With full bellies, the Spanish 2 and 3 students express their take on the authentic Spanish food at Café Iberico in downtown Chicago. 

by Alexa Wheaton

Recently 17 Spanish students and 6 chaperones found themselves immersed in the Spanish culture of Pilsen, a cultural suburb of the modern city of Chicago. 

“I was impressed by the culture the students absorbed. Everybody found something unique that interested them,” Spanish teacher Carrie Stockman said. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is celebrated Nov. 1 and 2 by honoring their Mexican heritage and that inspired the trip.  

“Yes, we have the internet and books to research, but I hope students will retain it for a longer period of time due to this hands-on experience,” said Stockman. 

The group arrived around 11 a.m. on Saturday. The first stop in Pilsen was La Baguette, an authentic Spanish bakery where students had the option of buying tasty treats such as churros, empanadas and pandulce. 

Students then went to the National Museum of Mexican Art which has the largest Day of the Dead exhibit in the U.S. The cultural art showed students the Spanish speaking culture’s traditions and history. The many altars in the Day of the Dead exhibit represented the real altars families make to honor the lives of their deceased friends and families. 

Each altar has the four main elements of nature: earth, wind, water and fire. These elements are represented by light-weight items such as papel picado (tissue paper cutouts) reminding us of wind, a glass of water, candles resembling fire and food or flowers reflecting earth. 

Students then split up into two groups for a scavenger hunt. They were given a map with designated stops and questions to answer about each one. All over Pilsen, huge life-like murals represent the culture and people of the community. Students admired and interpreted what the murals were saying about the culture. 

Sunday night the group ate at Café Iberico, a Spanish tapas restaurant. Tapas are Spanish appetizers shared by everyone. Stockman ordered 21 tapas from hot to cold plates. 

Some of the students’ favorites were Patatas Bravas (spicy potatoes with tomato sauce), Pincho de Pollo (chicken brochette with caramelized onions and rice), Tortilla Española (vegetarian Spanish omelet) and Paella (orange rice served with chicken, pork and seafood). 

After packing to head home, the group stopped at the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum. The Amazon exhibit in Shedd Aquarium displayed how the river rises and falls every year, affecting Spanish-speaking people who live there. At the Field Museum students enjoyed the Aztec exhibit. 

In addition to Spanish speaking cultural activities, students also had opportunities to see the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), Navy Pier, Blue Man Group, John Hancock Building and many famous shops.

Students who traveled to Chicago are Carly Steele, Mariah Hirsch, Macayla Gregson, Sage Comstock, Alyssa Lyddon, Halley Ogan, Zach Gibson, Coleton Tompkins, Shane Lyons, Stephen Vavroch, Taylor Gregson, Madison Dawley, Breanna Johnson, Cheyenne Klos, Kendra Cranston, Destiny Romberg and Alexa Wheaton. Chaperones included: Marlene Johnson, Jamie Nelson, Matt and Missy Ogan, Marg Stockman and Kristy Romberg. 

As Senora Stockman said, "The students gained knowledge about the Spanish culture which will motivate them to further their studies in the Spanish culture."