20th Anniversary

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Essays / Ensayos

Sara Lindenberg Gibson '91

Jennifer Hilgert '95

Bethany Kehs '96

Joanna Castro '98

Sarah Warden '98

Joy Welsh '98

Keri Marino '02

Wendi Springer '02

Sara Lindenberg Gibson '91 Academic Year 1989-1990

I’m with the Band

I watched incredulously as my beloved French horn was swept up with the other checked baggage that fateful day of my departure for Málaga. I was terrified at that moment, wondering how I would endure my junior year abroad, but I knew that once my horn was gone, there was no turning back. I had to get on that plane! Thanks to the fortitude demonstrated by my fearless instrument, I found the strength to leave my loved ones at the gate, and my horn and I began our journey together.

My French horn played a significant role in my stay in Málaga for several reasons. I had made a special request to be placed with a family in a house rather than in an apartment, so that my practicing would not bother the neighbors. Our program director, Profesor Arturo Fox, succeeded in finding me a beautiful home, where I would spend the next nine months with the caring, supportive, and highly entertaining Temboury family.

It turned out that the Tembourys are rather well known in the Málaga community. I learned this early in my studies when I discovered a statue of their late grandfather, Juan Temboury, who was instrumental in the revitalization of the Alcazaba. My Spanish father, Luis, was a successful business owner who commuted/careened by moto daily through the traffic from El Palo to El Centro. Fortunately our schedules rarely coincided, so I only rode with him on a few exhilarating occasions.

My Spanish mother, Aurora “Lala” Ruiz Ortega, was and is still a remarkable and extremely persuasive person who prided herself on her ability to meet every need I could convey to her. Many of these needs involved food, though I never got up the nerve to express my dismay over the paucity of chocolate in her home. (Tom Huber ’91 and I remedied this by bingeing on chocolate donuts we bought at the Aldi after class and consumed before we had reached the top of the hill where we parted ways to return home.)

The Tembourys have four children, three of whom lived at home during my stay with them. Their eldest son, Luis, is married and lives in Madrid, working as a flight attendant for Iberia. Paco is a surgeon who enjoyed educating me on, among other things, the proper way to eat fresh fruit with utensils. Lourdes is a surgical nurse with whom I shared an interest in singing. Natalia, the youngest, was a student at the time. None of them particularly appreciated my French horn serenades, but they did tolerate my practicing, as long as it didn’t interfere with siesta or “El Precio Justo”.

I gradually became immersed in the Spanish culture through music and the Tembourys’ willingness to introduce me to the young musicians of Málaga. Lourdes convinced me to attend a rehearsal of la Coral Cármina Nova, a community chorus who recently celebrated their 15th anniversary. The Coral members invited me to sing with them, and thus began friendships that continue today. Without the friends I made through the Coral, I might never have discovered the “best” restaurants, the “best” entertainment, and the “best” place to stand to see each trono as it passed through the streets during Semana Santa. I certainly would not have enjoyed a rousing Málaga-style performance of “God Bless America”, complete with violin accompaniment, at my airport departure! I treasure the memories of my time with the Coral.

An even more unique musical experience awaited me, however. Luis had found me a band. La Banda Juvenil de Miraflores-Gibraljaire practiced early on Saturday mornings on the other side of town. The band primarily represented two colegios, though I was told some members were not students. One tuba player claimed he was twenty. So of course it was a natural fit for an American college junior.

On multiple Saturdays (more than a few, but not quite qualifying as many), my trusty French horn dragged me down the hill to the bus stop to practice with the band. As “la niña americana”, I was welcomed with hesitantly opened arms by the students, some of whom seemed half my size. They were undoubtedly curious about why exactly I would want to play with their colegio band. Their director was delighted to have me there, and insisted that I come with them for one of their typical performances –as the official band of the Corrida de Toros de Málaga. I would see my first bullfight with the band.

My Spanish family was ecstatic, and frantically searched the girls’ wardrobes to find me a white blouse and navy blue skirt to go with my new Spanish schoolgirl band jacket. After much ado, I sort of looked the part. The day of the performance, I reported diligently to the Plaza de Toros to meet my fellow band members. We were escorted through the side door, past a group of gentlemen waiting to buy tickets. I tried to be as nonchalant as the other girls, but “la rubia” was nonetheless eyed with suspicion.

We settled ourselves with our instruments and music stands, and I had little time to acclimate myself before we were directed to burst into a pasodoble as the toreros were announced. I commented when we took a break that Americans are very familiar with songs of the bullfight because they are often played at baseball games. My compañeros were suitably amused.

From time to time throughout the corrida we would play briefly, though I don’t recall doing much myself. I was so awestruck that the French horn that had accompanied me on my year abroad became mostly a prop in its debut Spanish performance. I was fascinated to be observing such a typical cultural event from such an unusual perspective.

I was with the band. And I still have the jacket to prove it.

Jennifer Hilgert '95 Academic Year 1993–1994

When I received the request for stories and photographs of my time spent in Málaga, I immediately opened up my photo albums and took a wonderful journey down ‘memory lane’. As I looked at the photos of all of the different places we visited as a group and exciting things we did while there that year, I realized my best memories were of the people I spent time with while in Málaga.

I remember mid-year after the first semester had ended, calling home to talk with family about whether I should stay the second semester. Although the feelings of ‘missing home’ overwhelmed me, I felt even more convinced that I wanted to stay for the complete year. And I am so glad I did…. my second semester in Málaga was even better than the first, something I didn’t think was possible!

Who could imagine I would be living with a new family, seeing all of the best sights of Spain and the neighboring countries, watching bullfights, making wonderful friends…and all of this within one year!

My year spent in Málaga was one I will never forget and I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to participate in the program.

Muchas Gracias!

Bethany Kehs '96 Fall 1995

“Hay qué rica!” “Hay qué rica!” The cry of a vendor selling almonds in the center of Malaga is as defined in my memory as any postcard or souvenir in my scrapbook. The vendor was stationed a block from the window of my Spanish home. Although the message was meant to convey the quality of his product, the repetition of his words also provides the theme music for my experience abroad in Malaga in the fall of 1995.

Ten years have passed and I continue to look at my semester in Malaga as a pivotal experience in my life. In 1995, I was a senior at Dickinson as I made my way to Malaga. By studying abroad, I had expected to improve my Spanish, make some new friends, and have a stamp in my passport; what I gained was all of that and more. As I rolled my luggage through El Centro in Malaga on my first day, I knew I was not in Carlisle anymore!

My Spanish mother, Carmen Sanchez Conejo, met me at her door with a hug and two kisses. What a wonderful greeting! After three flights of stairs, I found my room, unpacked, and prepared to meet Malaga. And meet Malaga I did. From the “Bienvenidos” and “Adiós” parties at El Pimpi, classes near the Cathedral and then at the new “Center,” and flamenco lessons with Ana Soto, to October days at the beach in El Palo (watch out for stray dogs!), shopping at Corte Inglés, and bus rides to my class at Teatinos, Malaga had much to share.

Early in the semester, I was side-lined by an illness which resulted in a 9 day stay at the Parque San Antonio Hospital. Dickinson students, faculty and my host family demonstrated care and concern through visits and overnight stays. I recovered from my illness and was able to explore Spain with my classmates. Excursions to Nerja, Frigiliana, Granada, Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Cordoba, and Sevilla offered new adventures in the Spanish way of life.

Some of my favorite memories are the every day events of my life in Malaga. These include watching my Spanish mother cook tortilla, meeting Doug T. and Betsy in El Centro, dancing with Lori, Jack and Allison F., and enjoying sardines and sangria at a moraga. These events have provided me with a scrapbook of memories, an emotional connection to Spain, and one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Hay qué rica!

Joanna Castro '98 Academic Year 1996-1997

What made my Málaga experience a memorable one…

I don’t know where to begin. All I know is that Málaga was one of my first eye-opening experiences into what the real world was all about. I arrived not knowing much about a group I was going to share a year of experiences and left with wonderful friends, great memories and a better understanding of myself.

When I applied to the Málaga Program, my idea was to stay one semester and get a feel for what the old continent had to offer. I had lived 9 years in Caracas, Venezuela. However, my first couple of days in the capital of the “Sunny Coast” were quite humbling. I had spoken Spanish since childhood. My parents made it a point that both my sister and I speak Spanish to our father and English to our mother; thus communicating with them in their respective native tongues. However, Caracas and Málaga were very far apart; physically as well as linguistically. The base was there but that was pretty much it.

During the first couples of days, between the jet-lag and my lack of understanding of the nuances of the language, made it a challenge. As time went by, it proved to be life lesson number one: speaking a language was only the first step. Thus, you need to immerse yourself in the culture and only then, will you enjoy the experience so much more. This was life lesson number two.

Indeed, as the days and weeks went by, it got easier and it actually became fun. By mid-October, my gut asked: why go home in December when you can stay until the following May. The question was easy and so was the solution. I went to Prof. Jarvis´s apartment and gave her the news. She gladly concurred and we happily celebrated with some cava (Spanish champagne). As I later found out, she always had some cava in her fridge for emergency purposes. And so came life lesson number three: always have good wine or cava at hand- celebrations come when you least expect them and might as well enjoy them with something tasty.

So, my horizon kept expanding. In addition, classes on Spanish culture, art and history blended to near perfection with our school field-trips. By the end of the year, we covered almost all of Spain thanks to our monthly expeditions. They were special on two fronts: we got a chance to build a family away from home, share many-a-laugh and build deep friendships. On the more intimate level, I began to see more clearly something my mom had tried to ingrain in me from an early age and thus leading to life lesson number four: do something you love; life is too short to be stuck doing a job you don’t like. Professor Jarvis was a great example of that. She exhaled fun and learning all in one breath.

However, when May rolled around, a bitter-sweet moment had arrived. It was time to return home. Part of me was extremely happy to see my family again but another part of me wanted to stay. I still remember sitting on the plane back to Washington, looking over Malaga’s mountain range and thinking that I didn’t want it to end. I had found part of myself that was missing in US culture. So, two years later, I embarked in another adventure of sorts. This time, I would try life in Málaga as a Dickinson graduate. Five years later, I am still living in Spain and following my love of art as a graduate student at the University Carlos III of Madrid.

Sarah Warden '98 Academic Year 1996-1997

"I got in! I got in!" I shouted in the HUB. It was lunch time and there were friends, sorority sisters, and other Dickinsonians waiting on the cushies and willing to jump in on the excitement. I just had to share my wonderful news with the world. I had been accepted to attend the Malaga Program for the 96-97 academic year and was ecstatic.

My journey started with my first passport to go to Spain. I remember when the plane landed in Malaga. I was scared and was suddenly whisked away by a Spaniard who dropped me off at my host family's house. As it was my first time out of the United States, everything was new, exciting, and a bit frightening. I couldn't believe how dry the land in Andalucia was, the lovely Spanish architecture, how great the food was, how lucky I was to be living with such a wonderful family from Malaga, and how frustrating it was to try to understand and be understood in my awful Spanish.

When I first met my senora, Juanita, she was asking me something and I just replied, "Si, si, si". My senora realized that my Spanish needed vast improvement. She would make me watch TV, read "Little House on the Prairie" in Spanish, talk to Papi, my "grandfather", go out with my host sister and her friends, read "Hola" and walk around with a dictionary. I felt frustrated and just wanted to cry sometimes because I am a very chatty person and could not communicate.

Every month we would go on an excursion. We were accompanied by Profesora Jarvis, Ana, the art teacher and Manolo, the Spanish culture expert who taught us about the marvels of Spain that can not be found in text books, guide books, etc and the beauty of bull fights, flamenco, and the culinary delights. Everything was in Spanish. Everything was so amazing but trying to understand everything in "castellano" was making me exhausted.

I was determined to understand and let my voice be heard in Spanish. I kept watching TV, read all of the other children's books in Spanish that could be found in my house, walked around with my dictionary, and tried to speak to anybody that would listen. I engrossed myself in course work and had never studied or paid so much attention to every detail in my life but enjoyed every moment of it.

I woke up one morning and felt a bit dazed. I sat out on my balcony and admired the Mediterranean Sea. I went down for breakfast and my senora started speaking to me and much to my delight, I could suddenly speak, understand and think in Spanish. It was incredible. I even started dreaming in Spanish.

I can never forget the day I had to leave. I was sad but I knew that someday I would be back. The Malaga Program, as it was for almost everybody in our small group, was an eye-opening, enriching, growing, and the most unforgettable experience. I don't think that words can ever describe the program, the professors, the field trips, and the list can go on. It is still dumbfounding to think that 9 months could change me and make the world around me seem so wonderful and make me want to learn more.

The journey that began by being accepted into the Dickinson Malaga Program and with a passport with blank pages, that has since been filled, is still going. I went on to be volunteer English as a Foreign Language teacher in Costa Rica through WorldTeach for a year and a half. Shortly after my experience in Costa Rica, I received a Masters in Hispanic Literature and Culture from New York University in Madrid where I wrote my thesis on the integration of immigrants in the Spanish school system. Only a few months ago, I was married in Madrid to a very special Madrileno where Joanna Castro, who attended the Malaga Program with me, was our witness. I currently reside in Madrid, Spain. I feel that I owe my love for travel, people, art, literature and cultural understanding to the Malaga Program.

Enhorabuena y Salud!

Joy Welsh '98 Academic Year 1996-1997

Recuerdos de Málaga

De vez en cuando, me imagino caminando por el paseo marítimo que se une los los barrios desde el Palo hasta el centro propio de Málaga. Lo me traía una cierta tranquilidad en particular durante la mañana antes de que empezara toda la actividad de la ciudad. Los turistas todavia no habían llegado por un día en la playa. Aunque el cielo sugería el azul inmenso que era tan típico de Andalucía, el sol no estaba muy alto. Los montes de Málaga me parecían lejos en la distancia. Las olas mediterráneas se caían suavemente por la orilla. Los sonidos de cháchara entre los malagueños estaban presente al fondo, mientras que abrían los cafes. Había una fragancia ligera del jazmín. Para levantarme temprano y caminar por el paseo era un pasatiempo favorito mío. Así comenzaban muchas mañanas. Me representaban los principios del día que ofrecieron muchas posibilidades.

De verdad, tengo una nostalgia inmensa por la ciudad. Simplemente, echo de menos la vida cotidiana. A menudo pienso en el centro de Málaga con sus edificios y calles familiares, como la catedral que tiene tan grandiosidad, la fuente bonita de la Plaza de la Constitución, la alcazaba antigua de otra época que se siente encima de la montaña, y el Paseo del Parque donde uno se ecuentra las paradas del autobús abajo de las hojas de palmera. En este sitio vive una gente española de hospitalidad cordial, patrimonio orgulloso, y cocina sabrosa. Revivo en mis pensamientos las charlas con la señora con quien yo vivía. Echo de menos sus cuentos y su cocina. Cada hora de comer era un tiempo sagrado en la casa para ella y para los otros estudiantes extranjeros que vivían allí porque compartimos la conversación y la buena comida. Ella nos diría sus recuerdos de la juventud o trozos de noticias mundiales mientras que nosotros le compartimos los acontecimientos del día.

El año me parecía como una clase abierta porque siempre había algo nuevo. Al llegar a Málaga, yo tenía una aprensión del desconocido a causa de saber muy poco de la cultura. Sin embargo, poco a poco, día por día, el desconocido de vivir en España parecía transformarse a una vida muy familiar. Recuerdo las clases de profesora Grace Jarvis, quien era directora durante ese año. Hablábamos de la importancia para ver cada encuentro como algo para aprender. Ella nos recomendó que habláramos tanto como posible desde nuestras familias malagueñas hasta los dependientes para acostumbarnos a la lengua. Hay que ser flexible, mirar al año en el extranjero con los ojos abiertos y sumergirse en la vida cotidiana. Además, cuando uno está lejos de la familiaridad de su propio país, se puede aprender de sí mismo como norteamericano y estadounidense.

Poder compartir la experiencia de vivir en España con los compañeros de clase de Dickinson era igualmente importante. Creo que nos aprendemos de nuestras experiencias y formamos una conexión muy fuerte. Tampoco nunca olvidaré los viajes de Dickinson afuera de Málaga a las ciudades y los pueblos españoles por autobús para aprender la historia, el arte y la arquitectura de un país increíble. Las horas en el autobús eran tan inolvidables, cantando las canciones folklóricas con Manolo, escuchando al sonido de la guitarra y mirando al paisaje de los olivos.

El año en Málaga no me dio una sola experiencia, sino muchas que contribuyeron a grandes lecciones de vida. Cuando llegué a la ciudad, yo tenía muy poca comprensión del gran efecto que tendría el año tan enormemente en mi vida. Sin embargo, cuando me despedí de España, yo tenía un punto de vista más claro de otra cultura, otro idioma y otra gente. Además, yo había formado muchas amistades que me quedan importantes, gracias al año en el extranjero. Echo de menos el año en Málaga, pero me alegre que la experiencia era una parte de mi vida, y está relacionada a la persona quien soy. Como el principio del día caminando por el mar y pensando de las posibilidades del día, me doy cuenta que el mundo está lleno de muchas oportunidades y hay que aprovechar.

Keri Marino '02 Academic Year 2000-2001

One of the reasons why I decided to study at Dickinson College was because of the great study abroad opportunities that it has for its students. Studying in Malaga was without a doubt the best experience of my life. I had originally only signed up to study the fall semester so I could be back in time for softball season in the spring. That all changed come October when I knew I wanted to stay the full nine months. Staying the whole academic year gave me the opportunity to improve my Spanish even more. It allowed me have an internship second semester and travel with the group to more places throughout Spain and Portugal. What this experience also gave me and to that I am very grateful is that it allowed me more time to meet new people and build lasting friendships that I still have today. The family I lived with was so open and so caring and treated me like the daughter they never had. Whether it was watching ‘Pasapalabra’ on television or going out to eat to a ‘venta’ in the mountains, they always made time for me and treated me as one of their own. Needless to say, saying goodbye to them in May was very difficult.

My experiences in Malaga were so incredible and left such an impact on me that after graduating from Dickinson in May of 2002, I went back to Malaga and lived and worked there for another two years. In those two years I went back to visit the family I lived with numerous times. While eating paella, we talked about our current lives as well as reminisced about the good old days. I kept in touch with my ‘tutor’ from the Wednesday night ‘tutorias’ with the Dickinson program and to this day he is one of my best friends.

Since coming back to the states in June of 2004, I have gone back to Malaga twice and I know there will be more trips to come. What can I say, I’m addicted.

I am currently teaching Spanish at a private school in New Jersey and my students are well aware of my “Spain obsession.” 

Una de las razones por las que decidí estudiar en Dickinson fue por las grandes oportunidades de estudiar en el extranjero que ofrecía a sus alumnos. Sin duda, mi decisión de estudiar en Málaga fue la mejor experiencia de mi vida. Al principio, solo iba a estudiar el primer semestre en Málaga porque quería volver para jugar al ‘softball’ en la primavera. Pero, después de estar solo un mes en Málaga, sabia que quería quedarme los nueve meses. El hecho de quedarme el año escolar, me dio la oportunidad de mejorar mi español más aun. Me permitió tener una practica en una guarderia durante el segundo semestre y también viajar más por España y Portugal con el grupo. Siempre estaré muy agradecida por la oportunidad que me dio Dickinson en Málaga a conocer a más gente nueva y tener grandes amistades que aun tengo hoy en día. La familia con quien viví era muy abierta y muy cariñosa. Me trataban como si fuera su hija. Siempre veíamos ‘Pasapalabra’ en la tele o también íbamos a comer en una venta de los montes. Siempre tenían tiempo para estar conmigo y tratarme como otra persona de su familia. No hace falta decirlo pero despedirme de ellos en mayo fue muy difícil.

Mis experiencias en Málaga eran tan increíbles y dejaron un impacto tan grande en mi vida que después de graduarme de Dickinson en mayo del 2002, volví a Málaga y trabajé durante dos años. En esos dos años volví a visitar a mi familia española mucho. Mientras comíamos paella, hablábamos de nuestras vidas actuales y también de los recuerdos tan bonitos que tuvimos juntos. También durante esos dos años, mantenía mi amistad con el tutor que tenia de las tutorías de Dickinson. Hoy en día, él sigue siendo uno de mis mejores amigos.

Desde que volví a los Estados Unidos en junio del 2004, he ido a Málaga dos veces y se que va a haber mas viajes en el futuro. ¿Qué le puedo decir? Soy adicta a Málaga.

Actualmente soy profesora de español en un colegio privado de New Jersey. Mis alumnos saben muy bien mi “obsesión” con España.

Wendi Springer '02 Academic Year 2002-2001

Pasear por la playa. Tomar un café con amigos. Hacer rutas en bici y senderismo por las montañas. Comer castañas asadas en invierno. Recoger la cosecha y pisar uvas para hacer vino dulce. Charlar hasta las tantas de la madrugada debajo de una manta de estrellas del campo. Disfrutar de un buen vino tinto, comida deliciosa y buena conversación en mi restaurante favorito. Visitar exposiciones en uno de los varios museos de la ciudad. Escuchar un concierto al aire libre. Hacer escapadas los fines de semana a ciudades y pueblos cercanos. Conocer gente nueva de todo el mundo. Andar sin rumbo por las calles del centro. Vivir la cultura y tradiciones de la gente malagueña. Sentir estar en casa aunque el océano te separa de los tuyos.

These are only some of the memories I have of my time in Málaga with Dickinson; but they are also experiences I continue to enjoy on a daily basis, as I am fortunate to call this city my home. If you would have told me in 1999, when I was preparing for my first visit to Málaga as part of the summer immersion program, that I would one day call this Mediterranean city home, I wouldn’t have believed it. But, six years later, here I am.

Although my first visit to the city lasted only one month, it was sufficient time to realize that this was a place that I wanted to know and explore on a deeper level. I returned to Málaga my junior year, and my summer crush of ’99 developed into a love affair. I have so many memories from those ten months that I couldn’t even begin to list them all, but suffice to say the Spanish language and culture became a part of who I am. Upon graduation, I didn’t think twice about where I would try to make my niche in the world – I felt inexplicably drawn back to Málaga.

It would be a lie to say that making a life for myself in Málaga has been easy, because it certainly has not. When I no longer belonged to the idyllic world that was being a student, I encountered many obstacles in my effort to establish myself here. The infamous Spanish “papeleo” is enough to drive the best of us insane, but little by little, with determination and a lot of support from friends and loved-ones, I waded through the sea of red tape and came out alive on the other side.

What the future holds, I do not know. At the moment, I am happy where I am, with who I am, and with what I am doing. It has taken time, but the result is certainly worth the effort. Two things are for sure: seguiré disfrutando de la vida aquí y, vaya dónde vaya, siempre llevaré Málaga en el corazón.

Imágenes / Images

Año académico 1998-1999 Academic Year

Año académico 2000-2001 Academic Year

Año académico 2002-2003 Academic Year

Summer / Verano 1985

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