They were Anglos.

They came from down under - New Zealand and Australian. They came from the Americas - the United States and Canada. They came from the United Kingdom and Ireland. They were recent college students. They were married couples. They included a retired concert pianist. They included a college professor and a travel journalist. They included myself, a local Carbon County attorney.They came to volunteer to teach English to Spaniard professionals in an English immersion program in La Alberca, Spain, a beautiful remote mountainous area near the Portugal border four hours from Madrid.What they found was, though they started as strangers, they came away as friends. They learned that no matter where we live people are more alike than different.This was Puebla Ingles, or a cultural diversity program that translates to English Village and markets itself as "More Than English."I volunteered to participate in this program knowing very little of what I would experience other than that I did not need to know how to speak Spanish and I would speak English for eight days to professionals. They were studying English that they needed for their jobs. I only had to pay for my airfare to Madrid. They would supply food and a room for my time there. The program would last from morning to night.For eight days I spent a better part of the day talking one-on-one with a Spaniard in a structured program to give the English students over 100 hours of being exposed to what to us is our native language. I learned more than I taught. I listened more than I talked as I interacted with everyone in the program.From Gemma, a wine marketer, whose father 30 years ago left his job with a car company, to pursue his dream of making wine, I learned labeling of Spanish wine. Green label - young wine. Red label - one year aged in bottle, one year in French oak. Brown Label - one year French Oak and one year American Oak. Purple Label - three years American oak - that is the best oak in the world as "naturally" I should know. I look forward to buying David Moreno wine in the states as she is now in the process of having it imported here.From Alejandra, an insurance underwriter and amateur bullfighter, I learned that Spanish bullfighting started in Rome as a sport to kill Christians. A pink cape means that the matador is taunting the bull. A red cape means the bull is about to meet his demise. The matador travels with a crew that supports him like a NASCAR driver, The cheap seats are those in the sun.From Educardo, a company Chief Financial Officer, I learned that with constant changes in exchange rates, large companies buy insurance so they don't lose money on transactions with the Americas. Business is business everywhere.From Ignasi, an unemployed I.T. professional, who was constantly taking pictures as an amateur photographer, I learned that a smile opens doors and friendships even if you can't speak the language.In all I talked to 18 Spaniards and one Peruvian along with a like number of Anglos. Each had a different story, but by the same token they were very much like us.My whiskey drinking friend, Luis, has twins that he adores. He has been an extra in two movies, while working in I.T. Miguel, with whom I shared a house, looks forward to weekends when he is teaching his three girls to ride a bicycle.Richard, the Peruvian, is the same age as my oldest son and shares the same interest in antimine. This I.T. professional was upset by the news he received while there that the socialists will control his native country for five years. That was not how he voted. German, another I.T. professional, is expecting his first child at age 55.But I also learned from the Anglos from different countries that we are not so different and each of us has a unique story to tell.From Jamie, a kiwi, from New Zealand, who adores his soul mate, Nicole. I learned a native chant to scare opponents before a football (soccer) match. From Helana, a Canadian, who sold her business to travel the world and help people, I learned physical necessities are not necessary as she taught me to do the salsa. A London psychologist, Traci, talked about how each of us has something to offer as she talked about being an extrovert or introvert.Phillip talked about camping, although he contends with crocodiles in the outback of Australia, unlike us. Daira, a single Irishman, taught me not to be so serious and enjoy each day as it comes in the typical Irish fashion. We shared part of each of ourselves.One of the participants said it was like being on the show Big Brother as we became a family - each supporting the other. On the last day there were tears as we went our separate ways promising to stay in contact.Was it a vacation? Not really, as it was an intensive time of sharing ourselves and getting to know others. In our daily lives we seldom talk one on one with our friends for an hour at a time - let alone strangers.It was tiring and yet rewarding. It made me more aware of the necessity of stopping life's merry-go-round and take time to listen to others.For more information on Puebla Ingles, that also has a teenage program, go to

www.pueblaingles.com.