About Us

This project began with nothing more than a passion for immersing myself in an international environment, helping others, and enhancing the experience of living in San Sebastian. It has never been, nor will it ever be, a source of income.

I'm Noa, a local from San Sebastian. I lived abroad for a while, and although I'm thrilled to be back in my hometown, I didn't want to stop meeting people from all around the world. I've always been active in Language Exchanges, the Couchsurfing community, and similar activities. But then the pandemic hit, and there were fewer events, if any at all. I started using platforms like conversationexchange because I didn't want to lose my English skills. I spoke to some old friends and new people I met online, and I noticed a pattern. There was a lot of interest from locals to meet people from other places, and on the other hand, there were people from other countries who found it difficult to integrate with locals, especially if there was a language barrier.

For years, I had thought about organizing a language exchange, but it was these conversations that finally spurred me into action. On a Thursday in September 2021, the Panda Language Exchange was born. I mean, why not? It was the perfect excuse to bring these people together. I had the support of one of my best friends who sat with me and waited for people to show up. I was nervous, unsure of how many people to expect. It turned out to be a success from that first day, and since then, it has brought us many surprises, laughter, and stories to share.

Two years later, in September 2023, things remain largely the same, with a few slight differences. First of all, I'm not alone (if I had ever been). I've met incredible people who are always willing to help and host whenever I can't. Also, although the theoretical aim of the Language Exchange was to learn and practice languages, let's be honest, it was much more than that from the beginning. And that's what has been demonstrated. For this reason, I don't want to hide its real value behind just the learning of languages. Is not a "language exchange" anymore, it is THE EXCHANGE, because we believe that everything that is shared here is much more than languages.