Get to Know Ashton M.
Ashton M. ES'22
Ángel Vilalta Scholar | Junior at SYA Spain
January 2022: Mid-Year Update
A cultural component that was brought to my attention almost immediately after arriving in Spain was the importance of comidas familiares. It is very typical that every weekend, usually on Sunday, Spanish families gather to not only eat a meal together, but to share time and company. This photo is from one of my first weekends here in Spain at a family comida with my host family, extended host family and friends.
Something that I love about being at SYA is the opportunity to travel and explore different cities and landmarks throughout Spain with friends. This photo was taken during a trip to to a city in the north of Spain called San Sebastián. While in San Sebastián we got to spend time by the ocean, visit El Catedral del Buen Pastor de San Sebastián and most importantly, eat some amazing food!
Almost all of my best memories from my first semester here in Spain have been when all members of the SYA community, students and teachers alike, are together. During the first semester, we had several opportunities to do just that, not only in the classroom but in Alquezar and Madrid! I took this photo inside of the Royal Palace during our class trip to Madrid, where I was able to learn more about the culture and history of Spain, not only through conversation but seeing.
On the weekends, or even some days after school, it is not rare to bump into groups of classmates walking down Paseo de la Independencia or around Plaza del Pilar as we all scramble to squeeze into a cafe or simply enjoy each other’s company. I have found that spending time walking around the city has not only helped me find my bearings in what was once a new place to me, but it has also helped me learn so much more about Zaragoza as a city and those who I have the amazing opportunity of exploring it with.
September 2021: Meet Ashton
- Tell us about yourself and your interests
- What made you apply to SYA?
- What are your hopes for your SYA experience?
- What are you most looking forward to?
- What do you think will be most challenging this year?
- What would you say to the donors who made this experience possible?
Tell us about yourself and your interests
What made you apply to SYA?
Due to my Latino heritage (both parents being from the Dominican Republic), Spanish language and culture have always been an interest of mine and part of my lifestyle at home. Whether it be listening to Spanish music, sitting with my mom as she cooked perníl on Christmas Eve or listening to my grandparents tell me stories from their youth, Spanish culture has always had a subconscious presence in my upbringing and is one of the driving forces behind why I decided to apply to SYA Spain. I knew that applying to SYA would give me the opportunity to better my Spanish speaking skills and help me work towards achieving fluency.
What are your hopes for your SYA experience?
My hopes for my SYA experience are to take full advantage of the opportunities waiting for me (literally) outside of my host family’s home. I hope to improve my Spanish speaking skills, not only at school but also at the dinner table with my host family. I hope to make lifelong friendships and connections with my fellow SYA peers, Spanish locals and, most importantly, my amazing host family. Additionally, this year, I also hope to grow not only as a student, but as an individual, with the goal of bringing back new learnings and insights to my various communities back home.
What are you most looking forward to?
I know that there is a lot to look forward to when looking at the year ahead, but something that I am really excited for is Fiestas del Pilar that will be taking place in Zaragoza in early October. I am looking forward to being able to see all of Zaragoza’s culture and traditions through food, music and dance all in one place while being surrounded by members of the community.
What do you think will be most challenging this year?
I think that the most challenging thing this year will be being away from my family, friends, school and everything that “I know” back in the states. In these first couple of weeks in Spain I have felt and seen how moving to a new country and having no sense of familiarity can be “challenging”, to say the least, but I have also seen how the SYA community comes together to support one another and help with challenges that come our way. Though I know being away from my community back at home will continue to be hard, I am grateful and proud to be a part of my new community here in Spain.
What would you say to the donors who made this experience possible?
The first thing that I would say to the donors who make this experience possible is thank you. Giving young people like me the opportunity to take a risk and jump into a new culture and way of living for a year, or semester, is invaluable because of the skills and lived experiences that we are going to take back home. If it weren’t for your generosity, the experiences and memories I will make at SYA Spain would not be possible.