The group at Avila Spain.
The Study Abroad Program in Salamanca, Spain, began on July 1. This program is directed by Professor Alberto Ferreiro, Seattle Pacific University, and is co-sponsored by “Centro Fray Luis de León” and A.C.E. Also serving on the team of directors are Professors Joan Hoffman and Sean Dwyer, from Western Washington University, and Professor Suzanne Tierney, adjunct faculty at Seattle Pacific and Group Program Coordinator at A.C.E.
A total of 44 students are participating in this year’s program, with sessions running for 4 weeks in July, or 6-8 weeks in July and August. The majority of the students are from SPU and Western, and three students are from out-of-state, representing University of Oregon, Butler, and Dartmouth.
Students are enrolled in “Cursos Internacionales” at the Universidad de Salamanca, which is the third oldest University still in operation in Europe, having opened its doors in 1218. The students are proud to be studying Spanish in the same classrooms as the great literary masters, such as Miguel de Cervantes, author of “Don Quijote de la Mancha.”
In addition to studying history and literature, our students are enjoying salsa-dancing class, and are learning to cook paella from Spanish chefs. The city is bustling with life, and the Plaza Mayor is a great place to soak up the glorious sun and interact with the friendly Spaniards. The students are also participating in “Intercambios”, or language partner programs. Their Spanish-language skills are improving greatly as they are also making friends that will last a lifetime.
During the weekend of 15-17 July, the group visited Aveiro; a picturesque town built on a network of canals, earning it the name “Venice of Portugal.” The coastal towns of Barra and Costa Nova were a beautiful place to relax and practice Portuguese with the local fishermen.
On the 23rd, the group visited Avila, a beautiful Spanish town famous for its great walls, which still encircle the old city, and have a perimeter of 2.5 kilometers.
A.C.E. 