Just over a year ago my family travelled to Ávila, Spain to teach for a semester with LCU’s Global Campus Program. A year and a few weeks later, a new group is there—new students and new instructors. I find myself asking: “I wonder what the new group is doing today?” and inevitably I turn to my pictures to see what we were doing a year ago today. It seemed logical to take a moment to write down my thoughts of those things as each day passes.
The walls of Ávila are a UNESCO World Heritage Site with construction on the walls beginning during the 11th century. Centuries later they still stand as an impressive fortress over the city of Ávila. Walking around the walls at ground level or on the top of the walls is a “must do” when in the city, but the real beauty of the walls, I believe, is best seen at night.
The pace of Spain in general and Ávila specifically is slower than we were used to as Americans. Siesta time, to be honest, took some time getting used to, and is a time I long for now that I have returned to a quicker pace of life. The transition to embrace that slower pace was aided by a nightly stroll into the old city, through the commercial district, into the more residential area, then out the walls and back around the city just outside the walls. Because the walls are lit at night, there was never a feeling of darkness, and the lights added a contrast to the night sky surrounding the brightly lit walls. If you were lucky enough to be out during the night of a full moon, you were treated to a few moments of magic when life slowed down and you almost felt as if you had gone back in time.
One year and 17 days ago
Here’s the entire group that spent the semester in Ávila, just a couple of hours prior to boarding the flight that would take us to Spain. We knew few of these people well, just as much as a few hours spent in classes together the week prior to leaving might help someone get to know someone else. We were excited about the three months we would be overseas and the time we would spend together with this group. What we could not have known is how much each of these individuals would mean to us and the effect they would have on our lives over the next 90 days. What a blessing they were to us!