Spanish Immersion living with my teacher

Throughout my life l have spent many weeks travelling in Spain, alone and with friends or family. However, the immersion program, living with my teacher, has given me a completely new and very special perspective. I have always visited Spain as a tourist, looking at places and people from the viewpoint of an outsider. But with the immersion programme, l felt like a part of the host family and also a part of the whole Spanish speaking community of Valencia.
I stayed with Pilar and her son, with a group of four other guests, in her beautiful home in Gilet, Valencia. We were all studying Spanish at very different levels. For one week, Gilet, a small village in the foothills of the surrounding mountains, close to the town of Sagunto, was our home.
There is plenty of space in the house to study, share meals and relax, both indoors and outdoors. The WiFi connection is very good. The rooms are clean, the beds are comfortable and there is a super bath as well as a shower in the shared bathroom.
Pilar is a welcoming and friendly host, very proud of her locality and was always happy to provide us with the small items that one forgets to bring on a visit, such as a safety pin, insect repellent, a paracetamol. She is committed to helping each guest feel comfortable and welcome whilst they are in her house, as well as making the most of the time they have available.
Meal times were negotiable and the food that Pilar provided was excellent. There was always plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as a variety of local foods that we could try, such as prawns, mussels, fideos, escalibada, paella, ham, tortilla and a local stew made from snails and rabbit. Whilst many choices were available, there was no pressure to eat anything with which l felt uncomfortable.
As a Valenciana, Pilar has a deep knowledge of the local area and she is happy to explain everything from religious festivals to local politics, history to culture, music, arts, sports, recipes, travel timetables or opening hours. She is a passionate and enthusiastic teacher, dedicated to serving the different needs of each one of her students. I learned a great deal about the Valencian culture during my stay and was exposed to new vocabulary, new phrases and new ways of expressing my ideas and interests.
Pilar's garden opens onto a path to beautiful woodlands, through which it is possible to walk to the surrounding mountains. Take good walking shoes, as there is much to discover here! At dusk, the woods were full of the song of nightingales and the occasional hoot of an owl. I loved sharing dinner beneath the moon and the stars here each night ; blankets were provided when it got chilly later.
My favourite excursion was walking up a well known and very steep mountain (called Las Cadenas del Garbi/el canal de Garbi ) with a picnic, and some friends. When we weren't clambering upwards we were chatting in Spanish. Our team work made the dream work!! It was exhilarating when we all reached the summit, with it's beautiful views of the Valencian coast .
From the nearby town of Sagunto, we spent a day walking northwards along the sea shore for a distance of about 10K. The shoreline is wide, the water crystal clear and there are bars and restaurants along the route. I really enjoyed a swim in the warm, clean sea here, on the last day of May! Pack your swimming things!
The city of Valencia, in which we spent a day, is calm, safe and clean. We walked from the port, through the waterside, past galleries and museums into a park which leads to the old city centre with its cathedral and interesting independent shops .
If you have the opportunity, the anual celebration of the 'Moros and Cristianos ' in the town of Elda is an amazing four day fiesta, not to be missed. There are impressive parades through the town centre, reenactments of the local history, horses, live bands, free food and drink and dancing throughout the night.
If you have the opportunity to come and study here, l can thoroughly recommend spending your time with Pilar and her family and friends.
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