Life With A Host Family In Madrid

By: Riley Schmidt

Madrid has quickly become a large part of my life and a place that I have learned to cherish with all my heart. I have met many wonderful people through my classes, extracurricular activities, and travelling the continent. My friends and the host family I was placed with have become some of my favorite people and it is hard to imagine how little time we have known each other - it feels like I’ve known them for years. My host family has done their best to integrate me into life as a madrileño. Life with them has been extraordinary. Packed with vibrant culture and cuisine, music and dance, and down to earth people. My host mom is one of the most amazing people I know. She plays the guitar and has a beautiful voice. Her concerts in churches and in our own living room are some of my favorite parts of being here. She is learning French and loves to host parties. Meeting my family’s extended family and watching movies, making meals, and going on outings are some of mine and my roommates' favorite memories. I love listening to their life stories and hearing about their views on the rest of the world. My host sister is just as amazing as her mother. She works with me on my Spanish and helps me through hard times when I am feeling homesick or stressed out with school. Our cleaning lady is from Romania and brings another outlook on life and culture to the table as well. She has been part of their family for nearly two decades and has felt like another family member to me while being here. She will always have a special place in my heart as well. Living with a roommate has also been one of my favorite parts of being abroad. We experience every new thing together and due to us living on opposite coasts of our home country I am grateful to study abroad for giving us the gift of knowing one another. Studying abroad with a host family has allowed me a different experience than my peers as my family gives me every opportunity to succeed. My cousin hosts international students back in the States and she has changed the lives of many students. Having the opportunity to stay with a host family myself has been an unforgettable experience and something that I will always hold dear. I highly recommend opting to live with a host family if you go abroad. CIEE has given me a second family that I hope to keep in contact with for the rest of my life and I know that I will always have a home in Madrid. 

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