I have been to many regions of Spain but Galicia is by far my favorite, a hidden gem, located in the Northwest corner of Spain, above Portugal. When I applied for the language assistant program my first choices were Madrid and La Rioja and I ended up with my third choice, Galicia. The people of Galicia are incredibly welcoming and it doesn't hurt that I'm now more outgoing and less shy. I don't feel like a tourist and I'm not treated as a foreigner. I went to a birthday party the other week and although I only knew two of the girls, no one asked me where I was from or asked me silly questions about my life here. I don't travel very much because I enjoy living life to the fullest with the friends I have made here. And why would I leave when I live in paradise? I'm currently on vacation and apart from a few local trips I'm staying in Vigo until the end of July. I enjoy the variety of festivals that this region has to offer, often showcasing the local cuisine. Learning languages is one of my passions and therefore the fact that the language of the region, Galego, is all around me doesn't hurt either.
In August I will be an au pair in a mountain village a few hours from Barcelona and in October I will move back to Vigo and start my teaching job and hopefully a masters program. So for now, I am exploring interesting beaches in my area, searching for the best terraces, festivals, seafood and live music in Vigo and the surrounding areas.
I have learned so much during these past nine months while working and living in Vigo and am so grateful that I can continue living the
sueño español. Because growing up is growing up no matter where you live, but at least I can celebrate the end of everyday with a glass of albariño and some mouth-watering cuisine no matter how successful the day.
