Making a Quick Stop at Home Before My Next Exchange

Our cultural exchange participant Marija, who’s soon wrapping up her time in Spain, is checking in from Punta Umbría—a town in the Huelva province of Andalusia, where she’s been staying for a month and a half.

Before I left, I couldn’t decide whether to travel by bus or plane to Spain because I was genuinely afraid of flying. But the moment I stepped onto that plane, I knew I’d made the right call! As soon as I landed, the host family greeted me, and I had a feeling this would be a beautiful adventure, full of discovery, learning, sightseeing, new people, and unforgettable experiences.

And wow—whatever fear I had completely disappeared the second I set foot in Spain, thanks to the incredible family that made my stay even better. We didn’t count down the days until the end of the program… in fact, we forgot time altogether. They made sure I was comfortable, served food similar to what I was used to, and made me feel right at home. Although I’ll admit, what I missed most from the Balkans was the food!

I’ve even got a little story to share.
One night, the family made pizza, but it was a veggie pizza. When I asked for mayonnaise, they looked puzzled and asked, “Do people in Serbia normally put mayo on pizza?” I told them, “Well, if there are veggies on the pizza, at least give me some mayo!”
So yeah, I guess mayo on pizza is my quirky little twist.

All in all, the family was amazing, the kids were energetic (as kids are), but well-behaved. I had an incredible time, and I’m already looking forward to next year—hoping we’ll build even more memories, improve the good habits we’ve started, and open new doors together to new people and new life experiences.

Honestly, I thought joining the program was a leap into the unknown, but I was wrong—it was a leap into something incredible. Now I’m just saying, “I’ll head home for a bit… and then it’s off to my next exchange!”

When I’m not helping around the house, I spend my free time traveling, relaxing on the beach, or escaping the heat at the shopping mall—temperatures here in Huelva can hit 45°C, especially since we’re not far from Seville, which is Europe’s hottest city!

What I loved most was improving my Spanish pronunciation, immersing myself in Spanish culture and lifestyle, meeting new people, broadening my horizons, and realizing—our differences are okay.

To anyone considering this experience, here’s my advice:

Don’t overthink it! Every tomorrow becomes yesterday before you know it. So don’t leave anything for later—you’re going to love it.