APS students give a peek inside spring break trips to France and Spain

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked students from Atlanta Public Schools who are taking part in an immersive foreign study experience in France and Spain during their spring break to blog for us about their experience. The trips include sightseeing in Paris and Barcelona before the students head to other cities for a weeklong homestay experience. Here are some of their first impressions.

ExploreRead about the Atlanta Public Schools Global Explorers program.

Paris, France

Nakai Simmons, senior at Therrell High School

Tasting great and extra sweet desserts was a big highlight of the trip. And we had a wonderful chef. She didn’t overexplain nor did she really take over. She just taught and let us have a lot of fun while baking.

Visiting the Eiffel Tower was such a surreal experience. The view was beautiful and we stayed until it was dark so we got to see the pretty lights in the city and the sparkling Eiffel Tower!

Credit: contributed by Nakai Simmons

Credit: contributed by Nakai Simmons

Katherine Mason, junior at North Atlanta High School

(On our first day here) we made éclairs from scratch. The most amazing part was not the fact that someone as terrible in the kitchen as me was able to make a pastry that tasted good and was edible but that four eggs had double yolks. While I knew France was going to show me new things, I didn’t expect it to show me rare egg occurrences!

The (instructor) was not only an amazing chef but extremely knowledgeable as she walked around Paris telling us about the intricacies of the Parisian baking scene. Did you know that Paris has strict regulations on the titles you can give yourself as a baker, and you have to get a license for specific titles? We toured the best patisseries in Paris from chefs that had won best craftsmen awards and ate everything from meringues to macaroons, as well as baguettes and little cakes. I have never tasted as many delicious deserts as I did this morning.

We (also) went to the Louvre which was amazing. It was cool to see the Mona Lisa but it was almost underwhelming because there were so many people. However, the statues like the Venus de Milo and the general decorations of the museum were gorgeous. It used to be a castle, and rooms would not just have historical artifacts but gilded ceilings with carvings and paintings like the Sistine Chapel. It was a labyrinth. My group tried to get to the meeting spot for (about) thirty (minutes) both because we kept getting distracted and because there was so much to explore.

Credit: contributed by Katherine Mason

Barcelona, Spain

Ronan Villegas-Hernandez, senior at Benjamin E. Mays High School

My first thought when I saw Basílica de la Sagrada Familia was how incredibly tall it was. I had never even imagined a structure of such immense scale. What amazed me most was how the building could have been constructed, given its complex shapes and intricate designs. A few questions came to mind: How were the workers able to build at such great heights? What kind of equipment was used during the construction of the church? What was the original time frame Antoni Gaudí envisioned for its completion? And how were the angled pillars built, especially considering how heavy the stones must be?

Credit: contributed by Ronan Villegas-Hernandez

Adriana Verwayne, junior at Therrell High School

We went to La Sagrada Familia and I learned so many things. I learned about Antoni Gaudí (the architect) and his beautiful, creative mind. He is very intelligent and interesting based on his art. I learned that he was a humble person that didn’t paint himself in his art, so the artists who respected him included him in some of their art.

I learned about how the church is welcoming to everyone, and it is shown through art. For example, a Japanese artist created Asian choir singers (as part of) the cathedral art to represent open arms of the cathedral. I also learned as well as loved that all or most of the art represents nature and its seasons. On the side of the cathedral that was pointing to the west, there were fruits that represented fall and winter seasonal fruits and the side of the cathedral pointing east had spring and summer seasonal fruits. I love the meaning behind the multi-colored stained-glass windows. On the inside, the weather outside is interpreted through color. Rainy days are gray and dark, sunny days are the colors of rainbow. When it’s dark outside, it’s black and loses its “magic” of light. Gaudí left an important message, “Inside we need to see the light of God.”

Credit: Adriana Verwayne

Credit: contributed by Adriana Verwayne

Felix Perry-Roldan, junior at North Atlanta High School

The first thing that caught my eye when we first walked into La Sagrada Familia was the scale of the building. The large stained-glass windows and vast choir seats added to the atmosphere of the church. Some questions that came to mind were how the project stayed relevant for so many years, and if the idea was still the same that Antoni Gaudí had, especially due to wars and other political conflicts. All of the workers and materials still building it to this day show just how dedicated the people are to their monuments. Overall, the huge scale and large construction effort added to the sense of awe (I) felt when walking in for the first time, making it a worthy destination.

Credit: contributed by Felix Perry

Jayson Pealer, senior at Benjamin E. Mays High School

Leaving the airport we landed in Sant Boi de Llobregat, right by the city. From there, while on the bus, I took pictures of the environment, including: La Marina del Prat Vermell, Montjuïc, La Vila Olímpica del Poblenou, and Parc dels Til•lers. After our trip we checked into our hotel in Fort Pienc, and while very jetlagged, we explored the city until the sun went down. The city is simply beautiful and I can only hope my pictures do justice for you to visualize my experience. While walking around I saw the Arc de Triomf, the first true landmark of many we would witness. It was a necessary moment for me to document. Afterward we decided to walk to the heart of Barcelona, La Plaça de Catalunya, going through Eixample. It’s a circular plaza in the center of Barcelona, essentially a capital for the city.

The next day we saw the true attraction of Barcelona as a whole, La Sagrada Familia. This massive cathedral is mesmerizing no matter how you look at it with so much detail. It’s still not fully finished and won’t be any time soon. Everything is there for a reason and everything is a representation of something — from strength, vigor, passion, sacrifice, etc. Then the inside is even more beautiful with stained-glass windows on the perimeter allowing a multitude of colors (to) bleed through the architecture. That same day after that breathtaking sight we went over too Park Güell, getting an overview of Barcelona as a whole. The view was perfect, you could see absolutely everything.

Credit: contributed by Jayson Pealer

The homestay visits

Katherine Mason, junior at North Atlanta High School

Bonjour! Today we went to the Atelier des Lumières and saw the Picasso and Henri Rousseau exhibits. The lights were on the ceiling, on the floor, everywhere. It was so cool! It felt like you were inside the painting but better because you got to go in different paintings of different styles and see many paintings. We were there for about an hour and also got to go in a room full of mirrors.

Then we walked around a food court and we all ate lunch together and got some ice cream. Then we got on the train! It was actually really comfortable and such a smooth ride. However, we couldn’t fit all our suitcases in the baggage area at the front of the train car and some of the big suitcases had to go in the overhead (racks). A couple of people were scared these heavy suitcases were going to fall on their heads and fall off the ledge. Thankfully, no one got hurt, but there were definitely heated conversations about where suitcases should go. It was about a two-hour train ride with a couple of stops and the scenery was beautiful.

Everyone’s host family is different. We were all at the train station and our host siblings came up to us and then we paired up and scattered. With my host family, we started talking (and) they played me their favorite Celine Dion songs. Being thrown in the deep end on conversing in another language really accelerates growth even if puts you out of your comfort zone.

It’s been interesting because I have a little sister, and I have always been the big sister. However, my host sister is older than me and it’s the first time I’ve ever been the little sister. It’s a really neat experience. Sometimes it’s been that way on the trip too, which is really nice because sometimes I get nervous and don’t know what to do, but the other girls are really supportive and encouraging. Also, (my host family has) a golden retriever named Sundy who is a little love bug and I adore her.

Credit: contributed Katherine Mason

Credit: contributed by Katherine Mason

Valencia, Spain

Ronan Villegas-Hernandez, senior at Mays High School

I went to the interior of Castellón de la Plana, near a town called L’Alcora. I saw the mountainsides. My host family mentioned that this mountain range is the second tallest in Spain. What was very surprising were the buildings that were on the edge of the mountains and the natural pools that the river makes had very clear water. The drive up and down the mountains in the car was in itself an experience due to the twist and turns.

Credit: contributed

Jayson Pealer, senior at Mays High School

The first night and day of my family stay went very well. I was exhausted after riding the train but pushed myself to make it. Then we had a get-together with all of the families which was a beautiful sight. There was Pablo, my father, who helped me get comfortable in València, walking me home and giving a tour of the house in Rufaza, kinda like the equivalent to a county for Atlanta. Afterwards I spent some time with Enzo (10 years old), the younger brother, beating him in some games. Then once Erika, my mother, and Ariel (14 year old), the older of the two brothers came home we ate and watched the Real Madrid (soccer) match versus Arsenal.

We rooted for Madrid. They lost. But it gave me (a chance) to give them my gift, which was Atlanta United flags, representing my hometown and my love for soccer. Afterwards we ate and went to sleep.

Since I couldn’t go to school, I slept in the next day. When I woke up, Erika and I went to go pick up Enzo. We ended up exploring Eixample, which was near Enzo’s school, and had plenty of palm trees. Erika and I took our first picture together there. While exploring, we passed sections such as Penya-roja and Jardí del Túria.

A few hours later we went back outside to explore. Erika and Enzo ended up showing me buildings with superb architecture at places such as the El Pla del Remei, Mercado Colón, Ciutat Vella, Sant Francesc, La Seu, and La Xerea before we came back home. And after walking for those 2-3 hours we ate some sweets and walked back home to see the Barcelona FC vs. Dortmund game. We rooted for Barca. Barca won!!! My first two nights with my family have been great.

Credit: contributed

Asha Furta, senior at North Atlanta High School

(Thursday morning) before school, my friends and I went to eat breakfast in a café near school. We ate churros and different drinks like “choco con leche.” Afterward, we went to school. After school, my friends and I went to the City of Arts and Sciences. I drank a horchata with farton (pastry). Then we went by bus to the beach. It was a lot of fun, but was a little cold so we didn’t go in the water. After the beach, everyone took the bus and went to their respective houses. For me, tonight is pizza night!

Credit: contributed by Asha Furta

Credit: contributed by Asha

Poitiers, France

Katherine Mason, junior at North Atlanta High School

A little more about being with a host family: it’s really interesting to just be part of their daily life, like eating breakfast with them in the morning or cleaning up after dinner. It’s also interesting to see little things that feel so French, like giving their dog a large piece of a baguette when one of them leaves. This week, I’m basically replacing Emma’s little brother as he’s off in England with his school to learn English. It’s basically a swap.

(Wednesday) we went to Futuroscope, which is an amusement park in Poitiers. I am familiar with American theme parks, but found this one fascinating because instead of being a lot of big rollercoasters, it is a lot of simulated rides. However, it is still incredible! For example, there was one ride called the tornado chaser (or something I can’t remember exactly) and it was the coolest thing. We were in a big circle with screens all around us and … as we circled around in the tornado ... it genuinely felt like you were moving. They also incorporated videos and real people expertly which made it even more of a realistic experience. I couldn’t take any photos. It was so fun! We did it twice. It was so interesting that the theme park made use of less space by making smaller attractions.

The theme park was also awesome because it had so much cool stuff! It was full of activities like a coloring wall, an operation-like game, and ... museum exhibits like a skeleton of Bugs Bunny!

Credit: contributed by Katherine Mason

Tieyana Long, senior at Carver Early College

I heard of (Spanish architect) Antoni Gaudí a little bit before we got here. I definitely wasn’t ready for the amazing things I was going to see. His works are incredible. I really liked the colors and materials that he used in his work, especially for La Basílica de la Sagrada Família. The stained glass inside is very beautiful. We also passed (Gaudí museum) Casa Batlló. It also has stained glass but the shapes of the windows are very unique. I heard that a lot of his works include similar windows, so I hope I get to see more in person.

After the second day of school, I feel more comfortable in school and in the environment. My day started off well with eating homemade yogurt by my host mom. She also made a Picante Chorizo sandwich for lunch. At the school I talked a little more with the students. We did a Q&A about what kind of music we like, how our cities are and more things that we were curious about.

Then after school we went to the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències. It was definitely a sight to see. I also tried horchata for the first time. It was very delicious. After exploring Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, we went to the beach with my host sister and her friends. It was cold, so no swimming, but I still had fun regardless. Then we went home and had hamburgers for dinner.

I was gifted with a family of awesome cooks and every night I’m so excited for dinner! The first night I had Tortilla con Patatas. It was the BEST. I ate so much of it. I tried it on the first night in Barcelona, but the one made by my host dad was incredible. I wish I could go back in time and eat his cooking for the first time. But food is not the only reason I love dinnertime. I love to talk about the recap of everyone’s day and get closer with them. I’m really enjoying my stay.

Credit: contributed by Tieyana Long

Nelrya Rainey, senior at South Atlanta High School

Valencia! A very beautiful place with bubbly, nice people, yummy food, as well as unique structures and art. One of the first things I did after arriving was visit Bioparc, and it was an incredible way to start the trip. Bioparc isn’t just any zoo — it’s designed to make you feel like you’re walking right through the heart of Africa. I got to see animals like giraffes, zebras, lemurs, gorillas, and lions, all in habitats that looked so real and natural. It was amazing to be so close to the animals and learn about their lives and environments. The experience was breathtaking and unforgettable.

Since then, I’ve had so much fun from sundown to sun up. I was a bit scared at first, but my family was very welcoming and made sure I was comfortable in every aspect. One of the many things I discussed with my sibling that I was most looking forward to was trying new foods, and may I tell you, the food was amazing! I’ve tried many dishes like calamares, paella de pato y foie, chipirones, gamba rebozadas, pan con tomate y alioli, tarta de queso, and torrijas in a restaurant called L’Estibador, which is on a beachfront where you get to capture a view of the sea.

I also tried horchata for the first time — a traditional Valencian drink made from tiger nuts — and I absolutely loved it! It was refreshing and sweet, and now I get why everyone here is such a fan.

Credit: Nelrya Rainey

Credit: contributed

I also went boat riding for the first time at L’Albufera, another beautiful experience that left me speechless. We visited the Berklee Valencia campus, which is located at Valencia’s iconic City of Arts and Sciences. This has been my greatest vacation, and I have plenty more to come in the last days.

School is also amazing. I attend IES Joanot Martorell, where I have made so many new great friends. I’m also teaching them my language and how to play sports. I’m going to be sad when I leave, but this week has been unforgettable.

Paris

Grant Geddes, junior at North Atlanta High School

Walking and biking are the most popular (and eco-friendly) ways to get around. Prepare for lots of walking and bring a map or use GPS. Public transportation is efficient but can be crowded.

To survive: Be respectful. Keep your belongings secure. Avoid being loud or disruptive — French commuters appreciate quiet.

Credit: contributed

Ariel Thompson, senior at Mays High School

School was a wonderful and exciting experience. I love the experience as a whole but, I especially enjoyed being able to learn more about their country from them and sharing my experiences with my country. I also enjoyed trying to speak more of their language, and to hear them speak English.

Credit: contributed

Valencia

Roni Villegas-Hernandez, senior at Mays High School

The first day of school overflowed with rich experiences. I woke up at 9 a.m. and got ready for school. My host dad walked me there. IES Ricardo Marín Ibánez is where my host brother, David, studies for his bachillerato (high school diploma). At school, the annual tournaments were in full swing — from the Little League all the way up to the older students.

My host sibling led his team to victory in a championship volleyball game against the teachers and proudly earned a gold medal. The entire school watched from the sidelines. When the announcer declared his team the champions, the crowd erupted with cheers and shouts.

After school, I headed home at 2 p.m. I ate lentejas (lentil soup) with my host family, then took a siesta — something I’ve done every day since arriving. After waking up, I got ready for an outing to the beach. We visited Parc Natural de l’Albufera, where the lush vegetation and green trees instantly reminded me of Atlanta.

We began by walking along the shoreline. The salty breeze relaxed me and the distant sound of crashing waves felt almost meditative. I spotted the commercial port and ships on the horizon and took photos to capture the glamorous afternoon.

Later, I joined my host mother, host sister, and her boyfriend at a scenic spot with wooden decks facing the sunset. I snapped more pictures, trying to preserve the beauty of the moment. After soaking in the view, we drove back home. On the way, we stopped to watch my host brother’s soccer practice at the Campo de Fútbol de Cheste. Watching him play refreshed my memories of childhood.

Once home, I ate fried ham stuffed with Cheste cheese. My host family warned me that the flavor might be too strong, but I ended up really enjoying it.

(The day) truly felt soothing, from start to finish.

Credit: contributed

Ronan Villegas-Hernandez, senior at Mays High School

On Friday, I went to visit downtown Castellón de la Plana. During this time I went to one of the 43 public air-raid shelters and 237 private shelters. The siren would go off if the policeman in the bell tower of El Fadrí noticed an imminent air strike. The private bunkers would be “under the citizens’ homes. This was during the civil war in Castellón. I also visited the Basílíca de la Mare de Déu del Lledó, Plaça de l’Herba and Plaça Major.

On Saturday, I visited the coast of Castellón de la Plana, including Benicàssim and Oropesa del Mar. Since it was my last day in Castellón, my host surprised me by celebrating my 18th birthday a bit early. We enjoyed a delicious paella along with jamón (ham) and cheese. I also had the chance to see a classic Porsche in person for the first time. It was incredible since I want to become a mechanical engineer.

Credit: contributed

Adriana Verwayne, junior at Therrell High School

As I was riding home in the car with my parents and giving them a recap of all of the amazing things that happened on my trip, I realized that I hadn’t yet mentioned about the diversity in Spain. It was amazing. There were (people of) Black, Asian, Indian (descent) and all … of Spanish ethnicity. It was interesting, intriguing and enlightening that I’m seeing the world in its beautiful, diverse way. It was one of my favorite takeaways!

Credit: contributed

Jayson Pealer, senior at Mays High School

For my last day of family stay in Valencia, I ended up going on a road trip. I thought we would walk to a place a few minutes away in the city and play games like ping pong, soccer and darts. So you wouldn’t believe how surprised I was once we rode in the car for 40 minutes and ended up in the countryside.

We passed the most beautiful scenery with all of the mountains at Corbera, Xeraco and Tavernes de la Valldigna, before we eventually reached these plant fields that seemed endless. We had a family reunion at my host mother’s parents’ house in Beniarjó. It was a great time and we did play all the games she talked about, but more importantly this was where I got to have the staple of Valencia, the paella. My host father, Pablo, gave me some insight into the origin of the dish. Since Valencia is on the coast, seafood is much more common in everyday dishes. It also means fishermen are more common. Unfortunately not every fisherman had enough money for traditional rice so they would combine multiple types of rice and noodles. This is why my paella may look different than others because the rice that was used is way longer.

It was delightful meeting more of the family and everyone was so inviting so it was easy to speak. They even let me hold the spoon and make the first dish. Then after saying “¡Adios!” to the rest of my (host) mom’s family we ended up visiting my (host) father’s family as well in Xeresa. Lovely people and I’m so glad I was able to experience their presence. While on the way back home we got my actual father a birthday gift of Spanish chocolate, I hope he likes it. The Bourgons and Gomez families have been so amazing, I’m very glad they were mi familia.

Credit: contributed

Alexandra Pugeda, senior at North Atlanta High School

The fourth day was our first day attending school! Four of us are studying at a very unique school that is known as “Colegio de San Vincent Ferrer.” This school is extremely interesting because it is a Catholic school that not only teaches students from 6 to 16 years old, but it is also a special school that provides free education and housing for orphaned students from Valencia and Guinea Equatorial as well. All of the kids are extremely kind and curious here!

During the first class, we learned about the history of the Spanish civil war that took place during the 1800s. Some of the facts that we learned include: Queen Isabella became the queen at the age of 13. Her mother died when she was three years old, but Isabella did not inherit the throne until ten years after the death of her mother.

Afterwards, we were in Señora Sali’s class. She was an English professor at the school who also studied English in Los Angeles for a few years. We were practicing our grammar, listening, reading, and writing skills in Spanish through small group activities that were pretty fun.

Afterwards, we were able to leave the school for a little bit of time in order to walk around to learn about the history of Valencia, and visit one of the popular bakeries in town.

When we returned, we entered a classroom with younger students (around 7-8 years old) to answer any questions that they had about American culture. They asked was about the type of car I drive. I told them that my brother and my grandfather drove cars by Ford, because most of the parents in Sollana and nearby pueblos in Valencia are employed by a Ford engine factory. They were extremely excited to hear that response.

Then we ate lunch in the comedor (cafeteria). One thing that was interesting was that all of the students at this school were served with silverware, ceramic plates and glass cups. The cooks came to the table to serve appetizers, a main course and dessert.

After the siesta, we watched the rehearsal for the school’s annual musical. It’s a tradition for the final year students to perform in a musical at the end of the year, and they are going to perform the play for Cinderella this year.

The student that was supposed to be the evil stepmother was temporarily absent, so the drama teacher had to act as the stepmother momentarily, a pretty funny sight to see.

After the rehearsal, school was officially over, so we visited a ‘Horchataria.’ This is a type of restaurant makes a beverage called Horchata. We even had the opportunity to visit the factory at the back of the restraint to see how Horchata was made.

We also visited the Valencia center for natural science and art and a nearby park.

Then, I ate tortillas Española with my host family, and they tasted incredible! I also told them about the fact that this spring break was my first time eating a natural tomato slice by itself at lunch. They were extremely shocked, because it is such a popular dish in Spain.

The first day of school was extremely fun. I enjoyed this new experience to learn about other cultures.