My students and teachers have done a wonderful job at making me feel at home, and I even got invited to a dinner with all of the teachers in the English department at my school. They have taught me so much about their culture while at the same time being curious and respectful when I share mine. At a time when the United States isn't always viewed positively in the news, it is even more important now than ever to show that Americans are capable of listening and learning about other cultures. Cultural exchange is what my program, Fulbright, is about after all.
My Fulbright family in Vigo and in the region of Galicia has made this time truly unforgettable. I have friends all over the region who have welcomed me with open arms and who I feel comfortable trying new things with. We have all had so much fun learning and growing together! As you can see from the pictures for this blog post, for Thanksgiving we all got to spend the holiday together by having a Friendsgiving celebration in Santiago de Compostela, where we had traditional Thanksgiving food with a Spanish twist, played games and laughed through the night.
Additionally, I have been able to make some local friends. From someone from Germany playing wheelchair basketball in Spain, to a student at the local university from Venezuela, to someone from this region of Spain who spent three years in Kansas, I have had so much fun getting to hear the stories and learn about the customs and traditions here firsthand from the people who experience them.
I am only a third of the way through my time here in Spain, and I can confidently say the Fulbright program has changed my life forever.
