What Makes European Spring Festivals Unique

Europe is not only a popular destination in springtime for its accommodating weather and gorgeous views, but also for the multitude of festivals found throughout countries! No matter where you are during spring in Europe, you’re bound to come across one or two events! European spring festivals are known to respect their history and showcase aspects of their culture. 

In this blog, we are highlighting a few festivals happening this year that make Europe unique! 

Italy - The Culture

Photo by Gemma, Flickr

If you find yourself in Florence during the beginning of April, the Gelato Festival is one you won’t want to miss! This event is considered “one of the most important and most followed food events globally” (Gelato Festival) with over one million visitors during their event!

After tasting a surplus of delicious gelato, enjoy the cultural heritage week during April and May across many cities in Italy, popularly known as Settimana della Cultura. This Week was originally an initiative started by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture in 1998, where doors were opened to state of the art places for all people, including monuments, museums, archaeological sites, archives and libraries (Romeing). These iconic landmarks, archaeological sites, and museums in Rome have been visited by our very own week-long custom student programs!  

Because this week became so popular, conferences, workshops, guided tours and concerts of various kinds are also held! In fact, museum admission is free during the Settimana della Cultura Week in Rome. All state museums, including the Colosseum, and cultural icons of the Eternal City are free to explore (Romeing). 

France - The Arts

France highlights its music scene in late April, at the Bourges Festival. Created in 1977, this event has become popular over the decades in France, and Europe in general. This festival features musical trends from 200 artists and an enormous amount of musical genres to meet every music lover's preferences (Printemps De Bourges). 

Photo by bayerberg, Flickr

During May, The Cannes International Film Festival is “now the world’s most prestigious film gathering” (Festival De Cannes). Since 1946, Cannes’ Film Festival has centered around an universal spirit, where countries choose films to present to the competition and jury during the event. Festivities also include fireworks, parades, fashion shows, as it “aims to foster a spirit of collaboration between all film-producing countries” (Festival De Cannes). 

Interested in contemporary art and classical music? The Versailles Festival also takes place each May. This year, the Palace will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the inauguration of the Versailles Royal Opera (Palace of Versailles), so visitors can expect to visit famous rooms, view new collections of paintings and sculptures, and listen to an amazing musical program that depicts the History of Opera in France. 

Germany - The Celebration

This is one country in particular that doesn’t miss any opportunity to celebrate! In April, popular festivals will be held around Germany. 

Ostermunde, near Lubeck, is a beach bonfire with an Easter-themed celebration. Guests have the opportunity to taste delicacies, including grilled waffles, coffee, cakes, fish dishes, and pies (cite). The Easter-egg themed parades and activities offer fun for large groups of all ages. 

The Spring Festivals in Nurnberg and Munich are also quite well-known, and locals refer to the event as “Octoberfest’s little sister” (Spring Fest Munich). Some even argue this is Germany’s best festival out of the entire year. This festival lasts for two weeks, and is similar to a carnival, where rides, tents, and live music are available for visitors to enjoy. This event began in 1965, and many of the original vendors are still represented today (Spring Fest Munich). Locals get in touch with their traditional Bavarian roots and celebrate springtime together! 

Spain - The Remembrance

Photo by Keith Ellwood, Flickr

The fun-filled months of March, April, and May bring traditions alive in Spain through their unique festivities! In March, Las Fallas in Valencia features traditional celebrations, plenty of food, and lots of music. Las Fallas tradition is said to come from a carpenter who burned pieces of a wood structure, which “became the ninots that we know today” (Visit Valencia). 

Ninots are lifelike statues made out of wood, cardboard, paper-mache and so on. Valencians celebrate Las Fallas with works of art, parades, and fireworks visible throughout the streets. The festival takes place from March 15th to the 19th each year to commemorate the city's patron saint, St. Joseph. 

Holy Week, or Semana Santa, has processions across the country but the most notable and largest festivals happens in Seville, the capital city in southern Spain’s Andalusia region. Spaniards celebrate this the week before Easter, which includes wooden sculptures depicting biblical significance. This week is defined by stunning processions and creations that can be seen on the streets and in parades. Some processions can even last up to 14 hours (Ideal Education Group)! 

Photo by Tnarik Innael, Flickr

Since 1521, this holy event has been celebrated with processions with biblical scenes of Christ and portable altars (Ideal Education Group). During Holy Week, indulge in torrijas, a traditional sweet snack made of fried bread soaked in milk and egg that’s topped with sugar or honey (The Local).

Photo by Wikipedia Commons

For those in Madrid, you can expect to be in awe of the Fiestas de San Isidro during the month of May. This event includes traditional dancing in public squares, as Madrid honors its patron saint, San Isidro Labrador, with concerts, shows and activities for all ages. This week-long festival includes traditional religious ceremonies, traditional dances, and families spend time together in the Pradera de San Isidro Park (Turismo Madrid). 

Europe is an amazing visit anytime during the year, and Springtime is no different! No matter what your preference is - art, culture, cuisine, or pure celebration - there are dozens of festivals across the continent to meet your liking!

Curious about other Spanish attractions? Read more about why Spain, in particular, is also appealing yearound by checking out our past blog on Four Reasons to Visit Spain! 

Sources

“About Us Gelato Festival.” About Us - Gelato Festival 2019, 2019, gelatofestival.com/en/about/.

“Bourges - Printemps De Bourges.” Bourges, www.ville-bourges.fr/_en/site/culture---leisure_printemps-bourges-music-festival. 

“The Fallas of València.” Fallas Festival València, Visit Valencia. 2019.

The Local. “The Essential Guide to Easter in Spain.” Thelocal.es, The Local Europe AB, 9 Apr. 2019.

Romeing.it. “Settimana Della Cultura: Free Museums All Week.” Romeing, 4 Mar. 2019, www.romeing.it/settimana-della-cultura-roma/.

“San Isidro.” Turismo Madrid, 23 Dec. 2019.

“Semana Santa in Spain .” Enforex, Ideal Education Group.

“Spring Fest Munich.” Spring Fest Munich, Veranstaltungsgesellschaft Münchner Schausteller.

“The 2019-2020 Musical Season.” Palace of Versailles, Château De Versailles Spectacles Research Centre, 15 July 2019.

“The History of the Festival .” Festival De Cannes 2019, 26 May 2017.

6 Major Program 2019 Highlights Across Our 5 Locations

As we close up shop on 2019, we’re excited to share with you some notable highlights, including amazing activities and famous sites, that groups of students and faculty were able to enjoy all around the globe! 

Here’s a closer look into our custom programs during 2019: 

Madrid, Cordoba, and Seville, Spain

A group of students visited Spain in March, 2019 for a Spanish Immersion program, full of rich cultural heritage. Students participated in a many interactive activities during the stay, such as a scavenger hunt in Madrid, where they explored an area of the city center and searched for objects within the area. The group absorbed Spanish art, culture, and language while touring the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, and incorporated the use of the Spanish language with Spanish artwork. Students also had the opportunity to visit the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home to the soccer team, Real Madrid! 

Following Madrid, students were immersed into a variety of classes and instruction in Cordoba, Spain, as they attended school with their host brothers and sisters. Students had time to become acquainted with their host families and explore the city together. The group also visited Fundación de Banco de Alimentos, a non-profit organization that provides support to lower income families and serves the community. 

Students also learned about Spain’s ancient history during a visit to La Mezquita, the historic area of Cordoba. One of the best examples was the Mezquita-Catedral, which was originally constructed as a Mosque and now is a Catholic Cathedral. As the program came to a close, students put on their dancing shoes as they worked with a local musician to learn about the folkloric music of flamenco, its roots, and history in Southern Spain.

Rome, Italy 

March was a busy month for travel as an additional group of students and faculty visited Italy.  One of the faculty leaders for EdOdyssey’s Rome Program enjoyed a program inspired from the work Walking with a Palladio: A Passport to Rome that helped give students valuable insight into the history of Rome. After settling in, the group explored important basilicas, including Santa Maria Maggiore, San Giovanni in Laterano, and the Basilica of San Clemente. Following a long first day of travel, students enjoyed a group dinner with roman style pizza. 

Rome’s historic center is incredibly generous with its architecture and rich history, including some of the biggest attractions, such as the Pantheon, a nearly 2,000 year old former Roman temple that is now a church, and the Colosseum, Rome’s greatest gladiatorial arena inaugurated in 80 A.D. Next, students toured surrounding ancient ruins, where they traced origins back to Palantine Hill and spent time in the Roman Forum, known as the downtown district of temples. 

The group also ventured over to one of the most famous fountains in the world, the Trevi Fountain. Tradition requires that visitors toss a coin into the fountain to ensure a return to the Eternal City! St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica could not be missed! Students spent a full day in the Vatican City and visited the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum, home to some of the world’s greatest art collections.

Students were also able to spend time with local students, volunteer, and gain insight into a typical italian school atmosphere. Another interactive, hands-on activity included a special group dinner prepared by the group with a local chef, and delicious samplings of famous dishes! 

“The best part of the trip was going to the school because we met so many new people and got to experience another culture with kids that were our ages. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone and I would personally go back again.” - Cole, Student

Shanghai, Guilin, Yangshuo and Daxu, China

EdOdyssey also travelled to China in 2019 with students studying Mandarin to understand the importance of Chinese culture and their way of life. Beginning in Shanghai, students spent time with their sister school, Shanghai High School. Afterward, the group traveled to Guilin and engaged in intensive small group Chinese classes to strengthen language skills used during the remainder of the program. 

Additional interactive activities included Taiji Quan with a Taiji master. Taiji Quan, often spelled Tai Chi in the West, is a Chinese martial art practiced for defense training and health benefits. Students also met with local students to hike Chuan Shan, Guilin’s karst mountain scenery, and participated in a Chinese calligraphy lesson led by a local artist. To dive deeper into China’s religious roots, the group explored a Buddhist monastery, chatted with monks, and meandered through the underground prayer caves.  

“The mountainous view was gorgeous and unreal. We learned a lot about the religious culture as it [Guilin] was a more rural part of China compared to Shanghai but I definitely enjoyed both totally different experiences a lot.” - Ikwo, Student 

Students enjoyed learning about tea culture through a traditional Chinese tea ceremony and savored a hot pot dinner followed by karaoke with Chinese friends. The group also cruised down the famous Li River to Yangshuo and explored the famous shopping and cultural district. 

Lima and Cusco, Peru 

During April of 2019, a group of students traveled to Peru for a Solidarity & Service Trip. They improved on their Spanish language skills through authentic immersion and service with local communities. Corazón de Jesús, a K-12 school located in a low-income area of Lima, was the students’ first immersive experience where they played with children and had lunch in the school cafeteria with local students. 

Upon arrival to Cusco, the group got acquainted with a city tour, then visited a local ceramic class and made their own Torito de Pucará, which is well known in Cusco due to its representation of the Peruvian South-Andean identity.

The group rode PeruRail Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, the base town of Machu Picchu, and explored the ancient ruins with a local guide. After a short bus ride to Amaru, the group lived like the local community, prepared their own food with the help of Amaru friends, and visited other local residents, such as the alpaca and vicuña. 

Their return to the States included one last stop in Lima, and students spent the afternoon exploring the center of Lima, along with it’s beautiful architecture. However, their program wasn’t complete without taking part in a Peruvian cooking class!

The final service project in Lima was in Pamplona Alta, a special community EdOdyssey has maintained a close bond with. There, students worked together with leaders to build stairs up in the hills where access to water and electricity is limited. 

“This trip was one that I will never forget, and one that I would never change. This trip changed the way I view the world. It also allowed me to connect further with who I truly am as a person. Throughout this trip I gained a deeper understanding of how other people around the world live everyday. The amazing people in Peru who accepted us from the moment we arrived to our departure showed me what it meant to embrace your culture and where you come from.” - Grace, Student 

Quebec and Montreal, Canada

As the fall semester began for students, French language students visited Canada in October, 2019 to focus on the past and present of Quebec. At the beginning, the students were welcomed by their host families and spent time getting to know them. Students also attended French language classes at a local school to utilize the target language as much as possible and had lunch in the cafeteria with the locals. 

Students participated in a scavenger hunt in Quebec City and visited a local Sugar Shack to learn how maple syrup is collected and sampled the delicious sweet. In addition to learning about Canada’s sweet traditions, the group also had the chance to taste a traditional speciality known as Poutine! 

After a short journey to Montreal, students had time to discover the historic neighborhood and see sites such as the Notre-Dame Basilica with a local certified bilingual guide. Students also prepared traditional Quebec cuisine with a local chef for dinner! Their program concluded with an entertaining workshop about local graffiti art where students created their own masterpieces!

Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Peru

Groups of our study abroad students arrived in Lima, Peru for spring, summer, and fall semesters, where they met up with the EdOdyssey team in preparation for their semester or academic year abroad at PUCP. During their first month, our students began to familiarize themselves with the area, visited other districts in Lima, volunteered with local organizations to serve their community, got to know their homestay families, and attended an 80-hour language booster course to become comfortable with Spanish as their primary language of communication. 

Additionally, our groups of students went on in-depth journeys to explore Peru’s incredible diversity through excursions to Iquitos, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Huacachina, and Ica. All excursions displayed different landscapes and components of Peru, including the cuisine and history, in hopes of students continuing to seek out adventures during their travels. 

As this fall semester comes to a close, we hope our current study abroad students can enjoy their last few weeks in Lima and reflect on all of the enriching experiences Peru has brought into their lives. 

“Soon Peru became like a home to me, thanks to the program coordinator and the other staff who constantly went above and beyond what was expected of them to ensure that we all were well accommodated. The additional trips that were offered throughout the semester and the volunteer opportunities were definitely a huge part of my experience and I am grateful to have been a part of such a beautiful thing.” - Yarlenis, EdOdyssey Study Abroad 2019 Alum 

Some of these EdOdyssey 2019 highlights have made for a fun-filled year! We look forward to all of our programs happening in 2020! 

Interested in designing your own custom program with EdOdyssey? Visit our webpage for more information on how you can get involved with immersive international experiences with your students during 2020. Below is a video highlighting EdOdyssey and why we believe travel changes people!

Check out our new welcome video!

Fun Fall Cultural Celebrations Around the World

Cultures celebrate the deceased in various ways. For those of us who have grown up in the United States, we may associate Halloween with costumes, trick-or-treating, and horror movies, but many countries have their own rituals. 

In the 1900’s, Halloween became a mainstream holiday after being commercialized. The concept of Halloween derived from the Celtic festival of Samhain in Ireland, “where people would wear costumes to ward off ghosts” (History.com).

From the beginning of the twentieth century to now, Halloween has lost most of its religious connotations. It has expanded into group festivities, such as costume parties, haunted houses, pumpkin carving contests, and trick-or-treating. 

Today, the same concept of Halloween isn’t necessarily celebrated with costumes and going door-to-door for candy. In other parts of the world, you’ll see that some countries have their ancient traditions, while others have newer celebrations. 

Here are a few countries that show the ancient traditions and rise of the American-style Halloween: 

Mexico 

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, has become a well-known celebration of loved ones who are departed. This holiday is celebrated during the first two days of November, particularly in Mexico and areas of Central and South America, as well as Latin communities abroad (Anderson).

Día de los Muertos originated in Mexico and Central America, where the indigenous honored their loved ones. Popular components of Día de los Muertos include cempasúchil, or marigolds, which are bright orange flowers that grow in Mexico, and the ofrendas, which are offerings on altars made by families to provide items to their loved ones for their journey in the afterlife (Anderson). 

This holiday focuses on celebrating life, with decorations, costumes, music, parades, and gatherings at cemeteries! 

Peru

Peru at the moment is at a turning point where the younger generation goes out to celebrate Halloween more as a costume party while the older generation likes to remember more of the Canción Criolla.

Día de la Canción Criolla (Criolla Music Day) emphasizes the history of the musical culture in Peru. This celebration of traditional music can be accompanied by dancing, such as the marinera, and features many elaborate and traditional costumes (AMAUTA). 

In Peru and other Latin American countries, citizens celebrate Día de los Difuntos, which is the Day of the Deceased. Similar to other Spanish-speaking countries, this is a time for families to pay respects to the departed. 

Families still visit their loved ones who have passed at this time of year. Families and friends tend to bring food, music and drinks to their graves as if they were still with them during this emotional time of year.

The idea of el Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints Day) is to honor the memory of friends and relatives who have departed. October is known as "the purple month" and pays respect to the Lord of Miracles, a man who's remembered in Lima's cathedral who miraculously survived a terrible earthquake.

Since the 17th century, there have been processions with his image that pay homage to him in the old town of Lima. This month also pays respect to "those who take care of us from above," as some Peruvians might say.

Spain

In Spain, various areas celebrate this time differently! October 31st is referred to as Día de las Brujas (Day of the Witches), which commences a three-day celebration. Halloween has become more commercialized and popular in major cities, such as Madrid, where children and adults tend to dress up and celebrate all things considered spooky.

Many of the stores in the city have begun to sell pumpkins and embrace the scary side of Halloween. Many schools allow students and teachers to dress up, in a similar fashion that students do in the United States.

November 1st is Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints Day) which is a national holiday, followed by Día de los Difuntos on November 2nd. Communities in Spain respect the dead and celebrate life, and rituals are observed throughout the country as, “many families gather at the grave of their deceased relatives with holy water, flowers, food and drink” (Corneanu).

Traditions found in various cultures give insight into the history behind this time of year. Important holidays, like Día de los Muertos and Día de los Difuntos, celebrate love and honor the departed. No matter where you are in the world, there are a multitude of traditions that make these cultural celebrations in autumn unique. 

Are you interested in exploring a country besides your own? Check out our Custom Programs or Study Abroad pages to find out how you can experience local cultures authentically with EdOdyssey! 

EdOdyssey Cultural Advisor, Luis García, also contributed to this blog post.

Sources 

AMAUTA Spanish School. “Halloween and Cancion Criolla: Celebrating October 31 in Peru!” AMAUTA Spanish School Blog, 25 Oct. 2016.

Anderson, Maria. “5 Facts About Día De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead).” Smithsonian Insider, Smithsonian, 24 Sept. 2018.

Corneanu, Miruna. “Halloween in Spain: From Celtic Rituals to Zombie Walks.” Veebrant.com, Veebrant, 13 Sept. 2019.

History.com. “Halloween 2019 - Origins of Halloween.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 18 Nov. 2009, Updated: 4 Oct. 2019.

Simola, Marco. “Peru: Dia De Los Difuntos (Day of the Deceased) in Lima and Cuzco.” Religioscope, 12 Nov. 2016.

How Teachers Can Bring The World Into The Classroom

Pictured was Greg’s itinerary - Starting in Madrid, then heading to Santiago de Compostela, and ending in Barcelona.

Often, we hear of students studying abroad, but how might teachers and faculty go about experiencing new cultures that can add value to their classrooms back home? 

We spoke with Greg Semplice, an avid traveler and high school teacher, and discussed his self-led program EdOdyssey had designed for him while exploring Spain this past July. Greg was able to experience lots of history, cuisine, and culture, and even returned to the U.S. with a few unexpected impressions.

This past July, Greg and his wife spent three weeks traveling to Madrid, Santiago, and Barcelona, Spain. We want to share Greg’s story with you today so you can catch a glimpse into his wonderful experience exploring Spain!  

Greg and his wife enjoying a sunny day at Fisterra, which is an hour and a half away from Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

A Lifetime of Traveling 

Greg has always been interested in traveling, which began when he was invited on a cross-country camping trip as a child and visited over 25 states. He reminisced how, “[the road trip] wet my appetite for traveling and I have always loved it”.

Since he has been teaching, Greg has been on class trips, including Washington DC and Quebec, as well as overseas trips, such as taking 27 students to Spain in 2013, and teaching in Peru with EdOdyssey in 2016. Greg’s passion for travel has been a major component of his life, as well as his career as an educator. 

New & Old Connections Overseas

Greg had spent some time at a local high school in Madrid with their vice principal and teacher, and discussed their curriculum and possible plans to do a Skype classroom setup with both schools. It’s a bilingual high school, and as Greg puts it, “learning English is a very positive thing”.

Another exciting venture for Greg during his time in Madrid was meeting up with an old connection. Greg had dinner with a former exchange student from his high school, whom he had gotten to know very well during her time in the States. He had contacted her old homestay family before departing, and reunited with her after 50 years.

There’s something so fulfilling about having friends in other parts of the world, and having travel be the essential piece that establishes new, and old, connections. 

Adding Value To The Classroom 

Classic view of Toledo - An hour drive from Madrid, Spain.

Picture a gorgeous and comfortable train ride for a handful of hours as you make your way from Madrid into Santiago de Compostela, one of Spain’s most iconic northern cities.

While visiting Santiago de Compostela, one of the sites that was particularly moving to Greg was Santiago’s Cathedral, which welcomes thousands and thousands of people from around the world annually who hike from different parts in Western Europe.

Greg explained that the Cathedral had, “different roads coming from Portugal, France, other parts of Spain, which was very impressive.'' Greg also brought home a few movies on Santiago and its history so that he could include those in his curriculum with his Spanish classes. Having these experiences gives teachers the opportunity to incorporate other cultures into their curriculum, by bringing parts of the world into their classrooms. 

An International Appetite 

Barcelona is known for its great cuisine, and Greg and his wife were able to join a cooking class that made homemade paella, which was “phenomenal and we absolutely loved it”. They also attended a wine and tapas tour, and visited 3 to 4 restaurants, sampling different tapas.

Not only did Greg receive plenty of information on Barcelona’s cuisine, but also came back with an urge to cook after purchasing spanish rice to take home to make the perfect paella!

Taking the time to meet locals and be involved in their cooking or learn about customs allows travelers to bring newfound knowledge home and share it with others. 

Art is History 

While in Barcelona, Greg had a “Gaudi day” where they visited Palau Güell, followed by La Sagrada Familia and Parque Güell. Greg shared that, “La Sagrada Familia blew me away. Wow. That was so incredible. I had done a lot of reading but that doesn’t prepare you for walking into it for the first time...I could’ve spent the whole day there”. Greg got to spend the day observing Gaudi’s works, where poetry has been transformed into breathtaking architecture.

Reflecting on Spain’s Culture

Part of the vibrancy of spain is not only about the architecture, but also the cuisine, and the people themselves. When asked what the most unexpected realization Greg found about Spain’s culture, he replied:

“Their culture is very much more laid back then people are over here [in the United States]. As soon as we’re done here at a restaurant the waiter tells you you’re done, whereas in Spain, you can sit and take your time and the food is made so fresh. They’re much more of a relaxed atmosphere, and we didn’t feel pressured to do too much.” 

Another unexpected interaction Greg encountered was his journey to the Cíes Islands while in Santiago de Compostela. The Islands has a limited number of visitors per day and Greg had gotten a bit lost and had asked for help.

A local ran to help get Greg's tickets for the ferry ride before the boat took off, Greg was shocked and thought, “Where in America would they do that? The hospitality and compassion here is great”. 

Finding the Right Fit With EdOdyssey

Pictured: Aqueduct of Segovia, which was built during the second half of the 1st century A.D., this is an hour’s drive away from the center of Madrid, Spain.

Greg enjoyed spending time in three different location, and felt a week in each was just right.

He spoke of how the pace of the program, “...was nice because it gave us some time to explore things in each place, and we took our time”.

When asked what he would say to someone showing interest in a self-led program, Greg advised prospective faculty to, “Be adventurous and take the time to do a lot of research and everyone is different. Yeah, don’t be afraid to try these things, and we had never been to certain places, but research with books on the locations. And you just have to explore and plan ahead! Don’t be afraid to try new things!”

Interested in customizing your own program? Check out “Four Major Benefits of Customizable Programs” to find out more on what you can gain from EdOdyssey’s programs! 

READY TO START PLANNING?

Spain Immersion Program - Student Interview

Matt is a rising college that will study abroad in South America later this year. When selecting a study abroad destination he was mindful of choosing a location that allowed him to polish his Spanish language skills and would open his eyes to another culture.

Matt's experience with traveling and studying languages began several years ago in 2014 when Matt participated in a 4-week long exchange that brought him to Spanish city of Cordova, Spain. During his time abroad he explored the country, lived with a host family and attended classes at a local school. Upon returning, Matt and his family also hosted a student at their home who attended classes at Matt's local school in Boston. 

Matt had a fantastic experience that continues to inform his studies and effect his global perspective today. So much so that this summer 2018, Matt returned to work with EdOdyssey as a Summer Intern to work with international students spending time in New England!

Below is an excerpt of Matt's alumni interview with GoOversees:

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Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program because I had a hunger to see more of the world. I also chose to go to Spain specifically as I studied eleven years of Spanish, and something about it just wasn't clicking yet. Peter convinced me that the power of immersion would have tangible effects towards my language acquisition in Spanish, so I went for it! Had I not, I would not be where I am academically today, nor would my Spanish be as proficient as it is. I swear by it!

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The trip was cumulatively all-inclusive. The cost of the trip provided a group of five students and our trip moderator, Peter, with individual host families for two weeks, paired with students from Colegio de Fomento Ahlzahir, our host school. Transportation on long-distance train rides, buses, and vans were provided on our trips around southern Spain, as was admission into destinations such as the Alhambra.

The only thing we had to pay for were optional souvenirs and food (if we were not home or at a host family's house for meals). I did not spend a lot of money out-of-pocket.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I was incredibly nervous to go and immerse myself in another culture and language with which I was not confident in my ability. I was nervous to be alone with a complete group of strangers for my host family, and wondered if I would even be able to communicate with them.

My advice is to not let the hesitations and "what-ifs" get in your way of just saying yes and doing it.

Being able to see the world from a completely different perspective in another country is an opportunity that you simply should never pass up.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I was terrified that my Spanish would not be good enough to adequately communicate with my host family. I had taken Spanish in school and learned countless chapters of vocabulary, but my grammar and speaking-fluency never worked together. To resolve this, Peter made us sign a language pact once we arrived at the airport in Spain. It was a promise to try our best and only speak Spanish – even to one another.

After a few days (and numerous corrections from my host father), my fluency began to improve as I began to literally change the language I was thinking in. Once you stop trying to translate everything in your head or pick apart every word in a conversation instead of just trying to comprehend the 'big picture', you literally start to think in your target language and maybe even dream in it – I know I did.

This short time in Spain did more for my Spanish than four years in the classroom. I jumped into A.P. Spanish the following year without taking the level four course right before it, as Spanish became my second language, and my confidence improved. Now in college, I plan to study abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina for six months because I want to perfect my Spanish and achieve fluency. By committing to my target language and exclusively speaking it through our language pact, I overcame a fear that nearly held me back from going in the first place!

Read this full alumni interview here and meet other alumni and discover more about EdOdyssey's GoOverseas Custom Trip page.