Doris, one of our participants, shares her story from the charming town of Consuegra in the Castilla-La Mancha region. For the past few weeks, she’s been exploring this beautiful part of Spain — and loving every moment of it.
The host family has been incredibly kind and welcoming. There are five of them: the parents, a boy, and two girls. At first, I expected the kids to be a little shy since I was a new face in their home, but from day one they completely warmed up to me and always wanted to spend time together. They’ve treated me like a true member of the family and invited me to everything — birthday parties, outings, visits to relatives. They genuinely make an effort to help me feel at home.
The town, Consuegra, is lovely, but not many people here speak English, so it was a bit tricky at first to make new friends. Luckily, I joined a gym and that opened up a whole new social circle. I met people there who introduced me to their English-speaking friends, and now we hang out regularly.
In my free time, I go to the gym — which, by the way, is also a great place to meet people — take walks through the gorgeous countryside (there’s a castle and iconic windmills nearby!), swim in the pool, spend time with the host family and new friends, and even chip away at my master’s thesis.
What I love most is how friendly and open everyone is. Even people who don’t speak English still try to talk to me and include me in conversations. Those who do speak English go out of their way to connect, invite me over, and make me feel welcome. People here are just naturally open to meeting new people. I’ve also completely fallen for the surroundings — the ancient fortress and windmills are stunning!
When it comes to working with the team, Doris says:
The Center has been helpful both during the application process and while I’ve been here in Spain. Everyone I’ve dealt with has been kind and supportive.
And her advice for future participants:
This is such a valuable experience. If you’re unsure about applying — don’t be. Just go for it! My advice is to take your time when writing your profile and be clear about your preferences. Choose your host family carefully, since you will live with them for a while. Honesty is así que important — if there’s anything that’s not working for you or if you have different habits, speak up early. Communication is key. Most families will be happy to adjust things to make you feel comfortable. Personally, this has been a beautiful experience — a chance to learn the language and enjoy life in a new country.
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