Spain: Sustainable Communities & Mediterranean Culture, Session 1A
June 29, 2025
Right when we got off the Dallas plane, we were greeted by new friends and mentors — their comforting smiles soothing my airplane nerves. Everyone was so amazing and friendly, immediately bonding and chatting, even with people who wouldn’t be in the same group. We even sat down on the airport floor in the waiting area and started playing cards.
When we got to Spain, I instantly bonded with my roommates — my sister, Bri, and Audrey. We even asked if we could keep our room assignments a little longer so we’d have more time to hang out together.
Spain is beautiful, and the food is even better. We’re making memories with every step along the way.
By: Abigail NB
When we arrived in Spain, everyone clicked right away — wasting no time getting to know each other. The bus ride to our hotel wasn’t too long, and once we arrived, we jumped into group activities and went outside to explore, all while learning about Spanish culture and community.
We had our first Spanish breakfast — churros with thick hot chocolate — and they were so delicious . Definitely the perfect way to start our day!
We also visited Puerta del Sol, where we learned about Kilómetro Cero — the geographic center of Spain — and the story behind the city’s symbol, the bear and the strawberry tree (el oso y el madroño).
In the late afternoon, we visited the beautiful Retiro Park, where we took part in fun team-building activities that helped us grow closer and build trust. Later that night, we had our first taste of classic Spanish tapas — tortilla de patata, queso manchego, and jamón.
Through many icebreakers and shared experiences, we’re already been discovering the beauty of life with a supportive team — a space where we can grow in ourselves so we can make the world around us better.
By: Brianna O.
June 30, 2025
Today we left for Lozoya which is a rural village in the mountains. We were sad lo leave Hotel Persal in Madrid, but it ended up being a great day. The first thing we did in Lozoya was check-in to Ciclolodge and then get ready for our hike. After our hike through the tall trees and shrubby ferns we drove to a natural pool for a dip. At the pool the clouds moved in and it started drizzling, but the majority of us jumped in and after acclimating to the cold water we started a game of “Marco Polo”. We were all parched and hungry so we went back for dinner at Ciclolodge. At dinner we tried salmorejo which is a cold tomato soup. We also had huge burgers and ice cream for dessert. After dinner we went for an astronomy session and ended the lesson in a planetarium where we watched videos about the stars and planets.
By: Zayna & Amelia 🪐
July 1, 2025
Today in Lozoya, we did the orientation challenge scavenger hunt. Our group took a different approach to the hunt by going to the lower sites first. We struggled finding point 6, the cemetery, but used the main road as trail markers and eventually found it. Next, we went to point 8, which was a group knot. Everyone really wanted to do the activity. Then we headed over to the kayaking spot and discussed our favorite movies.
After this scavenger hunt, we went to the kayaking place with our guides, Henry and Ana. We were 2 to a kayak and got to choose our partners once we were in the water. We played different games and challenges, like dancing the Macarena, having one person stand up in a kayak, and more. Some people ended up in the water. The views were very, very nice. I spent time with Archer. We then headed back to the hotel for lunch, which consisted of salad with goat cheese and steak and potatoes. It was very yummy.
Later, we had siesta time. Half the group went to the pool and the other half stayed at the hotel. We had some readers and some card- players. After that we headed to Ecos del Lozoya and learned about organic agriculture with Jorge. We also picked some berries. They tasted great and the yellow raspberries were a fan favorite. After that we got on the bus and headed to Buitrago. There was a pretty cool old castle and some cool street art/grafitti (@DrewMeyers). We had bocadillos in Buitrago. Overall, today was a great day!
By: Sebastian and Patrick 😎
July 2, 2025
First of all, happy birthday to my mom! I love you!
We started our trip from Lozoya village VERY early this morning (5:30!) and embarked back to Madrid in order to take a speed train that went up to 290Km/h. The train ride was long, but we passed the time quickly by playing card games, talking or calling up on sleep. Our first steps out of the train station into Barcelona were magical, and so is the hostel we’re staying at – very nice beds. Soon after, we embarked for lunch.
For lunch we are at a restaurant called Flax&Kale. It was so delicious. We then returned to the hotel for siesta! Afterwards we enjoyed a nice walk to Park Güell. We explored and took lots of pictures before heading for dinner at an Asian restaurant called Loto. The perfect treat to end the night was a scoop of ice cream for dessert before heading to the hotel and going to sleep.
Adios,
By: Audrey & Ky (P.S. Hi moms!😊)
July 3, 2025
Today was a fantastic day! The weather wasn’t as hot as yesterday, which made everything even more enjoyable. We started with breakfast at the TOC hotel. Afterwards, we walked to the bike store (Green Bikes), where we began our tour with our amazing guides: Matías, Rowan, and Alexandra.
We learned a lot about the history of Barcelona and how the different areas were shaped. This included the Muslim and Arab influence on Spain, as well as the different neighborhoods of the city like Raval, El Born, and the Gothic Quarter (Barrio Goticó). It reminded me of all the history tours in Athens and across Greece.
We saw the beautiful beach at the end of the tour, along with a stunning fountain-like mural co-constructed by Gaudí. After that, we had lunch at a famous local market: La Boqueria. It was packed with people and food. It reminded me of the markets in Vietnam, just without the bargaining.
Next, we headed to the Sagrada Familia (the famous Gothic church designed by Gaudí), which was full of history and breathtaking architecture. It looked kind or similar to St. Peter’s Church in New York but even more beautiful. Our tour guide Marta explained so many cool details.
We’re now at dinner eating pintxos (typical elaborate tapas from the Basque Country). Archer got gifts for his family, and I’m still looking. The lights just went out in the restaurant as we’re preparing a surprise for Jaya’s birthday! 🎂 We all sang happy birthday in English and Spanish. Feliz cumpleaños, Jaya! We even had chocolate cake to celebrate. All in all, a fantastic day.
By: Bach & Archer
July 4, 2025
Barcelona, Spain
Today started bright and early with a grab-and-go breakfast from the hotel, which we ate on the way to the bus stop. We went to our morning service activity at Mar Bella beach with a local organization called Good Karma Projects 🌊♻️. Clara from the NGO shared some facts as we helped clean up the beach and sorted the trash, it was truly eye-opening to see the impact of plastic waste up close and how much we collected once we separated the various items.
After finishing up, we took another bus to Barceloneta beach, where we spent a couple of hours swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying the warm breeze from the Mediterranean Sea. It was the perfect break after a busy morning.
Later, we headed to Makamaka, a laid-back burger spot near the beach. We had lunch outside on their terrace , enjoying the food, the weather, and the fun vibes . The fries and burgers were amazing and we couldn’t skip dessert: brownies with banana ice cream! 🍦🍔
In the evening, we returned to the hotel by bus although the traffic was heavy. We did laundry together (a fun adventure), then made a quick stop at the market to grab snacks for tomorrow’s super long train ride. We got dressed up for our last night in Barcelona and wrapped up the day with a relaxing dinner: some delicious pizzas.
Hasta luego, Barcelona!
By: Vivi & Marley 🏝️
July 5, 2025
Barcelona to Dilar
We started our day super early at 6:00 AM, waking up in our hostel in Barcelona. From there, we caught a super-fast train and spent the next six hours traveling to Málaga. The ride flew by as we slept, chatted, played poker, and enjoyed the lunches and snacks we had stocked up on the day before.
Even though we had fun on the train, it definitely tested our energy. By the end, we were craving some comfort food so Popeyes to the rescue! It helped a little with the homesickness, too.
After the train, we took a two-hour bus ride to Dilar (Granada). Most of us took the opportunity to catch up on sleep and enjoy a proper siesta. Once we arrived, we dropped our stuff off at Zerbinetta hotel. Then we headed out to visit La Ermita nearby, where we met some local teens: Pablo, Nuria, Mónica, and Carmen. We also got to know Irene (La Flamenca ) and Matteo (El Clown) who will be hosting some fun activities at their place, Finca Furriola, in the coming days. The views and sunset from the hotel at dinner were stunningly beautiful. We are all looking forward to what’s next in this community .
By: Harrison & Gordie 🚂🤡
July 6, 2025
Dilar
Today we woke up a lot later, thankfully, at 8:30 in the hotel with the long name. Zerbinetta, I think. Breakfast was really good, not takeaway thankfully. Croissants, doughnuts, fruits, cheese, ham, juice and cereals. After breakfast, everyone walked to the finca (farm) to learn about permaculture. We learned all about how the people there -Matteo, James, and Irene- live sustainably. They have compost bathrooms, they grow food of all kinds, and help keep the land nice. We did some activities like weeding where the creek should be and picking oregano flowers. It was honestly pretty cool to learn about. Also, a couple of the girls from the community, Monica and Gloria, did the activities with us. Then we made sandwiches at the farm for lunch and went on a soft hike. We hiked to a river and we’re kind of going in the water and wading around, really cold water. Then we took the bus back to our hotel for a 2 hour siesta. During siesta , a few of us played poker and wrote Isa’s birthday card! When Isa came down, Eleni put a blindfold on her and led her to a room where we all surprised her with cake (chocolate). Once the surprise was over we went to Spanish class with our teacher Pilar. We did packets and filled the blanks to a Spanish song. After the Spanish class, we took another long 30 minute walk to la finca. According to the company, we didn’t need a bus, but I think we can all disagree with them. We then all flamed Mohammed about wearing three layers in 90 degree heat to keep the bugs away. We finally got to the finca and immediately washed our hands to start making homemade pizza. We ate it while listening to Matteo’s amazing song choices and under the nice evening sky. We had some good free time with the cats (I don’t know their names) and the dogs, Dino and India. And after that, we sang a second happy birthday (in Spanish) to Isa, except with a homemade cheesecake. After an energetic night meeting with our amazing leaders of the day, Eleni and Sam. We finished our night off with another long hike back to our hotel which included Archer and Bach scaring everyone and singing from Hamilton and Glee. What a long fun day, time to rest. Good night !
By: Eleni & Sam 🌱
July 7, 2025
Granada
We woke up around 8:20 in the morning at Hotel Zerbinetta and had breakfast there again. The options were mostly the same as yesterday, but this time they had eggs, which was a nice surprise.
After eating, we took a bus to the Alhambra Palace for a three hour tour with our amazing guide, Hamdi. He had such a great energy and really brought the history of the place to life. After, we had a 30 minute break to explore some of the local shops and pick up souvenirs.
In the afternoon, we stopped by a swimming pool to cool off and relax. It felt so good to refresh after walking around in the sun all morning.
Lunch was at a Moroccan restaurant. The food had interesting flavors. Afterward, we had a little more time to shop and that’s when the boys decided to buy matching shirts, which gave everyone a good laugh.
Later in the day, we headed to the Sacromonte neighborhood to see a flamenco show inside a cave called Venta del Gallo. It was such a powerful experience. The performers sang, danced, clapped, and poured so much passion into every moment. You could really feel the emotion in the room.
Before dinner, we stopped at the San Nicolás viewpoint to watch the sunset. The view of the Alhambra from there was absolutely stunning and one of the highlights of the day.
For dinner, we shared a variety of tapas. They were different from the ones we tried earlier in the trip, and it was fun to taste some new flavors together.
Now we’re on our way back to the hotel and getting ready for a pajama party during our evening meeting. It’s been a full day, but definitely one we’ll remember.
By: Jaya & Isaiah 💃🏽🏰
July 8, 2025
Dilar
This morning, I enjoyed a plate with an egg omelet, orange juice, an apple, and a glazed donut. Afterward, we enjoyed a comedy class with Matteo, who showed us the freedom of being ourselves and the joy it brings to life. He then had us do some activities that sparked our imagination and inspired us to live creatively.
At the end, he gave each of us a red clown nose while talking to us about the world. We learned that it’s easy to complain or start conflicts, but we need to be the difference that makes the world a better place.
Later, we gathered together not only as a community but as a family, welcoming liberty, understanding, and openness and also abandoning any judgment, discrimination, or hate. After that, we enjoyed some pasta made by Matteo and Irene. I added Parmesan cheese, tomatoes, and zucchinis that were grown in Matteo’s garden.
Once we got back from the activity, we had some siesta time. I used that time to sleep, play poker with the guys, and then hang out at the pool with the girls while practicing our dance for the upcoming talent show. Not long after, we freshened up and got ice cream. There was a wide variety, and everyone felt lighter and happier afterward.
Then, we went to meet the Dilar Women to learn about crochet and their organization, which supports the community. They spoke to us about Women’s Day, gender violence, and how important awareness is. The community center also supports the elderly with member activities like games and workshops to help them feel strong and empowered. In addition, they create crochet covers that provide shade from the heat. We saw these on a long road when we left which was an impressive display of the community’s hard work and unity.
Eventually, we headed to the market to restock on snacks and make sure everyone was well-fed. After eating, the boys and I practiced some sports while the girls played tag. We were all very physically active and got plenty of exercise. Some people helped Matteo and Irene clean up, and then we headed back to the hotel.
Finally, we had our night meeting, which was a lot of fun into a pajama party! We went over the rules again and talked through any issues that came up, practicing communication, responsibility, honesty and teamwork. This day was both entertaining and educational.
By: Miguel & Brianna ⚽️🎶
July 9, 2025
Dilar
Today we got up early and had breakfast at the hotel. We headed to the rec center soon after our flamenco class, but before the class started. Then we handed out gifts to the Dilar youth and some of us even played soccer with them.
The flamenco class with Irene taught us the basics, and we also learned more about the history of the dance. We played several group games and practiced our new flamenco skills.
After the class, Matteo came to the rec center to help us prepare for the talent show later in the day. Then we headed back to the hotel for lunch. We had some siesta time to relax, pack, and get ready/dressed for the talent show. We met in the lobby at six for a Spanish lesson with Pilar. At the end, we received certificates showing we completed four hours of Spanish at an A1 level of comprehension!
Afterward, we took a 30-minute walk down to the finca, where Irene read while Matteo grilled barbecue for us. Everyone loved dinner, especially the kebabs and dessert (ice cream bars)!
The last activity of the night was the talent show, held in the dome of the finca. We had singers, dancers, comedy, magic, and even a fashion show. The winners were the fashion model show which included Patrick, Archer, Sebastian, and Gordie. Everyone did an amazing job, and honestly, everyone was a star ⭐ last night !
We had such a great time but sadly we have to say our goodbyes because it our last night in Dilar.
By: Amelia & Waitman 🎨
July 10, 2025
Today after breakfast, we traveled from Dilar to Malaga. We stopped at the Nerja Caves, and they were lit. It was super humid, but it was nice to go down into the caves. They were huge! Afterward, we did a virtual reality tour of the caves, which was also lit and interactive. I got kind of motion sickness, but it was cool inside the cave, which felt great because it was so hot outside.
After the caves, we went to Nerja beach. For lunch, we had a typical menu with a first, second, and third course. It included paella, salad, spaghetti, hake, chicken, and gazpacho. For dessert, it was either brownie or chocolate cake. Then we walked down to the beach. The water at Nerja Beach was very clear, and the landscape was beautiful. The water wasn’t as cold as the beach in Barcelona though.
Then we walked up to the Balcony of Europe. We enjoyed the views and we took a group picture. We also had a little time to walk around and shop. After we checked into the hotel, we showered and had a delicious Italian dinner. We got to choose from pasta, pizza, and salads. It was so so good!
We finally did some laundry at the laundromat (although it took longer than expected). We had our night meeting, and later we walked around and got gelato before the night was over. Then we went to bed.
Malaga is beautiful. So far, it has been my favorite of all the places we’ve traveled to. Excited for the next few days!
-Seb & Abigail ⚽
July 11, 2025
Malaga
Today we woke up and had breakfast at the hotel. Afterward, we went to visit the Spanish Commission for Refugees (CEAR). We discussed the difference between a refugee and an immigrant before hearing the experiences of two refugees. Listening to the stories of a refugee from Cameroon and another from Palestine was not only interesting but also gave us perspective on the hardships refugees face.
We went shopping for about an hour and a half before lunch. It was so nice to have some free time in Malaga and get gifts for our families. We ate at a taqueria, which was so delicooso and then headed back to the hotel for a siesta.
Later, we went to the beach. The bus ride there was crowded but fun. When we arrived, we saw the waves were too big to swim safely. Therefore, we stayed out of the water. Some boys built a sandcastle, which was pretty cool.
Later on, we went to the supermarket to get snacks for the train. Then we went to the house where we had a paella cooking class. We split into three teams, Green, Red and Blue. The food was super yummy, and the cheese bread was the best. Honestly, Blue Team made it! Everyone did an amazing job. We finally returned to the hotel to pack and get some rest.
-Audrey & Patrick 🏑💃
July 12, 2025
The weather was perfect today, not too hot. Today was a fun and eventful day. We started the morning with breakfast at the hotel in Málaga, then headed to the train station. It was so sad to leave Malaga I wish we had 2 more days there. On the train, people slept, played card games like poker, and found other ways to pass the time. About halfway through the journey, the train experienced technical difficulties, and we stopped for about 30 minutes. Fortunately, the ride was smooth the rest of the way to Madrid.
Once we arrived in Madrid, we returned to the first hotel we stayed at earlier in the trip, Hotel Persal. After checking in, we went next door for a delicious lunch at a restaurant called Ginger. Our afternoon was spent at the Reina Sofía Museum with our guide, Marta. The museum holds many stunning works of art, including pieces by Picasso, such as his famous painting Guernica. We also saw surreal works by Salvador Dalí, including The Invisible Man and The Great Masturbator, both of which sparked interesting reactions from the group.
Afterwards, we took a very much-needed siesta to relax before heading out for one of our final dinners in Spain at the San Miguel Market, where we tried a variety of Spanish tapas in small groups. The day ended with free time for souvenirs, poker, and ice cream. It’s hard to believe the trip is almost over, what a bittersweet feeling.
-Ky & Archer 🏌️📖
July 13, 2025
In the morning, we ate breakfast around 9 at the hostel. Before meeting our tour guide, Sebastian, we ran into Spider-Man on the street and took some fun pictures with him. After that, we met up with Sebastian and began our walking tour to learn about the city of Madrid. We explored the history of Spain, saw both historic and modern landmarks, and had a lot of fun along the way!
Toward the end of the tour, Sebastian had Harrison, Patrick, Miguel, Geordie, Isaiah, and Bach act as six kings while he explained some interesting stories about the royal family’s history. When the tour ended, the group headed to Plaza Santa Ana for lunch and ended up running into half of Group B, which was a nice surprise.
After lunch, we returned to the hotel and had some free time to pack, relax, and recharge. It was our last time to go shopping. Later, we went out for dinner at a lively Asian market. We all had fun enjoying the upbeat music, colorful atmosphere, and delicious food. We saw all of Group B there where some people mingled, but the boys decided to ignore each other.
We ended the night with ice cream and took lots of pictures for Instagram. We just had our final night meeting and are now saying our goodbyes, feeling both happy and emotional as the trip comes to a close.
-Bach & Vivi 🏅📚
