Beyond the Classroom-Lessons Learned in Spain & France

Twenty-three of our Upper School Stars had the experience of a lifetime over Spring Break! They left the classroom behind to learn first-hand about the spectacular landscape, history, art, architecture, languages, and food in parts of Spain and France.

Mrs. Dani Avery, Upper School Spanish teacher and trip chaperone explained the benefits of guided travel opportunities, “Traveling abroad can be a powerful experience for our students, giving them benefits that go far beyond just sightseeing. They gain cultural awareness and a broader perspective of the world. They gain confidence and independence as they navigate unfamiliar situations in new environments.”

The students spent two days in Barcelona before crossing the Pyrenees into France, where they visited the medieval city of Carcassonne followed by two days in Provence. Finally, they traveled on the high-speed TGV train for two days in Paris.

For junior Emma Casey, the best part of the trip was visiting the city of Paris and taking a boat ride down the Seine River.

“During the ride, we passed many of the city’s most famous landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Since the ride was at night, we were able to see the Eiffel Tower lit up and occasionally sparkling,” Emma shared. “I also loved visiting the top of the Eiffel Tower and being able to overlook the entire city from above. Both experiences felt surreal and unforgettable, and they highlighted the beauty and history of Paris!”

Sophomore Grace Turner shared two favorite experiences: “My favorite part of Barcelona was learning the mosaic technique of Trencadís at a workshop. We were able to see the Park Güell, designed by Antoni Gaudí, who used this technique with mosaic-covered sculptures throughout the park. In Paris, the Louvre was what I was looking forward to the most. When we were there, getting to see the Mona Lisa in person was unforgettable.” 

We asked both girls what stood out about the two cultures they experienced for the first time. Grace replied, “We were able to go to the markets in both Barcelona and Nîmes, where we were able to experience the culture of the locals. It was interesting to see the different ways that other countries shop for their daily groceries and hear their languages come to life.”

 “I noticed small but significant differences in daily life,” Emma added. “In both Spain and France, the overall pace of life is much slower and more relaxed compared to what I am used to. People spend much more time sitting down in cafés and enjoying conversations with their friends instead of rushing from place to place like we often do in America. Another difference that I noticed was how late they eat their meals, especially dinner, which is usually around 9:00 pm- something I am definitely not used to!” 

Mrs. Avery summed up the experience from her perspective, sharing, “Watching the girls experience this journey was incredibly rewarding. Many of the places we visited were ones they had previously studied in class, while others they had only seen on television or social media. Seeing their faces light up when they were actually there made those moments truly special. From Antoni Gaudí’s masterpiece, La Sagrada Família, to Notre-Dame Cathedral, The Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, their eyes were filled with wonder and awe. Their oohs and aahs were completely genuine.”

Plans are already being made for the Spring break 2027 trip which will be led by Mr. David Tran. The group will travel to Rome, Florence, and Venice.  In 2028, the trip will return to Spain with a visit to Portugal.