Ana, one of our cultural exchange participants in Spain, spent a month in Lugo, in the heart of Galicia. Here’s what she shared about her experience:
Lugo is a “small” city of just around 100,000 people. I didn’t know what to expect, since I’ve always lived in bigger cities—but I ended up falling in love with this place. I was nervous at first about how I’d get along with a young child, especially since I didn’t have much experience with kids. But it only took two days for us to click. I quickly bonded with both the little girl and her parents, who were kind and supportive throughout my entire stay.
In my free time, I mostly did activities with the family, simply because I wanted to spend time with them. We went camping twice for a few days, explored nearby beaches, towns, and cities, went to pools, and adventure parks, on hikes, bike rides, and even climbing. They even took me to a special beach one day so I could try surfing for the first time!
On weekends, I visited bigger cities nearby—like A Coruña and Santiago de Compostela. Galicia has so much to offer: stunning natural beauty and even more beautiful people. Everyone I met was warm, helpful, and genuinely welcoming.
But the best part of this entire experience? Without a doubt, the host family. They went out of their way every single day to make sure my time here was special and that I felt like I truly belonged. I’m also incredibly grateful to have experienced this level of independence and to have traveled on my own for the very first time.
Her message to future participants:
To future participants—stay open to all the experiences and adventures that come your way. Soak in the culture, the language, try the local food, and build a close relationship with your host family. It’ll make all the difference.
English 
Español 
Italiano 
Deutsch