Spain: Day 10

Hola Familias!

 

Today was our second full day in Madrid. It was a chilly but sunny day as we took a walking tour through both historic and modern districts of the city. We visited Puerta del Sol, a busy and open avenue that also serves as the 0 KM meeting point of all of Spain’s major highways; the Plaza Mayor with its colorful balconies, cafes, and kiosks; a churros y chocolate snack from the famous Chocolateria San Gines; exploring the famous San Miguel indoor market in which we all chowed down on fruit, candy, olives, sandwiches, sushi, and more; and strolling by major monuments like the Palacio Real (Spain’s version of Buckingham palace). After the walking tour, students had lunch and shopping time in small groups. They are PROFESSIONAL shoppers. 

 

We spent our afternoon and evening with Madrid’s reformed Jewish community. Zigzagging our way through smaller, quieter streets, we found ourselves at Hummuseria, an Israeli-owned restaurant that specializes in hummus and other middle eastern dishes. Shai, the restaurant owner, greeted us with pitchers of mint-infused lemonade and tea as he told us his story of traveling to Spain, loving it, and taking a leap to move here and embrace a slower pace of life. They abandoned their former careers as psychologists to open a restaurant filled with colorful, creative, and delicious dishes. 

 

Students rolled up their sleeves and learned to make falafel and stuffed grape leaves to add to our menu of stews, salads, and the creamiest hummus I’ve ever had. The best part of the evening was another chance for teachers to step away and let students organically practice their Spanish and connect with Spaniards—this time, their Jewish brothers and sisters. For over an hour and a half, they crowded around small tables and spoke about life, Spain, the United States, Judaism, and more. I knew this experience was meaningful for everyone because not a single kid mentioned the soccer game we were hoping to go to, which was scheduled at the same time. And a student said, “This was the highlight of my trip.” I agree.

 

Tonight and tomorrow, I’d like to dedicate the second part of the blog update to more student voices talking about meaningful moments from the trip, this time from Castilla y Leon and Madrid:

 

Jaren: “I loved seeing the cathedral in Leon because it’s just such a big place from so many years ago. On the inside, there are many detailed glass mosaics that when the light shines through them, they’re super beautiful.”

 

Daniella: “Seeing Paco Diez was such a meaningful moment for me. I believe that music has the ability to communicate beyond any language or cultural barriers, and Paco was a perfect example of that. He played instruments for us from thousands of years ago to the modern day, showcasing how humans have an innate desire to express themselves with music and art. I really loved hearing him play and sing. The moments we all sang together, however, were truly a highlight of the trip.”

 

Arianna: “One of my favorite moments in Castilla Y Leon was when all of us got to sing with Paco. It was a very healing experience for us to dedicate many of our songs to the land of Israel, especially given the repetitive exiling of the Jews in Spain. It was super meaningful to sing Yerushalayim Shel Zahav in a land full of antisemitic sentiments and current anti Israel propaganda. Singing with Paco and bonding will all the students not only deepened my connection to Israel and Judaism, but also made me grateful to live in a land where I can proudly represent the Jewish community.”

 

Shayna: “One memorable moment from Castilla y León was meeting Paco. It was so inspiring to see his passion for music. His face lit up as he played dozens of different instruments. It was amazing to see someone who has dedicated their life to sharing their passion with the world. I am so glad that our group was able to spend the day with him.”

 

Teige: “The most memorable moment from Castilla y León was meeting Pacco and learning about all the instruments that he knew how to play. Especially when we were in his bodega and got to eat his chicken, which was amazing, and make music/sing with him.”

 

Leah: “One of the most memorable moments from Castilla y Leon was our stay at Paco’s house. It was so fun to eat and sing and just see how talented Paco was. It was amazing and I was so glad to have that experience.”

 

Jadyn: “One of my favorite memories from Castilla years León was when we went to dinner with a teenage girl named Maria, whose school we got to visit the next day. She was so sweet and fun to talk to. It was so fun to be able to get to know a Spaniard who’s our age, and see what teenage life is like in Spain.”

 

Kira: “One of my favorite parts of the trip so far was going to Paco Diez’s bodega. We had dinner there and then sang songs for what felt like hours. It was a really nice moment that made me feel connected with everyone.”

 

Jordan: “One of the best parts of my trip was seeing life throughout Spain and especially Castilla y leon. This was so interesting evacuase I got to see a whole different way of life. With Castilla y leon being a town with not a lot of tourism allowed for me to see a different way of life which was very eye opening.”

 

Leeya: “One of the best part of the trip was going to the High School. It was incredible to meet new people, especially the people my age, comparing our lives as well as different experiences. I met an amazing girl Maria and it was so fun to see her again in the school.”

 

Jillian: “Every single moment for the past 2 weeks have been exceptional, but one moment that truly changed my experience here was going to the Secondary School of Juan XXII. I was given the opportunity to visit a group of younger kids and talk to them in Spanish. Instead, we took on this opportunity to a different level and danced with them around the classroom. It was such a surreal experience and it truly was a moment of pure happiness.”

 

Rachel: “One of my favorite moments of the trips was getting to explore the city of Madrid with my friends. It was fun being able to absorb the hustle and bustle of the city and navigate our way through different spaces such as the museum and shopping areas.”

 

Sophie: “One very special moment was when we were in Castilla y Leon. We honored the only Jew in Tordesillas, Javito, who passed away about three months ago. We made a memorial for Israel and a memorial for the daffodil project in his yard. It was so special to be able to honor Javito’s life.”

 

Zach: “Tonight, we had dinner with the Jewish community of Madrid. I met the most awesome couple who were American and decided to move to Madrid. I’m not gonna lie, I forgot their names, but I got their phone number to keep in contact. Definitely one of the highlights of my trip.”

 

Buenas noches a todos.

 

(Reflection photos and videos here)