Loving the Program – A Cultural Exchange in Spain

Tatjana, one of our participants, writes to us from the beautiful town of Lepe in the Huelva region. She’s been living there for a few weeks now, and here’s what she had to say about her experience so far.

I really love this program — it’s been such an interesting and one-of-a-kind adventure. It’s amazing to learn a new language while spending time in a completely new city and country. I’m based in a small town called Lepe, which is quite charming. That said, during the summer season, things tend to quiet down a bit and there aren’t too many people around. But one major perk is that the town is just 6 kilometers from the beach and only about half an hour away from the larger city of Huelva.

The host family is wonderful, and I feel incredibly lucky to have met such kind people and their lovely daughter. Everything so far has gone exactly as agreed, and we haven’t had a single issue — fingers crossed it stays that way! What I really enjoy is learning about a new culture and meeting new people, while also sharing a bit of my own.

I spend a lot of my free time with the family, exploring nearby towns and landmarks, and attending cultural events in the area. Besides that, I go to the beach almost every day with other participants from the program. Since weekends are usually free, we often use them to take little trips to nearby cities.

What I’ve loved the most is the family — and that was the most important thing to me. The parents are warm, approachable, and easy to talk to, and their daughter is just the sweetest — well-mannered and a joy to be around. I’ve also really fallen for Huelva and nearby Seville, which is absolutely stunning.

When it comes to working with the team, Tatjana says:

So far, everything’s been great. The Center replies quickly to questions and is genuinely eager to help participants while they’re setting up their profiles. I haven’t had any issues with my host family or in general, so I haven’t needed to reach out for assistance — but it’s reassuring to know that they connect each candidate with a local coordinator in the country where the program takes place.

And her advice for future participants:

I’d definitely encourage you to apply. And do it early! Start the family selection process as soon as you can. This program is a chance to meet new people from all over the world and become part of a new family — but most importantly, it’s an opportunity to get to know yourself better.