Performing Vocal Ensemble | Choir | Cincinnati, Ohio

The summer of ’09 has had a lot of challenges in store for me.

Challenge #1? Stay awake for 30 hours straight upon arrival to Barcelona. I must admit, I barely overcame this one without passing out into my paella at dinner and credit my narrow victory to a rest at the hotel (during which I did NOT take a 47 minute siesta…).

Challenge #2? Acquire gelato at every possible opportunity. I lost count at ten. Success! But I guess the greatest challenge of all is posed in the form of a question asked by my family and friends: “Spain—what was it like?” I’m at a loss for words. “Uh, it was (insert vague adjective here).”

How do I even begin to articulate the experience? I come up blank, which is why I was surprised when Mr. Thio asked me to write an article summing up an experience about which I struggle to form a single sentence. So, please bear with me as I attempt to describe the indescribable.

First, I’ll start with a subject that always comes first and foremost in my life: the food. My first encounter with traditional Spanish cuisine occurred in a market in Barcelona. My eyes widened with each new sighting of squid, hake, codfish, and crab, many of them living and appearing as if they had just been plucked from the Mediterranean. How do people stand it, their food staring right back at them? I wondered. I would find out later that night, when I was served paella, a traditional Spanish dish comprised of crayfish, shrimp, squid, and rice. Woah! I was taken aback but soon shrugged it off. I was hungry. Bon appetit!

To my surprise, it was delicious! “Hey Dani,” I muttered to my roommate between bites. “This brown meat is pretty good…what is it?” She laughed. That can’t be good. Could I be eating– “Thumper!” Mr. Thio confirmed my suspicions. The imagery proved a bit too much, marking my first and last bite of rabbit. Still, this episode taught me that it’s important to try new things and seek new experiences (and that sometimes a mystery meat should remain a mystery!). One new experience that I particularly enjoyed was my first ever Magnum bar! For the life of me, I can’t figure out why I didn’t have one on Trip #3, because those things are pure heaven! Word to the wise: Don’t wait ‘til the last day to try a double chocolate magnum bar. Your taste buds will never let you live it down!

In Toledo, Spain

My trip to Spain not only involved amazing meals, but incredible sights and scenery, as well. One of the more memorable experiences was exploring the Barcelona streets on the first day in Spain. It was wild. Street vendors sold everything from caricatures to live farm animals (it gave “I bought me a goose” a whole new meaning…). Performers donned in elaborate (and sometimes creepy) garb surrounded the downtown plaza. There’s a real liveliness about Spain that’s almost tangible, and it took just a few minutes in the streets of Barcelona to pick up on it. Another one of my all-time favorite sights was the cityscape of Toledo. It was nothing short of breathtaking, and it’s not hard to tell why artists like El Greco tried to capture its beauty through their artwork.

In Barcelona

Ultimately, though, the beauty of the trip did not lie in the spectacular scenery. For me, as corny as it may sound, the most incredible experience of all was getting to know the awesome people that participated in this trip! My fondest memories do not involve castles, buildings, or cathedrals, but bus rides, plane rides, and dinners in which I developed friendships with amazing people, both kids and chaperones. Many thanks to Mrs. Gartner, Mr. Thio, Mrs. Pittman, Mr. Harris, the Kreiners, the Alexanders, and everyone for the amazing opportunity!

Which brings me to the next challenge of the summer: Devise way to fit inside a carry-on to Australia.

Christine McLaughlin is going to be a senior at Sycamore High School. This was her second SCSS trip (and she loved it!) “Look out for my brother Scott during Australia Auditions!”

Christine, it was a joy to have you on board! Thanks for being my “train buddy” from Barcelona to Valencia – I thoroughly enjoyed the chats we had! – Mr.Thio