Proctor en Segovia traveled south from Segovia by high-speed train to the picturesque region of Andalucía. From solemn processions to joyful celebrations, Proctor students immersed themselves in the living culture of Holy Week (Semana Santa) in Archidona and Málaga. There they also studied the region's fascinating and complex history and enjoyed its renowned cuisine by cooking together in their rented house!
The Proctor en Segovia Spring 2023 group checks in with this update from the beginning of their nine-week term abroad in Spain. Proctor students live with Segovian host families while studying the Spanish language, history, and culture. In this blog post, Will L. '24 and Sydney '23 immerse us in the first several days of their experience in Spain, from arriving and meeting host families to establishing a new routine of commuting (on foot!), classes, meal times, and afternoon activities.
As they have for decades, Proctor en Segovia students closed out their winter 2022-2023 term abroad by traveling south to Andalucía and the city of Granada. There they explored its UNESCO World Heritage sites and monuments and immersed themselves in the region's rich history and culture that has absorbed the influences of many groups, primarily from North Africa, over the centuries.
Each term Proctor en Segovia students live in Spain for more than two months, immersed in Spanish culture, language, and the rhythms of their host families. They exist in an in-between space; they are not quite local residents but are much more than tourists visiting for a day or two. By engaging with locals -- program directors, Spanish faculty, afternoon activity instructors, host families, teammates, and new friends --, they open themselves up to new perspectives and powerful learning experiences.
Segovia sits 90 km north of Madrid, and the two cities are well connected by high-speed rail. Easy access to Madrid allows Proctor en Segovia students access to the culture, gastronomy, museums, and, yes, fútbol clubs of one of the largest cities in Europe. Ingrid W. '23 and Tony '23 write about a weekend excursion to Spain's capital and largest city.
Proctor en Segovia students learn about the Spanish language and culture in history, literature, and Spanish classes and simply by living with a Spanish host family. Powerful learning also occurs during week-long excursions to Spain's diverse regions. In this post, Phuc '23 and Thomas '24 reflect on their cultural immersion experience in Spain's Basque Country region.
The day I met up with our students and program leaders who study and reside in Spain, I experienced what many of our students must feel when they come to Segovia for the first time.
During all three trimesters of the academic year since 1972, Proctor has operated an off-campus program in Spain. Rather than experiencing Spain through the transitory lens of a tourist, Proctor en Segovia students live with host families, immersed in the language and culture.
