One of Those Experiences That Strengthen You—and Set You Free

Mina shares her story from Spain and gives us a glimpse into her daily life on the beautiful island of Mallorca.

When I first discovered the cultural exchange program offered by the Center for Affirmation and Development, everything sounded almost too good to be true. Working with kids, which I already enjoy—learning a new language, diving into Spanish culture on Mallorca, and spending two months by the sea… what more could you ask for? Still, I’ll admit, I was a bit skeptical. Things always sound amazing when you’re still at home, but I had no idea what I’d walk into. So I decided to keep my expectations low.

And to my surprise, it turned out even better than I hoped. The kids took to me right away, and the parents? Lovely.

Sure, there’s work involved, but nothing overly demanding—nothing you wouldn’t already be doing at home. Things like keeping up with cleanliness, tidying up the kids’ toys, making the beds, and the usual childcare duties like watching over the little ones, changing diapers, and helping them get dressed. What stood out, though, was how much they respected my free time. They gave me a couple of days to settle in, explore the city, and even handed me my monthly allowance right away. Every Sunday evening, I’d get my weekly schedule, including a breakdown of how busy each day would be, so I could plan my time off. Saturdays after noon and all of Sunday? Always mine.

We had an agreement that I could switch things around if I wanted more time for my adventures. Honestly, I had complete freedom—sometimes I wouldn’t even come home for a couple of days because I’d meet people, and plans would just take me somewhere unexpected. But I always made sure to check in so they wouldn’t worry. They constantly reminded me not to hesitate to call them—any time, day or night—if I needed anything.

I even went on vacation with them to Ibiza, got to meet their extended family, and during the last two weeks, it was just me, the mom, and the three kids, which made things a bit more intense, but still manageable.

Looking back, I got more than I ever anticipated. I learned so much—not just the language, but how big families work, how to adapt, how to find your way in a foreign country… and most of all, how to learn about yourself. This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will never leave you the same. They shape you, strengthen you, and give you wings—if you’re brave enough to leave your cozy comfort zone and give yourself the space to grow in ways you never imagined.