Confluence of Culture, Faith, and Innovation

This two week trip abroad will take us to Cádiz, Spain, a historic hub of cultural exchange and maritime innovation. This program offers a unique opportunity to delve into the rich legacy of multicultural interactions. Through in-depth study, hands-on engineering activities, and on-site fieldwork, students will examine how shared knowledge and mutual influence among diverse communities have fostered progress across disciplines.

Read the student reflections on their travel experience, which will be updated throughout their trip.

Monday, February 2

Student Author: Ella

Today was our final day in Cádiz. It was very sentimental because we had to say goodbye to the tour guides who enhanced the connections and memories of our trip. Merche and Efrain knew how to lift us up even if we were all down and made learning engaging. We all collectively built a memorable relationship through the ups and downs with Merche and Efrain by our side.

Student Author: Satvi

Today we had the opportunity to visit the Cathedral of Cádiz. On most days of this trip so far, we’ve walked past this cathedral, which sits in the center of the city, so I was excited to finally be able to look inside. The interior of the cathedral was beautiful, and I enjoyed learning about the historical background of the materials used to build it. We were also able to climb up the cathedral’s bell tower and see the whole city from the top. It was really nice to be able to explore this church that we have seen so often.

Student Author: Satya

If you were in the cities in Southern Spain this past week, you might have seen 31 girls walking around “linked.” This linkage between our arms not only shows our safety with each other, but a newfound comfortability and growth in friendships. After sleeping, eating, getting ready with each other, and playing late night card games with these girls, I can’t help but truly feel and understand the sisterhood here. Without the use of phones, branching out and strengthening relationships with each other has made this trip truly memorable.

Monday, February 2

Student Author: Katie

Though this trip has been full of ups and downs, and twists and turns, I have come out knowing two things: I love getting to hang out with people I usually wouldn’t during school, and seeing what makes their eyes glow with happiness. Since I was little, everyone around me has described me as a social butterfly, always floating around to create new relationships and spread my positivity.

Yet, since the winter of sophomore year, I realized that I had become closed off. It seemed as if I was almost afraid to make new friends, and constantly wondered what others thought of me. My goal for this trip was to throw away that outdated mindset and take at least 30 steps out of my comfort zone. So when Grace Hu asked to tag along with me and borrow my camera, I immediately said yes! Creating this new friendship with Grace has truly been amazing. She is the most selfless, intelligent, and vibrant person I know. She takes flawless pictures and even listens to the weirdest music known to mankind (techno). She puts everyone before herself, even if she has to fall over 10 times to do it. That’s just the kind of person she is.

I have also enjoyed getting closer to my old friends, too. In Seville, I forced my friend Tessa to go up to another group of kids that were touring the area as well. She really wanted to speak to them because they were speaking in French, and she currently lives in Avignon, France, and speaks fluent French. Although she was nervous at first, I saw a positive aura surround her when she was in her element.

This trip has pushed me to new personal heights, and I’m so fortunate to experience this new place with my classmates!

Student Author: Lyla

Today we went to a goat cheese factory. I am not someone who generally likes goat cheese, so going into it I was hesitant knowing we would be trying some later on. But after we did a short tour and got to recreate making our own cheese, they set up tables with a variety of cheeses and crackers for us to try. I pushed myself to try each one and actually ended up liking quite a few.

My favorites were the sherry wine coated one, sheep, and one other one that was apparently the 3rd best in the world.

Student Author: McKenna

My favorite place we visited today was the Museum of Cheese. During this visit we got to see how cheese is made, along with “making cheese” by pressing a mixture of water and paper into the cheese shape.

This was such a fun experience and I now know how to make cheese! We got to taste different cheeses produced by goats. I learned that one of the cheeses I got to try was the #2 cheese in the world and #1 best cheese in Spain. This was such an amazing experience.

Sunday, February 1

Student Author: Eliza

Today at the Castillo de San Marcos, I got to explore and experience how the confluence of Muslim and Christian styles affected medieval architecture. The castle was built by a Christian king in the 1200s on the remains of a 10th-century mosque. When first entering the castle, I was taken aback by the huge orange trees in an open-roof patio. I learned that the space was used within the mosque for Muslims to cleanse themselves before entering for daily prayers. From a classmate I learned about how Muslims wash their faces and bodies before entering the mosque, which is known as wudu. This was not something I expected to learn when visiting a Catholic castle. Overall, I thought the Castillo de San Marcos was a perfect example of the blending of Islamic and Christian architecture.

Student Author: Saige

From ordering a coffee on the plane to sipping a latte at lunch today, I’ve gained a new appreciation for the bitterness of the coffee in Spain compared to my usual caramel iced coffee from Dunkin. It was a shock to take a sip out of my first coffee here and be hit with the immediate lack of sweetness. However, being exposed to the social norms in Spain has helped me immerse myself in this new culture. I’m excited to see if my sweetness levels will have changed when I return to the U.S.

Student Author: Tessa

Today we had the opportunity to go to El Puerto de Santa Maria. While looking at an old monastery, we spotted a pair of storks. It was the first time I had seen or learned anything about storks other than the movie and found it interesting being able to not only learn about them, but also their importance in Spanish communities. We heard from one of our guides Claudia how storks in a way symbolized each season through their migration patterns. We also discussed their impacts on architecture around Spain because of the pure size and weight of stork nests. This impacts meaningful monuments, and in order to avoid damage, nests are sometimes moved a few feet away, which I hadn’t known was even a possibility. The storks being a major piece in Spanish culture made me reflect on what was an important symbol within our communities and culture.

Saturday, January 31

Student Author: Emmy

While exploring the Roman ruins of Bolonia, I observed that the more we learn about the history of Spain, the more layers are peeled back, revealing how deeply different cultures are intertwined with one another. At the site, there are not only altars to the Roman gods Minerva, Juno and Jupiter, but also a temple to the Egyptian goddess Isis. Bolonia bridges the south of Spain and the Mediterranean Sea, inhabiting both a geographical and cultural convergence. This made me reflect on how as I walked through a single venue, I was actually walking through thousands of years of history and culture that have been layered on top of each other and that one day we will be one of those layers.

Student Author: :Liesl

I really loved the Roman ruins we visited today. I found it surprising and cool that the theater is still in use and I enjoyed learning about the Roman gods. My favorite part, however, was the scenery. The weather was super nice. We could see both the mountains and the ocean, and the ground was covered in beautiful yellow flowers. I was fortunate enough to have the time to sit down with my friends and appreciate the view. It felt like April. Also, I saw fluffy baby cows!

Student Author: Rashida

Today I experienced Cadiz’s nightlife for the first time, and I noticed a drastic difference. During the day, the age range is on the older side, but after 8 p.m. tonight, we saw more people our age. Compared to New York, where I’m from, that was really cool to observe. Today I also spoke to people in Spanish when ordering food, and I noticed that the locals are very nice and understanding. My Spanish isn’t the best, but they appreciated me trying.

Friday, January 30

Student Author: Ain

Today we explored a Roman theater. Santi told us that back in the day, many people didn’t know how to read, so they went to the theater to learn what was going on in the world. I thought this was similar to our trip in Spain. Since we are unplugged from the digital world, we are able to fully engage in this culture and stay present. Also, during the treasure hunt activity, having no access to the internet led us to branch out and interact with locals, asking them how to find city landmarks.

Student Author: Charlotte

While on the treasure hunt today, as we wandered the streets of Cadiz looking for whatever a gaviota is, we stumbled upon a group of local schoolboys who graciously offered to help us in our search. We sprinted through the narrow streets, trying our best to communicate with them through the language barrier. They were endlessly helpful, despite the fact they threw water balloons at us at the end. Sadly, our group did not win the hunt, but I will never forget the lovely memories we made by overcoming our differences to work toward a common (and fun!) goal.

Student Author: Zora

One of our treasure hunt tasks was to find a cannon. We decided to go to the defense castle on the beach, thinking that’s where we would likely find one. On our way to the beach, we found a couple of school children (not the same ones Charlotte encountered) and asked for directions because — even with a map — we were lost. It was then that we realized the defense castle was on the other side of Cadiz, but we were willing to make the journey to find the cannon. In an unexpected turn of events, there was no cannon to be found. We speed-walked all the way back to the other side of Cadiz to find out everyone thought we were lost because we came back late. Alas, the accidental detour was worth it because we got to explore more of Cadiz.

Thursday, January 29

Student Author: Bella

My favorite activity from today was seeing the cathedral of Seville. The design and careful attention to each carving was unbelievable. It was the most impressive piece of artwork I have seen. It is such a beautiful thing to see when people are so in touch with their religion that they create gigantic places of worship. As someone who is Catholic, I feel as though these past couple of years I have been out of touch with my religion and struggle to find time to practice. I found myself saying a prayer at the altar alongside some friends. This just reinforced the beauty of worship and why I practice my religion. This is the second cathedral we have been to, and I have had the amazing opportunity to re-immerse myself into religious practice. I have been able to experience and admire the amazing architectural designs.

Student Author: Grace

My favorite things we did today were visiting the Alcázar and the cathedral in Seville. I liked visiting the Alcázar because I could finally connect things I learned about in class — like the Patio of the Maidens — to what I was seeing in person. I really loved seeing the cathedral because I can relate it to my personal life and religion. A specific aspect I was amazed by in the cathedral was the wall behind the altar. It was completely covered with different statue scenes that represented stories from the Bible. It was really beautiful to look at and was completely framed in gold.

Student Author: Lexie

My favorite part of the day was going up to the top of La Giralda. When we got to the top, we were able to see the whole city from a bird’s eye view. It was so beautiful, and I was able to see farther than I could’ve ever imagined. I gained a whole new appreciation for Seville, realizing just how big it was and how I was just a small part of the entire city. I gained not only a literal new perspective, but a metaphorical one as well. I put myself in the shoes of the person who called believers to prayer some 800 years ago, envisioning the control he had over the whole city. Even after all this time, people still walk all the way up there to admire Seville. This helped open my eyes to how much things have changed while so many still stay the same.

Wednesday, January 28

Student Author: Dodo

I woke up this morning to the smell of rain outside of the window. In the past days, I’ve been understanding Cádiz through its various scents: the sea smell of ocean and seaweed by the coastline, the orange trees dispersed throughout the city, and even the tobacco mixed with the dampness during rainy seasons… These scents composed my initial impression of this unfamiliar city.

It might also have been these scents that brought me closer to this city, for how much they resemble that of my hometown, Qingdao. It’s a coastal city in northern China, known for beer, seafood, and carnival all year round. Only when I smell the coffee and pistachio gelato instead of alcohol, or when I taste the differently made seafood in paella, do I realize I’m in a carnival on the other side of the world, and the same ingredients are now outlining someone else’s homesickness.

Not all of Cádiz smells familiar, though. Today, we went to Titania, a company that tests aerospace materials for plane companies and other businesses of the same kind. Naturally, It smells nothing like the hazelnut-chocolate gelato I had later that afternoon, but rather, the metal and alloy materials percolated, leaving a slight bitterness on my tongue.

Our tour guide at Titania, Ana, told us that somehow, this smell appears to be appealing to some of those who work there. Similarly, while I have limited interest in aerospace engineering, it is the passion of many at the company. Among the employees, approximately half of them are women working in STEM. To them, the metallic smell might be the most accurate depiction of their career: “bittersweet.” Sweet, because it is a field that they love; bitter, because of the practical difficulties they have to face as women in the field of aerospace engineering.

When speaking of what supported her through this journey, Anna talked about the importance of having a reference in your life, who shares similar backgrounds, beliefs, and has achieved “success” in the field. Only that way will you have the motivation to keep your values, interests, and, ultimately, find a place that you love and a place that would value your identity.

We visited a few more places later on in the day, By the time I returned to the hostel, there was a sense of slight bitterness that now enriched my perception of Cádiz.

Student Author: Charlotte Rose

As we were introduced to Ana and Natalia at Titania, an aerospace engineering facility, I was optimistic and excited to learn about their personal stories as female aerospace engineers in a male-dominated field. Because I am an aspiring businesswoman, their words encouraged me to pursue a challenging career, one that demands growth and dedication. Ana and Natalia are both young female trailblazers in their industry, and have experienced being doubted and underappreciated by their peers, teachers and bosses. What stuck with me most, though, from my conversations, was their emphasis on capitalizing on your skills built in college to take into your career.

Student Author: Lucy

Today, we learned from two women about their careers in aerospace engineering, their passion for STEM, and how they got to where they are today. The biggest message they shared with us was that women can do just as much as their male counterparts. I think this was very important and fitting for us to hear since we attend an all-girls school. It was nice to hear that their company always strives to have an equal ratio of female to male workers. The firm’s staff is currently 50% male and 50% female.

Student Author: Shannen

At Titania, the aerospace engineering company, I was able to learn from like-minded, knowledgeable young women in the STEM field. They shared how their scientific interests led to their careers as aerospace engineers and their roles within the industry. In addition, they spoke about navigating a male dominated field. As someone who wants to go into STEM as a possible career, I found the experiences shared by Ana and Natalia really resonated with me, and I learned so much from them. They exemplified what it means to be empowered leaders in their respected fields. I look forward to applying some of the knowledge I gained today to my future STEM career.

Tuesday, January 27

Student Authors: Ellie, Fae, and Nivrritii

Today, we traveled to the nearby city of Jerez de la Frontera. Even though it was only 30 minutes away, it felt like a completely different universe. This could be due to the gigantic cathedral that centers the city. The cathedral was probably my favorite part of today. Inside the building I spent a lot of time looking at the intricately carved ceiling and mosaics and sculptures. Specifically thinking about the role religion has played in my life and how people all over the world can be connected by their religion.

We also saw the Alcázar, a fortified palace with a shared prayer room demonstrating the tolerance and overlap of Christianity and Islam in past centuries. This helped me realize the possibilities of coexistence among different religions, and the development, movement and change of religious practices in this area. 

At the Alcázar, I was amazed by the olive mill. Seeing how huge this mill was and hearing John Bryk excitedly explain this advanced technology made me realize how important and valuable olive oil was to the Spanish culture even in ancient times. 

Monday, January 26

Student Authors: Ellen, Jessica, and Millicent

Cádiz has many layers… both figuratively and literally. Today, we discovered some of those layers through visits to local museums and archaeological sites. We learned about excavated ancient ruins, including Phoenician and Roman era sites with fish-salting factories and dwellings. The fish-salting factories were uncovered in the late 20th century and are now displayed alongside artifacts such as fish hooks and coins found along local beaches. Fish remains were often used to make a popular sauce called garum, which was transported in clay pots with narrow, funnel-like bottoms that helped secure them in sand or on ships.

At the Phoenician archaeological site, we explored a collection of house ruins from 2,800 years ago, including kitchens with pots and oven fragments. We also saw human and animal remains, which offered a powerful glimpse into daily life and death in the ancient city. Altogether, we had so much fun during our first full day in Cádiz!