Living the Spanish Way – Mila’s Unforgettable Exchange Experience

This summer, Mila made a bold decision: to step out of her comfort zone for longer than ever before. Turns out, choosing a cultural exchange program in Spain was just the adventure she needed. She’s been living in the charming village of Plentzia, near Bilbao in northern Spain, and although her time there is almost up, the memories she’s made will stay with her for life.

She describes her host family as absolutely lovely. She’s been looking after a sweet and well-behaved ten-year-old boy and quickly grew close to the entire family. They’ve done everything they could to make her feel at home. His mom even taught her how to cook some typical Spanish dishes—like the iconic potato tortilla and squid.

One of the highlights was a family trip to the countryside village of Oña to visit the grandparents, who were just as warm and welcoming. Mila’s Spanish was already quite good before she arrived, but now she says it’s on a whole new level thanks to constant practice and immersion.

Outside of the family, she’s made lots of local friends who introduced her to authentic village parties, paella-making competitions, and all the hidden gems tourists usually miss. She’s also taken full advantage of her time in Spain by traveling to other cities—including San Sebastián, Biarritz in France, and Pamplona.

Pamplona, in particular, left a strong impression thanks to the famous Sanfermines festival. Mila says it’s an experience she’ll never forget: crowds of people from around the world dressed in white with red scarves, dancing, drinking wine, and filling the streets with joy.

Her stay in Spain, she says, has been priceless—and completely different from a regular tourist trip. She’s felt right at home, moved by how spontaneous and generous the Spanish people are, so much like her own culture. Mila’s already planning to come back next year and encourages everyone to try this kind of exchange.

It’s one of those experiences that changes you. If you’re even a little bit curious, just go for it. You won’t regret it.