Before I had even completed my first interview with Meddeas, I knew that I wanted to choose living with a host family in Spain. When embarking on a once in a lifetime adventure, I wanted the full experience. While I had been used to living independently and the thought of living with strangers was a little scary, not immersing myself fully in the culture was something I just couldn’t do.
Now that I’m halfway through my placement, I know I made the right choice.
My Spanish Host Parents and Siblings
Something you should know about Spanish people is that they are loud. I can promise you my host siblings are the loudest people I have ever met in my entire life, but they are also the sweetest kids with the biggest hearts, and they love to play.
My host parents are so generous! They have been there to help me with every logistical question and the language barriers I’ve faced when getting a padrón, a TIE, my COVID booster shot, etc.
A few months ago, I unfortunately broke my thumb. My host parents were there to take care of me, get me to the hospital, and make sure I felt comfortable in such a scary situation. I couldn’t imagine being in that situation without their help.
Also, every single day of the week, I get to eat home cooked Spanish food. And let me just tell you, it’s some of the best food I’ve ever had. My host dad makes the best paella and las abuelas, which means “the grannies,” cook the best Spanish tortilla, my favorite dish. My mouth is watering just typing this.
If you come to Spain, don’t plan on sticking to a diet. Trust me it’s worth every gained pound!
The Main Reason for Living with a Host Family in Spain
However, there is one thing I want to stress most to those considering what living option is best for them: when you live with a host family, you become a part of their family too. For me, this is the main reason to choose living with a host family in Spain.
My 24th Birthday Spanish Celebration
I just turned 24, and being in such a small village in a different country, I wasn’t expecting a big celebration. Much to my surprise, my host family went out of their way to make me feel special that day. I woke up to the sweetest handmade birthday cards from my host siblings. They had even written in perfect English, so I know they spent a lot of time working on it!
The kids even decorated the kitchen with birthday banners and balloons. When we all got home from school, we had a big lunch, with tapas, wine, and all of my favorite dishes. My host parents surprised me with a birthday and the entire family sang happy birthday to me. To end a perfect day, the kids and I watched Harry Potter because they know I am a huge fan.
Turning 24 is just another age, but my host family has truly made me a part of their family, and they did so much to make me feel special and loved.
Sure, there are perks to living independently. But I am forever grateful for the experience I am having and all that my host family has done for me. I honestly couldn’t imagine adjusting to life here without having people who are native, there by my side, and who I know I can count on.
If you’re looking to “become” a real Spaniard, then living with a host family is the right choice for you too.
