Una bella esperienza di vita con una famiglia basco-colombiana

Our cultural exchange participant Gordana writes to us from Sopelana, a town in the Basque Country located about an hour from Bilbao, where she’s been living for the past month and a half. Here’s what she shared about her experience.

The family I’m staying with is wonderful. They’re incredibly kind, warm, and welcoming. From day one, they made me feel comfortable and like a part of the family. Even though communication can sometimes be tricky, since they don’t speak English and my Spanish is still basic, I’m genuinely happy with the connection we’ve built. They live near the coast in a small town, and I’m connected to the larger city by bus and metro, which takes about an hour. I haven’t had the chance to meet people my age here in the village, so whenever I want some company, I head into Bilbao. Honestly, Bilbao turned out to be even more beautiful than I expected.

I make an effort to meet new people, so a few times a week I go into Bilbao for a walk or to grab a drink with folks I’ve connected with through social media. When the weather’s nice, I love going to the beach or taking a long walk on my own. I’d like to find some travel buddies soon for weekend trips around the region.

What I’ve loved the most is the chance to live in Spain and experience everyday life with a Basque-Colombian family. Getting to know their culture, exploring my local surroundings, and spending time in Bilbao have all been incredibly valuable parts of this adventure.

If you’re planning to join the program during the summer and your destination has a beach nearby, keep in mind that it’s worth choosing a place with more sunny days—rain can change your plans. And if you’re going in the fall or spring, I’d suggest picking a city with an active ERASMUS community. It’s probably easier to meet new people that way. Unfortunately, that program isn’t active during the summer, which is a downside if you’re looking for a more social experience, but there are still plenty of other ways to make connections.

In the end, the most important part of the experience is the host family you choose. A good match can make a huge positive difference in your time abroad, just like it did for me.