Spanish immersion in Mexico

    Prof. Ken Cherney and six WLS students participated in the Spanish Immersion Cultural Experience (SPICE), a Winterim program conducted Prof. John Schuetze. On January 3 they travelled to Puebla, Mexico, a city of around 6 million people located two hours east of Mexico City. There the group  celebrated el dia de reyose magos (day of the magi kings, i.e., Epiphany), which is a major event in the Mexican culture. They spent a week studying Spanish at the Spanish Institute of Puebla which included four hours of classroom instruction and two hours with a private guide each day. They enjoyed fellowship with the pastors and seminary students from the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mexico during a two-day conference. They also toured ex-convents, saw the ruins of ancient pyramids, rode horses and donkeys, and visited many other historical and cultural sites. An important part of the immersion experience was the homestay with Mexican families. Most of all, they spoke Spanish, Spanish, and more Spanish and ate authentic Mexican food before returning to the States on January 19.

    Students who participate in a weekend of Spanish ministry prior to January receive a grant that helps to offset much of the cost of the program.