Embarking on an exchange trip to Spain was a life-changing experience for Jeana (a 16 year old Ōtaki College Student), filled with both challenges and unforgettable moments. From adjusting to the late dinner times to navigating language barriers with a trusty translation app, Jeana quickly learned that Spanish culture was far different from what she was used to.
The Ōtaki Women's Community Club, were delighted to offer funding for Jeana's trip and loved having her fundraise at the Ōtaki Kids Market and Ōtaki Market. They also had the pleasure of hearing Jeana's presentation last week, where she shared her journey and the impact it has had on her life.
The biggest culture shock was the time dinner was served, it ranged from 8pm to 10pm and it could last hours. Breakfast was still the same time at 7am so it was a hard adjustment.
My school in Spain started at year one and went to year 13, everyone is friends and hangout with each other instead of group/cliques. The classrooms are a little worse for wear and are very empty. The biggest difference was the fact that the teachers moved classes instead of the students, we stayed in the same class all day long.
My favourite Spanish food is all the Christmas/ Three Wise Kings day candy and chocolates. I think the best is marzipan, I brought a lot home for my family.
The beginning was a bit rough and I had to use a translation app but at the end I could go all day without speaking English. A funny mishap was that for a week I said the word lugar (place) instead of the word luego (then), this means I was saying “I want to eat churros place (then) go home”.
I would have to say when my host family took me to Madrid for 3 days, we ate the best food and never spent any time in our hotel. I went to the botanical gardens where there were some plants/trees from New Zealand.
Absolutely the best experience of my life so far and I have made so many memories
I also went to a very big market with a lot of entertainers and so many unique restaurants. Another experience I had that was very special to me was the snow day when my family took me to the mountains to see snow. We had such a great time and climbed up a very big hill to slide down, I went down so fast that when I hit the bottom I flipped over!
The funding (From the Otaki Women's Community Club) really helped me towards the trip, I had unexpected expenses to pay only a couple of weeks before I left and this money helped pay for it.
Honestly the Otaki Kids Market and Otaki Market was so great and everyone was happy to hear about my upcoming exchange trip to Spain, it gave me a really good opportunity to talk about the trip. We also sold extra products like chocolates and bags of pinecones to help fundraise my trip. We did however have to keep going to buy more food like bread, sausages and gas because we kept selling out!
This experience hasn’t changed what I want to be when I’m older but it has broadened my options, I could be a lawyer in Spain or go to university. Even as a diplomat in Spain, it may seem like a reach but I am very certain I will be a lawyer when I’m older.
Yes I would definitely encourage other kids to go on an exchange trip, it was absolutely the best experience of my life so far and I have made so many memories, friends and family over there that will always be a part of my life. It is truly an incredible feeling.
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