Paula Tayatay Sanz (Photo by Caroline Sonstegard)

Taytay Sanz finds herself in America for the first time

Ever wondered what it would be like to visit America for the first time?

Paula Taytay Sanz, an international student from Spain, joins the 10th graders at Minnehaha for the 2023-2024 school year. She is staying with her host family, the Quellos, with junior John Quello and middle school Spanish teacher Mary Quello. Taytay Sanz enjoys the sense of community at Minnehaha.

“I think the people [are what I like most] because you integrate everyone,” she said. She thinks the biggest cultural difference for her is the time at which Americans eat. “[In Spain] we have lunch at three,” she said. “And then we have dinner at nine or ten.”

In Spain, Taytay Sanz attends IES las Rozas 1 school in Madrid. Outside of school, she enjoys riding horses, but at Minnehaha, she has joined the volleyball team.

“I think that it is nice to have someone speak Spanish,” said sophomore Amanda Lindskoog. “I have friends that speak Spanish. I speak Spanish. I think it’s kind of cool that if I wanted to have a conversation with her in Spanish, I could and it’s good practice for me.”

The opportunity to learn isn’t just one for Taytay Sanz, but also for the Minnehaha community.

“It’s fun knowing and learning how to welcome people that come from different areas around the world,” Lindskoog said. “I think it’s a good life skill to know how to include people, talk to others, and include them in your friend group.”