A Month in Michigan: Memories That Will Last a Lifetime

Hi! We are Claudia and Paula, we are 16 years old and we came to Michigan for one month.

The family welcomed us with open arms and gave us an experience we will remember for many years. The first few days were a bit intense because we had to adapt to a new culture, which is very different, but our host family helped us adjust really well.

The day after we arrived was amazing because we were lucky to see the fireworks for the 4th of July in our town, Portland. That same day, they introduced us to the neighbors in the area. Everyone was very kind and welcoming, and there were some girls our age. We went to the local bowling with one of them, and we had a great time.

They gave us experiences we had never lived before, like visiting their family’s farm. There were many dairy cows of all ages, even babies. It was very interesting because they showed us how they take care of them. Another new experience for us was the Ionia fair, in a town near Portland. It was very different from the fairs we are used to in Spain. There were lots of rides, all kinds of contests, a lot of food, and many animals. We tried many new things like deep-fried Oreos, elephant ears, and the most famous one — corn dogs.

They helped us connect with nature, because they really enjoy it. We went kayaking in a lake and in the river in Portland. They also took us to a town called Saugatuck, where we rode in a special vehicle that drove fast over the sand dunes — it was so much fun!

What we liked the most was this last week, when they took us to their cabin in Frankfort, in the north of Michigan. We enjoyed amazing lakes that looked like oceans and did some hiking. One of the best hikes was in a place called Sleeping Bear, which is a national park with dunes and forests that led to beautiful views. But what we loved the most were the stunning sunsets we saw.

However, we felt the strongest connection during the small family moments, like when we played Parchís or watched movies together. Those are the moments we will really remember and miss forever.