Returning from a five-week stay in Seville, Spain as part of the Spanish exchange student program, Edie Leon ‘26 and Giah Sharf ’26 brought back with them plenty of memorable photos, newfound friendships and life-changing experiences and memories.
“It was such an amazing opportunity and experience,” Sharf said. “It was definitely the most fun trip that I’ve ever been on in my whole life.”
Leon and Sharf’s trip took place from March 16 to April 18 at the Europa International School in Seville, Spain. While there, they stayed with the same students who they had hosted during the first half of the exchange program in the fall.
Throughout their stay, both students were able to fully dive into the unique Spanish culture and experience holidays such as Semana Santa, a week-long Christian celebration, and La Feria de Abril, a week-long local festival.
“I was there for [Semana Santa] and it was really cool to see all of the parades and floats,” Sharf said. “Two weeks later was La Feria, which was insane. It was so much fun. The dresses were amazing, and I learned their dances, and it was just such a good time.”
“It was really crazy,” Leon said. “With the music and the community, you could see how passionate they were about their culture, which I love because I don’t think we have things like that in America. It was just cool how even though I didn’t know everyone, I still connected with them and hung out.”
Additionally, both Leon and Sharf emphasized the supportive community that welcomed them in Spain and the close friendships that they left with.
“The thing I love about the people is that it feels like they’re a lot more excited to be with each other,” Leon said. “When you see your friend, you start screaming and you give them a hug, but in America, you just dap them up and go ‘what’s up’ or something, so [in Spain] it just felt more loving.”
“Everyone was so welcoming, and it was just such a fun environment,” Sharf said. “It really was a good time the whole time. The school [day] was nine to five, which was long, but it was fine because I had my friends and I could just have fun the whole day.”
Mrs. Carol Ayers, the main organizer of the exchange, emphasized the importance of participating in exchange programs and experiencing another culture.
“I think any exchange program is really important for students to do,” Mrs. Ayers said. “Being in the classroom is certainly the start of learning a language, but since it’s not necessarily reality, it’s always important to get some “real life” experience, and studying abroad is a great way to do so.”
Participating in the exchange program has also taught Sharf and Leon a lot, not only about the Spanish language and culture but also about themselves.
“[The exchange program] definitely made a big difference for my language skills,” Sharf said. “It was all conversational and I knew that I had to take the opportunity and speak Spanish because that’s what I was there for. It also taught me that I always have to take opportunities when I can, because I would’ve regretted it so much if I hadn’t gone.”
“I’ve learned to step out of my comfort zone and be okay with not understanding everything,” Leon said. “Even though there were times when I didn’t know what was going on or I didn’t understand exactly what someone was saying, it was okay. They were good moments to learn from and grow as a person.”
A longstanding offering of the GA Language Department, the exchange program continues to receive overwhelmingly positive feedback from people who have participated in it.
“I would absolutely recommend [the exchange program],” Mrs. Ayers said. “Every year, when students come back, it has been a life-changing experience for them.”
“[By participating], your Spanish is going to get better, that’s the obvious thing,” Leon said. “But culturally, it’s so important to travel and see what it’s like in other countries. With the exchange program, you’re truly immersing yourself in that culture. When you’re doing an exchange program, you’re not just signing up to speak Spanish for five weeks. You’re signing up for the experience of a lifetime.”