Cada día una nueva aventura

The group had a lot of fun in their second functional language class on Wednesday. They role played being in a restaurant and then put what they learned to use by going for a coffee with their Spanish teacher and handling the interactions with the waiter from start to finish.

Later, they had their first photography class with their instructor, Nerea de Cos. After covering some of the basics of digital photography, the students took to the streets to experiment with shooting cityscapes.  

After a busy morning of classes, we headed back to the dorms for lunch and a quick siesta before visiting El Faro de Moncloa. From this 92 meter tower we could see many important landmarks and students used this birdseye view to get a better idea of the layout of the city.

From there the students took advantage of their free time by doing some shopping on Gran Via.

On Thursday, we had our first jewelry making workshop at Galería Lalabeyou. Our instructor, Laura, taught us different ways of using wax to mold jewelry that can later be cast in metal.

We made a variety of pieces (rings, bracelets, earrings and pendants) and then chose our favorites to be sent to the foundry. We can’t wait to see how they will turn out!

Next it was time for an art class with Ani. She gave a lesson on Medieval Art in Spain and then took group to an exposition with pieces by Darío Villalba Flores, a Spanish photographer and painter.

From there they moved on to an arts and crafts market where they checked out the work of many different local artisans, some who use techniques they have been learning in their classes.

This morning the group went on another adventure with their Spanish teacher, this time to test their knowledge of a new set of vocabulary with a scavenger hunt throughout a department store.

After that, they headed to the Reina Sofia, an 18th century hospital converted into a museum that holds Madrid’s main collection of contemporary art. Here the students were able to see many important works of art, including pieces by Dalí, Miró and Picasso.

Later on, we will have some time to relax by the pool before a busy weekend of activities. Stay tuned!