This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the Spanish culture and language in Cádiz, the oldest city in Europe. We will begin our trip with a homestay before we travel to the typical villages of Andalucia. There we will be living and working within an interesting network of permaculture projects, doing a range of activities.
On the farm, we will help design and plant a bee-friendly garden and get our creative juices going as we paint and do other artistic activities. The farm is based in a rural area where traditional knowledge and farming practices are still used.
Cádiz is an open port city with a thriving Spanish culture. Flamenco began in Cádiz, and the city also has many of the cleanest beaches in Spain. Its small size is perfect for students in this age group! It truly is a hidden jewel.
You will experience the vibrant culture that Cádiz is known for as we visit the many beautiful beaches and historical sites of the city and region. Each day will be filled with fun activities for teens, such as sea kayaking, flamenco dancing lessons, music classes, and tons of time exploring the cobblestone streets and white sand beaches.
Improve your Spanish skills through conversations with locals, your host family, and new friends. There are only a few American students here but many students from Europe. At K2 Internacional School, you will not be just another student. Small class sizes (around 10 students) mean you will receive personal attention from friendly teachers who lead interesting, interactive classes. You will have three hours of classroom Spanish as well as opportunities to practice your new skills in real-life situations.
Age: High School (15-18 years)
Includes: All accommodations in Spain are included and each student will live with a welcoming host family. Two students will share a room and a bathroom. After eight days in Cadiz, we will be staying in a small village and work with Beetime in Santa Luica. Students are provided with three traditional and delicious meals each day; all transportation within Spain; craft activities; guided tours of Roman ruins on the beaches; and an archaeological site in Cadiz; one week of Spanish classes at K2 Internacional School, three days of surfing lessons in El Palmar, and a Gogi leader to guide, support, educate and help translate throughout the trip.
Does not include: Airfare to/from Spain ($800-$1,000); mandatory international travel insurance (emergency medical and evacuation insurance can be purchased for $75 – $150 through Travel Guard or Nomad Travel. Details will be provided with confirmation of deposit).
Learn Spanish at K2 Internacional School: In the mornings from 9:00-1:00 during the week students will improve their language proficiency as they settle in with their host family and open up more and more in class. By living in Cadiz students have the opportunity to improve language skills, meet new friends, and learn about this historic European city in an engaging and meaningful way.
Surfing en El Palmar: Students will travel down the coast after their cultural week in Cadiz to the unspoiled countryside. There are sand dunes, pine groves and crystal clear waters. This is the ideal place for surfing and taking part in a service learning project. Students will stay in in a small village near the beach and learn how to work together cooking, living and being in a Spanish community. There are endless beaches of fine white sand and in the afternoons it is common to see a local riding on his Andalusian horse on the beach.
Sustainability & Service Learning in Santa Lucia : Students will have the opportunity to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills as they take part in a service learning project with BeeTime. The BeeTime Project developed in an effort to engage in a social-ecological problem-solving approach to the current adversities facing the honeybee. Working with local people, it cultivates a community of natural beekeepers who see their hives as an integral part of their permaculture projects or smallholding gardens, and with artists to raise awareness to the fascinating stories hidden within the hive.
Flamenco, music and dance: Students will have the opportunity to experience hands-on learning from flamenco to satirical “chirigota” tunes and drumming. Andalucía has always been a very musical land! This is a place of music and dancing! We will watch the amazing guitar strings being played with the snapping of fingers and clicking castanets! Experience the stamping of feet and the crowd yelling “ole, ole”, all of which mold together to create this wonderful culture we know as flamenco.
Beach excursions: Cadiz is full of sandy beaches and beautiful spots not to be missed. Students will spend many afternoons exploring the city beaches as well as a day at Bolonia. We will visit the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia. The beaches of Andalucia are filled with brilliant mixes of local color. Students and families will have an evening together on the beach that was featured in the James Bond movie Die Another Day, starring Pierce Brosnan and Halle Berry.
Spanish food and a cooking class: Spaniards love to cook and they love their food! The food of Spain is packed with flavor and character. Students will learn about the local dishes, from tasty tapas to superb seafood and traditional roasts. Students will have the opportunity to purchase ingredients (in Spanish) at the local market and as a group learn how to cook a large paella for our fiesta!
Living with a host family: This is the best way to really understand more about the culture and learn Spanish! By being immersed in the culture each student will gain a new perspective of themselves and the world with empathy and compassion. Gogi Abroad and K2 have been working with these host families for over 10 years and the host families welcome everyone with open arms!
