UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — It didn’t take long for Penn State students to feel at home during their extended stay in Puebla, Mexico, this summer.
The “Spanish Language and Mexican Culture“ faculty-led program, run by Lecturer of Spanish Daniel Sanguino and Assistant Teaching Professor Damián Solano Escolano, brought a group of 11 students to Puebla. The six-week program consisted of weekend trips, excursions and homestays with local Mexican families, something Lianna Gardner said was by far the best part of the program.
Gardner, a fourth-year student dual-majoring in Spanish and landscape architecture, said she knew from the start that the program would be a good fit for her.
“I knew I wanted to spend more time living with a host family in a Spanish-speaking country to improve my Spanish fluency, especially more conversational Spanish,” Gardner said.
Before the program began, Gardner got in touch with her host mom and was looking forward to meeting her host family.
“After just a few messages back and forth, I could already tell how compassionate and kind she was,” Gardner said. “I couldn’t wait to meet her and the rest of my family.”
Gardner said her homestay provided her with a sense of belonging and inclusion in Mexican culture. Through traditions, favorite meals and trips around the city, Gardner formed a close bond with her host family.
“They always included me as one of their own; they made me feel welcome and loved, and I will always have a special place in my heart for ‘mi familia Mexicana,’” Gardner said.
And, of course, they helped her improve her Spanish.
“Having the courage to ask your host family what a new word means or to tell them when you aren’t following what they’re saying is probably the most important thing you can do to learn more Spanish and connect with their culture,” Gardner said.
Gavin McCue, a third-year student majoring in broadcast journalism with a double minor in Spanish and sports studies, said his experience wouldn’t have been the same without his host family.
“While I did practice the language in the classroom and interacting with other locals, the time I spent eating three meals a day, having conversations for hours on end, is where I was really able to improve my speaking skills,” McCue said. “They wanted me to become better at speaking Spanish, and even now that I have been back for over a month, I’m still in contact with them.”