Month three has come to a close here in Alicante. It seems as though every month is flying by faster than the previous. One of the classes I am taking here in Alicante is called “Spanish Cultures from an Intercultural Perspective.” It has been so eye-opening to learn about the culture, language, lifestyle, politics and much more of the city and country I am living in.

One of the first topics we discussed was the five stages of culture shock: the honeymoon stage, the rejection stage, the adjustment stage, the adaptation stage and then the re-entry shock. Depending on the person, place, environment and situation, each of these stages can look different and last longer or shorter than others.

I have only been in Alicante for three months, but throughout this month, I truly felt moments of being in the heart of the adaptation stage. The adaptation stage is when the new culture begins to feel more like home, and this month, Alicante felt more and more like a place where I have lived for years.

I am no longer new here. Every day, as I enter my apartment building after school, the apartment manager says hi and tells me to enjoy my meal, knowing I am headed straight to the kitchen table for lunch. The last time I went to the café next to my apartment, I did not even have to order, the waitress working there saw me and immediately started making my go-to drink.

This month, my sister and her boyfriend visited, and I got to be the tour guide helping the tourists. It was so fun getting to explain how we do things here and what the norms are. It was an amazing experience getting to see them experience Alicante for the first time, making me appreciate what I have all over again. Teaching them and taking them around the city also made me realize how much the culture has changed me and just how much my lifestyle has adjusted to the Spanish way of living.

I am also comfortable with the Spanish language. I surprise myself every day by being able to help someone who needs directions or just telling stories across the kitchen table with my host family. I am learning to be proud in the small moments, as learning a new language is not a small feat. I am grateful to my host mom, who continues to help and cheer me on.

I also got the chance to experience one of the most famous Spanish cultural traditions this month, Las Fallas. Las Fallas is held in Valencia, Spain, where statues are built to represent usually political, economic or other cultural issues and are set on fire to represent the culture’s hope for change of these issues and a renewal in peace. This celebration was nothing like anything I have ever experienced, and the history, detail and proud families made it so much more special to be a part of.

This last weekend in March, I went to the Island of Tabarca. It is an hour by boat from the Alicante port. One of my favorite views from the island was looking back at Spain and Alicante on the coast. I sat on the island, looking across the sea, and I felt a bit emotional seeing my home from a new perspective. Three months here, and for me, Alicante is no longer the place I am visiting but the place that I have adapted to, the place that holds my friends, family and a community and culture I am so grateful for.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: ALI Abroad: University of Alicante