My Year in Galicia, Spain

Last year I got the wonderful opportunity to participate in the program, Auxiliares de Conversación in Galicia, Spain. I spent the year lying on the beach, eating delicious seafood and occasionally getting caught in torrential rain storms. Okay, more than occasional. More like every day for several months. But, I would learn while there that "non chove a gusto de todos." Which is a galician expression that means that not everyone is going to like you and that's okay.

I'm not gonna lie and pretend like I'm some expert that knows everything there is to know about Spain. When I received my placement in Galicia, my first reaction was I got placed where?? So I had to do some research. I learned that Galicia has its own unique culture and identity. The people there speak a mix of Spanish (castellano) and Galician (gallego). A lot of really amazing food comes from this region and also a lot of great writers and poets. The area is also famous the Camino de Santiago. The most popular journey on the camino begins in France.

It also rains a lot there. Think Seattle. Constant drizzle. It's a pain in the butt if you wanted to go for a walk, but it also makes everything very green. And makes for an amazing climate for growing grapes. My favorite wine ever comes from this region. It's called Albariño. (And psst they have it at Trader Joe's). Please go try it. It'll be the best white wine you ever drink.

I taught at a small school in a fishing village teaching art classes for first through fifth grade. All of the staff was super welcoming and friendly. For the first few months, I lived with a family who helped me get adjusted and teach me about all the yummy food that Spain has to offer. Then I moved into my own place close to the center of the town.

My biggest concerns before moving to Galicia where making friends, transportation, the language barrier and just a general fear of getting, like, really bummed out with all the rain. Some of these concerns did turn out to be big problems for me.

It's true that people tend to prefer speaking Gallego. Not out of a sense of meanness or exclusion, but from a sense of pride of their heritage.

During the Spanish Civil War, the dictator Franco wanted to wipe out anything that he didn't view as Spanish culture. People didn't speak Gallego except in private. Now, people use Gallego when they're with family in order to feel close to them.

I don't speak any Gallego, but I can understand it sometimes. People would know this and translate to Spanish so that I could follow or switch entirely.

Transportation is also a little tricky. There is a bus system from my small fishing village to larger cities, but it wasn't very reliable and it was A BUMPY RIDE around all of the mountains. I didn't own a car, but after a while I made friends and they were also so generous and willing to help. I was able to hitch rides with them without any problem.

When I did take the bus, I just had to learn how to be patient. I'd bring my book or my headphones and pop a motion sickness pill and be good to go.

Making friends was actually the easiest part. I was able to meet up with other auxiliaries and locals through language exchange groups and by taking classes at the gym. They ended up being my travel partners for a lot of really fun adventures in Galicia.

Now for the rain.

It rains a lot. People aren't exaggerating. It's just kinda one of those things that you need to deal with.

When the day is clear, then Galicia is SO BEAUTIFUL. And all the rainy days help you appreciate when the weather is good.

The rain also fuels creativity in Galician culture. A rainy day is a good to catch up on the poetry of Rosalia Castro or the work of Ramón María del Valle-Inclán, both famous Galician writers. A rainy day is also good for watching "The Sea Inside," a really amazing movie about a Galician man who left a quadriplegic after a diving accident (sounds depressing, but it's really good). And when it's been raining for days and days on end, then you can binge watch Cocaine Coast on Netflix until the weather clears up.

Galicia is a really underrated part of Spain. The food will make you fat and the people will be too kind-hearted to tell you. People you barely know will welcome you into their homes and teach you cuss words in Gallego. People who become your friends will take you on adventures and teach you how to dance in their living room.

I am so grateful to have been able to spent so much time in such a beautiful place. I have so much to say about Galicia that this post hardly does it just. But it'll have to do for now.

Here are some more photos from my time there, in no particular order.