A group of 34 students at Catholic Central enjoyed part of their summer vacation by taking a trip overseas to Spain. The optional trip was offered by the language department for students taking Spanish.

“We take Spanish trips every two years. Latin trips are on alternating years, and I am organizing a French trip next year with French Teacher, Ms. Colleen Karamon, to France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. The next Latin trip is also next year to Sicily. In the past, we’ve had Spanish trips to Spain in 2019, and Costa Rica in 2022. Latin Teacher, Mr. Anthony Cornish, has led trips to Italy and Greece in recent years as well,” stated Language Arts Teacher Cecilia Sikkenga. 

Sikkenga continued, “Last time we went to Spain, we focused on the central and southern regions; this time we focused on the central and northern regions, including small towns like Avila, where St. Teresa of Avila is from, the Basque Country, and of course, Madrid, Barcelona, and La Costa Brava. It was a great combination of cultural immersion, sightseeing, food, play, and beach time!” 

The language department will sometimes open the trip to the rest of the school if they have space. Students do not earn credit from the trip. However, there is an option through the tour company Explorica to pursue that. 

“Our trip to Spain was geared toward language acquisition and cultural immersion. It was very rewarding to see my students interact with the food, the people, and the language, and to see what they made of the Royal Palace in Madrid, the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Spain, the medieval walled city of Toledo, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, and so many other diverse elements of Spanish culture,” stated chaperone and Theology Teacher Colin Whitehead.  

“I went abroad with the school when I was a student at CC, and the experience gave me a stronger point of contact with native speakers and left me with more motivation to learn Spanish. This is an experience that will remain with my students and have lasting effects on how they view the world around them,” Whitehead stated.