During the summer, some students had opportunities to travel to different countries and experience the culture there. However, what if you could take it one step farther? This summer, I lived with a family in Spain whom I had never met before and experienced their culture for three weeks. A language school called International House, in the city of Tarragona, Spain, runs a program every summer, in which it connects students from around the world to families in Spain. The students, one of whom I was lucky enough to be, live with a host family in the town. Every family�s home is within walking distance of the school.

In the mornings, all the students would attend school for three hours. In the afternoons, there were activities to participate in like trips to museums, water parks, and going to the beach. In the evening, each student could spend time with their family, or meet with other students to enjoy Tarragona by night. The city itself is right on the beach (a five minute walk), and about an hour south of Barcelona by train or car.

Living with a family in another country gives you the opportunity to learn firsthand how the culture and way of life is there, as well as learn to speak the language proficiently. In my opinion, the time I spent in Spain was one of the best experiences I have ever had. As of now, I am seriously looking into studying in Spain during college.

There are programs similar to this one in several countries around the world, and I can tell you first-hand, the risks of going out on your own to experience other ways of life has amazing rewards. If you are interested, the school�s web site is www.ihes.com.

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