Malaga, Spain  March 19-29, 2007

From March 19th to March 29th twenty-four TCS/LEGACY HS students accompanied Maari and a few other staff members to sunny Malaga, Spain. Ever since the moment these students touched Spanish ground, there was never a dull moment.

Day One

The whole group landed in Paris at 3pm excited to be more than halfway to their destination. From there, they caught a connecting flight to Malaga, Spain and finally arrived at 6pm.  They stuffed their suitcases on the bus and headed to the hotel.  When calling to give us an update, Maari said, “The students are "dynamite" and are behaving like young ladies and gentlemen!”  Maybe it was because they were just so exhausted!

 

Day Two

The students took another bus from Malaga to Granada.  Once there, the group was given an unbelievable tour of the Alhambra.  "The Red One"--as it's known in Arabic—was built between 1248 and 1354 when the South of Spain was still ruled by the Moors, and the region called Al-Andalus.  The Alhambra was the very last Moorish castle captured by the Spanish in the latter 15th century.  The tour was unbelievable.  Our students wouldn't stop asking questions and were fascinated by everything the tour guides said.  In a letter home to his parents Ryan N. of enter grade here wrote, “If you go to Spain, you should definitely visit The Alhambra—it’s a mixture of culture and history!” 

At Carmen Restaurant everyone was treated to a three course meal, which included paella and Spanish olives.  Paella is a Catalonian dish that comes from the Catalan word for “pan”.  That’s because of the way it’s eaten and made.  To make this traditional Spanish dish, you first stir-fry meat and vegetables in a pan with olive oil and then you add water and rice.  The rice eventually sucks up all the water and voila!  You have an amazing Spanish dish to serve all your hungry guests.

Day Three

We gave permission to each of the students to write one sentence describing their experience to their children (Internet cafés do add up!):

Paul - It’s very nice in Spain! Life is pretty good here!  

Ben - I’m having fun in Spain.  Water basketball was great today!  

Alex - Spain Rocks! Having lots of fun, but I miss you guys too!  

Joe - Having fun!  Lots of sun!  Love you mom, dad, Haley and Mark.  

Andy - Having fun!  Just chillin'  

 

Seren - Having lots of Fun.  I love it here!  

Dane - Beautiful Mediterranean Sea!  The clouds touch the mountains!  

Ryan - If you go to Spain, you should definitely visit The Alhambra - it´s a mixture of culture and history!  

Brendan R. - like the song says, "It’s a Wonderful World After All" - Also, I did the Michael J. Fox guitar move on the dance floor!  

Chris - This is possibly the best experience I have ever had!  If YOU want one, you should come here too!  

Afiya - Please pack the rest of my clothes and ship them here!  I have found my mansion and I’m having a blast!  

Anna - Spain is fun!  Kinda chilly though but the guys are hot and the fries are better than McDonalds!  

Matthew - Smooth sailing here!  I did very good in Archery.  Almost a bulls eye twice!  

Robert - Hi everyone!  The pool was freezing - Archery was new – the food was DELICIOUS! and oh so much more!  

Sean - I enjoyed the pool!  The ice-cream is different!  I have eaten so much salad, pizza, bacon, etc...  

Brendan H. - I’m enjoying the trip.  It’s a little piece of heaven.  

Tristan - The food is great!  They have everything!  Ice Cream, Salmon, Chicken!  It’s Great! Mekkah - I’m having a great time!  It’s so much fun!  But I miss you guys!  

Jonah - I like Spain and my roommates make me laugh.  The food is delicious too!  

Ashley - I’m fabulous!   

Tarun - We’ll, I’m the best boy!  (I got this from Ashley)  

Elias - I passed the deep water swimming test!  

Austin - I’m having a great time!  I love Spain!  

Jenny- I’m being gregarious and enjoying the food immensely!

Day Four and Five

The group set out to explore Malaga.  Along the streets of the city, the students got to see row after row of large yachts that looked "impatient to sail".  The students all    agreed that they wished they could sail them.  On the other side of the building, they found steps etched into white cliffs leading to the Mediterranean.  It was so beautiful!  Dane described it best when he said,  “The clouds touch the mountains.” 

 

Day Six

 

The group got to see the Picasso Museum, surprisingly hidden on a narrow street.  They all spent an hour and a half in the museum.  The students really loved it, but Victor remarked that, "our students draw better!" 

 

At dinner the students were all excited to see flamenco dancing. Flamenco comes from the South of Spain, but it is believed to be a combination of influences: Andalusian, Islamic, Sephardic and Gypsy cultures are all thought to have played a part in its creation.  Dancers make music as they dance, so that flamenco is accompanied by singing (cante), rhythmic hand clapping (palmas), rhythmic feet stomping (zapateado), castanets (castanuelas), and the flamenco guitar (toque).  At the performance that the group went to see in Malaga, Chris W. was pulled up on stage to dance.  Everyone said he did a very good job!

 

Day Seven

 

Today it rained.  Maari gave each kid five Euros to buy a treat at the local supermarket.  The Euro is the currency not only of Spain, but as of today (2007) 17 other countries in the European Union.  317 million Europeans use the Euro every day!   The students were really excited to be using a different kind of money, but more importantly to be able to talk in a foreign language.  “Buen’ Dia’!  Quanto vale?" 

Day Eight and Nine

 

The group drove down to the Costa del Sol and Gibraltar.  Gibraltar is a British colony at the end of Spain.  The region gets its name from its Arabic name: Gibr al Tariq, meaning “rock of Tariq”.  General Tariq ibn-Ziyad led the first armies from Morocco to Spain in 711. 

Standing on the rock at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula, the students were amazed that they could see into Africa!  In Gibraltar--still a British colony--the students were excited everyone spoke English again!  They got a tour of the caves surrounding the city, but what was the best part of their trip to Gibraltar?  The over 250 Barbary Macaques that will come right up to tourists.  The Macaques are the only wild monkeys in all of Europe!  The monkeys came all the way up to everyone in our group and sat on everyone’s shoulders!

Last Evening

All of the students had a formal evening!  Everyone dressed up and went downstairs to the hotel’s ballroom where the hotel set up an evening of games and dances.   Adios Espana!  It was unanimous: Spain will be missed, but getting back to school to show all your friends pictures you took?  Priceless. . .