From April 10th to April 23rd, 23 SHS students and three teacher chaperones traveled to Spain as part of an exchange program with students from Julio Caro Baroja High School in Getxo, located in the Basque region of the country.
During the two-week-long trip, Scituate students toured Madrid for three days, attended school in Getxo with their exchange students, visited numerous landmarks, and even spent a day in Biarritz, a small city in Southern France. The students visited the Prado Museum in Madrid, where they viewed many famous pieces of art by artists including Francisco Goya, El Greco, and Diego Velazquez. They also visited Bilbao—the largest town in the Basque Country—where they toured the town hall and The Guggenheim art museum.
The lead chaperone, retired SHS Spanish teacher Virginia Lima, has participated in the Spanish exchange 18 times. After completing this year’s trip, Lima said, “I’m reminded of why I loved teaching! We had so much fun together, and I’m thrilled to have helped keep this 35-year-old tradition alive.”
In addition to her extensive travel experience with SHS, Lima lived in Madrid for a year, so she loves everything about the city. She also enjoys watching American students attend classes at the Basque school, especially after they have just spent the entire weekend on their own with their host families. While on the trip, students practiced their Spanish skills, even learning more about what it takes to become bilingual. Lima noted, “It’s so cool to hear the students use their Spanish, and it’s wonderful to watch them enjoy Spanish culture and learn what it means to travel to a foreign country.”
Lima feels this exchange trip is immensely valuable as students gain experience with a different culture in one of the best ways possible. Home-stay experiences immerse students in the region’s way of life and culture, whether with the food, music, extended families, or daily routines. Lima noted, “Inevitably, and somehow, the students return from Spain seemingly more mature, wiser, worldly, and proud of themselves. I love that I have a small part in fostering their life-long love of travel!”
SHS senior Claire Murray said one of the highlights of the trip was going surfing with her exchange student. The water was cold, but many other people were surfing, too. Later that evening, a group of Scituate and Basque students had a traditional Basque meal of Bayonne ham, angulas (baby eel), and bollo de mantequilla of Bilbao. Murray said when she made comments such as, “I can’t believe we’re in Spain right now,” the exchange students would correct her, telling her they were in the Basque Country. These statements gave her a new understanding: “Basque culture is so prevalent in the students’ lives, and it is cool to see how proud they are of this part of their identity,” she remarked
SHS junior Nora Gosnell enjoyed experiencing the similarities and differences in school. While in Getxo, she attended math, economics, and Basque history classes. Gosnell said students remained in one classroom throughout the day while teachers relocated. Gosnell loved hiking San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, located near Bermeo, a small oceanside town about 40 minutes away from Getxo. This stone walkway, leading up to a small church overlooking the ocean, was actually the location where the Dragonstone Castle was filmed in the Game of Thrones. Gosnell also said climbing the Vizcaya Hanging Bridge in Getxo was very exciting as well. Gosnell exclaimed, “This trip will be one to remember for the rest of my life!”