This blog was written by gap fellow Xavier Lopez.
March in Spain is a special time. After living here for about five months, I feel like I’m really getting used to the culture. From the emphasis on free time to the value placed on work-life balance, the laid-back and relaxed lifestyle is helping me appreciate the little things in life.
During my first semester, I focused more on my Alzheimer’s volunteer placement. Now, I’m focusing on my academic reinforcement placement. It’s such a unique experience to spend time with both Spain’s elderly population and its youth. With the older generation, I learn so much about traditional Galician culture. With the kids, I laugh a lot and find it really interesting to compare their childhood to mine. Helping these students with their schoolwork gives me a strong sense of purpose. Many of them are behind due to circumstances beyond their control.
One of the students I work with the most is from Peru. Based on his academic level, he should be in sixth grade, but he was placed in seventh because of a misalignment in the school system—grades in Peru follow a different age structure. When I first saw his math skills compared to the assignments he was given, I was shocked by how far behind he was. But what surprised me even more was how determined he was to catch up. He is such a hard worker and incredibly motivated to learn. Even though he struggles to understand most of what the teachers say in class, he still takes notes and does his best so that when he comes to my sessions, we can go over everything together. It’s always me who has to remind him when our time is up because if it were up to him, he would study all afternoon. His work ethic is inspiring, and students like him motivate me every day.
As I travel more around the region, I’m falling in love with northern Spain. The mild weather is something I know I’ll miss when I leave—though I definitely won’t miss the constant rain. I’m convinced that northern Spain is one of Europe’s hidden gems when it comes to travel. The only reason it hasn’t been “discovered” is that the nonstop rain keeps tourists away.
Saludos,
Xavier Lopez