During spring break, Sixth Formers Andrew Borden and Luca Aloi, and Third Formers Oliver Peters Whitaker and Sena Fuma packed their bags and flew to Barcelona, Spain, alongside a group from the Agnes Irwin School. Accompanied by Spanish and Latin teacher Mr. Javier Lluch, the group not only experienced the spectacles of Barcelona but also built lasting ties with their partner school, La Farga. This was the first year for this program.
“We wanted students who would be good ambassadors for our school when they visited La Farga in Barcelona, and could promote the program when they returned here to Haverford,” Director of Global Studies Mr. Andrew Poolman said.
“My host family made lots of sandwiches with jamon, lots of croquettes, tapas, and paellas.”
Andrew Borden ’25
Students visited many iconic modern architecture landmarks, giving them new insights into the legacy of art and architecture in Barcelona.
“I think the visits to modernist Barcelona buildings, including the Sagrada Familia and Sant Pau Hospital, were a highlight of the trip,” Mr. Lluch said.
Unlike most other exchange trips, which are heavily structured, the Barcelona trip was loose. Borden and Aloi planned many fun excursions with the extra blocks of time they had, making it a dynamic trip.
“We improvised so many of our activities,” Aloi said. “For example, I had decided that I wanted to go to the stadium to watch the Barcelona soccer match the night before, so we organized the whole thing immediately in one night, which turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip.”
The students also immersed themselves in and enjoyed the Spanish food culture.
“I enjoyed eating many different foods in addition to learning a lot of Spanish. My host family made lots of sandwiches with jamon, lots of croquettes, tapas, and paellas,” Borden said.
The hospitality provided by the host families helped make the trip special, not only giving students a place to stay but also giving them a glimpse of life in Barcelona. Mr. Poolman and Mr. Lluch hope to replicate this when the La Farga students come to Haverford.
“The goal for this trip was twofold,” Mr. Lluch said. “Exchange programs are always about cultural immersion, getting out of one’s comfort zone, and experiencing another culture authentically, as well as providing the same experience for our guests when they visit us.”
To experience Spanish culture fully, the students tried to speak as little English as possible. Students gained insight into everyday life in Barcelona when visiting the La Farga School and interacting with the students there. Additionally, interacting with different cultures broadened the perspective of the students and helped them see things differently.
“We only know our routine, our perspectives, and our beliefs. Going on this trip and discovering that the world is so different than what we think, really opened our minds,” Aloi said.
“One student told me he felt like a celebrity while he was at the school. They visited several classes and answered what felt like hundreds of questions from the La Farga students,” Mr. Lluch said.
Interacting with the Spanish students highlighted similarities and differences between their daily lives, and also gave them new insight into the way Spanish people think of Americans.
“The local students brought up many American stereotypes, and we can admit that we Americans have stereotypes about other cultures too,” Aloi said. “Going on this trip in a way made us realize the context behind these stereotypes, and allowed us to understand Spanish and European culture.”
“Maybe they can stay friends for a long time.”
Mr. Javier Lluch
The trip was a success and is likely to continue in the future. It helped students practice their Spanish skills, build lasting connections with their host families and new friends from the La Farga School, and immerse themselves in the rich Spanish culture.
“My hope with any student travel is that it plants a seed and helps them realize international travel is feasible, fun, and challenging in a way that helps you grow,” Mr. Lluch said.
“If I could do this trip again, which I 100% would do, I would be more open to talking to locals and students at the school,” Aloi said. “One of the best parts was when I had random side conversations with students at the school where we would talk about literally anything.”
“I hope that our students will stay in touch with their host families as well as any other friends they made,” Mr. Lluch said. “Maybe they can stay friends for a long time.”
