how did you engage with the local community while abroad?
Living with a host family gave me direct connections to the local community. I met many of the family members and even walked their daughter from school one time. Living with them greatly improved my Spanish and therefore made it easier to communicate with the local community, I even made friends with Spaniard students at the University!
what's one story or important aspect you always tell people about your time abroad?
I always tell people about my time in Morocco. The people were so kind and the country is so rich in culture, but I got food poisoning from the trip. Thankfully I experienced the worst of it in Spain, and I tell everyone that the sickness was worth everything I saw and experienced in Morocco.