The sun is peeking over the horizon and painting the sky in shades of pink and orange. The crisp air smells of freshly baked bread. My kindergartener is excited to start a new adventure in our My Spanish Village.
“!Vamos!” “Vamos!” I shout to my daughter while she laces up her tiny shoes. Her eyes are ablaze with excitement. School days here are not ordinary. Every corner of the cobblestone streets seems to whisper tales from centuries ago. Every day, our journey to school is like a pilgrimage through the past.
The kindergarten is nestled in between old stone buildings and olive trees. The kindergarten is a hive of activity, where laughter can be heard echoing off the walls. Senora López greets us with a warm smile that could melt the coldest heart. She chirps “Buenos dias”, her voice a soothing melody that sets the mood for the day.
This classroom is a place where language is not only taught, but also lived. Senora Lopez starts the lively Spanish storytime with the children gathered on a colorful carpet. The story of today involves a fox who is mischievous and an enchanted wood. Children are wide-eyed, and they hang on every word.
“?Que piensas que hara el zorro?” She encourages their imaginations run wild. As they guess in Spanish phrases, the hands shoot up with excitement and giggles.
As soon as snack time arrives, the bocadillos are ready. These simple but delicious sandwiches never fail to satisfy tiny taste buds. It’s not just about sharing food; it’s also about interacting over familiar and unfamiliar flavors.
While they eat happily, I hear snippets from parents outside – a mix of languages creating a symphony. One mother tells of how her son took his first flamenco step at school the week before; another tells how her daughter shocked everyone by reading poetry in both English AND Spanish.
After recess, where games like futbol are played with the same seriousness as a five-year old can muster, the focus turns to arts and crafts. Young artists let their creativity flow without any fear of judgement.
My daughter proudly displays her masterpiece – a chaotic swirling of colors that appears to depict our cat wearing glasses while riding on a unicorn in space (because, why not?) The creativity is endless!