Our cultural exchange participant Paula is writing to us from Pamplona, the capital of the province of Navarre, where she’s been living for the past month. Here’s more about her experience.
My impressions are fantastic. The program is well-organized, and everything goes according to plan. The host family welcomed me with open arms and truly does everything they can to make me feel at home. They take me on trips, introduce me to Spanish traditions, and we often watch movies and shows together.
Pamplona is a beautiful city, as are the nearby towns I’ve had the chance to visit. There’s so much to see and do, and the nature around here is stunning.
In my free time, I travel—I’ve made it my goal to see as many places as I can while I’m here. I’ve met new people, some through the agency, and others just randomly on the street or through social media.
What I love most is the chance to travel while truly getting to know how people live here. When you’re just a tourist, you don’t get the full picture of life in another country. But with this program, you spend several months immersed in a local family’s everyday life, soaking up their customs and routines. And besides learning about the culture, the program also gives me a great opportunity to improve my Spanish.
To future participants, I say: take the leap and apply. It’s completely normal to feel nervous—you’re going to a foreign country, to live with strangers—but the experience you gain is priceless.
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