Our cultural exchange participant, Mladen, recently returned home from Gijón, a vibrant city on Spain’s northern coast. Here’s what he had to share about his experience.
I was extremely happy with the host family, the city, and the program overall.
Gijón, as the main city of Asturias in northern Spain, is incredibly charming and has a really pleasant climate. It’s not too crowded or noisy, the city center is lovely, and the beaches right next to town, along with all the narrow restaurant-filled streets, are just the cherry on top.
As for the host family—this being my first time in the program—I genuinely don’t think I could have ended up with a better one. They went out of their way to make my stay easier and more enjoyable. I never felt like an outsider, not for a second. It honestly felt like I was staying with relatives rather than people I had just met.
In my free time, I’d hit the beach with the family or go on my own. We also went to some traditional Asturian festivals in nearby towns, which is where I met some really interesting people, both my age and older. And of course, I went to football matches, explored both Gijón and Oviedo, biked through the rolling Asturian hills, indulged in local cuisine, and did my best to stay active every single moment.
What I loved the most was the chance to immerse myself in a new culture and experience what it’s like to live in it. It felt like a reset for me, and a chance to dive into the language and connect with amazing people along the way.
To future participants, I’d say:
Be open-minded and flexible, and don’t hesitate to sign up. You won’t regret it—not even a little.
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