In one word, I would describe my LITA experience with the 2015 South Group as transformative. However, ’transformative’ does no solely reflect how my mastery of the Spanish language improved, yet in stead it reflects how, through my phenomenal experience, my outlook on life, my interpersonal skills, and my ability to accept and adjust to other cultures and people have changed for the better. Throughout my LITA experience I was challenged to make these changes. Whether it be the first day in Spain when we truly began to speak Spanish, or our last day in the homestay when we gave full speeches in Spanish to thank our host families, my LITA experience challenged me to advance my mastery of Spanish, which resulted in an enormous improvement in proficiency by the end of the trip. I went from having a shaky control over the language to feeling like a fluent speaker, complete with Spanish dreams. However, as I mentioned, my LITA experience also challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone and mature intellectually and socially. Each day during the entire trip, whether it be the homestay, the hike, or the time spent in Seville, I was presented with the opportunity to meet and interact with a new person in Spanish. While this clearly helped my speaking abilities, it also taught me to be courageous and to be more outgoing. I developed interpersonal skills that I can use in any situation and any language. My most vivid image of this type of challenge took place one day while I was working in my internship on a farm, La Communidad Tierra Esperanza. That day, I was working along side not only the usual inhabitants of the farm, but also a group of new Spanish students from Madrid. I took a chance, and began to introduce myself to some of these new students. One of them, Jesús, managed to carry on a conversation with me, in which I discovered that he was actually from Italy and had even met the pope. Although those factoids aren’t as significant to me today, that memory reminds me not only of the incredible relationships that I was able to build through my LITA experience, but also the interpersonal skills that I developed. In a similar way, I also developed an appreciation and respect for cultures different than that of the United States. By living side by side with my host brother everyday and having no choice but to live the Spanish lifestyle, I realized that different doesn't mean worse, as I often had perceived of other cultures from the American perspective. Through my experience with LITA, I feel that I have become more open-minded and accepting of all types of people and cultures that I encounter. I believe that LITA truly did transform me in a unique way that other programs might not have, and for that reason I am extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity to take part. What a wonderful experience!

When I reflect on the experience I had with LITA, I only have amazing things to say. When I was looking for an immersion program in Spain, I wanted one that would be extensive, personal, and teach me both about the culture and language of the country. It was a brief search, for as soon as I heard about LITA, I knew it was perfect, and my expectations were only exceeded when I actually had the privilege of going. The rural focus of this trip leads to an experience you would never get as a tourist, allowing you to go behind the scenes of what you would typically expect from a travel program and focusing on the people and culture. I built amazing relationships with my group and locals alike, many of which are still maintained through social media and mail, and I felt like I was able to genuinely experience the country as a native. This program had the ideal balance of structure to ensure safety and engagement, and plently of time and opportunities to explore and grow independently. There were definitely times where homesickness, the total Spanish immersion, or a variety of other factors became overwhelming, but the program was always there for support, and ultimately, these challenging moments helped everyone become more resilient, self-aware, and independent. Finally, I think what truly sets this program apart from others is the homestay. I became incredibly close with my host family, especially my host sister, I was able to apply my Spanish by working in the mayor's office for my internship, and I learned so much about what it means to be a teenager and person in Spain. LITA truly helped me improve my Spanish, increase my confidence, and become a global citizen, and I recommend it wholeheartedly to any student willing to throw themselves into an incredibly rewarding experience.

Imagine developing a new understanding of a language and culture, becoming a part of a new family, working in the studio of a renowned sculptor, learning how to cook delicious food, spending three days hiking in the Pyrenees, and making lasting friendships with people from your own country and another--all in just 5 weeks. That is what I had the opportunity to do on my trip to Spain with LITA. What makes LITA so unique is the true immersive feeling of all aspects of the trip. Not only did we spend three weeks living and connecting with Spanish speaking families, but we were also immersed in the language and culture of Spain every second of the rest of the trip. Whether attending cooking classes in Barcelona, doing a scavenger hunt in Santiago de Compostela, or simply sitting around the dinner table with my host family, I was immersed in and learning about Spanish language and culture all the time. After five short yet incredibly exciting and fulfilling weeks, I came back from LITA with a greater understanding of myself and the world around me.

It may sound like an exaggeration, but I can honestly say that my trip with LITA was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I learned so much about myself and Spain; all together, it was an unforgettable time. I quickly became incredibly close to my group and new friends in my homestay town. We got to know each other incredibly well; I would not hesitate to call them my family. We still keep in touch today! It was incredible to see the similarities and differences in culture, language, and lifestyle between Spain and my hometown. Furthermore, it was awesome to have the constant practice speaking Spanish; my proficiency definitely increased immensely.
Another great aspect of LITA is all of the incredible activities Jordan and Michela plan. You are able to explore a number of beautiful cities, towns, museums, environmental landscapes, cathedrals, etc and see all of the diversity Spain has (geographically, culturally, etc). I was able to try things I never would have imagined (ex. Seaweed harvesting! So cool!) and learn a number of cool new skills.
Overall, LITA is a great experience. I'm so glad that I applied and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in Spain, wants a new experiences, and/or is ready to take their speaking skills to a more advanced level. You won't regret it!

On this trip, I had the time of my life, and also really improved my Spanish. My favorite part of the trip was far and away the homestay. I stayed in a very close knit family, where I had three brothers. I have always wanted brothers, and it was so fun to spend time with them. We spent most of our time playing soccer, swimming, watching soccer at a cafe in town, fishing, or just hanging out around town with their friends. Dani, my 16 year old host brother, helped me assimilate, and introduced me to his friends in town. Three days a week, I worked as an intern at a graphic design studio in town, which was really fun and I got to try things I would never have done at home. Our backpacking expedition to the Pyrenees was amazing, and I also loved going to Barcelona. I am not a big foodie, so I was a little indifferent about trying all sorts of new types of food in Spain, but we went to a ton of incredible restaurants, and I actually loved how much effort was put into trying to find new and delicious places to eat. I have stayed in touch with my host brothers and their friends, and hope to go back to Peñafiel, and also would love if my host brother Dani could come visit me in the US. I would completely recommend this trip to anyone who is social, outgoing, willing to try some new things, and eager to improve their Spanish. Overall, it was an amazing trip, highlighted by the three weeks we spent in our homestay.

My five weeks with LITA were by any standards incredible. I arrived in Spain only able to string a couple sentences together and left a conversational Spanish speaker. My Spanish teacher was amazing and classes were much more engaging than classes in school. We traveled to street fairs, watched spanish movies, and played fun games. LITA, however, is far more than just a language immersion trip. I made incredible friends (both American and Spanish), hiked in the Pyrenees, tasted incredible food, swam in the beaches of Barcelona, and learned to feel at home in a small Spanish town. The three week home stay allows for total immersion in the culture of Spain. I took siestas every day and attended a horse festival in the local town. The two weeks of travel are simply put, super fun. I bonded with my group and indulged in incredible meals and exciting adventures. The highlights of my trip was the home stay because LITA does an incredible job of matching students with a host family. I talk to my "sister" a whole year later and hope to return to visit her. Another highlight was a scavenger hunt in the city of Santiago. My group ran around the city seeking historical monuments, iconic food, and even ate octopus. I would highly recommend LITA to anyone, specifically curious, engaged, and adventurous kids.