In this latest post from the Proctor en Segovia Spring 2026 group, six students reflect on both the formal learning of Spanish language, history, and literature, and the immersive learning of living with a host family and traveling throughout Spain. As students find their rhythm in an environment that is, at first, entirely foreign, they begin to notice how their understanding of the world, of themselves, and of each other is shifting. Read more from Ryan '27, Miles '27, Victoria '27, Mia '26, Sonny '26, and Burke '26 below on Sevilla's Gothic Cathedral, the layered history of Salamanca, a homestay connection deepening faster than the Spanish to describe it, and learning to approach a new culture with curiosity instead of judgment
Sevilla’s Cathedral - Ryan '27
When entering, I was immediately impressed by the scale of Sevilla’s Cathedral. It was bigger on the inside than it seemed while looking at it from the street. Along with this, intricate details covered every surface: the floors featured nice tiles, the ceiling had massive archways which stretched throughout the whole cathedral, the walls had carvings of different religious figures, and the stained glass depicted different scenes from the bible.
As someone who is Catholic, being inside the Cathedral felt different and more meaningful than just visiting a historical site. For me, it wasn't just something to look at, but it was a place of worship, which was built with full intention and devotion to God. This grounded me as I thought about how being in a small church in Andover or New London, NH was so much different than the way religion is expressed in Sevilla, and even in Spain as a whole. The amount of work that went into building the Sevilla Cathedral, which is the third biggest church in the world, amazed me. This, along with the art and the different statues, carvings, and scripture all reflected a much deeper historical and cultural presence of religion, especially Catholicism in Spain.
This moment really changed how I viewed our trip to Sevilla and my experience abroad as a whole. I began to look for the meaning behind monuments and different parts of cities and towns, and really tried to understand and immerse myself in different cultures. The cathedral showed me that a place has more depth than what you see at first. In the end, visiting the cathedral wasn't just about seeing an impressive looking building, but it was about really taking in the history, culture, and identity of a town.
Attending a Bullfight - Miles ’27
I do not think I fully grasped the depth of Spanish cultural identity until the final part of our excursion to Seville. We saw a flamenco show there, which was extremely beautiful and moving, but the moment that stayed with me most happened later at the Sevilla bullfighting ring (Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballeria de Sevilla), when we attended a bullfight.
Before the event, most of us assumed it would feel like an ordinary tourist attraction, leading a majority of us to dress casually. The moment we arrived, however, it was obvious that we had completely misread the atmosphere. Many of the people around us were dressed formally in suits, dresses, and other elegant clothing; our group stuck out like a sore thumb. That first impression mattered because it showed me that this was not simply a performance people attended for entertainment.
Once the bullfight began, what began to affect me was not only what was happening in the ring, but also the crowd surrounding me. I have never seen so many people so completely absorbed in the same tradition at once. Everyone seems so emotionally invested and connected to the fight. In that moment, I felt as though I was seeing a side of Spain that is difficult to understand from the outside. I realized that it was not just entertainment. It was a fusion of history, ritual, symbolism, and identity.
What made this experience so meaningful to me was the realization that culture becomes clearest when you are surrounded by people practicing it so naturally. Even though I was an outsider in that setting, I still felt drawn into the energy of the event and the seriousness with which everyone treated it. This was ultimately my first aha moment in Spain. I realized that understanding a culture is not only about learning facts in class or visiting famous places. Sometimes it happens when you witness a tradition firsthand and see how it resonates with the people around you.
This moment changed the way I think about my overall experience in Spain. Although the bullfight took place in Seville and not Segovia, it deepened my understanding of the cultural world I am living in while studying in Spain.
Growing Connection with Host Family - Victoria '27
A moment from last week that stuck out to me occurred on Wednesday. I was on my way back to my house after my first horseback riding lesson. I was walking by what I call the “blue park” before heading down the side street that leads to my house. As the sun shone in my face, I saw a familiar face walking down the street in front of me. It was my host mom. A smile grew on my face, and I began to wave in the hope that she would see. After a few awkward moments of waving to seemingly no one, Majura’s eyes caught mine. She wore a large smile on her face. As I approached her, she welcomed me into a hug, and we walked to our house door. I had my keys handy and unlocked it. We stepped in, and I opened the elevator door for her and then the house door. We exchanged many words, but it wasn’t the words I was paying attention to; it was the way my heart felt.
In that moment I felt such a strong bond of love and care between my host mom and me. A true connection and love towards one another. What I was shocked by was how surprised she seemed that I was just as happy to see her. I didn’t allow the moment to get awkward despite all of the factors on my side. I also had my keys out and insisted that I would open each door for her to go through first. This was my way of showing that I can take care of her in moments and that I am lucky to receive her care. Although it was visible how uncomfortable it made her feel as she walked through each door, her expression melted. It was apparent that she is often the caretaker and the one looking out for people.
This was my way of saying I was looking out for her, too. As she speaks no English and I speak little Spanish, it is the moments that speak louder than words in the time I spend with my host mom. And it is those moments I am forever grateful for.
The Rhythm of Life in Segovia - Mia ’26
This week, I’ve been noticing more of the daily routine here in Segovia and how much they reflect the culture. There’s a clear rhythm to the day, especially in the way people slow down in the afternoon and then go out again in the evening just to walk, see people, and be outside. It’s been really interesting, but also honestly kind of hard to adjust to. Back home in Puerto Rico, I have my own daily routine, and it’s very different. Even at Proctor, my school days had a structured rhythm, and those two routines are already different from each other. Here in Spain, everything feels slower around specific moments of the day, instead of constantly moving from one thing to the next.
At first, I found myself trying to carry my own habits into this new environment, but I’ve realized that doesn’t work here. Figuring out how to adjust without stepping over cultural boundaries or expecting things to feel familiar has been a challenge for me. At the same time, I’ve started to appreciate it more. Even though it’s been an adjustment, it’s also been really interesting to slow down and notice things I wouldn’t normally pay attention to. It’s made me realize how much of daily life is shaped by culture, even in the smallest routines. I think this experience is teaching me to be more patient with myself and with the process of adapting.
Don Quixote Presentations - Sonny ’26
Our assignment was to compare a character and explain how it reflected quixotic traits from Don Quixote, the iconic Spanish character. At first, I was stuck. I kept thinking, “What’s going to make mine different from the rest?” Instead of just focusing on the information, I started thinking about how it would feel to watch my presentation. I added transitions that matched my character’s ambitions, so it felt like a story instead of random slides. I also included questions that made people laugh, but still kept them thinking and paying attention.
This ended up being my best presentation. I chose characters that connect to modern problems and that people recognize, which made everything more relatable. But more importantly, I stayed engaged the whole time. To me, a good presentation isn’t just about facts. It’s about keeping people interested, telling a story, and making them actually want to listen.
Reflections on Salamanca
From @proctorsegovia
Our students became the tour guides for today‘s trip to Salamanca! Each was assigned a point of interest that we would see, and they were tasked with giving us relevant background information and helping us understand why it matters in today‘s world. We believe that these presentations empower our students to speak publicly and become experts in their topics; random strangers often stop and listen because the presentations are so excellent! One of our mail goals for Proctor en Segovia is that our students become educated and inquisitive travelers. A very real component of it is understanding where they physically are, the significance of that place, and recognizing why what we‘re doing matters. Learning doesn’t only take place in the classroom. In fact, we believe our excursions are the most meaningful school days!
Burke ’26
Our trip to Salamanca was my highlight of the week. To start, I got to ride yet another train, so we started off on a win. Exploring the city while getting to hear everyone’s presentations was super fun! I loved learning about parts of the city that, without the group, I would never have seen. Being able to walk around was also very fun, as we got to see many fun shops, and I got a shirt. It was definitely a bad day to wear pants; I regretted that the moment I stepped off the bus. I tend to be a cold-weather guy, so the 80 degrees and sunny was a little tough!
My favorite part of the day-trip was getting to see and compare the different types of architecture of the city, especially the Cathedral. Seeing the contrast between two cultures and time periods was super cool. Mia did an amazing job explaining!
Ryan ’27
Some of the highlights of the trip were seeing the Salamanca Cathedral. Its size and intricate Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance architectural details made it stand out among all the other buildings. We also saw the Roman bridge, which is still fully intact (with some restoration) after around 2000 years, and at the head of it, we saw the Bull of the bridge, which is a real Celtic stone carving from the time when Celtic tribes controlled the Iberian Peninsula. Things like this were used either as land markers or to honor livestock. As someone who loves learning and researching history, seeing these living connections to the past was really amazing and cool to see.
Another memorable stop was visiting the Casa de las Conchas, which is a house with 300 seashells on the outside of it, with rumors of there being both gold and jewels inside one of the shells. This building really stood out, as most of the other houses in the area didn’t have as much decoration as this one. After we walked around and everyone presented their research for Ross’ history class, we spent some time in the Plaza Mayor, which is a place of celebration and dining, and we saw many people partying because of either a recent proposal, wedding, or even a birthday party. This gave a sense of how people in Spain, and specifically in Salamanca, experience the city in everyday life. One of the most meaningful moments was seeing the garden that correlated to the play “La Celestina,” which helped bring the literature that we were studying in English class to a real, physical setting, making it easier to understand and appreciate.
In addition to all of these landmarks, having time to explore the city by myself and with my friends made the experience feel more real, as opposed to just taking a tour around the city and being guided everywhere. This helped me grow more comfortable navigating different and unfamiliar cities, as well as enhancing my Spanish speaking skills, as I had to order food, ask for directions, and even ask for recommendations on where to get food.
Finally, presenting my research on the Battle of Salamanca while standing on the balcony of the Cathedral was a very significant experience for me. This allowed me to reflect on how my public speaking has improved over the course of this program, because in both Ross and Shelby’s classes, we have to do presentations like this all the time. Also, being in the physical setting of something I am presenting about makes it feel real, and makes me feel like I am the expert on the topic at hand.
Throughout this trip, I have developed the ability to organize my thoughts more quickly, speak more clearly, and feel more confident in myself. Overall, this trip was not just about visiting these amazing historical sights, but it was also about connecting what we have learned in the classroom to an actual place and a real-life experience. I also believe that this perfectly sums up the study abroad experience. Being able to immerse yourself in the Spanish culture around different cities on the Iberian Peninsula gives you a feeling of what it is like to be an actual civilian living in Spain. Another thing is that having to present research about different topics in different cities of Spain gives the STUDY part an actual meaning in a study abroad program.
~ Ryan '27
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