During spring break, Aliso Niguel students were able to travel to Spain with Sra. Sepe and Sra. McClellan. There they visited historic landmarks as well as enjoyed the vibrant culture of the country.
Main spots that were visited were the Madrid Palace, Museo del Prado and numerous historical cathedrals. The trip overall took place in Madrid, Toledo, Granada, Seville, Cádiz and Córdoba. Students were constantly visiting different places each day and were able to bear witness to historical pieces that connected them to their curriculum.
Andrew Gutierrez (11), stated, “We saw so much art from AP Euro and so much stuff for Phillip II and Franco. I got to see the Second of May painting. It was also really cool to see all the monuments for their struggle for democracy and freedom.”
A big part of the trip was the opportunity for students to utilize their skills gained from Spanish classes in a new, everyday environment. The trip heavily focused on exposing the students to the culture of Spain to help them gain a personal perspective for the country as a whole.
Sra. Sepe, one of the trip leaders, stated, “We travel because we want to inspire kids. We don’t want to just teach them in the classroom, we want them to see that the world is just so amazing and how you can apply your language in an everyday safe situation.”
To help further connect students with the culture, dinners were primarily booked at local restaurants most of the time.
During the trip, students were able to connect not just with their new environment but also with new students, many of whom they had never met before.
Andrew Gutierrez (11) stated, “I met a lot of people I didn’t know go to our school. The chaperones were absolutely amazing and I felt like I got closer to a lot of friends.”
The trip was hosted by EF, a travel company whom Aliso has worked with before. The company has been used since the Covid-19 Pandemic and is also used by multiple schools in the district. The company is Switzerland based and has multiple offices across Europe, making their abilities to accommodate abroad students easier.
The Spain trip only happens every two years, making it a rare experience that all high schoolers should consider. The trip will provide worthwhile experiences for students and can help with college applications.
