Students spend 10 days in Spain

As the new 2026-2027 school year begins, Como students returned to campus with a wide range of summer experiences. For 15 students and two staff chaperones, a long-planned trip to Spain was a transformative lesson that broadened global perspectives.

Leah Deiman and Bogar Mendiola guided the group on their flight across the Atlantic in mid-August for 10 days of touring and learning through activities led by EF Tours (Education First).

The busy itinerary included visits to the cities of Madrid, Segovia, Burgos, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Pamplona, and Barcelona. Favorite sites varied based on individual preferences and the fact that the group saw so many striking cultural attractions and beautiful landscapes.

One remarkable venue was the Sagrada Familia, the Basilica in Barcelona designed by Gaudi which is the tallest church in the world. Another noteworthy visit was to the Guggenheim Museum of modern and contemporary art in Bilbao.

Walking tours that incorporated the history and architecture of the great Spanish cities served as immersive learning experiences which can be anchors to future learning and language development. Beyond that, the Como contingent had the good fortune to see a total solar eclipse that occurred over portions of Europe.

Student reactions give a glimpse into the impact of international travel, as well as the social development, relationship building, and gratitude that accompany it.

“Spain was incredible and beautiful,” Teyla Matlock said. “Being there made me feel more optimistic about the world and that I would love to keep traveling. I’m really lucky that I went and got to experience this beautiful place!”

Laura King shared that she gained so many new experiences. “I had a lot of hands-on learning with Spanish and improved much more than I thought I would, and I got closer to people to people and made new friends.”

Paloma Dashevsky summarized the trip with one word: “indelible.” She added that “there were many shocks – the drink tops don’t come off the bottles! And delights – shoutout Miguel, plus I got to practice my Spanish.”

Nkele Gaseitsiwe said, “Being abroad with people from your community really shows that it’s the relationships that you build that make a trip a great experience”

Going to Europe or overseas for the first time is a milestone moment for any person, regardless of age. Deiman, a Como Spanish teacher, knows this and works hard to create opportunities for students. And her colleagues who help, such as veteran educator Bogar Mendiola, also get the benefit of expanding their worldview.

“My first time in Europe! Spain was unbelievable and filled with so much history,” Mendiola said. “However, the highlight of my trip was being around, spending time and getting to know amazing human beings. Our amazing Como high school students, our amazing group leader Leah Deiman, and our amazing tour guide Miguel Saim! A trip I will remember forever.”