Masco’s Spanish Exchange students were hosted by their partners from Huesca at the end of February. The trip brought many unforgettable memories that tell a story way beyond just photos and videos.
The group of 20 students had the honor of doing more fun activities in two weeks than many people can do in a lifetime. Here is a recap of the 2026 Spanish Exchange Trip.
Barcelona: The first city they visited after a long flight was Barcelona. The students proceeded to explore the beautiful city after hardly any sleep, but that didn’t stop them from enjoying their tour as best as they could.
One of the first places that they went to see was Park Güell, which is a very popular tourist area that allows you to be able to see the majority of Barcelona from a distance. There were many beautiful photos taken here in this area.
Something the students noticed immediately while being there was the difference in the way things are built in Spain.
Junior Molly Howes noted that the architecture was really different between Barcelona and Boston.
“All the streets were like stone instead of pavement, and there are a lot of beautiful details instead of just being concrete,” said Howes.
Huesca: The high schoolers later arrived in Huesca, where they reunited with their exchange students once again; a very happy and heartwarming moment for all friends and family who were there.
All kids were able to do more or less of whatever was planned by the Spanish students and families for about five days. Everyone was out of school because of “La Semana Blanca”, a holiday in Spain when there is snow on the mountains, and kids are away from school for the week.
They went to stores, visited the mountains, took plenty of pictures, and even collectively went to a soccer game. These exchange students were having such a great time, and it didn’t stop there.
The last few days in Huesca, the Spanish kids went back to school, and that meant so did the exchange students. But instead of learning, they were there to teach about the American culture and the normal traditions that take place back at home.
Senior Izzy Beauvais said that there are notable differences in the culture between Spain and the United States. Lunch, for example, is a much bigger meal in Spain, in opposition to here at home.
“When we went out to eat a few times, it was one entree and then a second entree and then dessert. That was something that was hard to get used to,” said Beauvais.
She, however, loved the food overall, and she cannot wait to go back for that reason, along with many more.
The students weren’t the only ones who enjoyed this trip immensely. Spanish Exchange advisor Jason Tierney also loved this trip. He loved the way the group of kids bonded so well by respecting, laughing, and enjoying each other’s presence.
“They threw themselves into the experience, ignored their phones, and grew immensely,” said Tierney.
The students were there for a total of nine days before having to say goodbye to their exchange partners, a very sad yet wholesome moment in the trip.
Madrid: Finally, the Exchange students took a long shuttle to Madrid, one of the most populated cities in all of Europe. But even here, they would notice that the rich history of Madrid is preserved. It still had the same older look as other cities in Spain, and the people still abided by the same older rules, like the height of a building, for example.
Madrid was also very exciting because the students received free time to do more or less of what they wanted, including eating, shopping, or other activities.
Some kids went to visit the Bernabéu and the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, stadiums of the soccer club teams Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid.
Finally, the students went to see a flamenco show, a very traditional Spanish dance that involves hitting your feet hard on the ground in a rhythmic fashion.
Senior Rudy Chilel looked back on how one of his favorite memories of the trip was this exact flamenco show.
“It was very powerful and displayed a lot of emotion. Something unlike anything I have ever seen before,” said Chilel.
Chilel, as well as many others, enjoyed this beautiful show and believed that this was an amazing way to end the trip in Spain.
There was such a wide variety of incredible things that these Exchange Students got to experience. This was a trip that provided opportunities of a lifetime. Everyone tried new things, embraced the challenge of a slight language barrier, and got to learn so much about the Spanish culture.
They toured stadiums, tasted new foods, witnessed historic art, and so much more. But most importantly, they laughed, they cried, and they cheered all together.
As Tierney said, this group of teenagers formed a special bond that created many great memories just by talking to one another. This is the type of bond that goes beyond the photos and videos. They got to know each other a little more with every passing day. That alone was able to brighten their smiles just a bit more.