Students filed into the yellow bus early in the morning, clad with heavy backpacks and excited smiles. Spanish four and five students traveled downtown on Nov. 11 to visit the Mexic-Arte museum featuring Mexican artists and traditions. The students had their entire tour conducted in Spanish and were given the opportunity to make masks or flower crowns. Junior Christina O’Hanlon is in Spanish four and ventured to the museum.

“I thought it would be fun to go out and learn about Mexican art and tradition,” O’Hanlon said. “We also had to tour in Spanish, which I was actually surprised and proud of myself because I could understand everything that she was saying.”

While the art was beautiful, it was the extravagant display of tradition that got some students, like Spanish five student, senior Brittney Ballou.

“I love seeing the alters, because of the stories behind each one,” Ballou said. “The alters have pictures and food, reminding family and friends of the person’s personality to honor the life that they lived.”

Ballou has been in Spanish for all four years in high school and explains why she decided to continue to learn.

“My goal is to be fluent in Spanish,” Ballou said. “Earlier in high school I never thought I would go on with it, but I fell in love with it so I just wanted to keep going and Senora has been amazing.”

In addition to the tour, students could color and decorate masks giving a nod to the famous holiday and tradition Dios de Los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead. Students could also choose to fold and create flower crowns out of tissues.

“I think it was fun,” Spanish four student, junior Travis Mendoza said. “It gave me a chance to color again.”

Students ended the day by eating lunch downtown then leaving on the bus, arriving at school right before fourth period. The experience, though, would live with them forever.

“I really would recommend students to experience Mexic-Arte if they are in Spanish,” Mendoza said. “It was amazing to learn about the culture.”