If I were in the U.S., I probably would have said no to all of this, because I would feel as if I was imposing on their time together. But here in Spain, Alejandro and Ana were genuine and liked our company.
I’ve tried to say “yes” as much as possible, and have made great friends this way. For instance, a coworker asked if I’d be interested in starting an intercambio with one of his friends. An intercambio is a language exchange, where two or more people meet and take turns practicing each others’ language. I’m always looking to improve my Spanish, so I said yes! For the past few months, I’ve been meeting every Monday with my new friend Adriana, and we speak in English for an hour, then Spanish for an hour. It’s been great practice, and Adriana has helped me so much with travel tips, understanding the Spanish culture and making sure that I’m enjoying my time in Madrid.
Another thing that has made me feel more at home has been my work and volunteer activities. At work, I’ve made friends with a number of students and coworkers, so I feel welcomed and appreciated there. Additionally, I volunteer with an English language activity group for children and mentor a Spanish high school student who is applying to American universities. In both cases, I feel like I’ve actually made an impact in their English language learning, and I have so much fun working with them!
Though I do sometimes feel homesick, consciously working to put down some roots in Madrid has helped make this city feel more like home. Saying yes, making friendships, and doing the work I love has helped me feel like a real part of the community and I’ve learned so much in return!
