Skip to main content

Jessica's Homestay in Mexico

Wow, all I have to say is wow.


On the day of departure I ate breakfast with one of my best friends and she asked me if I was excited to go and I replied “Ummm yes… yes I think so… no yes, I am excited… I think.” So as you can tell I was unsure if I was excited mainly due to the fact that before going to Mexico I had no idea what to expect. I knew everything ANDEO told me and I knew probably about as much about Mexico as anyone could without traveling there myself, but even with all that information when I got there and saw Mexico with my own eyes it was completely different.

I took a red eye to Mexico and I’m the type of person who can’t sleep on planes. So I got to Mexico 7am their time after not sleeping at all the night before, but for some reason I wasn’t tired at all. So after picking up the checked bags and going through customs my group finally made it to the exit and it was time for us to go join our host families. I saw mine right away. I walked towards them and from the very first moment I was greeted with hugs.


We started to leave the airport and I tried to talk, and maybe it was not sleeping all night or being in a new country with people I didn’t know or a combination, but no words came out of my mouth. I had forgotten my Spanish. Three years of hard work and studying got me nothing. But somehow I managed to say one thing “I know how to speak Spanish just give me a second.” We traveled around Mexico City a lot the first day and let's just say I did a lot of listening. 

After I got over the initial forgetting Spanish thing I started to really make connections with the host family. Every day we did something new and exciting and with each new day I got to know Mexico a little better. I saw things I had never seen before like ancient pyramids, I ate things I had never eaten before like arroz con leche (my new favorite), I learned about things in Mexico’s history that I had never learned before, I even taught them a little English, and best of all I made connections with people whose first language wasn’t the same as mine which I had never done before.

I think if my friend asked me today if I would want to go again I would say of course. This experience was one that took me out of my comfort zone and I learned so much about other cultures, other teens my age, other countries, and a lot of Spanish too. I am so happy that my parents and Spanish teacher encouraged me to do this because it was definitely one of the coolest things I have ever done.


        -Jessica Ewton

For more information about our immersion programs in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries, check out these pages!
Summer in Mexico
Group trip to Mexico
Programs in Spanish-speaking countries
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Write a Letter to Your Host Family

The letter to your host family is one of the most important pieces of your program abroad application; it’s the host family’s first impression of you. Exchange programs take many factors into account when matching you with a host family, but ultimately it’s up to the host family to decide whether to host you or not.
Here are a few helpful tips to writing a great letter to your future host family:
Use a positive tone. “The main reason a student’s dossier is passed over by families is unintentional negativity,” explains Rebecca Gundle, Program Coordinator for ANDEO International Homestays. A student might be trying to explain her preferences, but when she devotes equal attention to describing her dislikes, she comes across as negative or picky. A family wants to know that the student they host will be adaptable and willing to try new things. Keep your tone upbeat and positive.
Go deeper than the application form.Try to avoid simply reiterating what is on the form. This is a chance to talk…
2 comments
Read more

Tackling the Dust Bunnies (and other surprising benefits of hosting an exchange student)

By Elizabeth Markleson, host momYou could say I'm a relaxed housekeeper. Our kitchen table is covered with piles of papers "to be dealt with later", our sink is often full of dishes, and you can be sure there is a whole family of dust bunnies living under the furniture. When my kids were little and they would see me go into my cleaning mode, they would always ask, "Who is coming to visit?" Not much changes over the years! When it comes to housework, a guest is a great motivator.

The days were ticking down before our Spanish student arrived and my to-do list was getting longer and longer. “Don’t stress too much about it,” my sister said. “Isn’t your student just supposed to blend into your family as it is? This is an exchange student, not a visiting dignitary, after all.”

True, but I am a strong believer in the power of first impressions. When my daughter went to Spain a few years ago, her host family added some really nice touches to make her feel welcome...like …
2 comments
Read more

Tips for Teens Traveling Independently

Many of our programs allow you to choose your own program dates, flights, and length. Some advantages to this are that families have control over booking flights and are able to use frequent flyer miles. One challenge, however, is that students must travel independently to their program destinations. Some teens are understandably nervous about flying alone. 

Here are some tips to help teens and parents feel more at ease about traveling internationally without a chaperone or flight leader.
Before booking your ticketCheck with us before booking your ticket to see if anyone else from your area will be attending your program at the same time. We can put you in contact with one another.
Booking your ticketWhenever possible, choose a direct flight. Fewer fights mean fewer opportunities for flights to be delayed or for other problems to arise.

If a direct fight is not possible, choose a flight that stops or makes connections in the United States. Whenever possible, stick with the same airline fo…
11 comments
Read more