A quick glance at the Proctor en Segovia page on our website reveals the impressive place-based, immersive learning built into the academic courses that form the backbone of the program: Spanish Language (a full year's credit in one term), History of Spain, and Spanish Literature. Immediately below these courses are two more entries: a credit for homestay and traveling skills, and another for art and afternoon activities. While they are easy to skim past on a transcript, regular readers of The Buzz can attest that the experiences behind them are often where the most salient learning occurs. Together with the parallel and peripheral learning that comes simply from living in Segovia, this kind of learning is just as important as classroom learning, if not more so.
Read more below on the power of the homestay experience (Amelia ’28), a nighttime 5K through the aqueduct (Alex ’28), a first practice with a local women's basketball team (JT ’28), the dinner where circles of friendship expanded (Abbie ’28), and a Spanish breakthrough (Liam ’28).
Proctor en Segovia program participants meet their host families for the first time.
Amelia ’28 - Homestay Connection
Over the past two weeks, I have already formed close connections with my teachers and the people in my group. Yet, the biggest connection I have made so far has been with my host family. Pilar, José Luis, and their dog Gandolf have been nothing but sweet, kind, welcoming, and heartwarming.
After a very nice, well-prepared meal, we were all sitting together in the kitchen. My Spanish is getting better every day, and that night, we had a conversation completely in Spanish. They told me that their house is my house and that they want me to feel completely comfortable while I am here. They told me that I can eat, sleep, and shower whenever I want, and they want me to enjoy my time in Spain and take in the entire experience without any regrets. I think this moment meant a lot to me because living in someone else’s house, especially with people you have just met, can be scary. You don’t want to do anything wrong, and after that conversation, I honestly felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. In that moment, I felt more comfortable in their home and started treating it like my own. After a long day full of schoolwork and different activities, I know I can go home and have a warm, delicious meal with my family.
One of the hardest things about an off-campus program is leaving your family and friends, but mostly your family. I believe the people who come closest to filling that role are your host family. The bond you create with your host family is something you may never experience in the same way anywhere else. I wish and hope everyone has the opportunity to experience that kind of connection.
“Yes, I understand that going off campus gives you more independence and helps you grow as a person, but I believe a huge part of that growth comes from your host family. You are becoming more independent and learning to navigate life on your own, but when you look back, your host family is standing right there, helping you every step of the way. For me, that has made my experience in Spain feel even more meaningful.”
~ Amelia ’28
Alex ’28 - A Nighttime 5K
On the first Saturday night of the trip, the girls in the group ran a nighttime 5k race here in Segovia. At first, we all signed up for the race because we heard we would get a shirt with the aqueduct on it, and thank goodness for that, because it was our hook to a soon to be memorable night. I remember being so jet-lagged, and that Saturday night the only thing any of us really wanted to do was sleep. However, we said we were going to do it, and how embarrassing would backing out of a race be?
La Segunda Carrera Nocturna de Segovia "Ciudades Patrimonio de la Humanidad,” The 2nd "World Heritage Cities" Segovia 5K Night Race
That night, we lined up along “the competition.” Some of the groups were in matching uniforms given to them by their organized run club, and others were solo, although that really didn't change much because they looked like they took it just as seriously. To be completely honest, we didn't really know what we were getting into. We didn't even stretch! The horn blasted, and we joked that after the first mile we would walk because we were all so sluggish. Though, as the race went on, we didn’t stop. It felt like we were running off jet lag and adrenaline.
"It was the perfect route to get to know the city. It somehow looped us through the dirt trails, back into the main street, and finally through the aqueduct in only 3.1 miles! The race, or “tour of the city,” made me and the other girls super excited for the future weeks: the possible running routes, shops, restaurants, and so much more. Suddenly, the jet lag and anxiety I had were sweated away. Crossing the finish line made the term click for me. It hit me that this was going to be my home for the next two months. The atmosphere in the open center beneath the aqueduct was vibrant and celebratory. A night to remember!"
~ Alex ’28
JT ’28 - Basketball Practice
This past week, I had the privilege of participating in practice with a local senior women's basketball team called El Cochinillo Segoviano SL. On the bus ride to my first practice, I was full of mixed emotions. My natural nerves were present but deep down I was excited for the new experience. As I arrived at the facility, there was a race of thoughts in my head. Is this really something I want to do? Is this something I’m ready for? What if this isn’t for me? In an instant, I was greeted by one of the team members and before I knew it, I was standing before the team as they introduced themselves and asked me questions about myself. Despite growing up speaking Spanish, I found myself slightly struggling to follow conversations as they spoke to one another. As we moved forward to the practice, everything became very overwhelming. The coach spoke extremely fast. All the girls were already in a routine of their practice, and I was trying to replicate their style of play while understanding the task, experiencing a new culture, staying resilient, and feeling the pressure of portraying my skills and representing my people back home. Although it was difficult at the moment, I relied on the positive habits I have developed to stay present, push through the challenge and remain persistent.
As I reflected on the bus ride home, I was tested mentally and sat deep in my thoughts. Upon my return, I spoke to Shelby and Noah. They reminded me that there was nothing but compassion to have for myself. They helped me recognize that I was putting myself into an unfamiliar environment, immersing myself into a new culture different from my own, playing the sport I love and doing something that takes courage, which is not easy for everyone to do.
Proctor students participate in a metal arts/engraving afternoon class in Segovia.
"Looking at it from a different point of view today, that practice will not only be one I remember forever, but the one that changed my experience so early in my time here in Segovia. In a world full of unknowns, stepping out of your comfort zone is challenging, but once you take that step forward, it changes your perspective on the experience and allows you to flourish."
~ JT ’28
Abbie ’28 - Being Ourselves
While we have only been in Spain for a little over a week, I feel like I have already made months of progress. Not only have my Spanish-speaking skills improved, but so have my connections with the people in my group. Before leaving for Spain, I knew I had a few close friends coming with me, but hadn’t spoken much with anyone else in my group. I was extremely nervous about this part and worried I wouldn’t be able to make friends. However, this has proved to be a completely ridiculous notion.
One specific event that solidified this for me was dinner last night. We had spent the whole day in Madrid, shopping and looking at artwork in El Prado, and returned to Segovia exhausted and starving. The girls in the group ended up having dinner together. This dinner was so special to me because it was the first time I felt like we were truly bonding without having a specific event or prompt made for us. We all just wanted to get our food and go to sleep; this brought out a side of everyone that I hadn’t seen before. It was as though we all stopped caring about being awkward or what other people thought of us, and decided to just be ourselves.
"We are all in the same, extremely unique situation, which forms a kind of bond that can’t really be replicated. Even though we might all be in different circles at school, we are each other's circles here in Spain. I am so grateful for this experience, which is pushing me to be outside of my comfort zone in so many ways, including befriending these girls who I may not have had the chance to get to know in another context."
~ Abbie ’28
Liam ’28 - A Spanish Breakthrough
Even though I did not do as well as I hoped on my Spanish quiz in Segovia, going home right after was one of my best feelings ever. I practiced hard to score high on my Spanish test, and I didn't do terribly, but there is still room for improvement. After my quiz, we went home for lunch with our homestay families, who don't really speak any English at all. When I walked in, they greeted me, and we had our normal thirty second conversation: they said things and I was looking at them, trying to figure out what they were saying in my head. Once we sat down, it was almost like my entire mindset had gone from English to a Spanish dictionary. There were some parts of that lunch when I wasn't even thinking about what I was saying.
I said many different things that I could not even say right now, because I don't remember them. The most fun part about it is that my host family actually seemed like they understood what I was saying.
"The entire week before, I was still somewhat contemplating if I actually wanted to be here for the next eight weeks. But after that experience, I felt as though eight weeks was simply just not enough time to soak in what Segovia truly had to offer. My host family seemed really surprised and pleased with my growth after only a couple of days of being here, and although it does not show much on a test paper, it sure does show when having in-life conversations."
~ Liam ’28