ASA: Academic Study Associates 2008 Programs

Our last full week was quite busy! We had our last kite-surfing class and I must say that everyone has improved tremendously! It is so much fun to watch your children soaring through the water and controlling their huge “cometas” (kites) to lead the way! Flamenco class is also progressing along nicely as they are preparing to perform for everyone at the fiesta final (final party). In addition to the flamenco dance, Evan is also going to play and sing a song he learned in guitar class! As you can see we have a very talented group!
This week we also had a soccer tournament. Your children played/ competed with their Spanish siblings and friends – it was a lot of fun! On Friday we had a blast playing paintball. It took place in a field and had lots of obstacles that we could hide behind!
In class on Friday your children gave their final oral presentations and it was evident that they learned a lot! Their creativity flowed during the second half of class as they prepared the Libro de Verano, a student-created booklet commemorating their time in Tarifa. A sort of yearbook, the Libro de Verano contains pages on activities, excursions, local culture, and other important aspects of our summer. It's always exciting to see the unveiling of the final printed copies, which are distributed at the final dinner Tuesday evening.
Yesterday we went on a trip to the vibrant city of Malaga, which was founded by the Phoenecians, passed through the hands of the Moors and the Catholic Kings and later became an important industrial center as well as a tourist capital. After a panoramic tour on the bus, we took a guided walking tour among Malaga's pedestrian-only historic center. Next we went to the the Picasso Museum, honoring the artistic genius of Malaga's most famous resident, and we saw where the students asked lots of questions about the variety of paintings. On the way back to Tarifa we stopped at Puerto Banus. Your children were very impressed to see all of the expensive cars lining the streets and the elaborate yachts in the port.
Today is a more relaxing day which will provide everyone some time to spend with their Spanish families and friends and also to study for their final exam tomorrow!

What an exciting week it’s been! It started with classes and activities as usual. This week due to the weather conditions we got a chance to practice our kite-surfing skills on the beach. The highlight of the week however, was definitely our overnight trip to Granada! On Thursday we arrived in Granada and went on a guided tour of the Alhambra, a sprawling walled city which in medieval times functioned as a self-supporting royal palace. The Alhambra is a wonderfully preserved example of Arab architecture in Spain, with ornate wall carvings, Arab baths, and interior plazas with fountains that would have helped to cool the buildings. Washington Irving was amazed to discover the Alhambra in the nineteenth century overtaken by wanderers and bohemians, and he himself lived there for several months, producing the classic book Stories of the Alhambra, full of tales of sultans, knights, and princesses. Your children got along really well with the tour guide and enjoyed listening to everything he explained how he related history to them. Afterwards we had lunch and then checked into the hotel (click here to go to the hotel’s website). At night we ate at the Casa Juanillo which has spectacular views of the Alhambra. Afterwards we went to the Cave of Sacramonte. It was here that we stayed to watch a Flamenco show. This lively show entertained everyone. Some of your children even joined the dancers at the end of the performance and learned a little Sevillanas themselves!
The following day we went on a walking tour of the Albayzin district, a neighborhood traversed by a maze of narrow pedestrian streets that is famous not only for its Moorish roots but also for its Gypsy population, which attracted foreign tourists to the neighborhood as early as the nineteenth century. It is in this neighborhood that we visited the important Capilla Real, where the Catholic Kings, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, who are accredited with unifying Spain, are buried. Afterwards we went to the center of Granada and had some more free time to eat lunch, soak up the culture and go shopping (which is especially fun in the summer due to the “rebajas” or “sales”).
Next week entails classes and activities as usual. Right now your children are working on their oral presentations which will count as part of their final grade. Their teachers assigned each child a specific topic relating to Spanish society and culture. In addition to this they are also putting together a summer book, which is a sort of yearbook for the month filled with pictures, writings and fun memories. We are also going on a trip to Malaga. As you can see it is going to be a very busy week! We’ll keep you posted. Hasta pronto!

These are some pictures from our afternoon/evening classes including soccer, guitar lessons and kitesurfing.

Here are a few pictures from last week including our 4th of July barbecue on the patio, Evan's birthday, a group photo at the top of the Rock in Gibraltar, and a movie screening at Casa ASA this past weekend.

We've been having a great time in Tarifa and are keeping very busy. Wednesday we went on a full-day excursion to the British territory of Gibraltar, where we took a cable car to the top of the rock for breathtaking sea views in all directions. We were greeted by the famous Barbary apes, which according to a superstitious belief of Winston Churchill, must be protected or Gibraltar will return to Spanish governance.
On Thursday we had a surprise birthday party for Evan, which was lots of fun. Activities have been going well; we're having a blast doing kitesurfing and a bit of windsurfing as well. On Friday there was a soccer game with Spanish students, and on Saturday night there will be an outdoor film screening at the Casa Asa.
Next week is going to be full of interesting activities as well. In our language classes we will be visiting the local farmers market, and we also have an overnight excursion planned to Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain, which was not won over by the Catholic Kings until 1492. It's going to be a great trip, so look back for further updates!

Its hard to believe that we have already been in Tarifa for a week! And what an exciting week it´s been. On Wednesday we arrived in Tarifa, where the students met their Spanish families, settled in over some home cooking, and later took a tour of the town with the group. Classes began on Friday after a placement test, and there are lots of interesting language activities planned including a visit to the local market selling fresh produce, meats, and seafood. The afternoon activities also started last week. The students really enjoyed their first kitesurfing and guitar classes.
On Saturday evening everyone came to the Casa ASA to celebrate the Fourth of July on our patio. This gave them a chance to have some familiar American hamburgers and hotdogs! Sunday morning gave everyone a chance to rest from the busy week and spend time with their Spanish families. Sunday evening everyone met at the Casa ASA to go on a “Ruta de tapas.” Tapas are similar to appetizers that can either be shared by the entire table, or sized for one individual. It´s customary in Spain to have tapas for dinner or to visit various restaurants to “tapear” dishes such as tortilla española, fried fish, cured meats, and aged cheeses.

This upcoming week will be filled with many exciting activities including a trip to the British colony of Gibraltar, a strategically important spot that plays an interesting role in Spanish history. We will keep you posted!

Its hard to believe that we have already been in Tarifa for a week! And what an exciting week it´s been. On Wednesday we arrived in Tarifa, where the students met their Spanish families, settled in over some home cooking, and later took a tour of the town with the group. Classes began on Friday after a placement test, and there are lots of interesting language activities planned including a visit to the local market selling fresh produce, meats, and seafood. The afternoon activities also started last week. The students really enjoyed their first kitesurfing and guitar classes.
On Saturday evening everyone came to the Casa ASA to celebrate the Fourth of July on our patio. This gave them a chance to have some familiar American hamburgers and hotdogs! Sunday morning gave everyone a chance to rest from the busy week and spend time with their Spanish families. Sunday evening everyone met at the Casa ASA to go on a “Ruta de tapas.” Tapas are similar to appetizers that can either be shared by the entire table, or sized for one individual. It´s customary in Spain to have tapas for dinner or to visit various restaurants to “tapear” dishes such as tortilla española, fried fish, cured meats, and aged cheeses.

This upcoming week will be filled with many exciting activities including a trip to the British colony of Gibraltar, a strategically important spot that plays an interesting role in Spanish history. We will keep you posted!

Its hard to believe that we have already been in Tarifa for a week! And what an exciting week it´s been. On Wednesday we arrived in Tarifa, where the students met their Spanish families, settled in over some home cooking, and later took a tour of the town with the group. Classes began on Friday after a placement test, and there are lots of interesting language activities planned including a visit to the local market selling fresh produce, meats, and seafood. The afternoon activities also started last week. The students really enjoyed their first kitesurfing and guitar classes.
On Saturday evening everyone came to the Casa ASA to celebrate the Fourth of July on our patio. This gave them a chance to have some familiar American hamburgers and hotdogs! Sunday morning gave everyone a chance to rest from the busy week and spend time with their Spanish families. Sunday evening everyone met at the Casa ASA to go on a “Ruta de tapas.” Tapas are similar to appetizers that can either be shared by the entire table, or sized for one individual. It´s customary in Spain to have tapas for dinner or to visit various restaurants to “tapear” dishes such as tortilla española, fried fish, cured meats, and aged cheeses.

This upcoming week will be filled with many exciting activities including a trip to the British colony of Gibraltar, a strategically important spot that plays an interesting role in Spanish history. We will keep you posted!

Welcome to ASA News & Updates! As you finish off the school year, ASA will keep you posted with important information through this feature to prepare you for your time in Spain. Once you arrive at program, staff onsite in Tarifa will post updates to the site regularly, reporting back to those at home on all of our travel and cultural adventures, including photos.

Please make sure you subscribe to 'News & Updates' now so as not to miss any pre-program details. Encourage family and friends to subscribe as well so that they can see all that you're up to in Spain this summer.

Also make sure to complete all of the ASA forms that are due before departure. If you are not sure what is missing from your file, please log on to your MyASA account, where you’ll be able to check the status and download any necessary forms. Thank you, and look out for the next update!