After a full day of class at Colegio Aljarafe on Tuesday, the entire group took a bike tour of Sevilla, visiting the beautiful Plaza de España, Sevilla’s famous tobacco factory-turned-university, the majestic Puente de Triana, and more. We split into two groups and headed out into the city with our host brothers and sisters.
Wayland students with their Spanish host brothers and sisters after our bike tour of Sevilla.
Wednesday was our chance to get out and see all Sevilla has to offer. We visited the famous Alcazár gardens, spent a relaxing afternoon at the Baños Árabes, completed the inaugural Wayland Sevilla Selfie Challenge, and finished our afternoon atop the famous Giralda of Sevilla’s cathedral. Aside from some afternoon rain on Wednesday, the weather has been beautiful.
Though the clouds brought us some rain and kept the sun away, the views from the top of the Giralda were breathtaking nevertheless.
Overall, the homestays have been a great chance for the students to see what it is like to live as Spanish teenagers. Each day has been packed with opportunities for them to use the Spanish they’ve already learned, acquire new vocabulary, and absorb the Andalusian culture.
Taken from a reflection activity the students did during school, here are some student reactions so far:
“I love my homestay family already!”
Emily and Izzy at school with their homestay sisters and friends.
“¡Este viajes es una experiencia increíble y fantástica!”
Arielle, Izzy, Emily, Caitlin, Lily, Taylor, Thomas, Kami, and Andrea and their host brothers and sisters posing in front of some beautiful Mudejar architecture during our bike tour.
“¡El pavo real es muy guay!” (pavo real literally translates to “royal turkey,” but is a peacock; guay=cool)
“The chorizo is outstanding—the sandwich is just that and bread, but that’s all it needs!”
The group after finishing up a great lunch at one of the best new restaurants in Sevilla, Perro Viejo.
“Everyone is extremely welcoming and friendly! Lots of kisses on the cheeks!”
“I was very nervous to meet my homestay sister, but we quickly became friends.”
Logan, Owen, Caroline, Paul, and Spanish homestay friends at the famous Plaza de España.
Tomorrow will be our last day here at Aljarafe, and we will head off for the more adventurous part of our trip as we visit Grazalema, El Bosque, and the beaches of Nerja. Plenty of sun, lots of fun, and mucho español will make for some memorable moments.