Participating in a homestay program has proven to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Not only has it allowed me to practice and improve my Spanish, but it has taught me valuable lessons about being a guest in a Spanish household.
I feel very grateful to have been placed with a homestay family that complements my personality and needs better than I could have imagined possible. My homestay mother Ana is very protective of my roommate and me, but at the same time she is absolutely hilarious and encourages us to have fun. The first day we arrived, for instance, she whisked us off to the beach where she proceeded to slather sunscreen all over us like it was nobody´s business, but then told us to stroll the beach and find ¨chicos guapos¨. When she serves us dinner she ensures us that ¨esto no te engorda¨(this will not make you fat), and then she turns on HTV (basically a Spanish version of the older - and better - MTV), and we jam out to Spanish songs while eating our meal.
The best part of my homestay experience has been that my roomate and I are treated like family. We are expected to do basic chores like clean our room, clear the table, and run errands to the fruteria and panaderia, but we enjoy the same privileges and freedom that her own kids would enjoy. Plus she made my roommate a cake on her birthday - a three chocolate cake to be exact. It can´t get much better than that.
When I think about what I´m going to miss most about Spain, of course the beautiful beaches and never-ending gelato will be pretty high up on my list. But I know that my homestay family and all the experiences I´ve had with them will always hold the most special place in my heart.
Ronda
This past Saturday the group traveled about two hours to a beautiful historic city called Ronda. Out of all the weekend excursions, this one was definitely my favorite solely due to its breathtaking views. At certain points, such as from the bridge or the edge of the park, it is possible to look down hundreds of feet and admire just how high up in the hills the town is situated. Ronda has other things to offer, of course, such as dining and shopping and plenty of museums, but I found myself leaning over the railing at the park, looking out for miles at the rolling green hills and the toy cars winding through them. Although it was not the most exciting excursion ever (especially in comparison to our beach-bike-kayak adventure last weekend), I have a feeling that I won´t be forgetting Ronda´s scenic views for a long time.
Bull Fight
A few nights ago I was put in a precarious position. I was given the option of either enjoying a nice, quiet dinner out with friends, or watching a bloody fight-to-the-death match between man and bull. Of course the more sensible side of me wanted to just relax at a restaurant, but the other side of me demanded an experience that was actually worth telling. Thus, I kissed my tapas cravings goodbye, and prepared myself for what was sure to be the most unbearably gory show of my life.
I suppose I should first divulge some details so there are no misconceptions about what is actually meant by the term ¨bull fight¨. Unfortunately all those cartoons from my early childhood had me fooled into thinking a bull fight merely consisted of a man waving a red cape in a slightly annoyed bull´s face, who would then proceed to charge the cape but never the man himself...Okay so that´s about 10% of the truth. What they don´t show is the part where the bull is initially stabbed multiple times in the back so it starts out very angry and very bloody, to put it lightly. I´ve also never seen a cartoon in which the matador himself gets attacked by the bull, but I sure did see that in real life. (These matadors, by the way, are literally my age, if not younger.) Not to mention the part at the very end when the bull finally collapses and the matador is given one or two of his ears as a trophy, which he may then throw into the audience like a baseball.
After that rather explicit description, you would probably think I had an awful time at this bull fight. And trust me, that´s what I thought would happen too. But in all honesty, and I feel a little sick for saying this, I enjoyed myself. I forced myself to get into the mindset of a Spanish fanatic, and I actually found myself clapping with the crowd. I came to realize how, in some twisted way, the fight between the matador and the bull was like a dance, and it was beautiful.
It sounds bad, I know, but if you think your stomach (and your morals) are up for it I would strongly suggest going. More than anything, it was an awesome and one-of-a-kind experience and I´m happy to say that I did not regret not going out for tapas that night.
I suppose I should first divulge some details so there are no misconceptions about what is actually meant by the term ¨bull fight¨. Unfortunately all those cartoons from my early childhood had me fooled into thinking a bull fight merely consisted of a man waving a red cape in a slightly annoyed bull´s face, who would then proceed to charge the cape but never the man himself...Okay so that´s about 10% of the truth. What they don´t show is the part where the bull is initially stabbed multiple times in the back so it starts out very angry and very bloody, to put it lightly. I´ve also never seen a cartoon in which the matador himself gets attacked by the bull, but I sure did see that in real life. (These matadors, by the way, are literally my age, if not younger.) Not to mention the part at the very end when the bull finally collapses and the matador is given one or two of his ears as a trophy, which he may then throw into the audience like a baseball.
After that rather explicit description, you would probably think I had an awful time at this bull fight. And trust me, that´s what I thought would happen too. But in all honesty, and I feel a little sick for saying this, I enjoyed myself. I forced myself to get into the mindset of a Spanish fanatic, and I actually found myself clapping with the crowd. I came to realize how, in some twisted way, the fight between the matador and the bull was like a dance, and it was beautiful.
It sounds bad, I know, but if you think your stomach (and your morals) are up for it I would strongly suggest going. More than anything, it was an awesome and one-of-a-kind experience and I´m happy to say that I did not regret not going out for tapas that night.
White Cities
So far we have visited two different ¨white cities¨. These cities are named as such due to the fact that all the buildings there are painted white. The resultant views of the cities are incredible: a vast expanse of white buildings against a gorgeous backdrop of green rolling hills or pristine beaches.
The first white city we visited was Conil, which is a coastal town with tons of cozy cafes and shops. Though the day started out cloudy and rather chilly, it soon warmed up enough for my friends and I to enjoy gelato and listen to a local singer singing a rather comedic song about all the passersby. Walking through the winding cobblestone streets and gazing up at the white buildings reflecting the sunlight is a memory that will stay with me forever.
This past weekend we visited Arcos de la Frontera, which, unlike Conil, is tucked away in the hills away from the beach. The most memorable part of this trip was what I like to call the ¨nun cookies¨. There are nuns in a convent who bake the most delicious cookies, but actually acquiring the cookies was a rather interesting experience. First, you must ring a bell to let them know you are there. Then, the lazy susan will slowly turn around, and in front of you will be boxes of all different types of cookies. Pick the cookies you would like (trust me, they´re all delicious), and then place the money on the lazy susan. The nun will then turn the lazy susan back around so she can collect the money and give you any change back. The kind of creepy part is that there is a one-way mirror, so that you cannot see the nun (the nuns here never leave the convent), but the nun can see and hear you. In any case, it was definitely a unique (and delicious) experience.
The first white city we visited was Conil, which is a coastal town with tons of cozy cafes and shops. Though the day started out cloudy and rather chilly, it soon warmed up enough for my friends and I to enjoy gelato and listen to a local singer singing a rather comedic song about all the passersby. Walking through the winding cobblestone streets and gazing up at the white buildings reflecting the sunlight is a memory that will stay with me forever.
This past weekend we visited Arcos de la Frontera, which, unlike Conil, is tucked away in the hills away from the beach. The most memorable part of this trip was what I like to call the ¨nun cookies¨. There are nuns in a convent who bake the most delicious cookies, but actually acquiring the cookies was a rather interesting experience. First, you must ring a bell to let them know you are there. Then, the lazy susan will slowly turn around, and in front of you will be boxes of all different types of cookies. Pick the cookies you would like (trust me, they´re all delicious), and then place the money on the lazy susan. The nun will then turn the lazy susan back around so she can collect the money and give you any change back. The kind of creepy part is that there is a one-way mirror, so that you cannot see the nun (the nuns here never leave the convent), but the nun can see and hear you. In any case, it was definitely a unique (and delicious) experience.
Noche de Tapas
A few nights ago I finally got the opportunity to eat the famous Spanish tapas. Tapas are small plates of food, and it is very typical for people to order a lot of tapas to make up their meal rather than ordering one main entree. Tapas literally means ¨lid¨and the word originated from the fact that these small plates of food used to be placed on top of wine glasses at restaurants, like lids.
The tapas that we ate included potato salad, fried fish and calamari, pork and french fries, and of course, tortilla española. The food was incredible and it was an amazing experience overall.
The tapas that we ate included potato salad, fried fish and calamari, pork and french fries, and of course, tortilla española. The food was incredible and it was an amazing experience overall.
In One Word: Increíble
Well what can I say? This past week in Cádiz has been one of the best of my life. I´ve met some amazing people, eaten delicious food, and learned more than I ever thought possible in such a short amount of time.
I couldn´t have asked for a better homestay family. My host mom and sister are two of the most caring people I´ve ever met. They welcomed my roommate and I into their home with open arms. They treat us well and feed us even better. We truly are part of the family.
Cádiz has so much to offer that it can seem a bit overwhelming, but with the long days and persistent sunshine, our time here has been well spent. I´ve enjoyed the warm sandy beaches almost everyday so far, visited some incredible historic sites, chatted with the locals, and strolled though the streets just to take in the sights.
Being here in Cádiz has been an almost surreal experience. Walking along the streets that were once so unfamiliar to me, looking up at buildings that I once only saw in pictures, I feel excited, full of life. I feel at home.
I couldn´t have asked for a better homestay family. My host mom and sister are two of the most caring people I´ve ever met. They welcomed my roommate and I into their home with open arms. They treat us well and feed us even better. We truly are part of the family.
Cádiz has so much to offer that it can seem a bit overwhelming, but with the long days and persistent sunshine, our time here has been well spent. I´ve enjoyed the warm sandy beaches almost everyday so far, visited some incredible historic sites, chatted with the locals, and strolled though the streets just to take in the sights.
Being here in Cádiz has been an almost surreal experience. Walking along the streets that were once so unfamiliar to me, looking up at buildings that I once only saw in pictures, I feel excited, full of life. I feel at home.
A Glance into the Future
If I were ever asked to drop everything, hop on a plane, and fly to any destination in the world, I would be Spain-bound in an instant. No questions asked. I don’t know what it is about
Seeing as this will be my first time traveling out of the country, there are many things that I hope to experience on my journey, as well as some things I am apprehensive about. Let’s take the language, for instance. I have always considered Spanish to be one of my strong suits, and I hope that throughout my stay I will become an even stronger Spanish speaker and pick up some Spanish slang along the way (and maybe even that famous Andalusian accent). But at the same time, I can’t help but worry about the language barrier I am sure to encounter. Will I be able to communicate my message fully and effectively? Will I make a fool of myself by using what I mistakenly assumed to be a cognate? (Don’t worry — I already know that “Estoy embarazada” does not in fact mean “I’m embarrassed”, but rather “I’m pregnant”).
Aside from the language aspect, I hope to fully immerse myself in a foreign culture and open my eyes to ways of life I never knew before. I want to dance the Flamenco, feast on tapas, and greet people with a kiss on both cheeks. Again, I have some apprehensions regarding life in a new culture. I worry about the transition I’ll have to make living five thousand miles away from the comfort of my own home for four weeks. I wonder how difficult it will be to assimilate and if there will be sacrifices I’ll have to make in order to fully experience the Spanish culture.
Whatever fears I may have, however, are small and insignificant compared to my sheer excitement about my upcoming adventure. As I said before, going to
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