Study Abroad Trip to Spain, Portugal Opens Student Eyes

For six months, Rockhurst molecular biology student Aby Peoples anxiously waited for her 10-day study abroad trip to Spain and Portugal. On May 18, the day finally arrived. And, after 26 hours of travel, she landed in Porto, Portugal.  
It was morning, raining and a full day of exploration was still in front of her. With nerves and excitement, she boarded a bus and then reality set in.

“What did I get myself into?” she recalled saying to herself.

The answer, she would soon find out, would be a transformative journey with 19 of her fellow Rockhurst students and five faculty members.

From milking calves at a cheese farm outside of Oviedo, Spain, to learning how to make authentic Basque cuisine in a culinary class in Bilbao and witnessing pilgrims complete The Camino at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, this trip was full of experiences that showcased the rich culture and history of the Iberian Peninsula and pushed students beyond their norms.

As a faculty-led trip, Rockhurst faculty joined students and planned an agenda that would not only align with learning goals and the mission of the University but also broaden their perspectives.

Annie Lee, Ph.D., professor of chemistry and co-director of the faculty-led study abroad program, said she believes certain cultural perspectives are best gained by traveling. Lee said she hoped during their time abroad the students experienced a true shift rooted in thought rather than based on what they heard about in politics or social media. Through her travels, that has and is still happening for her.

“The way I look at the world has changed,” Lee said.

Not new to traveling but new to the region, she said she was struck by the warmth of the people. Places she had only read about and seen in pictures, like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and the birthplace of St. Ignatius in Loyola, became some of her most memorable visits on the trip.

Pre-med and molecular biology student Evan Noboa said he remembers receiving an email promoting the trip.

“I was like, wait, this sounds kind of cool,” he said.

Noboa, who is expected to graduate in 2029, signed up with a couple of Rockhurst friends for the opportunity to experience different cultures.

Part of that culture came through in the architectural history of the cathedrals he toured.

“Going inside, it's like you could feel all the time they put into making these places,” Noboa said. “And I took pictures of everything. I just thought the cathedrals and the Catholic religion was just so interesting there.”

For Peoples, who graduates in May 2027, the experience was a way to visualize what she’s learned about in the lecture halls at Rockhurst.

“Being able to go to Loyola to see St. Ignatius’ house and where he grew up and where he ultimately found God, was really surreal,” Peoples said. We hear this story throughout our years, and to actually be at the spot where he was and to see the books that he read, it was really cool.”
Peoples joined the trip only knowing a couple professors. She left the trip with lifelong friends. Nightly group dinners a

ter long days of walking and excursions became time for bonding.

“They’re strangers for like one day,” Peoples said. “By the time you leave, you think, ‘I’m going to miss you guys so much.’ I’ve never experienced that closeness with people before.”

Now, approaching graduation, Peoples said she feels confident in her ability to take on what’s next.

“The amount of personal growth that I had in 10 days is astronomical compared to the growth I’ve had my whole time in college,” Peoples said. “I have a newfound confidence in myself. I’ve gone to Spain. I’ve been out for 48 hours. I’ve traveled with people I didn’t know. I have enjoyed and built a community with people I didn’t know. Just knowing I’m able to do that opens a lot of doors for me.”