My study abroad experience in Trujillo, Spain came to a close a few weeks ago. I miss my host family, my time in the plaza with friends, and of course, my siestas. As the seemingly unreal time in the city ended, I was left with so many so many lessons and skills. Above all, I am left with a greater understanding of how culture is shaped by geographic positioning.
Trujillo is a city built atop a hill. Its first settlers recognized the defensive advantages its positioning would provide and proceeded to build and grow from there. The Castle of Trujillo and the gates barricading the city from the outside are evidence of this. Quite literally, the city emerges from the side of a mountain. What comes from a city that has been positioned in a way is the development of unique and specific culture that informs how individuals in Trujillo live. The placement of homes, shops, and sites of community reflect the physical landscape available. Churches are placed in easily accessible areas across the city, in line with its Catholic roots and strongholds.
As one moves through Trujillo, one gets an idea of how the modern city was forced to follow similar patterns of settlement as the ancient period due to the limitations of the physical environment of Trujillo. Houses follow curves and sit atop hills that seem impossible to build on. Paved streets cascade down the mountain to more flat land that connects the city to the rest of Extremadura. It is this continuation of the physical in Trujillo that adds to its unique character. It feels like a city from both antiquity and firmly in the present. This is what one experiences when they go visit the city.
For anyone considering studying abroad in Trujillo or anywhere else, my advice is simple: go! You will not regret the experience. My primary motivation for attending was to improve my conversational Spanish skills. I can now see the changes in my ability to not only converse in Spanish in non-academic settlings but also in my ability to listen to Spanish speakers, even in passing. Soon after my trip I found myself speaking with individuals from across the United States in Spanish at a different conference. If you are interested in pursuing a language-focused study abroad, look for one that offers the most immersion possible. Staying with a host family and being in a small city benefitted me tremendously. It was sometimes uncomfortable or frustrating trying to speak, but it gets easier with time. Also, it is okay to just listen! Gain your bearings, accept correction, and take it in stride.
I wish I could have spent more time in Trujillo. The most valuable learning occurred outside the classroom, walking the streets or in conversation with born and raised Trujillanos. I never imagined myself seeing this part of the world, but I know that I am tremendously better for it
