A participant of the cultural exchange program, Diana, sends us her regards from Spain. Below are her impressions:
“I heard about CAR through a friend who had spent the last summer in Spain. Having listened to her experiences, I decided to apply for this program as I’ve always wanted to visit Spain and I love the Spanish language and culture. I had doubts and fears about how I would manage and whether this was the right decision. However, my intuition and strong desire did not let me give up. It turned out that this was the best decision I’ve made in my life. I’ve been in the city of Manresa, which is near Barcelona, for a month now. The family welcomed me warmly and we immediately “clicked”. The parents are caring and full of understanding, and they are there for me, whatever I need. The girls (three and six years old) accepted and became fond of me very quickly, and I really enjoy it when we spend time together. My responsibilities are not difficult because I arrange them during the day as I see fit, and at the same time I have time for myself, for socializing and touring the city. Manresa is a lovely city and people have amazed me with how warm, open and friendly they are. I’ve visited Barcelona, Cardona and Mount Montserrat, and I plan on visiting many other places during my stay. I signed up for the language exchange program at UPC University and I’ve met many wonderful people whom I study Spanish and English with. And I must brag that I’ve learned a lot, which was my goal. I have a friend from Serbia here who is also an Au Pair, whom I meet and exchange experiences with regularly. This is a truly memorable experience for me and I am proud that I’d managed to step out of my comfort zone and overcome my fears. My self-confidence is much higher and I feel much more fulfilled and satisfied with myself. It is wonderful that there is such an organization that provides young people with options to travel and get to know themselves, and I am grateful to my coordinator Ana for the support she had given me throughout the process. Never let fear get in your way and sail into the unknown because you really need to have this experience.”