Intercambios

Making Spanish friends tops the list of things to do for many students who choose to study abroad. This has proved to be challenging at times but is well worth the effort. My Spanish has improved more in the last two months by talking with Spaniards than in the last six years of taking Spanish class in high school and college. The only real way to get better at speaking is to put your self into Spanish speaking situations on a daily basis.

The first thing I would recommend to a student trying to meet Spaniards is to sign up for an intercambio. Actually, you don't even need to sign up for one because UPO automatically pairs you up with one at orientation. Essentially, an intercambio is a Spanish speaking partner in which you spend a half hour talking in Spanish, and the other half talking in English. For the most part, the intercambios are translation majors at UPO and are very patient because they struggle with the exact same difficulties in class every day. Sometimes you will be assigned an intercambio who you don't really feel compatible with or one who doesn't respond to your e-mails. In this case, simply ask for a new one and keep trying until you find someone you enjoy spending time with. In addition, UPO usually has a Spanish-speaking table once a week where you can meet up with Spanish students and practice your speaking. Take advantage of this because it's a great way to meet people not to mention they have free tapas and soft drinks.

The next thing I would recommend is to simply not be shy and ask people for their phone numbers. Just yesterday I was renting a Sevici bike and a Spaniard girl behind me struck up a conversation with me in English. Turns out she was looking for an intercambio too and we exchanged numbers to meet up later for coffee. Numerous times my roommates and I have found ourselves in similar situations and nearly everyone is just as excited to learn our language as we are to learn theirs. So don't be shy and if you meet someone at school, in a restaurant, cafe, bar, etc. don't be afraid to ask to meet up again.

Another recommendation I have is to sign up for Tuenti (www.tuenti.com). This is essentially the Spanish Facebook although many Spaniards I have met have both. It is a very easy way to better get to know someone you have meet and to coordinate a time and place to meet. Spanish students are just as obsessed with Tuenti as American students are with Facebok.

All in all, it may take a while to create a network of friends for yourself in Spain, but don't give up. It took me nearly the first month and a half to finally make Spanish friends and get comfortable enough to have a conversation with someone in Spanish.