One challenge for every student studying in a foreign country is making friends with the native people. This is crucial to immersing oneself in the culture and the language. Here at Lacunza we encourage this interaction through our “intercambio” and various parties we organize throughout the year, but there is only so much we can do.

In the end it is up to the student to actively search out ways to interact with local people. Many times this happens through joining clubs or playing sports. Below our student, Jakob Aabling-Thomsen from Copenhagen Denmark, tells us how he made local friends while studying with us in San Sebastian.

NAME:
Jakob Aabling-Thomsen

Where are you from?
Copenhagen, Denmark

How long have you been in San Sebastian?
Since the 10th of August

If you have been to other places in Spain, how would you rate San Sebastian in comparison?
I have been to Galicia and Madrid. San Sebastian is much better!

What’s the best thing about San Sebastian?
The Old Part, the pinchos, the beach when the weather is good… It is hard just to pick one thing.

How long have you played the game of chess?
Since I was 12, that must be 9 years [of playing chess].

How has playing chess helped you to meet people here?
I surfed the internet for chess clubs in San Sebastian. I found a tournament in Gros Xake Taldea and soon after I was a member of the club. All the people have been very nice to me. And it has been a fantastic opportunity to speak Spanish. Maybe some of my new friends from the club will come to Denmark next summer.

Have you experienced this in other parts of the world?
In some degree when I was in Galicia for 1 month in 2002, but not as much as here.

What other parts of the world have you visited thanks to the game of chess?
Sweden, Poland (twice), Austria and I will see more of the world in the future.

Tell us a little about your current standing in the chess world and your goals for the future.
[Currently] I am about number 7,000 in the world and in Denmark I am in the top 100. My first goal is to become a Fide Master and after that I will begin to play for the International Master Title.