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Spanish Sojourn
Samantha Smith '24 & Jackie Martinez '26
By Derf W. Maitland P’13, P’14, P’17, P’18
This past summer, two Delone Catholic High School students traveled to Spain as part of a Spanish language immersion trip. Senior, Samantha “Sam” Smith ’24 and sophomore, Jaqueline “Jackie” Martinez ’26 traveled with Delone Catholic International Student Coordinator, Dr. Barbara Wert and her granddaughter, Averie, as part of a trip sponsored by Lancaster Mennonite School. Between the two schools, a total of seven students and four chaperones participated in the trip.
From June 5-19, Smith and Martinez enjoyed the cultural experience of Madrid and Leon, touring major sites (Moorish, Roman, and Medieval structures and ruins), visiting a few schools, eating wonderful savory food, and walking part of the Camino trail.
As an “immersion” trip, both Smith and Martinez were thrust into the midst of the Spanish language.
During week one, each student stayed with a host family in the suburbs of Madrid. Smith described her host family as very kind. Their daughters Claudia, age 15, and Marina, age 11, made Smith feel right at home. Smith attended one of Claudia’s horse shows, and was amazed at how beautiful and celebratory it was: “It’s like a festival for the riders and horses.” Martinez described her family, whose daughter, Silvia, was of a similar age, as very welcoming.
As an “immersion” trip, both Smith and Martinez were thrust into the midst of the Spanish language. Smith, who has only taken Spanish 1 and 2 at Delone Catholic so far, and tends to be shy said, “Since you have to communicate, it forced me to use the language.” Martinez, who is a native Spanish speaker, commented that their dialect is very different; in fact, her host family is from Catalan, which has a distinct dialect from that used in Madrid.
Both students were able to enjoy the culture of Madrid. Smith’s favorite part was the shops in Plaza Mayor, the central square of the city. Martinez was amazed by the beautiful paintings at the Prado Museum (Museo Nacional del Prado) – especially the art with a Catholic theme, of which there was much. Both loved the food and the Spanish emphasis on celebrating meals.
The second part of their trip took them north of Madrid, where they walked part of the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St. James: think Appalachian Trail as a pilgrimage). The students walked approximately 20 miles of the trail over two days, ending near the city of Leon. Walking in the Spanish heat, Martinez said that although “I thought I was going to die, walking the trail felt calming” and allowed the students to bond together. Dr. Wert noted that she kept track of her steps on an app during the trip and that the students probably clocked in over 100 miles of walking over the two weeks.
Smith and Martinez, who were acquaintances before the trip, are now good friends. Moreover, the two made many friends over the course of the trip. They still keep in touch with their newfound Spanish friends, and their friendships continue with the students from Lancaster Mennonite.
Although at first they were both homesick, and it was difficult for them being in a new environment and a new country, both are very glad that they went, and would love to go again.
Lancaster Mennonite plans to do this trip in two years and will again invite Delone Catholic students to join them.
