Lone Star College students are sharing their incredible experience during a summer study abroad trip to Spain, Morocco, and Portugal.
LSC-Kingwood History Professor Steve Davis and LSC-Online History Professor Chris Davis accompanied the fourteen students to the countries from May 13th through May 29th. Students earned credit for either HUMA 1302 or HIST 2322.
The students spent time in Lisbon and other cities in Portugal, where they toured a football stadium, The Museum of the Resistance, tombs, castles, and key literary sites.
In Morocco, the students visited the historic city of Tangier, which has attracted many American artists over the years. The next day, they explored the Rock of Gibraltar and even had the chance to interact with the rock apes.
"What a thrill it was to be in North Africa, absorbing the unique vibe of the Arab culture. On the next day, we visited the British colony of Gibraltar, soaking up the history. It was unforgettable for all of us,” shared Professor Steve Davis.
Spain was filled with valuable moments of history as well.
“We were visiting a Gothic cathedral in Seville when, to my surprise, the advisor told me that the remains of Christopher Columbus were there,” said LSC-Tomball student Alejandro Camacaro. “I couldn’t believe it, the man so often mentioned in Latin American history books, right in front of me. As I got closer to what looked like a grand monument, I saw it clearly: Columbus being carried by four guardians. Truly an amazing moment.”
Alejandro said he also had the pleasure of meeting famous Moroccan artist Ahmed Ben Yassef purely by accident while at a museum in Seville.
“He personally showed me his works, his gallery, and his many achievements, among them receiving a medal from the father of the current King of Morocco, as well as from the current king and the Prime Minister of Spain. He explained how his art had been displayed all over the world. The craziest part was when he told me he had even been involved in designing one of the Moroccan bills, which I happened to have with me from our earlier trip there.”
Historical art was also a highlight for LSC-Kingwood student Teresa Barbee.
“Seeing a Pablo Picasso original in person at the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid, Spain, was a dream come true. What energized the experience was learning about the inspiration that compelled Picasso to create Guernica in 1937, an anti-war, emotionally moving, and timeless piece.”
LSC-Tomball student Jorge Sanchez summed up the trip perfectly.
“Hiking steps towards ancient castles? Celebrating a historic Football League winner parade? Watching a professional football match & enjoying the beach on the same day? Witnessing one of the biggest cathedrals in the world, where Columbus is buried? Witnessing monkeys jump on your shoulders? We have done it all in this exclusive trip. An unforgettable experience, to say the least.”
“Our Spain-Portugal Study Abroad was the trip of a lifetime for so many of our students — a journey not only of cultural and intellectual discovery but also of self-discovery,” remarked Professor Chris Davis. “For me, as a professor, it was a rare chance to get to know our Lone Star students more deeply and broaden the scope of my teaching. I surely learned as much from them as they did from me. What’s more, the trip shared with the wider world the talent and goodwill of Lone Star College, made possible by the incredible support of LSC’s Honors & International Education team.”
Lone Star College System enrolls over 90,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSCS is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Mario K. Castillo, J.D. serves as Chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area. LSC has been named a 2024 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education. LSCS consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit Lonestar.edu.
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