Experience from Spain: A Cultural Exchange Is the Perfect Way to Discover Yourself

Our cultural exchange participant in Spain, Tamara, spent two and a half months in Girona, a city nestled in Catalonia, the autonomous region in the north of the country. Here’s what she shared about her adventure.

When I arrived, the flower festival was in full bloom, and the entire city looked like something out of a fairytale. My first impression was overwhelmingly positive. The host family was lovely—they welcomed me as one of their right from the start. I already had a good feeling about them from our chats and video calls before I arrived. What did surprise me, though, was how different Catalan is from Spanish. But in the end, I picked up a bit of both, which turned out to be a great bonus. 🙂

In my free time, I explore the city, go to the beach, enjoy long walks, and spend as much time as possible. On weekends, I often joined the family for various events they had planned. They were more than happy to include me as an equal part of their plans—adventure parks, ziplines, beaches, concerts, dinners, birthdays, festivals… all of it paired with amazing Spanish and Catalan cuisine.

Almost every day brought a new and unfamiliar situation, which wasn’t always comfortable, but that’s exactly the kind of challenge that helps build character. Since I have a degree in psychology, my focus was very much on using introspection to get to know myself better, and I truly believe this kind of cultural exchange is one of the best ways to do that. Despite some cultural differences, I’d say one major thing Spaniards and we from the Balkans have in common is our love for life—we’re both big hedonists, we know how to have fun, enjoy ourselves, and cherish good company. At least, that’s exactly what my host family was like.

It was a truly enriching experience—one I think would benefit anyone. Stepping out of your comfort zone from time to time is always a good thing, and this program offers just that on multiple levels. Living in another country, in a new city, with a new family, gives you a whole different perspective on your life, your dreams, and what’s really possible. You start to see the pros and cons of your own culture, too. I’d recommend this program to anyone open to new experiences. There’s so much beauty in our differences, and learning to accept and even love those differences is what makes this kind of journey so powerful.