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 The most important person in this exchange has been Chiara, my exchange partner. She is the same age as me and has a very busy life. She plays handball and also rides horses, which I think is really impressive. Besides sports, she spends a lot of time studying and even works a little to earn some extra money, so she does not have much free time. Even with her schedule, she was always kind and welcoming with me. Now she is coming to Spain for a month, and my family and I hope she enjoys the experience as much as I enjoyed my time in Germany.

 My host family played a very important role in my experience. The father, Markus, and the mother, Claudia, both worked, but they still spent a lot of time at home, so I was able to share many moments with them. They were very kind and always made me feel comfortable. They often cooked for me, which I really appreciated. I also lived with Chiara’s brother, Robin, who was very friendly and easy to get along with during the whole month. We did not have lunch together every day, but we usually had dinner together, especially on weekends, which made me feel part of the family.

 During my stay, I attended Christoph Probst Gymnasium in Gilching. From Monday to Friday, I took the bus every morning, which made me feel like a normal student there. Most classes were taught in German, so it was difficult for me to follow the lessons. Because of that, in subjects like economy or history, we usually went to the library to study on our own. However, in classes such as English or French, we could participate more easily. The teachers were kind and understanding, and the students were friendly too, although they were less formal than we had expected before arriving in Germany.

 Another important part of this experience has been my friends. I came to Germany with four other students from my high school, and sharing this month with them made everything easier and more fun. Even though each of us stayed with a different host family, we met often to talk about our experiences and compare how different our routines were. Sometimes we traveled together, and other times we just walked around and enjoyed the snow. Living this adventure with people I already knew created a strong sense of support. I think this trip has made our friendship even stronger than before.

 Living with a German host family has been one of the most interesting parts of my Erasmus experience. At the beginning, everything felt new: different schedules, different meals, and even different ways of organizing the day. Little by little, I started adapting to their routine. We usually had dinner together, and that became an important moment to talk about the day and share experiences. I also had to get used to being more independent and responsible. Simple things like taking the train alone or following house rules helped me grow. Being part of another family’s daily life taught me flexibility, respect, and how to feel comfortable in a completely new environment.

 During my stay in Bavaria, I noticed several customs and traditions that are very different from my home country. People here really value punctuality. If you agree to meet at a certain time, everyone arrives exactly on time. It shows respect and organization. I also observed that Sundays are very quiet, because most shops are closed and families spend the day together. Traditional clothing, like dirndls and lederhosen, is still important during festivals and special events. Even though I did not experience a big festival myself, my host family explained how meaningful these traditions are. Overall, Bavarian culture feels organized, respectful, and strongly connected to its history.

 One of the biggest challenges during my stay has been the German language. I do not speak any German, and at the beginning it seemed extremely difficult. The pronunciation sounds very different from Spanish, and sometimes the words are incredibly long. However, what surprised me the most is that almost everyone in Germany speaks very good English. Because of that, I have not had serious problems communicating. My host family speaks English fluently, so we can have normal conversations at home without misunderstandings. Even if I have not learned much German yet, this experience has shown me how important English is for international communication today.

 Sports have also been an important part of my experience in Bavaria. Football is everywhere, and FC Bayern Munich is by far the most popular team. You can see people wearing Bayern shirts in the streets, shops, and even on public transport. At the same time, my host family were big handball fans, and during my stay the European Championship took place. We watched several matches of the German national team together on television, which was a fun way to share time at home. Even though I am not a huge sports expert, watching these games helped me understand how important sports are in German culture and how they bring families and people together.

 Munich has been one of the most exciting cities I visited during my Erasmus stay. To get there from Wörthsee, I usually take the train, and the trip takes about 40 minutes, which makes it easy to visit often. The city is full of impressive monuments, historic squares, and especially beautiful churches that immediately catch your attention. Some of the most famous ones stand in the center, with tall towers and detailed architecture that show the long religious and cultural history of the region. Walking through these areas feels like stepping into another century. One of my favorite modern attractions was the BMW Museum, where I could see the evolution of famous cars and learn more about German engineering. Munich is also a great place for shopping, with busy streets full of international stores and local boutiques. Every visit to the city feels different, because there is always another historic building, church, or street waiting to be explored.

 During my month in Bavaria I had the chance to visit several famous monuments and places. One of the most impressive was Neuschwanstein Castle, which looked like something from a fairy tale, especially surrounded by winter snow. I also visited the Allianz Arena, the huge football stadium that looks even bigger in real life than on television. Another highlight was the Deutsches Museum, where I learned many interesting things about science and technology. Besides these landmarks, I walked around different historic buildings and squares, discovering how much history and culture can be found everywhere here today during my travels there.

 During my Erasmus stay in Wörthsee, I arrived in the middle of winter, and everything is covered in snow. The landscape looks very different from my home country, with frozen fields, white forests, and very cold mornings.  I live quite close to the Alps, and even though I have not visited them yet, I can see the mountains in the distance on clear days. One of the coolest experiences I have had so far was flying in a small plane, where I could finally see the Alps from above. The view was amazing, with endless white mountains stretching across the horizon.