From Tuba City to Spain<br>

Orman said her students were basically forced to speak Spanish the entire time during their trip, as most people in Spain do not speak English. By the end of the first five days, the 17 students were ordering food and asking questions, helping one another out by translating English to Spanish. They said this gave them a better understanding of what another culture is like and how minor translations can have a variety of different interpretations.

When planning the trip, Orman said that she wanted the students to experience all the key landmarks in Spain, so they got a map and a history book and carefully planned what places would be key to learning about the history and origin of Spanish culture. They drove from Tuba City to Phoenix, then flew directly from Phoenix to JFK in New York then directly to Madrid. In all, it took about 16 hours and the plane they took was a wide-bodied jet, which held around 400 other passengers.

It was the first time about half of the students had ever flown. Some had never even been out of Arizona, so for some this was a giant leap into exploring a new land.

The place that the students said they enjoyed the most was Toledo because it had so many historic castles and medieval architecture. They said it was like going back in time to the eighth century. In their April 7 presentation to the TC Governing Board, the students said that they were able to draw comparisons to Hopi and Navajo architecture. They noted geometric designs on tiles in many of the cathedrals that were very much like the patterns in traditional Navajo rugs and that people entered buildings in a counter-clockwise fashion in Alhambra much like Hopi.

They also said that the time spent on the beach at Costa Del Sol, which faces the Mediterranean Sea, was also wonderful. The students said they were serenaded on the beach by local troubadours and the food was so deliciously fresh and wonderful. They also noted that the water was a completely different color of blue than the oceans that surround the United States. It had a much deeper cobalt hue.

While the students were on the trip, Madrid endured an isolated public bombing of a very small area in the heart of the city. However, the TC students were about two hours away from Madrid at the time of the bombing.

But once they saw the news of the bombing on a local Spanish channel, they said they had to visit the site before they left the country. Orman and her chaperones made arrangements for the students to visit the bombing site where they left flowers and lit candles for those who fatally wounded.

When interviewing the returning students, they excitedly talked about how traveling that far had improved their vision of what the rest of the world was like. Many said they want to continue to travel to other places now that they know how easy it could be.

They also said that the trip greatly improved their classroom Spanish speaking skills, and it has become more meaningful for them to speak Spanish since they have visited that country and experienced the people and culture firsthand.

Many expressed the wish for the Tuba City Governing Board to consider this a yearly trip for the Spanish Club and hope that they are setting a new standard of travel exploration for the rest of the student body at Tuba City High.

The students also shared the kinds of souvenirs they brought home, which included castanets since they were able to see flamenco dancing in person, swords from the city of Toledo, a few purchased embroidered shawls, which they said were unbelievably expensive and, of course, post cards.

Orman said she bought about $150 dollars worth of Spanish pastries and specialty candies to bring back to Tuba City so that when the Spanish club students made their presentation to the TC Governing Board, they could share food along with their power point presentation.

Orman said fund-raising was the most difficult part of the planning of such a big adventure for her Spanish Club, but “my students were very deserving of such a wonderful travel opportunity.” She said that she would do it again if she has the opportunity.

For more information on Tuba City High’s Spanish Club and their Spanish adventure, call Tuba City Public Relations at 928-283-1072.

(Rosanda Suetopka Thayer is Public Relations Director for Tuba City Unified School District.)

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