This week we went on a field trip, along with some of the students from New York who are also attending our school, to the Islamic Cultural Center of Valencia. According to our guide, this is an award-winning model of service centers in Spain.  In addition to providing a mosque for prayer, the Center provides language classes, assistance to families, a library, and a “home” for Muslims in the area. We were able to see the mosque and various rooms used for teaching and counseling. With only two paid staff and dozens of volunteers, this agency provides services for anyone in the community in need…good for our students to see.

Later in the week, Miguel was able to arrange to rent a soccer field for our first co-ed soccer match.  We have a couple of serious soccer players in the group and most of the rest of the group joined in (I watched, ahem).   It was a ton of fun.  On the way to the match, Cassandra, one of the students, and I stopped for an horchata, the famous drink from Valencia made from tiger nuts (no clue).  This weekend, many of the students are going out of town, so I am taking the opportunity to visit Sevilla, Granada, and Cordoba.  More on that when I get back!

The Islamic Cultural Center and Mosque

The library, with books on many subjects and in many different languages for the community to use.

The prayer area. Our host told us that everyone must wash and remove shoes before entering this room. The women have a separate prayer area.

 

Our guide explains the role of the center

Me standing next to a hand-written copy of the Koran from the 16th century.

Group shot: our students and the students from Albany

We rented a field in the Turia Gardens Park for a rousing soccer match.

Final score: 4 to zip

Happy, sweaty students with some of our friends from the school and Miguel.

Before the game, a stop at a 200-year-old horchata shop.

Horchatas and fartons--yes, that's what those cream filled little bits of heaven are called.

At the risk of repeating myself, yum!

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