This year’s winter break was one to remember. All those years being apart in the dual language program since kindergarten finally paid off. On February 19th, in 2016 I arrived in Valencia to meet my host family at the train station.
My first full day in Valencia we went to the beach with a huge group of friends. It was crazy to be walking around on the beach absolutely fully clothed because it was 50-60 degrees out. Thats warm for the Summit kids but for our host siblings it was still cold so it was unusual to be at the beach in February. They were all bundled up in puffy jackets and scarfs still shivering while some of us dipped our toes in the ocean and collected seashells. As the day went on we rented a soccer ball so we could play soccer in the sand. Splitting up into teams (Valencia vs Summit), we battled to see which team would be the first to score 5 goals. We were expecting to get destroyed right way since fútbol is their main sport. But surprisingly, Summit was the first to score! Valencia unfortunately scored shortly after and continued to score 3 consist goals. We only scored once that match so we decided to have a little tournament (best out of 3). The Spaniards won the first and last match and we only won the second match. So we took the winners out for a treat, some ice cream at Burger King.
Another special day was a school trip to another town called Sagunto, Spain. My teacher that hooked us up with all these cool connections actually grew up there. If you were to have looked Sagunto up its a town famous for the castle built on the hillside. We did not have enough time to walk up to the castle but we did get to visit a theater that was built around the same time as the castle, where they still hold performances to this day. On the bus ride back to school “American Football” was mentioned because they have never officially played before. So they challenged us in a football match in the sand again. So in return we agreed after the football match we all go swimming in the ocean. so this time everyone brought their bathing suits, luckily that day was way hotter then the first time so swimming wasn’t so bad. The water was still super cold but now we can say we’ve swam in Mediterranean Sea with our Spaniards (brothers and sisters) .
Our last night together we had a dinner party then walked to a park to take pictures and enjoy the city lights and stars. We talked about possibly planning a trip for them to come out and visit us next year but its going to be difficult if they come as a school trip because some of the host siblings are older then the others and they move on to anther school next year. We were willing to start funding to help pay for them to come but we still aren’t sure if it could work. That night was not the end of our friendship or even the last time ill get to see them but I am still going to miss them!
When I have the money to afford a trip back to Spain I will make it happen. You would think spending 6 days with random locals wouldn’t be enough time to get attached. Well your wrong, 6 days is not enough days to enjoy your time with new friends in a new place. The morning we all had to get on that train back to Madrid had us all balling our eyes out. You don’t have to be related to be family or have a hard time saying goodbye. Spain has always been a dream of mine to visit and obviously Valencia is not the only city. So I clearly am going to return but that was a well spent FIRST time to Spain. Meeting all those amazing people got me hooked on the idea of finishing school (college) out in Spain. Ive heard the universities here have programs where you attend their school for 2 years then you transfer to one out in Europe. If I am forced to go to college that is something I defiently will be looking into. At this point I want to become a photographer or masseuse for a living so finding a school in Spain wouldn’t be so bad. Valencia will always be in my heart as close as a second family so I know we will reunite again some time soon!
