My door shut loudly, and I was alone in my family’s house for the first time, or rather the second time, as this was just the beginning of my second homestay with LITA in the past two years, and though I felt prepared to face this rewarding challenge again, the butterflies in my stomach were just as present as before. I was told that we would be leaving in a few minutes to go to their extended family’s house just outside of our town; in that moment everything just felt so real, as the isolation from the rest of my group and the warm embrace of my family collided into a torrent of emotions, anxiety, and excitement to meet everyone. As we pulled up to the small house surrounded by kilometers of farmland, almost the entire family was there to greet me as we walked in the door. Mi abuela, mis hermanos, primos, primas, tíos, y tías were all there with open arms. It was overwhelming to be welcomed in such a way, as the energy around my presence was electric. Just as quickly as I arrived I was immediately incorporated into the fold of family activities as my younger siblings and their cousins brought me outside to give me the grand tour. It was almost as if their entire world revolved around my presence. Despite my anxiety and yearning to see other members of my LITA group, I embraced their inviting and exciting energy. I thought back to my first LITA experience in Andalucía, where, within the first hour, I had already been swimming in a pool with tons of other LITA host siblings around my age; I was anxious because this time, my siblings were younger than I, and would therefore not be as willing to hang out with the older group members. Even so, I remembered that I was there for this experience with my family and that, however my homestay went, it would be unforgettable.
There in the backyard, I saw roosters and hens laying eggs in their coop, abuela’s garden, which she invited me to help maintain with her, and a small pool, where I spent the next 3 hours playing games from Marco Polo to Monkey in the Middle with every kid there. And just like that, as I went back inside for dinner, they all knew me, greeted me, and served me, not just as a guest but as a genuine family member. As the night wound down, I was eager to see the rest of my LITA group and hear about their experience with their host families. We drove to a small outdoor restaurant to watch Spain play in the Euro Cup Fútbol quarterfinal game, introducing us to almost the entire town and reuniting us with our LITA group members and their host siblings. There we stayed until midnight, playing fútbol and a new game, AEIOU–similar to taps–with the whole group. Afterward, we took walks up and down an old stone bridge around the back of the restaurant, watching the sunset as we each took turns introducing ourselves to each other’s siblings, motivating everyone to download Snapchat, and exchanging Instagrams. That was the epitome of a magical first impression.
To be a successful student at LITA, complaints should be removed from your vocabulary, and your heart needs to be open to every crazy experience, meal, person, or place you encounter on your trip. You will be exhausted and well-traveled, but the value of the connections you make, the Spanish you hear, and the family you love will be worth every moment of strife and self-doubt. If, at any point, you feel like giving up during your trip, text someone you trust within the group because chances are, they are going through the same hardships and would be happy to lift your spirits. Make connections, befriend everyone you can, and do not resort to introversion when all of Spain is waiting for you to reach out and ask, “Qué tal?”... Let the fact that you are in a foreign country speaking a different language be the prime motivator to spread your wings and soar, and to not live with regret of what you should have done during the most transformative moments of your life.
You have two families in LITA: your host family and your entire group. While the bond with the families can sometimes last for a lifetime, an equally important bond is with your group as we all traverse a challenging experience together. In short, it is the family that makes the homestay, but it is the group and its dynamic that transform your experience with LITA, and the Spanish proves to be no barrier to meaningful connections with everyone. I dedicate this message and the unforgettable experience I had this past year to every member of North 3–the absolute best group of people to be in Spain with anyone could ask for. You are all why this trip was so amazing and why the connections you make on LITA, with a little work, can last a lifetime–so long as you keep the GC alive.
Max, South Five Week 2023 & North Three Week 2024