Spain

The Modern and Classical Languages Department is pleased to announce the 2019-2020 Spanish Exchange Program with the Instituto Jovellanos and Instituto Doña Jimena of Gijón, Spain. Gijón is located on the northern coast of Spain in an area known as a natural paradise. This will be a family-to-family and school-to-school exchange. This is a great opportunity for our students to experience a new culture firsthand, go on an adventure, and practice their Spanish!

The Spanish group will arrive in Buffalo in September for a two-week visit. During their stay here, the Spanish students will participate in activities on and off campus during the school day. Students and families participating in the Spanish exchange trip must be available to host the visiting Spanish students. Hosting is often times the highlight of the trip and what makes our program affordable and an exchange in the true sense. Through hosting, our students expand their understanding of the Spanish culture and their own, and learn a great deal about themselves.

We will take a group of Nichols students to Spain a week before and during our spring break (+/- 17 days) accompanied by two Nichols faculty members. While in Spain, our students will live with families, attend school with their host siblings, and participate in excursions to various sites in the area including Madrid, Oviedo, Toledo as well as other points of interest.

Spanish students who are currently freshman, sophomores and juniors may apply. Rising seniors will be given the first opportunity to turn in their application (with deposit). Rising juniors will have the next opportunity, followed by rising sophomores and students that are not taking Spanish.

The success of the exchange depends on many factors: an open curiosity about the world, a desire to participate in school and family life while in the foreign country, the commitment to be a considerate and accommodating host here at home, the maturity to accept responsibility, the ability to work well in a group, and flexibility under all circumstances. We look for an applicant’s commitment to share, understand, and appreciate cultural differences. In making our choices, we will also consult other teachers and deans.

The deadline for returning the application and deposit is Friday, May 24, 2019. Please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to having you be part of this exciting adventure!

Laura Arribas
Director of Exchanges
larribas@nicholsschool.org

Ron Montesano
Upper School Spanish Teacher
rmontesano@nicholsschool.org

Application Information

List of 1 items.

Application Information
1. Dates of exchange
a. Spanish students in Buffalo: September of 2019 for two weeks and a half
b. Nichols students in Spain: Two weeks and a half on March-April 2020 (contingent on travel arrangements)
2. COST: $2,600 based on 13-15 participants
a. Price includes:
- All travel expenses between Buffalo and Gijón, Spain
- Excursion expenses in Spain
- All hosting expenses for Nichols organized activities
b. Prices do not include:
- Family-organized activities
- Spending money in Spain
- Health related expenses incurred abroad
These costs are based on current airline fares. Significant adjustments in costs could result in additional surcharges due to fluctuating airline prices and taxes.
3. Who may apply? Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors (rising seniors and juniors studying French take priority)
4. School organized activities:
a. For Spanish students in Buffalo:
- Tour of Downtown Buffalo
- Guided tour of Albright-Knox
- Excursion to Niagara Falls
- Guided tour of Old Fort Niagara
- Other excursions to local points of interest
b. For Nichols students in Spain:
- Attending classes
- Excursion to Madrid
- National parks
- Roman ruins
- City visits - Oviedo, Toledo, Segovia, (Burgos or León)
- Professional Soccer Game
- Surfing and mountain biking.
- Other excursions to local points of interest
For more information about the activities and excursions, check out the Nichols in Spain Facebook page.
5. Family responsibilities in Buffalo:
a. Host exchange student for two weeks and a half (see to Hosting Responsibility form)
b. Introduce visiting student to a wide range of American culture if possible
6. Mandatory meetings (mark your calendars!)
a. Hosting meeting – will take place in January (student and at least one parent must attend)
b. Pre-departure workshop – will take place in February (student and at least one parent must attend)
7. Application Procedure:
a. Complete and return attached form with $200 deposit by Friday, May 24, 2019
b. The $200 deposit will be refunded if your child is not accepted to participate in the exchange. It is non-refundable to those accepted, but it will be applied to the cost of the trip.
c. Applicants will be notified as soon as possible after the final selections of participants are made
d. First payment ($1,200) is due the last week of November 2019 and the final payment ($1,200) is due the final week of January 2020.