Vaughantown: The First Day

We finally arrive at the hotel. I'd rather call it a monastary with hotel amenities, because that's what I really felt like it was.


After a pretty interesting early morning rouse (we got up at the crack of dawn, wandered Calle Arenal looking for an open coffee house, and saw the aftermath of some bloody fight near club Palacio de Gaviria), we made it to our shuttle meeting point and got to meet more of the "anglos" involved in the Vaughantown language program and some of the spaniards participating as well.

Around 8:45ish, our shuttle pulled out and headed for our destination.

Then our shuttle broke down.

What is up with these transportation delays of ours during this trip?

Anyway, after an hour of waiting, we finally got a replacement shuttle and we were finally on our way.

The Vaughantown program is one of several language programs by Vaughan Systems, a very successful language instruction company in Spain directed towards businesses and professionals eager to learn English well and comprehensively. The company has many "in-company" courses and "immersion" programs such as Vaughantown. These programs are very intense for the Spaniards; they are learning English at a wicked pace, and the emphasis is on a "whole package" of reading and writing comprehension with many hours of listening and speaking in English.

Vaughantown involves Spaniards spending 6 days amongst native English speakers within an outside venue - having conversations and participating in one-on-one and group activities. The purpose of the program is to have Spaniards - who are used to hearing a "watered down" version of English in their classrooms - listen to the "real McCoy" - native speakers from regions all over the world, from Taos to Toronto to Birmingham to Perth, and hear the variety of accents and manners of speaking. They must throw aside their fears of speaking out loud and are forced to express themselves, knowing that success comes with many stumbling blocks and challenges.

The English-speaking participants, or "Anglos", are not language teachers but regular, everyday people from all walks of life. Where the Spaniards pay to take part in the program, all Anglos interested in participating do not have to pay anything. All room and board during the program is free. The catch? You have to pay for your flight to Madrid and possess a keen, intuitive, outgoing and talkative personality.

One of the veteran Anglos, Bob; a man who has participated in several programs warned not to enter Vaughan Town with the intention of getting free room and board - you'll only end up tired and frustrated at the level of commitment, and the other participants will make sure you know how much of a burden you've become. But honestly, I can't understand how anyone could remain so selfish after meeting a few of the Spaniards. Like the country, they are beautiful people, both inside and out - speaking with them is fascinating, and they are all so easy to befriend.

The program JD and I are participating in is at a historic medieval monastary turned hotel in Carrion de los Condes, in the region of Palencia, Spain. It is most famous for being a waystation for pilgrims - then and now - taking part in the Way of St. James (Camino de Santiago), a pilgrimage route which ends at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain. More information about the Monastary, called Hotel Real Monastario San Zoilo, can be found HERE. Unfortunately for now, the website is only in Spanish.



Lunch hour, minutes after our (late) arrival

We finally arrived 2 hours later than usual, ate our group lunch, and were immediately on our way talking. The Spaniards participating in the program come from all over the country and are warm, friendly, and very eager to learn as much English - and speak as much English - as possible.


Anglos and Spaniards deep in conversation

Dinner is at 9 (and each meal comes with mineral water and gorgeous Spanish red wine - FREE), and after dinner, JD and I, completely tuckered out and still trying to get over jetlag, went straight to bed.

After several sessions of conversations, I was asked how I was getting along by a Spaniard. I put it this way: I can go to Spain, visit the cities, visit the museums, learn about the country, the culture, the history. But coming to San Zoilo and speaking with our new Spanish friends, I get a very intimate look into how they live, what they think, what they believe. I called it, a Museum of People. It is an incredible experience. I wonder if the Spaniards realize what we Anglos are learning from them while they seek to learn from us.


The bar, where we enjoy cafe con leche, cafe cortado, tea, and yes... wine, beer and spirits.



After dinner sipping and chatting


In the next few days, I'll be posting more pictures of the monastary hotel and the nearby town of Carrion de los Condes. Wait for it!