buenos Dias España!
May 28, 2004

During spring break, 18 students in grades seven through 12 flew to Spain for 10 glorious days of non-stop touring. Under the expert guidance of Sra. Susan Ortner and Sra. Diana Abreu, the students began in Madrid and had adventures in Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada, and Costa del Sol. They enjoyed sights such as the “juderia” or old Jewish settlements, the “mezquita” – the mosque, and the churches converted from beautiful old stone architecture. In each of the towns, students were able to trace the history of the many cultures that continue to happily and peacefully coexist. They enjoyed seeing the gypsy caves – an entire community carved from a mountainside and lavishly decorated. Here they experienced the beautiful and intricate flamenco. A trip to Costa del Sol – or Sun Coast – gave the students a bird’s eye view of the Mediterranean Sea. They also took advantage of the more modern activities, such as bowling, to augment their experience. Sra. Ortner and Sra. Abreu introduced their charges to friends and family living in Spain. As a result, they were able to see how the Spanish live and work – instead of just visiting tourist spots. The students spent time with a retired admiral from the Spanish Navy and celebrated Sra. Ortner’s birthday Spanish style. The students spoke Spanish as often as possible. Their guide, a young man from the UK, spoke almost entirely in Spanish, and the students interacted with the local people in the language. According to their chaperones, the students tried new foods like oxtails and tapas. Very important lessons learned were about the variety of cultures within the Spanish speaking world and the fact that these different cultures have lived together peacefully for generations. The students also got to see first hand those areas that they have been studying and enjoy the company of people not unlike themselves. © 2004 The Pingry School