SJP Students Travel to Spain

This summer, more than 20 students and several faculty members traveled to Spain for an extended trip through various cities and cultural sites. For the School’s Spanish teachers, Ms. Sheila Bacon and Ms. Liz Creamer, the journey was an unparalleled opportunity to expand on lessons taught in the classroom with hands-on, experiential learning.

After landing in Malaga, the group made their way to Granada, where they explored the Arabic influence on the region. “I loved Granada,” noted Sophia Pappas ’19. “The Alhambra was stunning, especially at night, but the city itself had this atmosphere I was drawn towards.”

On the way to Sevilla, the students stopped at a local olive farm (for some olive oil tasting!) before arriving in the city. Sevilla included a boat tour, cathedral visits, the Giralda Tower, and a stop at the bull ring. From Sevilla, the next stop was Cordoba before Madrid.

Once in Madrid, there was a lot to see and do! From museums to parks, and cathedrals to the royal palace, there was something for everyone. Of course, the tapas restaurants were appreciated by all. And while the food was delicious, Sarah Forcellati ’19 most appreciated the social aspect of eating meals designed to share. “I loved how personal it was!”

Finally, the group made their way to Barcelona where they mixed in cultural stops with trips to the local beaches. For Anthony Khoory ’19, “the most memorable part of the tour was biking along the Mediterranean coast in Barcelona!” The art scene, however, also captured the attention of the students. Rebekah Forrest ’17 gushed, “Barcelona is such a cool city with the Gaudi architecture and Las Ramblas. The Sagrada Familia is so incredible! I was blown away by the beauty!” Additionally, Park Guell was a personal highlight for Gioia Guarino ’19. “Seeing how the art influenced a whole park was amazing.” 

This tremendous opportunity to travel throughout Spain served to not only deepen the students’ understanding of the Spanish language and culture, but also their personal interest in learning more about the world around them. As Pappas shared, “The trip was really fun... I wish it were longer, even though I was out of money by the end!”