By Zoey Giles, University of Washington
And why I went
Catedral de León ( I took this 8/4/26)
It’s Zoey Giles again. From my last post it wasn’t hard to tell that I had no idea what I was getting myself into with this study abroad trip to Spain, but now I’m back home and after reflecting on my time spent in Leon, I REALLY had no idea what I was getting myself into!
During my time in Leon I studied cultural migration in the Mediterranean while also learning about my position within the world and as a tourist in that space. I was taught so many different perspectives on positionality in a new environment and it was truly humbling. Most importantly I was taught cultural humility. It’s okay to not know everything about a culture you don’t belong to, you just need to be open minded.
I learned how to adapt to a new environment and interact with people who are different from me. This has contributed so much to my ability to ask for help, be mindful of cultural differences and also my resilience as a whole. I went through a lot my first week, I missed my connecting flight and lost my luggage, and was scrambling to find toiletries, clothes, shoes and school supplies. I could barely focus on how I was literally in a whole other country, let alone my assignments. But I tried to stay positive and after that first week I found my luggage and I felt more settled into my environment. From there I could really appreciate the beauty Leon had to offer me. I visited a few cities outside of Leon, saw 4 cathedrals, met a man named Paco Diez who taught us about musician instruments dating back to before the middle ages, and then he made us dinner and performed a ritual for us in his bodega (underground clay house).
Okay okay, academically I was learning about immigrants and cultural belonging, which did give me more of an understanding about global immigration and as a future psychologist, understanding people within all contexts is important for my career. I would never have been able to grasp that from Washington. I also did a little research on the eclipse. Leon was in the path of totality, meaning we saw the entire thing!
My study abroad group at the site of the eclipse ( Photo Taken 8/12/26)
A common theme I encountered during my journey was community. Community was at the heart of everything. Leon was a smaller city so everyone knew almost everyone. Besides that there were community organizations like Caritas that worked with the unhoused and immigrants. I got to meet and converse with many people from those programs and learn about their values and how they reach the community. My host mother was warm and welcoming, as if I was family and her older sons were the same way. It was amazing.
What’s next, you ask?
Maybe you didn’t ask but I’ll tell you anyway! As a future psychologist, I do want to avoid the cold clinical almost sterile connotation associated with my field. I do want to do a lot for my community which (hopefully) will be in the seattle-tacoma area. I love people and I love all the imperfections that come with them. No one is “broken” but there are things I can do to help people believe that for themselves and so in the future I hope to make that a reality. Right now I’m focused on getting my degree and taking care of my small community consisting of my family and friends, but I will reach others one day and I have this study abroad opportunity to thank for fueling that motivation within me.
My path to school in Leon (Photo taken 8/2/26)
