All the world’s a classroom, at least for the San Benito High
School students who left the state behind to study abroad over
spring break.
Hollister – All the world’s a classroom, at least for the San Benito High School students who left the state behind to study abroad over spring break.
Different groups of students from the school took educational took trips to Spain, France and Costa Rica.
“We’re pretty isolated here in Hollister. These trips expose students to other points of view and build a great appreciation of different cultures,” SBHS Superintendent Jean Burns Slater said.
The chance to study in other countries provides learning opportunities not found at home. “I think their lives were enriched,” said Spanish teacher Rachel Flores. “They learned more about another culture, gained tolerance for another culture and planted the bug for future traveling.”
Flores took 17 students to Spain March 24 through April 1 to strengthen their Spanish-language skills.
The students not only learned about Spanish culture; they learned to love it.
“It was awesome to see so many new places and new people. Their culture is awesome,” said senior Juan-Pablo Santos.
Flying from San Francisco, Flores’ group landed in Madrid and stayed in the capital city for two nights before heading south. Each morning in Madrid they enjoyed a traditional Spanish breakfast of churros – fried dough, covered in cinnamon and sugar – dipped in thick melted chocolate.
During the day, they went on tours throughout the city, visiting historical and cultural sites such as the Royal Palace.
As they made their way south, they stopped in Sevilla, where they experienced a flamenco show and took a night-time boat cruise on the river. The trip ended on Costa del Sol – the sun coast – along the Mediterranean sea.
“I loved the flamenco night,” said senior Jamie Lee Gonzalez. “We got to experience and really feel their culture and background when you travel to another country. You need to know why people act the way they act and do the things they do. (In Spain) they have enthusiasm for life.”
Before leaving on the trip, students made an agreement that they would only speak Spanish during the trip. Right away they could tell a difference between the way they spoke.
“The accent is better” said senior Gilbert Bailon. “I like their Spanish better than ours.”
Being immersed in the language was one of the major reasons for the trip, Flores said.
“It made me appreciate Spanish more,” Gonzalez said. “It made me want to perfect my Spanish more.”
During spring break SBHS groups also went to France and Costa Rica, Burns Slater said.
Other San Benito students had similar adventures abroad over the spring break, traveling to France and Costa Rica.
The France-bound students studied the language while staying with locals and exploring Paris and the surrounding countryside.
“They’ve made connections for a lifetime,” said Louise Roy, a SBHS ceramics teacher who went on the trip.
A world away, biology students swam under waterfalls and explored the volcanos, cloud forests and coast of Costa Rica and studied the unique wildlife of the area.
“To study something in a book leaves so much to the imagination,” Biology Teacher Bill Johnson said. “It was an incredible experience. We did something every day.”
For Flores, the journey abroad provided immeasurable educational benefits for her students and their use of Spanish. In fact, she’s already planning for a return trip next year and she hopes to continue exposing students to life overseas for years to come.
“I didn’t want to come back,” Bailon said. “I miss it right now.”
Luke Roney covers education and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected]
