Hi, everyone! Happy holidays! We have made it to the end of our adventure in Spain! I feel excited to return home to my family, but at the same time, I feel a little sad. Each time I walk the streets of Valencia, I remember all the emotions I've had and the memories I have made. I got to rock climb with locals from Valencia, make friends with students from all over the world and share life together with my host family. Every single one of these memories, and many more, helped me gain an appreciation for cultures that I will never forget.
Before arriving in Spain, I knew very little about international cultures. Growing up in a Mexican and American home, I learned how to speak Spanish. Other than that, I really didn’t know much about other cultures, much less about Europe. That quickly changed when I got to Spain. Once I arrived in Spain, I became friends with students from all over the world, including students from Japan, Argentina and even India! I loved learning about their childhoods, their values and their stories about what they were doing in Spain. I still find it incredible to think that we all met up in the same city, Valencia!
The more new friends I made, the more I learned about the cultures of the world.