Spain

Celebrations, food, and family

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A place where Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic Ocean meet, Spain has an incredible history, cultural diversity, and five official languages: Catalan, Galician, Basque, Occitan, and Spanish.
Immerse yourself in the richness of local cuisine, lifestyle, festivals, architecture, and music. Wander through vibrant and colorful cities and small towns, and stop by a vendor selling hot churros that you can dip into thick, hot chocolate.

Football is the most popular sport in Spain, with fans passionately devoted to their national team – La Roja (The Red One).

Cycling, basketball, lectures, and concerts take up much of young people’s free time. Weekend evenings are often spent at parties, cinemas, or hanging out in local cafés and small clubs.

People and community

You will most likely live in a city or suburb, and it could even be on the Canary or Balearic Islands.
Many families eat lunch and dinner together, and you will have the chance to enjoy the spirit of tradition, multi-course meals, and midday siestas (when you can go home for lunch and take a short nap).
Spanish families are large, and family members often visit each other on weekends.

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School

You will most likely attend a public high school with the opportunity to choose subjects that interest you, such as Spanish language, literature, and physical education.
School is held from Monday to Friday, from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, though you may also have additional classes in the afternoons.
In Spain, it is also common for students to address their teachers by their first names.

Language

Spain has five official languages — Occitan, Catalan, Galician, Basque, and Spanish.
Since Spain is a multilingual country, 70% of exchange students live in bilingual communities where Spanish is not the primary language at school or in the host family.
Nevertheless, Spanish is a mandatory subject in Spanish schools, and you will definitely have the opportunity to learn and improve it.
AFS provides online Spanish language lessons through Rosetta Stone so you can better prepare for your exchange year.

Food

Although each region in Spain has its own traditional dishes, Spanish cuisine overall follows a Mediterranean style, with garlic, onions, tomatoes, and peppers as key ingredients.
Lunch is the main meal of the day, typically served between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM, while dinner may be eaten as late as 9:00 PM, once all family members are home after their daily activities.
Fish and seafood are widely consumed, as well as red meat and pork, almost daily.

With traditional Spanish tapas, you’ll have the chance to try a variety of different dishes.
Don’t forget about paella (rice with vegetables and seafood) and gazpacho (cold tomato soup).

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