A memory I have of Elena is how much she cared that her students not only understood and were able to speak Spanish, but understood the culture and loved the language as well. I remember how we took time as a class to really dive into the cultural and historical significance of the Picasso painting “Guernica” (all in Spanish of course) and how passionately Elena talked about the painting made me and other students in the class realize its significance as well, and made that lesson one that really stayed with me and one that I still think about. I also remember all the fun things we did as a class, like going on the field trip to the art museum, playing Blooket, and drinking mate. I don’t think I have ever had more fun in a class than I did in Elena’s Spanish class.