Grey Collins, Sophomore
Although the weather is getting colder, the hearts of Spanish students at MHS grow warmer with the anticipation of their upcoming February trip to Spain. The nine-day trip, led by MHS Spanish teacher Candice Sliney, will take place over February break. About 20 Spanish students and three chaperones are attending. I spoke to Mrs. Sliney to learn more about the trip, and how it will benefit the students at MHS.
“I chose this particular tour because it has so much of the history and culture that I value and that I want our kids to learn about,” said Mrs. Sliney.
The group, chaperoned by Elmer Magana, Monika Pasquini and Caja Johnson, will start their journey by flying into Madrid. They will spend the first four days in Madrid and Toledo, where they will spend much of their time visiting museums and exploring each city.
“The first day we will go to the Prado Museum,” added Mrs. Sliney, “which is the most famous museum in Madrid with the most masterpieces. The next day we will go to the Reina Sofia Museum. Then we’ll go all around Madrid.”
Sliney thought that it was very important to go to the Reina-Sofia Museum because it has Pablo Picasso’s Guernica. “I asked them to add it (The Reina Sofia Museum) because it has one of the most important social protest works of art of the 20th Century which is Guernica.” She believes that seeing this painting on the tour is important because Spanish 3 students are taught about the Spanish Civil War and discuss the painting in class.
Mrs. Sliney said that traveling to Toledo was also important because it was the center of the Spanish Renaissance and demonstrates the different cultures that shaped Spain; it is where the modern Spanish language was created. “They were translating works from Arabic and Hebrew and putting them into Latin, and that’s when it was converted from Latin to Spanish in Toledo.”
After visiting Madrid and Toledo, the group will go to La Mancha and Cordoba. They will next visit Sevilla, where they will do a bike tour and participate in a flamenco dancing class. Next, they will tour Granada, and will finish their trip by going to the mountain towns of “La Costa del Sol.” There, they will spend time touring art and pottery studios.
“I am trying to create Global citizens,” said Mrs. Sliney about how this would benefit students. “That experience of putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and knowing what it feels like to not have complete control of the language, and, despite that, still making connections with people is important for growth.”
I also spoke to several students who are attending the Spanish trip about what they wanted to learn from the trip. “I am excited to go to Spain because I am really excited to explore the different cultures,” said Dylan Glass, a sophomore Spanish student. “I am most looking forward to going to La Costa del Sol, and I will also definitely try my best to speak with the locals.”
I also spoke with Thomas Spencer, who is also going on the trip this February. He said, “I am excited to see a new culture and work on my Spanish skills in the real world.” He also talked about his concerns regarding the trip. “I think I know enough Spanish to communicate, but I am worried that I will forget it at the moment.”
As their date of departure grows nearer, students and teachers look forward to the experiences, lessons, and new amigos that their trip to Spain will introduce.