Living in Madrid with a Spanish family for a short time is a dream of many people. My name is Carlotta and I am one of those people. In this article, I am going to tell you everything about my experience in Madrid. Firstly, I’ll talk about how the idea of living in a Spanish family began. Then I’ll explain to you how I did it and above all How I felt during all of those weeks and after. Are you ready? Let’s start! 🙂
First of all, I just want to say that I’m writing this post on my 47th day of quarantine. Thinking about Madrid during this challenging period is breaking my heart. I have always been deeply interested in Spain. When I was 6 years old when I went on holiday to Alicante. My family and I spent a fortnight at my uncle’s villa. Thanks to Dolores, his special neighbor, I started my exploration into the Spanish culture.
I had the opportunity to study Spanish only when I went to University. How you might imagine, since that moment I have been fascinated even more and more. Since the beginning of my last academic year, I became fixated with the idea of living in a Spanish family.
HOW TO LIVE IN A SPANISH FAMILY
At first, I was looking to be an au pair girl. It took me months to find the right host family during the right period. I had many exams to study for and I had to write my thesis, too!. As time passed by, I started to consider other possibilities. This is how I first got in touch with my unforgettable EF Spanish course in Madrid!
EF is a company founded in 1965 in Lund, Sweden, whose programs aim to combine language training with cultural exchange. It seems to me exactly what I was looking for! In Spain, you can choose between 3 destinations: Madrid, Barcelona, and Málaga. Initially, I was tempted by Málaga, because it is situated in Andalusia that is my favorite Comunidad Autónoma. After I opted for the capital city.
As I said before, what I expected from this experience was not only to improve my language. Above all, I wanted to live and feel as many facets as possible of the Spanish way of being. Madrid is full of important museums and, in August if offers you verbenas almost every night. In other words, this city is a perfect match between art and amusement!
I had already been 3 times in Madrid. The first time during the World Youth Day and twice with my friends. Hence the city wasn’t completely unknown to me. My host family lived in Calle de Cea Bermúdez, in the traditional district of Chamberí. The house was just one minute walking to the metro station (Canal). It was very useful to reach both the school and the city center. I’m missing taking the metro to go wherever I want to!
CONCLUSION
Anyway, Madrid made me love the Spanish lifestyle and traditions for sure. I’m a homesick girl but, during those weeks, my mind was full of good vibes and enthralling inspirations. I didn’t have time to regret my home. Well, I missed eating an authentic pizza, but I quickly replaced it with a lot of croquetas!
In conclusion, I can state that it was one of the best choice taken in my whole life. Before this nightmare called “quarantine” started, I was planning another similar experience (this time in Andalusia, of course!). I am so sad that that I have to postpone. However I think that the most important thing is to follow our dreams, it doesn’t matter how much time they need.