Two years ago, the Vicente-Larios family made a decision that would change everything. Leaving behind the warm Mediterranean climate of Murcia, Spain, they packed their lives into suitcases and journeyed to a place they'd never visited—a small Illinois town called Monmouth.

"We come from quite a big city in Spain," explains Esther Vicente Martinez, her voice reflecting both the challenges and rewards of their bold choice. "Coming to a small place, at the beginning was a little bit like, 'Will we adapt?'"

As part of an exchange program between the U.S. and Spanish governments, Esther, a veteran educator with 23 years of teaching experience, brought her husband and two children to an entirely different world. After teaching English to Spanish students in Murcia for 21 years, she now teaches Spanish to American students at Monmouth-Roseville High School.

"I enjoy it so much," she says of her current role. "You feel so much more confident because it's your mother tongue, it's your native language."

The program allows Spanish teachers to spend up to five years in American schools, fostering cultural exchange and educational growth. While participants can select which state they wish to teach in, the specific placement is determined by the receiving district.

"I chose Illinois because many people told me about Illinois being a very friendly state, family-friendly," Esther explains. "Nice to get the American experience."

Her daughter—also named Esther—arrived as a high school senior and has since embraced life in the U.S. with remarkable enthusiasm. Now a freshman at Monmouth College pursuing a double major in Spanish and elementary education, she also works as a paraprofessional at Harding Primary  School.

"At first it was a bit different and complicated," the younger Esther admits about her initial adjustment. "You need to adapt yourself. But I feel like for me it was really comfortable because everyone was really outgoing."

That welcoming spirit proved crucial for the entire family, including Esther's husband, who left his hospital job in Spain, and their 13-year-old son David, who attends Monmouth-Roseville Junior High.

"It was difficult, I'm not going to lie," the elder Esther reflects. "Especially at the beginning, to adjust, to find everybody's place. But they were so welcoming here."

That hospitality extended beyond the school walls. Coming from a hectic urban environment, the family discovered something unexpected in their new rural setting: a gentler pace of life.

"We came so stressed," Esther explains. "Life in the city is stressful—traffic, everything is really hectic. Now everything is in a slower pace. People are so welcoming in every single sense."

Beyond teaching Spanish classes, Esther has expanded her role to support English language learners throughout the district. She helps in resource hours and co-teaches chemistry, providing crucial language support to newcomer students facing the dual challenge of learning both English and complex scientific concepts.

"When you think about having to learn biology, having to learn chemistry—that's a little bit too much sometimes," she notes. "So to have somebody in the room that speaks their language and can help a little bit, it's also nice."

The family's impact extends beyond the classroom. The younger Esther tutors at the Pattee Learning Center, where her father David also volunteers, while her mother bridges cultural gaps between Spanish-speaking families and the school district.

For the college-aged Esther, the experience has created an unexpected dilemma about her future. Having established relationships in both countries, she faces the question many exchange participants eventually confront: where does she belong?

"When I think about it, it's gonna be really sad to say bye to my friends I have here," she reflects. "But sometimes when I think back, I left my grandma in Spain, my cousins, my grandparents... So we are here a bit alone."

Despite the occasional homesickness, the family embraces their adventure with optimism and flexibility. When asked about their long-term plans, the elder Esther responds philosophically: "Who knows? Now we take it as it comes, a year, little by little. This experience has changed our whole life."

Whatever path they choose after their program concludes, the Vicente-Larios family has already accomplished something remarkable—proving that with courage and openness, home can be found wherever you choose to make it.