Pathways Abroad: Living and Learning in Andalucía 2013

7/28/2019 Pathways Abroad: Living and Learning in Andaluca 2013

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Living and Learning in Andaluca, SpainPathways Abroad

July - October 2013"I strongly believe that launching yourself into the world, putting yourself face to facewith other people, on their turf, where you have to account for yourself on unfamiliar

terms, is a noble way to live and to move ahead as a human being."

- Jeff Greenwald, MFT

The region in Southern Spain known as Andaluca has become a home away from home for the

Simpson family, and we are excited to be bringing another group of students to share this rich cultural

learning experience. This is our family's fourth trip and our 3rd trip with students. We work primarily as

step-down program for at-risk and struggling teenagers and young adults, helping them to transition

out of a Wilderness Program, Emotional Growth Boarding Schools, or academic difficulties. Our

Family Abroad Program is a wonderful supervised opportunity for 'Gap Year' students. We do

emphasize that all of our students, regardless of their age and personal histories, are supervised at al

times.


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When we are not taking short trips in Spain, we will be based in aresidential home in Nerja; the foundation of our program continues to

be:

*Music Production and Music Recording*Spanish Language Learning*Academic Coursework*Daily Chores, Cooking, and Exercise Regimen (we typicallygo to the gym 3 times weekly)*An emphasis on Personal Growth, Creativity, and Learning

Our Family Program

The Simpson family has been travelling and living abroad since 2004,

when we began to include cross-cultural adventure, music and languageabroad into the family-based residential program we had been operating

for a nearly a decade. While living abroad, we provide the same

structured environment, one-on-one attention, and emotional and

academic support to students that we established in the States.

Why Abroad?

Experience has shown us that living in a structured environment in aforeign culture has many of the therapeutic benefits of Wilderness

Therapy. Both involve placing the young adult in an unknown

environment where new life skills must be developed to deal with the

outside world. Students also find themselves in a different world far from

the peer culture of their life at home. Our students are compelled to

learn a new language along with a deeper appreciation of foreign

histories and cultures. Students find that to thrive abroad, they must livelife in an environment far different from what they encountered in their

hometowns. Students are provided with the opportunity to open up their

lives and develop a more nuanced, appreciative sense of their self,

culture, and where they come from.


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**In addition to our daily schedule in Nerja, we will also be taking the following side trips

3 Days in Granada

Set in the interiormountains of Andaluca,Granada is anunforgettable city.Renown for its historicaland cultural legacy of theIslamic and Moorishinfluence, Granada isperhaps best know forthe Alhambra - an ancient Islamic Citadel - whichstudents and staff will have a chance to visit.

10 Days in Conil de la Frontera

Conil de la Frontera has become one of our favoriteplaces in Spain. A quiet beach village on the AtlanticCoast, students will enjoy several days going to thebeach during the day and continuing Spanish andAcademic Courseworkon the days whenwe're not taking trips.

Our trip to Conil willalso give us theopportunity to visitChristopher Columbushometown in

neighboring Puerto Santa Maria; to jaunt over to thehistorical town of Verjer; and to explore the ancient city of Cdiz.

1 Day at the Rock of Gibraltar

The trip to Conil takes us right by the Rock of Gibraltar,one of the world's geographic and strategic wonders thathas long played a vital role in the economic and militaryhistory of Europe. On Gibraltar, we (respectfully) interactwith the Gibraltar Apes who live exclusively on top of themountain. From Gibraltar and the area around Tarifa, wecan view the mountainous coast of North Africa.


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3 Days in MlagaMlaga is virtually our back yard, less than an hour'sdrive from our home in Nerja, and it is one of the mostunderrated cities in Europe. The birthplace of Picassoand home to the Alcazaba(a Moorish castle),cathedrals, a vibranthistorical center and invitingbeaches, we typically visitMlaga three times over thecourse of our stay inAndaluca.

1 Day at the Cdiz Museum & CathedralThe first time we visited the Cdiz Museum and

Cathedral, we were taken back by how cool it was. Inancient times, Cdiz was the Western most outpost ofthe Roman Empire and a majortrading center for commercebetween the Mediterranean andthe Atlantic. Today it is a vibrantmixture of past and present, witha terrific museum of modern art.We consider Cdiz a can't-missdestination for our students.

3 Days in Sierra NevadaNot far from our coastal home in Nerja, the SierraNevada is a mountainous region that offers a wealth ofoutdoor opportunities to students. We will be spending3 days hiking the high peaks of the Sierra and visitingthe picturesque mountainvillages of the Alpujarras

Region.


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3 Days in SevillaThis will be our first time visiting Sevilla, the culturalcapital and largest city in Andaluca. We have heardgreat things about it, and that the city's architecture andFlamenco scene may be the best in Andaluca. We lookforward to verifying this with out own eyes, and learningall we can about thishistorical city on theGuadalquivir River.

2 Days in Los Dolmenes and El Torcal in Antequera

The Dolmens of Antequera are the largest megalithicstructures in Europe that date back before 4,000 B.C.El Torcal is a wonderful geological region consisting ofunusual rockformations with awide range of hikingtrails. There are also

an array oftraditional Spanishfestivals in theneighboring town ofAntequera, many ofthem involving bullfighting or bulldancing

1 Day in Almucar

The Medieval castle of Almucar was a militarystronghold for centuries, strategically situated between

the mountains and the ocean, with its outmost parapetbuilt on a rockextending far over theocean. Almuecar isonly 15 miles fromNerja and has RomanSalt Ruins, beaches,and beautiful parks.


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The Simpson Family

Rich has been the primary counselor, mentor and teacherat Pathways Abroad since 1995, where he and his wifeWendy and their two sons have worked to create anintimate and vibrant family setting for their students to grow

and learn. Rich has an extensive background in musiccomposition and production and has recorded andproduced many young people over the past two decades.He is an avid gardener and enjoys the outdoors, having ledcountless groups of students on camping, hiking, andoutdoor adventures throughout the world.

"Travel is more than the seeing of sights: it is a change that goes on, deep

and permanent, in the ideas of living."

- Miriam Beard

Wendy is a published writer and poet who worked as alibrarian and an English teacher before establishingPathways Abroad. She has a love of foreign films and isfascinated by Spanish culture and history. She is the authorof the popular blog The Hemingway Project as well asvarious freelance articles on education and travel.

Rich and Wendy are accompanied by their two sons Mattand Andy, who are in their mid twenties. Both are fluent inSpanish, enjoy physical fitness and healthy cuisine, andbring a great sense of humor, joy, and responsibility toPathways Abroad and its students. Matt, a veteran of twoprevious Spain trips, will be on the Spanish trip and looksforward to helping students record music, improve theirSpanish, and navigate the experience of living and learningin a foreign culture.


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July - October 2013$6,000 per month + airfare

(fees include all housing, food, travel, and activity costs)

Contact:

Rich & Wendy Simpson - (208) 676-1275 [email protected]

www.pathwaysabroad.com

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Pathways Abroad: Living and Learning in Andalucía 2013