On Thursday, September 16th PGIA students in Sra. Gonzalez and Sra. Bordieri’s classes gave presentations about Spanish-speaking countries as a part of a cultural celebration. Students also learned about Baile folklórico and even got up on stage to participate.
This week we had a special guest, Ana Maria Gonzales, share some of her vast experience of Mexican culture with our 5th year Montessori Spanish students. Everyone had a wonderful time learning a new dance from Jalisco "La Raspa".
Sean on his trek down (through this itty bitty space!) to an underground cenote
Dear parents:
We write tonight after a day filled with excitement and great memories. Students selected experiences that included a visit to three cenotes in Cuzama or a visit to the Great Mayan Museum of Merida followed by a local spa session.
The cenote group took a colectivo to get from our hotel to Cuzuma. Once there, they got in motor taxis to make their way to the three cenotes. There, they navigated the deep misteries and secrets of Mayan culture. The experience was one of a kind and they all had a great time.
The Mayan Museum group was taken by the amazing exhibit and the interactive presentations throughout the building. Our students got a chance to share time with a local school group who was also there for a visit. Students were in awe of the beauty of each item they saw and spoke with the curators as much as they were able to. After this, a visit to a local spa gave them a chance to experience the manners and charm of a yucateca host.
As you can see, this was a day to be remembered. Tomorrow we head to Chichen Itza, we will tell you all about it in a few days.
Feeling grateful for the opportunity,
Dean Vazquez and the crew
Dear parents:
A quick note today to keep you posted. We had a great day yesterday. It started early with our visit to the temples and city of Chichen Itza.
We had an educational tour of the ancient city, followed by lunch, local shopping, and pool time at the Mayaland Hotel. The day ended with the light and sound show in the Chichen Itza grounds.
We got back around 11:30 pm and it was another amazing day.
Happy Sunday!
Dean Vazquez
Cancun Underwater Museum
Maya with one of the statues they will see on their underwater museum tour
We have now had two full days of great fun and adventure. We have gotten to know Cancun, traveling by public bus and really experiencing how the everyday folk here moves about and interacts with the city.
Yesterday we saw the MUSA underwater sculptures and park, a sight to be remembered. Following that, we visited a local mall, ending the day with a bouncing indoor park experience called "Sky Zone".
It was great to see students throughout the days speak Spanish to the locals, read signs and look for directions, make accounts about their money considering the exchange rate and such. Many were looking for items to bring back that would be just the right fit for their loved ones. Indeed a cultural immersion they will remember for life.
Today, the Yucatecos head to Merida and the adventure shall continue. We will remain in touch and will share pictures soon.
With excitement,
Dean Vazquez
Viajes seguros, safe travels, to Mr. Elger, Señora Vazquez, Ms. Ferguson and their 17 PGIA student travelers as they are on their way to Mexico for a week of Spanish language immersion, arts and local culture. Exploring Chichen Itza, snorkeling in the Cancun Underwater Museum MUSA and in the cenotes of Mexico's Yucatàn Peninsula, swimming with whale sharks....and, of course, que estarán hablando en español! Jealous anyone? I am!
At the Ministry of education
The center of Villaviciosa de Odon
The Royal Palace
From our chaperone, Ms. Brigitte Bornn ~
Good afternoon, parents. We had a great excursion today! We were invited to visit for awhile at Spain's Ministry of Education department. We had a meeting in the legislature with the Ministress herself that was very delightful. She spoke with our students in Spanish only and our students did very well, asking and answering articulately in Español. I was so very proud of them!
Last week we bid farewell to the Spanish exchange students that were here at VIMSIA for six weeks, and this week we send off our own PGIA contingent to visit their school in Madrid for six weeks.
Qué increíble oportunidad ! We are so proud of you all for being IB risk-takers and for paving the way for future PGIA language exchange students! Felicitaciones - que son increíbles !
Bienvenido to the eleven 7th and 8th grade Spanish exchange students that joined us from Madrid last week. We are so excited that we have embarked on an exchange program with the Eurocolegio Casvi School just outside of Madrid, Spain. These 7th and 8th graders will be here at the PGIA for six weeks. In February, 13 of our PGIA 7th and 8th graders will travel to their school in Madrid for six weeks. The Madrid students are being hosted by the VIMSIA families whose children will travel in February.
What an amazing opportunity for these students to improve their foreign language development, immerse themselves in cultural interaction, and make international friends for a lifetime! As our Head of School often states...
“We don’t live on simply an island, we don’t live in simply the United States - we live in the world, and our students must become conscientious global citizens. ”
The weekends for these students and their hosts are filled with great island and Caribbean excursions, we are so proud to show off our island to these friends from Spain. Thanks to Mr. Williams for putting together this video of their trip to Coral World. Spanish friends, share this with your friends at home so they can see what you're up to!!
This is an update that was received from Mr. Gever, who is traveling is Peru with Ms. Weichman and the Spanish Immersion End Session Group. Enjoy! Hopefully more good pictures to follow.
We have done tons of walking at very high altitude, 11,000+ feet, and it's freezing cold (for us) but there has not been any significant grumbling.
We met a lady the other day on one of the tours and asked her if her hotel had heating, as our apartment doesn't. (You have to muster up all your courage just to go to the bathroom.) She said she wasn't sure if there was heat or not in her hotel and added, "Why would you need it?". She's from London.
This is really an amazing place to visit. The natural landscapes are amazing. We went through the Sacred Valley yesterday, a long, narrow valley boxed in by steep mountains on both sides and occasional towering peaks, some permanently covered in snow. Blending in in a very organic way, ancient Incan agricultural terraces and ruined cities. It's also fascinating to think that the rushing rivers draining to the east feed into the Amazon jungle. We are just at the edge between the Andes altiplano and the Amazon rainforest. Next week we are going to Machu Picchu, which I think actually lies within the rainforest.
We went to a village yesterday where we were shown how traditional weaving and dying is done. All the Quechua-speaking ladies were dressed in their traditional garb (but not just for the tourists). One of them had actually learned enough English to explain everything to us in English. (Unfortunately, the tour was not in Spanish.) She had a really cute accent, and even made jokes. It was amazing to see the variety of colors they can extract from different plants and the cochineal insect. They showed us how pure cochineal gives a black color, but when mixed with lemon juice it produces an orange color.
I also learned in a private discussion with our tour guide, that all those hand-made alpaca sweaters us tourists love to buy are not really alpaca wool. She said a pure alpaca sweater would cost about $100, which is why most Peruvians don't wear it. If it's "baby alpaca" (first cut), double the price The best quality wool is from the vicuña, which is what the Incan emperors used. These days a sweater made of this type of wool would cost upwards of $500! The guide also told me that cochineal is extremely expensive and is not used for dying any ordinary garments.
Virgin Islands Montessori School and Peter Gruber International Academy - a Montessori and International Baccalaureate Toddler through grade twelve private school in the beautiful U.S. Virgin Islands. Ask for Admissions 340-775-6360.
VIMSIA 6936 Vessup Lane, St. Thomas USVI 00802 info@vimsia.org Phone: 340.775.6360 Maps and Directions Staff Portal
