From March 11 to March 22, students from Colegio Irlandesas de Bami in Sevilla, Spain visited Chicago, and stayed with Parker families and attended classes. This exchange program has been happening since the 2024-25 academic year when Parker students travelled to Sevilla in March and Spanish students visited Chicago in May. This year Parker students hosted but did not visit Sevilla but that will change next year.
“The goal is to host every year and travel every other year and to build a long-term relationship between the two schools,” Upper School Spanish teacher and Department Co-Chair Antiono Amo said. Amo worked closely with the teachers in Sevilla to build this program, helped match students with host families, purchase tickets, and built an itinerary for visiting students.
Students’ itineraries were filled with a mix of group outings, time with their host families, and Parker classes. Sevilla students visited destinations in Chicago such as the Lincoln Park Zoo, Millennium Park, the Willis Tower Skydeck, and the Museum of Science and Industry. Students also attended a Chicago Bulls game and went on an architectural boat tour of Chicago. The architecture tour was a standout for some students.
“I liked everything, but the buildings really impressed me,” Sevilla exchange student Elena Escribano Pachecho said. Apart from sightseeing, students had a welcome breakfast, a tour of Parker, and attended Parker classes with their host students for two mornings to understand more about life as a student in America. Much of what students knew about American school life was from movies. “Every time they saw something familiar from movies, like a yellow school bus, they would say, “¡Como en las películas!” (“Like in the movies!”)” Amo said.
Outside of school and group activities, students spent the rest of their time getting to know their host families. Many families took students out to restaurants.
“We went out to eat a lot, exposing them to the many diverse restaurants Chicago has, but we also showed them popular fast food places because they only have a select few in Spain,” host and Parker senior Xavier Irons said.
Host and Parker freshman Maya Mote focused on highlighting a variety of different cuisines, bringing her exchange student, Reyes Rubio, to Ron of Japan and Geja’s. Host and Parker junior Madeline Brown brought her exchange student to chain restaurants they had learned about through Tiktok, such as Chipotle and Crumbl Cookies.
Besides eating, the students also went on outings with their host families. “I had a great time when we all played laser tag and when we went to the trampoline park,” Pachecho said. Many students were also curious to see the river being dyed for St. Patrick’s day. “I think she really enjoyed the river dyeing, although she was curious why the U.S celebrates an Irish holiday so intensely,” said Brown. Even after all the unique destinations, the favorite part of the trip for many students was the connection they made with their host family. “What they enjoyed the most was the time with their host families and at Parker. That is usually what stays with them,” Amo said.
Being able to form a bond with an exchange student was just one of many reasons Parker students were excited to host. “I truly enjoy learning about Spanish culture and their customs… I think it’s amazing getting to learn about someone else’s culture relating to a language you take and getting a glimpse into life from a teenager your age who lives completely different from you,” Irons said. Several students were also excited to further their Spanish skills by talking with their exchange student. “I hosted an exchange student because I thought it would create an opportunity for me to practice my Spanish and for my student to practice her English,” sophomore Alaina Prokup said.
Language immersion exchange programs such as this one offer a unique opportunity to practice and use a student’s world language skills. “These trips take language learning out of the classroom and make it real. Students are not just practicing Spanish for a grade, they are using it to communicate, solve problems, and connect with people in everyday situations,” Amo said.
Beyond language learning students also get to learn about other cultures and ways of life. “I think it’s amazing to show other people who live completely different from you, your culture and even when the trip is over, both people become more educated about other places in the world,” said Irons. Overall students feel that Parker exchange programs provide unique perspective, fun experiences, language practice and connection across the globe.
