My brother, sister, and I start the 10 minute walk to my abuela’s house. It’s a scorching 101 degrees, but the gorgeous views and the promise of mosto at our destination motivate me to continue along the curvy streets. Once we arrive, I hear a crescendo of bantering voices. The smell of chorizo and fresh meat (courtesy of my family’s butcher shop) hangs in the air.
Uno, dos… veinticuatro, veinticinco – I count the number of people squished next to each other at the table and try to remember who told me this was a “small part” of my mother’s family. When the food arrives, everybody pounces. It would be inaccurate to say the food disappeared – my homestay taught me that when it comes to family gatherings, there is always more to come. The dinner lasts for about two hours and by the end, I am so full I could burst (thanks to my abuela who won’t let my plate stay empty for more than a few seconds)!
Without a doubt, my homestay is what made my experience with LITA so special. From the moment I met my family, I knew we had a special connection. My mother was warm, caring, and made sure that I was drinking enough water. My father showed me his massive 18-wheeler and explained about the culture and historical sites of my homestay community. My brother taught me how to play new card games and walked me to class every day. My sister and I were especially close. We went to dinner with her friends, visited the pool, and walked all over town. When we said goodbye after 11 days, we were all in tears, but the promises to stay in touch were real. We talk regularly, and are already planning for the next time we will see each other. The experience of being surrounded by Spanish 24 hours a day is invaluable. During my time in Spain, I quickly began to hear unique phrases, combined syllables, and speaking patterns. I noticed this in each aspect of my daily life – with my family, during my classes, and in conversations between my Spanish friends. By engaging in conversation consistently, I felt comfortable having simple discussions with native speakers. I realized this in the airport on the way home from Spain. My flight from Madrid was delayed and redirected to a different airport. One of my fellow passengers was from Seville and did not speak any English. When I noticed her confusion and worry, I approached her, explained the situation in Spanish, and helped her navigate through the airport to our new flight. Because of LITA, I had the confidence and the new skills to engage in such conversation.
The memories I made in Spain with my family and my friends, both Spanish and American, will last a lifetime. I am thrilled I’ve been able to stay in touch with everyone in my LITA program and to continue to search for opportunities to improve and practice my Spanish.
