The Best Summer of My Life

I regret absolutely nothing about choosing to go on a 5-week trip to the south of Spain this past summer. I am not lying when I say this summer was the most enjoyable of my life.

I got to know all 15 American kids in my group personally and still stay in touch with over half of the group. The connections I made with the other Americans were incredible; I was shocked to see how well I got to know some of my friends after "just" 5 weeks. I will value these friendships for the rest of my life and look forward to seeing all the friends I made through this incredible experience as soon as possible.

Every activity we engaged in was entertaining and educational, helping us understand more about Spanish traditions and culture while also having a blast. I particularly enjoyed getting to forge iron in the local forge, hiking and experiencing Andalusia's natural beauty, and learning about food via cooking classes and incredible meals. The daily activities are unique, and I am so grateful to have participated in all the amazing things we engaged with and saw, alongside the connections made with locals through these daily experiences.

I will keep in touch with my host family for the rest of my life---they were incredible. My host parents treated me as if I were their real son, and I spent time with my host brothers as if they were my own. Whenever I was unsure about something, I could rely on the helpful advice of my host parents. They had fascinating stories to share, and I will never forget their generosity in opening their home to me. Even though I only have known him for a few months, my friendship with my host brother is the most incredible and unique one I have. Becoming very close with somebody in Spanish significantly increased my confidence. Through this friendship, I have learned all about Spanish slang and everyday language alongside daily life as a teenager in Spain. Being able to compare and contrast the differences was fascinating. My two older host brothers were the older brothers I never had. After living my entire life with two younger brothers, being able to experience family life as the youngest child was just another of the many eye-opening experiences I had with LITA. My favorite memories of the experience were late-night conversations with my host family, spending time with my host brother and his friends, and getting to meet their family friends, and extended family. I'm seeing them in a few short months and can't wait! Through LITA's incredible homestay experience, I learned to slow down and appreciate the little moments above all else.

My Spanish improved significantly to the point where I can confidently say, and native speakers can surely agree that I am fluent. I can express almost all of my thoughts and opinions in Spanish. I also can access literature and TV in their original language. LITA's hands-on "classes" were highly beneficial. I will forever appreciate talking to locals, going to the market on a Friday, and learning about Spain's rich traditions and culture by fully immersing myself in it.

What's incredible about LITA is that I haven't even covered everything. You have to experience the magic yourself to grasp how unique this program is. If you are even thinking about thinking about going to Spain with LITA, you most definitely should. LITA has a space for you, no matter who you are. I will forever cherish the memories and bonds I made during this unbelievable summer.