Entering El Lago del Bosque

From the moment your Concordia passport is stamped entrada (entrance) by the officials at immigraciän (immigration), you will find yourself immersed in an exciting world where you will experience Hispanic culture and speak the Spanish language.

Once your passport and visa have been checked, your bags will be checked for contrabando (contraband) - any English books, tapes or other items you may have with you. You'll choose a Spanish name to use during your stay, exchange your money for Spanish pesetas and move into your new casa (cabin) named for a Spanish-speaking country. Don't worry! Your American items will be kept safe for you until you leave the village. We just want your stay to be as authentic as possible.

You'll meet your consejeros (counselors) and new friends from all over the country and world as you settle into your casa and unpack. Your consejeros at El Lago del Bosque are native speakers from Spanish-speaking countries like Mexico, Argentina, Spain and Chile, American teachers of Spanish, and students who have studied Spanish language and culture and lived in Spanish-speaking countries. They'll help your transition into Hispanic culture and answer all the questions you have about the village, the language and the many Spanish-speaking countries of the world.

From Spanish petanca to Latin American Independence

Mornings begin with the raising of the American and village flags. You'll join the other villagers and staff for the ceremony, then sit down to a breakfast of churros y chocolate (fritters and hot chocolate).

The day's activities will begin with sports like volleyball, fÒtbol (soccer), petanca (Spanish lawn bowling), swimming, canoeing and tennis. You can try your hand at ethnic cooking, maybe a batch of tortilla espaËola (potato omelettes), or you may want to dance the Jarabe Tapatéo, Tango or Cumbia. You can sing folk songs or popular songs from Spain and Latin America or play them on the guitar. Crafts from Hispanic countries like Ojos de Dios (God's eyes), clay pottery, weaving and naerikas (yarn designs) are fun and easy to learn.

Lunch and the famous siesta follow the busy morning, where you can relax with your amigos, read Spanish books, or play games like Spanish scrabble. Later in the afternoon, you can continue your morning activity or begin a new one.

In the evening, you will join the other villagers to experience Hispanic culture in programs like La Armada Invencible, which commemorates the great Spanish fleet that ruled the seas in the 1580s. Special events are celebrated too. Evening may include a gaucho barbeque, capturing the significance and flavor of an era of South American history. Another night you'll spend celebrating La Independencia de LatinoamÞrica (the independence movement of Latin America).

View a typical daily schedule

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