Our cultural exchange participant Anđela is writing to us from Benicàssim, a charming town in the Castellón province on the Costa del Azahar, where she’s been staying for the past month and a half. Read on to hear more about her unforgettable journey.
Benicàssim is a small town right on the coast, with long sandy beaches and beautifully clear water. It also has plenty of landmarks and places worth visiting.
As for the family I’m staying with, they’re incredibly warm, sociable, and friendly. Honestly, I feel like I’ve been here much longer than I actually have—like I’m truly part of their family. The kids are cooperative and a joy to spend time with, and I genuinely enjoy playing with them.
In my free time, I usually head to the beach with a friend from the U.S. who I met through the program. We also love biking along the coast and traveling together with other girls we’ve gotten to know here. Those little trips—exploring not just the famous big cities, but also small, hidden gems—have stuck with me. Some of the smaller places we visited even left a bigger impression on me than the well-known tourist spots.
I also spend a lot of time with my host family—we go to the pool, the beach, visit relatives and friends, and explore nearby towns. Since my host parents are tour guides, every weekend we go hiking together. Hiking has had a huge impact on me—it lets me see breathtaking scenery while staying active, which I really appreciate.
To anyone thinking about joining this program, I’d say this: it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live with a host family in a new country for a few months. Being part of their everyday life—cooking together, dancing, trying local dishes, meeting people from all walks of life, going on trips, even trying surfing—those are the things that shape you. It’s an experience you’ll always carry with you.
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