The Most Memorable Summer

I can truthfully say that my YFU exchange was the most life-changing experience I've had in my entire life. The summer before my junior year of high school, I decided to push my limits and live in Spain for a month and a half. Even though I'd never been fond of sleep-away summer camps or had even been away from home for more than 5 days prior to my exchange, I knew that living in Spain for the summer would be an opportunity I couldn't miss. I was also encouraged to go on intercultural exchange by my father, who had completed the exact same program when he was my age. Even though I initially had many doubts on whether or not I'd be able to live by myself in a different country for so long, I was eager to try.
For me, the scariest part of the entire program was the 10 minutes leading up to meeting my host family. What if they didn't like me? What if they spoke too fast and I couldn't communicate? I can still vividly remember the thoughts of panic that shot through my mind. I would be picked up at the train station in Madrid, along with a couple of other American students from California and Chicago. We bonded over our mutual concerns, but I soon discovered that I'd really never had anything to be worried about. My host father picked me up at the train station and instantly gave me a big hug. From the first moment of ever meeting him, I felt like a welcome guest and member of the family. Later that day, I met my host mother, brother, sister, and their two dogs. My host parents treated me like a third daughter, and I was immediately accepted as an additional sibling to my host brother and sister. They were kind and patient as I struggled to better understand Spanish, and I could tell that they really cared about me.
Throughout my exchange, I learned to be more adaptable, independent, and better at problem solving. My experience taught me how to deal with challenges and better face the real world after high school. However, even while I was on my own with my host family, I still felt taken care of by YFU. I periodically spoke to my assigned representative to confirm that my experience was nothing but positive. YFU honestly thought of everything, from pre-departure orientations to an incredible support network. I can't even begin to explain how thankful I am for the opportunity YFU gave me to live in Spain, and I hope that many more students can experience intercultural exchange, too!!