Ever since I’ve been home from my amazing three-week excursion program to Cadiz, Spain, everybody has been asking me what my favorite part of my trip was. To be honest, I can’t pinpoint one portion of the trip and mark it as my favorite. Instead, I choose to say that my entire experience as a whole was a favorite because it was so different from anything I have ever done before. Of course, there are some things I enjoyed more than others (like the gelato in Plaza Mina and tortilla española) but I have to say that the memories and experiences I’ve had over the course of three weeks have been beyond words.
Upon arrival in Cadiz, Spain, I felt a change of atmosphere and environment. I felt welcomed and I fell in love the instant we arrived. I was overly excited to explore the wonderful city in front of me, and I couldn’t wait to get started. The Abbey Road Staff was beyond wonderful and easily approachable. They were friendly and personable and I’m so grateful I was placed with such wonderful staff on my excursion to Spain. They knew that it was hard for teenagers to adjust to a completely new lifestyle – even though we would only be there for three weeks. They were there for all of us when we got homesick, or when we just wanted a recommendation for where to eat. They were lively and bubbly all the time, and they were always able to put a smile on anyone’s face.
The academic aspect of my Abbey Road Spain experience was delightful and entertaining. I definitely enjoyed the way Abbey Road chose to introduce academics into the program, which involved learning a bit in the classroom and going out into the city to use what was learned by interacting with locals. I thought that was a great way to improve my Spanish and I can say that this hands-on learning technique has improved my conversational Spanish skills without a doubt.
The activities set up by Abbey Road were awesome and amusing. I had so much fun with each activity and learned a lot about the city of Cadiz and the culture and history of Spain through these activities. My favorites included our evening “excursion” to Playa Victoria, our photo scavenger hunt and our game of Humans vs. Zombies, just to name a few. My favorite excursion was to the nearby city of Ronda, which was filled with gorgeous sights at every turn. The scenery made for beautiful photos that my family and friends were thrilled to see.
Because of my Abbey Road Cadiz immersion experience, I am more comfortable speaking Spanish and it seems to come more naturally to me now. Being forced to speak only Spanish in my home stay (for my host mother did not know any English) allowed me to improve and better my Spanish and it is something I am extremely grateful for. I leave my three-week immersion in Cadiz with better speaking skills, a handful of new friends, and a keen sense of the Spanish culture and way of life that I am so thankful I got the opportunity to experience with Abbey Road.
