Hi everyone! ?️

My name is Giorgia, and I’m an Italian exchange student currently living in Spain.
Living in as an exchange student has been one of the most exciting experiences of my life! I want to share what it’s like to explore this beautiful part of Spain and how to make the most of your free time while studying abroad.

Here, I’ll answer some of the most common questions I receive as an exchange student about how I spend my free time in Spain.

What sports or activities are available near where you live?

��á�徱�� is known for its stunning, windy beaches, making surfing the most popular sport here. Other activities include beach volleyball, beach football, and tennis. There’s a long paseo along the sea where people walk and run, as well as a skateboard park and calisthenics area. Football is a huge deal here, and dance styles like flamenco, which originated in nearby Seville, are also widely practiced.

��á�徱�� offers many sports facilities, including gyms and swimming pools, so there’s a great variety of options to stay active.

Have you joined any clubs or organizations?

I wouldn’t consider myself particularly sporty, so I haven’t joined any sports clubs or organizations. I did sign up for a gym for a few months, but now that the weather is nice, I prefer going for walks or runs along the sea with my friends.

Have you tried any activities since arriving?

This exchange year has definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone! I tried surfing during a trip to northern Spain with other exchange students. It wasn’t exactly enjoyable, it was December, and the temperature was just 5°C but I’m glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried something new and exciting.

What do you do on weekends?

On weekends, I usually hang out with my Spanish friends and sometimes with other exchange students. We often meet in the city center, but now that spring has arrived and beach season has begun, we’ll probably be spending more time by the sea. Sometimes, we also organize trips to nearby cities and towns. 

Have you traveled around the country?

From the very beginning, my fellow exchange students and I have been eager to explore the surroundings of ��á�徱��. We’ve visited small towns like El Puerto de Santa María, San Fernando, Jerez de la Frontera, Vejer, Setenil, Ronda, and Conil. We’ve also been to Seville multiple times, as well as Tarifa and Gibraltar.

Before coming to ��á�徱��, I attended a soft-landing camp in Barcelona, where I met all the exchange students staying in Spain. We did a lot of activities to explore the city and get to know each other, and we also received valuable advice on how to navigate our exchange year.

Later, we took another week-long trip to San Sebastián, a city in northern Spain. There, we had surfing lessons, a cooking class, scavenger hunts, and various activities to learn more about Basque culture.

In May, we’re going on our final group trip to Portugal, where we can choose between yoga and surfing as our main activities. Of course, we’ll also have time to explore the surroundings and visit cities like Lisbon.

Have you made new friends outside of school?

Most of my Spanish friends outside of school are friends of my classmates. I was lucky to have found a great group at school, and I get along well with my entire grade, so most of my friendships have formed there.

I’ve also met new people at local events, like Carnival, when everyone my age gathers to celebrate. If you sign up for a sport or activity after school, it’s a great way to meet even more Spanish friends outside of class.

Are there any special events or festivals you’ve attended?

��á�徱�� is famous for its a nearly three-week-long celebration where people wear the most creative costumes. The festive atmosphere was absolutely magical!

In about two weeks, Semana Santa (Holy Week) will take place, which is especially significant in Andalusia. Seeing how excited my classmates are has made me look forward to experiencing it even more.

There are still so many things I want to do before my exchange ends. I’m planning a trip to Granada and ��ó����Dz���.

Living in Spain has been an incredible adventure, and I encourage anyone considering an exchange to go for it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will change you in ways you never expected!

Hello! ?️ 

My name is Ana and I spent a year on exchange in , Ireland. Today, I’m going to talk about what a typical school day looked like when I was in Ireland.

The mornings

First of all, my school started at 8:45, so I used to wake up around 7:30 to have breakfast with my host mom and talk about our plans for the day. After that, I would get dressed. In Ireland, most schools require uniforms. I used to wear a skirt, but there was also an option to wear pants, along with a shirt and a jumper. Around 8:05, I would leave home and walk to the bus stop, which was about a 5-minute walk away. The bus ride to school took around 20–25 minutes.

Irish Transition Year

My timetable was divided into three periods, each with three classes and a break in between. The second break was longer because it was lunchtime. You could either bring your own food or eat the meals provided by the school, which varied daily; for example, lasagna or chicken rolls.
I studied fourth year, which is called TY ( in Ireland. It is a non-academic year focused on trying different subjects and participating in various activities to help you discover what you might want to study in college

Subjects in school

I had Maths, English, PE, and Science during both terms, but subjects like Business, Home Economics (cooking), History, Enterprise (mini company), Chinese, Geography, Music, and Art would change between the first and second terms.

My school was an all-girls school and quite small, with just 20 girls per year – about 10 girls per class. Some people might find this boring or see it as a disadvantage, but I thought it was great because it helped everyone to have a good relationship. I could meet girls from different years, and from my point of view, it made everything much easier. I could talk to everyone and mix with them without any problems.

After school activities

School finished at 15:45, and I would walk into town, about a 25-minute walk from school, to meet up with friends for a coffee or go to the gym.

I usually had most afternoons free because we didn’t have many tests during the terms – just a few at the end of each term. Around 7:30 p.m., I would take the bus home and have dinner with my host family, which was my favorite part of the day. We would talk about how our days had been, and we never ran out of conversation. It was the best!

Homework important for evaluation

Every day, teachers gave us homework, which is very important to them – sometimes even more important than tests. As you can see, the academic system is different from Spain or other countries. The biggest difference might be that in Ireland, school is much more relaxed. They prefer to evaluate students through projects and homework rather than tests, which I found easier because it gave me more free time in the afternoons.

After dinner, I would do my homework and then spend some time with my host family before going to bed.

Nowadays, when I look back, I realize how much I enjoyed my days in Ireland, all the experiences I had, and the life lessons I learned. It definitely was the best experience of my life!

Hi everyone! ?️

My name is Irene, and I’m currently spending my 11th-grade year (spring 2025) on , Canada. School, friends, and new experiences are all important parts of a great exchange year. But for me, one of the most meaningful aspects has been the host family and the bond you build with them.

I live close to the school

I feel incredibly lucky with my host family! My host family consists of four members: my host mom, my host dad, my host brother, and my host sister. Oh, and we also have two adorable cats who make our home even cozier!

We live in a charming house near downtown on Vancouver Island. It’s a beautiful area full of parks, waterfront trails, and even a Tim Hortons just around the corner! My school, Nanaimo District Secondary School, is only a five-minute drive away.

I have my own room here, and it’s even bigger than my bedroom back home in Spain! I sleep in a queen-size bed and have a huge wardrobe. My host siblings and I have our rooms in the basement, which is pretty common in Canadian homes, and super convenient, especially during the snowy season.

A typical school day for me

On a typical school day, I wake up, get ready, and have breakfast with my host siblings. Then, our host mom drives us to school. We usually all gather again for dinner, where we enjoy one of the delicious meals she cooks. About once a month, we treat ourselves to a night out or order some food in!

At first, the hardest thing for me was adjusting to the food. Even though my host mom is an amazing cook, Canadian meals felt very different compared to the simple, flavorful dishes I’m used to in Spain. But over time, I’ve adapted – and now I love trying new flavors!

Weekends here are full of activities

Weekends are always full of fun adventures. We often visit nearby towns, head to the beach or river, or even take the ferry to – especially if there’s a lacrosse game on! We also enjoy BBQ dinners with friends and family. My host family loves the outdoors, so when the weather is nice, we go hiking or camping. One of my favorite activities has been skiing on during the long Canadian winter – it lasts almost five months!

Amazing experience

This experience of getting to know a new family and embracing a different way of life has been truly amazing. I feel so grateful and happy to be here.

Thanks for reading, and I hope your exchange experience will be just as wonderful! ?

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The program lengths apply to 17�Թ���’ various high school exchange programs. To get the full picture and explore the options available at each destination, we recommend speaking with one of our experienced high school experts. Hopefully you’ll find the best country to study abroad in for you!