Volunteering at a Spanish school in San Carlos can be an incredibly enriching experience. Not only do you get to immerse yourself in the language and culture of a beautiful country, but you also get to give back to the community for example by teaching English to local students. In this blog, we'll explore what it's like to volunteer at a Spanish school in San Carlos and why it can be such a rewarding experience.
If you’re a logistics person (read: anxious planner) like me, you may appreciate the following details about arrival/check-in and the overall flow of each week
I had loads of questions about travelling to Colombia before I arrived, so here’s all the information you need if you’re considering a trip in late 2021 or 2022.
Like with most tasks that have been put on hold for a while, I’m having a hard time finding a place to start. So why not start in, uhm, southern Italy, in June 2019. Back then I was on vacation, camping and surfing with some good friends. The weather was incredible, our camping site was located right by the ocean and the wind was strong. Shortly before, I had just started my first job in a rehabilitation hospital after finishing university for a degree in psychology. My original wish was to travel the world before starting my career, but that’s kind of difficult when you don’t have any money saved up for it. So I did what my parents urged me to do: I took the path of flawless CV’s and least resistance, leading straight into the world of full-time-work. I searched for a job to begin my therapy program, found one, and eventually started helping people get their life back together while mine was not really where I wanted it to be.
My husband and I have been together for a little over 4 years. The first night we met, I told him about this epic “World Tour” that I was planning to take one day and he was ALL about it. Fast forward a few years to early (“pre”-pandemic) 2020: we were celebrating our wedding and looking forward to finally making our World Tour dream a reality… and then COVID-19 happened.
For a week of true Colombian partying, join Las Fiestas Del Agua in San Carlos. You won't regret this wet, wild and magical stop in your travels. Just three hours by bus from Medellín, San Carlos makes the perfect weekend getaway from big city life. Ready to celebrate the water like a real San Carlitano? Here are Spanish Adventure’s top tips for getting the most out of the Fiestas del Agua.
So, if you are interested in learning Spanish, in experiencing Colombian culture like a local, and exploring the beautiful natural landscapes, Spanish Adventure is the place for you. But what exactly does a week at Spanish Adventure look like? Everything you ever wanted to know about life at Spanish Adventure.
Travelling is a wonderful exciting adventure, but being away from home for an extended period of time can take it's toll. My advice: slow down. Studying Spanish allows you to travel more easily, have more authentic interactions with locals, and it’s also a wonderful opportunity to slow down and settle in somewhere for a little while. I’ll tell you why you won’t regret it!
You can’t visit San Carlos without meeting Sandra. She’s one of the first friendly faces you see in the town, and always has the time you to speak with you in Spanish. She also sells some of the best Colombian food in Antioquia – perhaps Colombia. We asked Sandra everything you ever wanted to know about her.
“Nunca nos fuimos. Siempre resistimos” – We never left. We always resisted. Over three decades of violence – encompassing paramilitary groups, guerrilla insurgencies, and state actors – provoked one of the largest exoduses in Colombia. This mural captures the essence of San Carlos during the years of violence: all that remained were the ‘resisters’ and the birds.
While Colombia’s civil war is formally over, one explosive part of its history remains. Colombia’s national sport, Tejo, involves gunpowder, steel projectiles, and alcohol. A combination of any of the latter might sound like a recipe for disaster, yet blowing stuff up while drinking beer is perhaps the best national sport a country could wish for.
Before coming to Colombia, Colombian food seemed to consist only of meat-filled empanadas and arepas - not really vegetarian. Moreover, vegetarianism is not widespread in the region - less than eight percent of South Americans eat no meat. However, being a vegetarian gave me the opportunity to try new food and improve my Spanish at the same time!
Before I came to San Carlos and Spanish Adventure, I didn’t really like the language and felt uncomfortable when I tried to speak Spanish. The people couldn’t always understand me. During my stay at Spanish Adventure, I felt more and more comfortable, even though I always made mistakes. I will explain you why!
At Spanish Adventure anyone who has the desire to learn, can get taught Spanish. We provide you with personal motivation, the chance to learn about Colombian culture and the ability to communicate with your friends. You can also focus on broadening your knowledge within a certain topic, like Narcis Serafras.
Everyone who studies recognises the feeling; learning can make you so hungry! Luckily at Spanish Adventure the lunch is included in our packages - and it’s not just a simple lunch, we go after classes to the restaurant. What is it like there? We asked one of our students, Kelly, and the owner of the restaurant, Aji Dulce, Paola.
There are all kinds of different students here at Spanish Adventure. Some students just want to learn the basics of Spanish to survive, while others make big plans for a long stay in Latin America. At Spanish Adventure you get classes matched to your own level and wishes, so we asked two different students about their learning experiences at Spanish Adventure.
Spanish Adventure is many things: a Spanish school, a home base for many and a great location to experience the beautiful surroundings of San Carlos. But what truly makes it so unique are its founders - two incredible Colombian natives, who have poured their hearts and souls into creating this place. Find out more about how the dream of Spanish Adventure became a reality.
