The Spaniards are back in the Big Apple, and taking Murrow by storm.

Fifteen students from the Tomas Breton School of Salamanca, Spain arrived to New York on March 24^th to visit the city and live with some of our Murrowites. It’s the second consecutive year that students from Spain spent a week over a week at the school.

The students got this opportunity of a life-time to visit the sites and attend an American school first hand through the New-York Salamanca Exchange Program that first sponsored the exchange in 2011.

Students who were chosen to represent Murrow spent their Mid-Winter break in the homes of the Spaniards. They were chaperoned by Spanish teachers Ms. Robin Thompson, Mrs. Josephine Martingano, and Ms. Aurora Gomez.

Alejandro Martín from Salamanca said he really enjoyed the experience as he heard about this opportunity from friends in school.

“I learned about it outside of school and inside of school,” said Martin, 15. “I really wanted to do it.” 

Students also had a chance to visit many places including the New York Bodies exhibition and Times Square. The students even attended the popular Broadway show, Phantom of the Opera. 

According to exchange student Marcos Hernandez, being in New York City was a wonderful experience. 

“I loved all of it a lot,” said Hernandez. “My favorite was Times Square because I loved all of the lights and the buildings.” 

Spanish teacher Mrs. Martingano says that this experience was not just a tour, but a chance to live in the culture of a New Yorker though living in student’s homes. 

“They lived with some of the families of the students in the school,” said Mrs. Martingano “They went to the classes of the students they were staying with.”

Students of the exchange also got a tour of Murrow by visiting many classes, including a dance performance presented by the Dance Ensemble class.

Senior and host student, Brandon Brown said he loved having exchange student Alejandro Martin stay in his home. 

“He was like a brother I never had,” said Brown. “I will do it again in college because I like to travel and meet new people.” 

Even though it has been some time since the students from Spain have been in Murrow, they still keep in touch with their American friends.

“They are still communicating,” said Mrs. Martingano. “They are still in contact through Facebook.”