In my college essay, I wrote about how my family was like a rock band and that every member has their niche. For the past month living with this group of lively teenagers and our two beloved teachers, I found the same inspiration that has driven me to finish one of the most important essays of my life.

Living in New Hampshire for my entire life I have become quite accustomed to the wretched glory of freezing cold winters. Part of me, somehow, misses it. In light of missing the cold, I, along with Sasha and Cam, have embarked on a harrowing journey that consists of jumping into the freezing cold pool every day.

Growing up in rural New Hampshire, with occasional trips to Boston being my only true city experience, I was certainly not the most equipped of our group to take on Paris. 

After a week and a half of host family life, classes, afternoon programming, and local excursions, Proctor en Segovia winter 2022 students ventured north on their first overnight excursion of the term. Enjoy this window into life on the road in a cultural and linguistic immersion off-campus program.

The more time I spend on European Art Classroom, the happier I am that I decided to apply. As the group gets used to routine, we slowly move forward from the 'honeymoon phase' when we first got here.

As Proctor students returned campus in Andover, New Hampshire, ten students traveled from Boston to Madrid and then onward to the small city of Segovia in central Spain. Apart from safety-related shifts due to the ongoing pandemic, the core of this off-campus program remains unchanged. Just as they have since the 1970s, host families welcomed a new group of Proctor students to their city and into their homes, providing them with invaluable linguistic and cultural immersion (and life) experiences.

During my recent trip to Spain and since arriving on campus in Andover this week, I have been reflecting on Proctor's off-campus programs and the way these programs complement, support, and naturally extend from on-campus academics and activities. In our little corner of Segovia, Spain, where Proctor operates an off-campus linguistic and cultural immersion program, life seems to move at a slower pace, providing a natural opportunity for reflection and introspection.

Sonoita. Historically, the word originates from the O’odham language and translates to “spring field”— an ironic assessment, seeing as none of us witnessed a drop of fresh water during our five-day excursion.