A two week exchange programme in Spain has sparked a paradigm shift for ACG School Jakarta student Zara Schneider. Not only did the exchange broaden her horizons, but it also opened her eyes to a new creative direction.
A once in a lifetime opportunity
Inspired’s Global Camps give students the opportunity to spend a European Summer at a participating Inspired school across Spain, Switzerland, Italy, UK, Portugal, Costa Rica, Kenya and Vietnam. Each camp offers an itinerary focused on sports, the arts, or English - providing an unforgettable way for students to pursue their passions, as well as being immersed into the local life.
Zara recently spent the summer at International School San Patricio, Toledo, a UNESCO World Heritage city just 30 minutes from Madrid.
“My parents and I were already planning a vacation in Spain as they used to live there and it’s my birthplace, although we moved to Indonesia when I was one,” says Zara. “They found out about the camp and coincidentally, it started just before we planned to leave. It was an art camp and I have a great interest in art, so they signed me up.”
Inspirational setting
International School San Patricio boasts world-class facilities, including a designated visual arts centre and a photography laboratory. Team that with the wealth of creative inspiration provided by being in Spain, and it’s fair to say Zara was in her element.
“It was a wonderful environment at the school and when we went on field trips we saw more of the landscapes and the town with its really nice architecture. It’s so rich with history there and the amazing landscapes made for great photo opportunities. One day we went on a photography field trip to one of the town’s oldest churches, and the moment I stepped inside I was blown away. I can’t explain the feelings that came over me. The church was so huge and beautiful it was hard to comprehend – I’ve never reacted like that to anything else before!”
A newfound passion
Before she knew it, Zara had discovered a new-found love of photography.
“I never considered myself a fan of photography but learning about it from Carlos (the amazing photography teacher at International School San Patricio) and having the chance to use more advanced cameras for the first time, opened up a whole new world for me. I became obsessed, carrying one of the cameras with me as often as I could – even to the canteen for mealtimes or at night to the dorms to experiment with ‘light painting’. In fact, I fell in love with photography so much that I bought my own camera when I got back to Indonesia and now I’m considering pursuing photography at college.”
Friendships and fun
But boosting her creative capabilities wasn’t the only upside. Zara says she also made new friends and gained a greater insight into other cultures.
“As well as learning more about Spain, I learned about Romanian and South African life from my two closest friends on the exchange, Ana and Kellyn. The three of us were the oldest students on the programme, and because of the age differences in the camp we learned how to better interact with younger kids too. I developed close bonds with some of the other campers and one of them in particular, Maiia, became like a little sister to me.”
Embrace the opportunity
For students who might be thinking of joining an Inspired Global Exchange Programme or Camp, Zara says “Go for it”!
“It’s such a fun experience. I made new friends, found new interests, and got better at talking to others, which had always been a problem for me. And after the camp finished I flew back to Indonesia on my own. That’s the first time I’ve ever travelled alone and it was actually pretty thrilling!”
