A Summer to Remember – Cultural Exchange in Spain

Dunja, one of our cultural exchange participants in Spain, is spending a month in Cotos de Monterrey, a peaceful town just outside Madrid. Here’s what she had to say about her experience so far:

The host family has been incredibly kind and welcoming. Whenever we needed something, we felt completely comfortable asking them. They made us feel right at home from day one. The kids are also very sweet and well-behaved. Everyone really made an effort to make us feel comfortable—they cooked traditional meals for us and took us on lovely little trips. We even met the extended family, and they treated us with the same warmth and hospitality. My birthday happened to be at the start of the program, and the family surprised me with a dinner celebration in a local Spanish restaurant in Madrid—such a sweet gesture! The house we’re staying in is spacious and beautiful, with a pool and a big backyard.

The town itself is small and charming—surrounded by mountains, fresh air, and lots of greenery. It’s mostly made up of beautiful houses with pools. There are four public pools that residents can use, one supermarket, a post office, and three cafés. July is full of events in the town, like fairs, costume parties, outdoor movies, and foam parties. The only downside is that public transport to Madrid isn’t great. It takes almost two hours and three different connections to reach the city center. Luckily, the family was kind enough to drive us 20 minutes to the nearest metro station a few times, and from there it’s an easy 45-minute ride into Madrid.

During the week, we usually hang out at the local pool or go for walks around the area. The pool is large and has a café, and the scenery—mountains and stunning homes—is perfect for strolling. We’ve gone with the family to local town events, to the movies in the nearby city, to an outlet mall, and out to restaurants.

We’ve also visited Madrid twice during the week and again on weekends, either with our host family or with other participants. There’s so much to see and do in Madrid—from sightseeing and shopping to meeting people from all over the world. The family also took us to two local restaurants so we could try traditional dishes, and they even planned a beautiful guided tour of the city for us, showing us all the highlights through the eyes of locals.

We went on a scenic walk around a nearby lake, and one Saturday we did canoeing together on the Duratón River. We’ve also celebrated three birthdays with them. In August, we’re planning a trip to a water park and also visiting Valencia and the zoo in Madrid.

What she loved the most:

The kindness of the host family and how helpful and thoughtful they’ve been throughout her stay.

Her message to future participants:

This is such a beautiful experience—you’ll learn so much and walk away with stories worth telling.