Muchas Gracias and Hasta Luego

I wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to Sonja for giving me this opportunity of a lifetime.  I'm so glad I met you nearly two years ago as a chaperone for my daughter's 7th grade class; and that our discussions about my returning one day came to fruition.  Thank you also to Mouta for your gracious manner of inclusion and warmth.  Thank you Jose and my fellow classmates for making me laugh every time we had class together.  Thank you also for expanding my knowledge of Spanish and world culture.  Thank you Amelia for your patience and words of encouragement.

I feel I have grown in my potential to utilize Spanish in my communication with the Spanish speaking people of my home town of Woodstock Illinois as well as with the Spanish speaking people of the world by being a student at the Spanish School of La Herradura these past three weeks.  

Thank you also to the many good people of La Herradura and to my new friends that I met  along the way.  You made me feel so welcome and accepted.  I have experienced the people of La Herradura to  have a broad charity towards others, a boundless sense of good will and a cheerfulness of spirit that is unmatched anywhere else in the world.  In Spain it's never goodbye but rather - Hasta Luego.  

Hasta Luego La Herradura and the Spanish School of La Herradura!  

Love,
Carolina

More cool pics

You want me to translate?

Yesterday on my walk to the scuba shop for my morning dive, I was stopped by a car with a family asking me if I spoke Spanish.  I was proud to say yes.  I then proceeded to give them the information they were seeking as they asked what there was to do in La Herradura as they were passing through and were considering stopping.  I was able to tell them in Spanish that they could go kayaking, wind surfing, paddle boarding, horse back riding, etc.  They could visit the castle and swim. And of course I told them they could arrange to take Spanish lessons as a family at the Spanish school of La Herradura.  As yesterday also happened to be the "Festival of the Sea",  I also advised that they could go to the Civic Center and obtain a schedule of events as there were many activities for children planned along the beach for this weekend such as a turtle release, the creation of mandalas with rocks in the sand, etc.  I feel like I really got to know this town during my brief stay here.  It will be difficult to leave.

Then later in the evening,at a guitar concert that I was attending, I was asked to translate from English to Spanish as a woman wished to communicate her appreciation of the Flamenco guitar player's music.  I relayed her message in Spanish to the musician.  In summary she told him that she was reminded of the sea and footprints making marks in the sand whilst walking by listening to him play.  I was delighted to be utilized in the capacity of a translator.  This to me symbolizes that I am progressing in my goal to improve my Spanish speaking abilities for practical use through this immersion experience.  I hope to come back again - if not annually- to take lessons at the Spanish School of La Herradura as learning Spanish continues to be an ongoing goal for both my personal and professional development. 

www.spanish-school-herradura.com

Recommendations from previous students at the Spanish school

"I came here 7 years ago having booked a 2 week intensive Spanish course with the Spanish School of La Herradura.  I stayed with a host family and liked it so much I extended my coursework by another 6 weeks.  Here it is 7 years later and I never left La Herradura.  Jose was one of the best teachers I've ever had."

Marjolein - adult learner - La Herradura

"I thought La Herradura was a tranquil and beautiful place.  Looking for sea glass on the beach where we had kayaked was my favorite part.  The teachers were very good and kind to us and arranged many things for us to do.  It was a lot like normal Spanish language class only the teachers were more active."

Caroline - 7th grade student District 200 Woodstock, Illinois

"I have to agree with Caroline on the fact that there was plenty to do.  The school provided us with a lot of fun activities and I really liked kayaking and the trip to the market.  It was a very relaxing environment.  All the people were very kind to us and the teachers made class really fun.  Although our school group also spent some time in Barcelona and Granada and lastly with host families in Navoral de La Mata, I think staying in La Herradura was my favorite part of our school trip to Spain.

Shannon (my daughter)- 7th grade student at District 200 Woodstock, IL.

www.spanish-school-herradura.com

Message to my children Cody, Shannon and Alex

As each of you are all very intelligent and conscientious students,you must know how very proud I am of your academic achievements,  I thought you might like to know that I have been very good about completing my homework on time, as well.  Always be a life long learner and you will go far.

Cody

Shannon

Alex

Cody, Shannon and Alex

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The Art of Living

In addition to all of the water sports and cultural events one can participate in here in La Herradura, there is also a vibrant and fluid music and art scene here.  You can find live music every night of the week.  Last night I attended a concert of classical and flamenco guitar players.  The musicians played their own guitars that they had made through an intensive one month course at Stephen Hill's guitar shop located in La Herradura.  Musicians come from all over the world to make guitars with Stephen Hill.  The concert was held in the castle of La Herradura.  There was a reception to follow at the castle.  

Many of the same people from the concert at the castle then participated in jam sessions with numerous guitar players, both classical and flamenco, as well as both male and female singers rotating their play time and joining with the others in the spontaneous creation of music for the audience at the Marina del Este.  You can never get bored in La Herradura if you just poke around.

www.spanish-school-herradura.com
email info@spanish-school-herradura.com

On line Lessons

Although I highly recommend the opportunity to attend the Spanish School of La Herradura in person I am aware that not everyones' schedules are so accommodating.  The good news is that options for utilizing an online platform are available through the Spanish School.  Visit the school's website to learn more about this option.  Additionally, one can also arrange to continue private lessons with your teacher after your departure through the use of skype, should you wish to continue your learning remotely.  Spanish Online

Scuba Diving as an immersion experience

Today I went scuba diving in the Mediterranean Sea.  It was only a 5 minute walk to the dive shop, Buceo Natura from the school.  We took a boat to the Cerro Gordo point and explored the underwater environment there. The experience of discovering new environments through total immersion where a different mode of communication is utilized - in scuba diving one uses hand signals of course - was parallel to my experience in La Herradura as an immersion student at the Spanish School of La Herradura.  My world view has been expanded both above and below the sea by being here.

www.spanish-school-herradura.com

Cool Pics

Sustenance at El Copo

I have found that volumes can be communicated here with just a smile.  It's not so good for my language acquisition but wonderful for the soul.


I just want to say Muchas Gracias to all my Spanish friends at El Copo as well as to the friends I met along the way in passing through there.  Thank you Begonia for making sure I was fed and for being so patient with me in helping me practice my Spanish with you.  Thank you for directing me to unique places in your very special town, as well so that I could really immerse myself in La Herradura not just as a tourist but as a student of life and a traveler.  You made me feel very welcome here from the very first day.

Thank you Teresa for telling me about your daughter's flamenco class.  I did enjoy watching them learn this fascinating Spanish dance.  Thanks also Sebastian and Luis and little Begonia for your generosity of spirit and smiles of encouragement.

If you ever get to La Herradura you must go to El Copo.  You have to pass it to get to the Spanish School of La Herradura.  The food is fantastic and the good people you meet even better.

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email info@spanish-school-herradura

Listening practice with the seniors of La Herradura

Listening Practice with the Seniors of La Herradura

I am finding Spain to be a country whose people honor the dead with tremendous respect and tribute.  Twice I have encountered seniors who wish to show me pictures of their deceased love ones.  One was a mother of a son who was killed tragically in a motorcycle accident four years ago leaving behind 2 young children.  She tells me that she visits his grave every day of the week and brings flowers on Saturday.  Another is my neighbor here in La Herradura who is still grieving the death of his wife as recently as one year ago.  I am reminded of how life is fleeting and one must make the most of every day.

I am finding that I am able to have these conversations with the Spanish people of this town as the Spanish School of La Herradura is giving me the communication tools to connect with people in this way.  It is challenging, however and my teacher, Amelia tells me that even she has difficulty understanding the way that the seniors talk here.  They speak rapidly and seem to mumble their words together.  She encourages me to continue with my efforts, however as it good practice for listening.   

www.spanish-school-herradura.com
email info@spanish-school-herradura.com