The Gift of the Homestay: The People Make the Place

By: Cate Cannon

Hi! My name is Cate Cannon, and I am currently studying abroad for the Fall 2024 semester in Sevilla, Spain. I chose this location because of the incredible mixture of art, culture, and history that the city has to offer. From the beginning, I knew I wanted to partake in the homestay experience. One of my primary goals for study abroad has been to immerse myself in Spanish life, and living with a local family has allowed to me to do just that.

I live with three generations of women from a family, so a grandmother, mother, and daughter. They welcomed me into their home with open arms. When I first got to Spain, I was incredibly nervous and ended up dealing with some pretty severe homesickness. My host family was there for me without question, encouraging me and bringing me into their circle. I met extended family members, went to events with them, and learned about the generations of their family that have lived in Sevilla. As I adjusted to my new environment and fell in love with the city, these women remained constant.

Living with my host family has been one of the highlights of my semester. When I am at home, I hang out in the living room with them. We watch game shows and night-time TV, play board games, and talk about the things and people that are important to us. These people have become my second family, checking in every day to ask how my day was, what I learned at school, etc.

One of my most special memories with my host abuela was attending La Coronación de La Piedad de Baratillo. This was an extraordinary religious procession that passed down our street, and I got to be right in the center of all the action. Through my connection with my host family, I am getting to experience traditional activities and learn about them on a deeper level, which is something I am so grateful for.

I am very lucky to have been placed with a host family as kind, caring, and invested in my experience as mine is. I believe it has enhanced my experience beyond what I ever could have predicted. I came with the expectation and hope of new friendships and a little bit of comfort in a place full of so many differences, but I found people who will leave an eternal handprint on my life and whom I will always consider family. The gift of the homestay is the impact they have on your life abroad, fulfilling the age-old saying that “the people make the place.”

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