This year, seven students accompanied Dr. Ryan Hallows, associate professor of Hispanic Studies & Languages, for a five-week cultural immersion experience in Spain. Offered to Carroll students on an every-other-year basis, the goal of this program is to immerse students in a community that isn’t their own and teach them to independently navigate day-to-day living in a foreign country. They participated in daily classes focused on experiential learning and explored the ancient and modern landscapes that make Spain unique. Class discussions, held in Spanish, covered a wide range of topics from Phoenician, Greek and Roman mythology leading to the founding of Seville, to bullfighting, dictatorships, healthcare, gender politics, poetry, the Catholic Church, flamenco, and of course, food. Students lived with homestay families, and as a result of 24-7 immersion, they impressively honed their Spanish language skills and confidence using a foreign language in real-world settings.
“I think the part of this experience that left the greatest impact on me was how embracing different cultures led to such a greater human connection. Everywhere we went, the people in Spain were incredibly kind and taught me so much, both about the language itself and the beliefs and worldviews that form the history of the region. I came away with so much more appreciation for the beauty of humanity thanks to the way our host families and guides embraced us.
“I learned so many new things while in Spain, and one of the coolest pieces of knowledge I gained was just how many important female figures there are in Spain’s history. In many of the places we went, there were old stories about queens, writers, activists, etc. who helped drive the course of religion, politics, and art for centuries. Having done research for both Hispanic Studies and Gender Studies programs during my time at Carroll, this was a particularly inspiring theme for me to study further.
“I think everyone should study abroad if they have the chance. I never had the opportunity to travel outside the US before, so even if you are intimidated at first, the faculty and fellow students make it a safe environment to step outside of your comfort zone, and the programs Carroll connects with in another country do an excellent job of taking care of the logistics of travel and reservations, so the students’ emphasis can be placed on learning and forging relationships. You will come away from this time abroad with new and firm friendships, an awakened sense of adventure, and for me at least, the confidence that you can, in fact, do anything you set your heart and mind to so long as you stay open and value connection with others.”
~ Lily Hoelscher, Theater and Hispanic Studies double major
“What impacted me the most from traveling to Spain would be the wonderful host family I had. They were incredibly loving and made sure that I felt as a part of their family.
“One thing that I thought was amazing to learn about was the Corpus Christi holiday that they celebrate. It was a time where everyone leaves their house to go and celebrate in the streets with a procession and beautiful religious statues, large gatherings, and a fun time all around.
“Something to know before going on this trip is that you do not need to be fluent in Spanish whatsoever! I made many mistakes while speaking with my host family, the waitress, and store clerks. Each and every person I spoke with was very understanding and would help me with my language skills to all me to get better.
“The main philosophy of this trip is to simply be in Spain and experience their culture first hand, so each day was a new opportunity to explore the beautiful city of Seville and talk with someone new!”
~ Clarissa Ball, Chemistry/Pre-Med pathway major, Spanish for Health Professions minor
The group visited dozens of chapels, churches, cathedrals, mosques and synagogues, including the Cathedral in Seville – the largest Gothic church in the world – and the Great Mosque in Córdoba. They studied the history of the Roman Empire and visited Roman ruins in Itálica and Bolonia and explored the conflict and confluence of the 800 year “reconquista'' among Cristians, Jews, and Moors. The itinerary included the 9th century palace complex of Medina Azahara outside Córdoba, the Alcázar in Seville and the Alhambra in Granada, as well as various other palaces and museums in Madrid, Toledo, Córdoba, Granada and Seville. It wasn't all academics, though; students enjoyed beach time in Cadiz and Bolonia overlooking the view of Gebel Musa standing proudly across the Straits of Gibraltar in Morocco. The group also participated in various Corpus Christi festivities and processions in Seville, enjoyed cooking classes, attended a flamenco performance, and some even went to a bullfight!
“There were many things that made an impact on me during my time studying abroad in Seville, but I believe that the most impactful thing was living amongst the locals and being able to embrace the culture and community first hand. It was very enlightening to be immersed in an environment of people with different ideas and ways of life because it showed me that we can still relate and connect with others even though our lives may be completely different.
“Although I learned tons of cool facts about Spain and its culture and history, the coolest thing I learned was how to make traditional paella and I cannot wait to attempt to make it at home!
“I know that this has been said many times before, but studying abroad truly does help you grow as a person. Although I didn’t realize it at first, I have grown in so many ways throughout my study abroad experience, from gaining confidence in my language skills, to becoming more outgoing and engaging with the community, to becoming more self-reliant. And I can continue to apply these to my life right now in order to grow even further in the future. So the benefits of studying abroad don’t just end when the program ends: they last a lifetime!”
~ Amaya Fischer, Nursing major
The Hispanic Studies program has already begun planning the next immersion experience and look forward to another adventure with our students in 2026, this time in Latin America!
“Cultural immersion is an integral part of cultural literacy and language learning and a fundamental aspect of our Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoazín program in Hispanic Studies at Carroll College. It has been my pleasure to lead Carroll College students through this unique course on Spanish history and culture. Opportunities like this one foster international relationships, teach students to navigate cultural nuances independently and flexibly, and allow them front-row seats to the complexities and beauties of another community. We visited museums to see famous paintings, ate amazing food and discussed its global origins, discussed wars and religion, exiles and nationalism, poetry and prose, and sat quietly in prayer and meditation in holy places — all while using a language that isn’t our own. Words, in any language, can’t express the profound impact this experience has had on our participants.”
~ Ryan Hallows, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Hispanic Studies & Languages
“The biggest impact on me during the trip was getting to be part of a host family that was inclusive and helped me learn about Spain from their point of view. It was the best way to truly get the immersive experience.
“Something really cool that I learned was that nuns sell cookies. I thought that it was awesome that you could just enter a door, order some cookies, and then receive them through a turntable, and they were quite delicious too.
“I want others from the Carroll community to know that there will never not be something to do while on this trip. There is a great balance between class, homework and fun. I never felt overwhelmed and felt fulfilled by getting to see and do everything I wanted. I felt safe and welcome in Spain too. It was definitely worth my time getting to learn more about the Spanish language, art, cuisine, culture and lifestyle.”
~ Cassandra Ball, Chemistry/Pre-Med pathway major, Spanish for Health Professions minor
“Since returning from our study abroad experience, whenever someone asks me, ‘How was it?’ I just look at them completely speechless. I have no words to explain how incredible the five weeks we spent in Spain had been. We had an incredible group and spent our time exploring new cities, trying new foods, and really attempting to throw ourselves into Spanish culture. Although we spent our time studying Spanish culture and language, I will never forget the inside jokes, the late night philosophical conversations, and the relationships that were strengthened on our trip.
“We learned endless facts and information about everywhere we visited, but I’ll never forget the biggest lesson – to slow down. Spanish time is a very real concept, and it forced us to take our time and not worry or rush through what we were doing. The study abroad program in Seville is a great experience to build your Spanish language skills especially, but to learn more about the world itself, and how different cultures live.”
~ Alex Neupert, Health Sciences and Hispanic Studies double major
“I think that students should study abroad because it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. I doubt there will be another chance for me to spend a month in a different country with a homestay and with the support of a professor and group of students. Not to mention, doing all of the excursions would be practically impossible to do if you did a trip like that on your own. It is truly a unique experience that I can’t recommend more.”
~ Peter Fiocchi, Business Management and Marketing, Business Accounting and Strategic Finance major, Hispanic Studies and Catholic Studies Minor