A Trip to the ER
It’s hard to believe that I am already halfway done with my time here in Madrid. It has been going by so fast! Although I didn’t do much this week in terms of traveling Spain or exploring Madrid, I finally got to experience the Spanish healthcare system. Let’s see if you can guess why I went to the ER this week based off of the new Spanish vocaulary that I have learned:
- I am itchy = Me pica
- Allergies = La alergia
- Allergic = Alérgico
- Hives = La urticaria
- Antihistamines = El antihistamínico
- Detergent = El detergente
- Needle = La aguja
If you guessed an allergic reaction to (maybe?) detergent, you are correct! This week, I woke up covered in hives caused most likely by detergent as I have no prior allergies. Originally, I still went to work, however, after my throat started to itch, I decided to go to the ER. Considering I am currently interning for a health insurance company, it was definitely an interesting experience as I got to witness firsthand the Spanish medical systems. Because I have insurance, I was able to go to a private hospital, which meant that I could be seen with little to no wait. Luckily, I was able to see a doctor who quickly prescribed me some stronger antihistamines. So far, they seem to be working. However, I am still not 100% what caused this random allergic reaction… maybe I’m just allergic to Spain.
Week 5 – Critical Reflection on Skills and Competencies
Although the internship I have been placed in is not as rigorous or educational as I had previously expected, I have still been able to learn a few transferrable soft skills throughout my time at SegurCaixa Adeslas. These soft skills primarily revolve around communication and flexibility. Although I had previously considered myself to be a flexible worker, this internship has definitely pushed my to the limits of that. Generally speaking, I have learned to be more flexible when it comes to the expectations that I personally set for myself. Oftentimes, the expectations and deadlines that I set for myself are a lot higher/shorter than what my supervisor envisions. As I have stated before in my blogs, projects that I expect to only take a day, or even a few hours, end up taking a whole week to finish. This is often due to the spontaneous nature of my supervisor’s schedule. My main task at Adeslas is creating social media content featuring my boss, so if he is not in the office to record videos and content, it is difficult to stay on schedule. In this sense, I have also had to be very flexible in my own schedule and planning. Now, I have learned to always expect some sort of change or disruption to the agreed upon schedule. Just because my supervisor says he will be free during a certain time does not guarantee that he will be. I always have other work that I can do when something like this happens. For example, I will get ahead on writing new scripts, or work on posting the premade corporate social media content. I think this is definitely something that could be considered a soft or transferrable skill. I think it shows that I can adapt quickly to new situations and that I can overcome obstacles encountered in daily life.
In terms of the hard skills, or technical skills, that I have developed during my time at SegurCaixa Adeslas, I think web design, customer support, and social media are the biggest technical skills that I have gained. I have learned how to use programs like IONOS and Word Press, both programs used to created websites. I have also learned how to use business accounts on Instagram and Facebook, as well as adapting to using Meta Business Suite. More specifically, I have learned how to deploy advanced ad campaigns using Meta Business Suite. The customer service nature of the office I work at has also allowed me to stengthen my customer support skills. At times, my coworker will encounter an English-speaking client that she is unable to communicate with. When this happens, I will help with translation, either in person or via email.
I think my understanding of Spanish work culture and the Spanish style of communication has definitely helped me navigate these cross-cultural situations. I have come to learn that the Spanish work environment is a lot more relaxed than that of America. For example, my supervisors schedule is extremely relaxed, and as result he will typically only be in the office for a few hours a day. At times, my coworker will tell me to take a break and that it is not expected of me to be working constantly throughout the day. Additionally, the Spanish style of communcation deals a lot more with tone of voice and body language, so my awareness of that has helped me navigate and better understand the directions and expectations my supervisor sets.