Semana Santa (Easter): Spanish Immersion Course

If you're looking for a typical language school, this probably isn't it - and that's a good thing! Iguana Abroad seriously gave me the chance to actually experience Mexico - while learning Spanish... and Semana Santa was unlike anything I've ever seen. Incredible. Before arriving I was nervous about travelling alone, which I've done before but a long time ago, but within a day everyone felt like family. Everybody said the same - it's one of Iguana Abroad's amazing strengths as a course. My host family made me feel so welcome, and my teachers were so patient, encouraging and genuinely cared about helping me improve my Spanish. For me the highlight was visiting Ocotepec during Good Friday to see the Viacrucis parade. I'd never experienced anything like it before - if you are reading this - you need to see it! We also visited Tetela del Volcán on Easter Sunday. The streets were just filled with music, dancing, the incredible Chinelos costumes. It felt like we were experiencing traditions that most tourists never even hear about. I don't think I'd heard about "Semana Santa" until honestly recently. The cooking class, local markets, cultural workshops and excursions all helped us understand Mexico beyond what you could ever learn from a guidebook. An amazing course in an amazing country during an amazing time!

Joining the Iguana Abroad easter course was honestly great luck for me. I'd been travelling around Mexico for almost 2 months and was starting to feel really quite down and frustrated about my level of Spanish. I kept on feeling embarrassed when trying to talk to people, eventually shying away from conversations, and basically thinking, this is probably not going to be the trip I'd been getting ready for and dreaming about for so long. After spending a long time studying Spanish I started thinking I'd never learn. I actually arrived to Tepoztlán (about 30 minutes from Cuernavaca) less than a week before the course started, and knew nothing about it until someone in the hostel I was staying at mentioned it. I honestly wasn't planning on doing a course in Mexico, but after reading the reviews and talking with the guys who run the course, I signed up, and I am so glad I did. My main reason for joining was really about learning some Spanish. My plans were to spend the next few months in Latin America, but I didn't want to if I couldn't properly talk with anybody. Just two weeks with Iguana Abroad changed all of that, and I left speaking a far better level of Spanish. And more than that, I wasn't even aware that easter (Semana Santa) was such a big thing in Mexico, so that really blew my mind as well. Seeing the way it is celebrated in Mexico was fascinating, beautiful, and a lot of fun. Without question, this was the best part of my time in Mexico. Can't recommend it enough - and especially joining over Semana Santa.