Hey everyone!
I can’t believe we’re already at the end of week 6 of my internship. As they say, time flies when you’re having fun. This week has been particularly exciting and full of new experiences and adventures. Here’s a look at what I’ve been up to:
Internship Update:
For a quick internship update this week I continued to make progress on my project reaching over 2400 entries of study abroad programs and contacts which act as potential clients for the company. This list is compiled from over 400 universities and their programs I’ve looked into in Spain. I’ve also begun assisting more in tours for potential clients, often giving half the tour. At first I was scared to speak in fear that the clients would judge my Spanish but everyone so far has been super nice and understanding. I have even gotten a few compliments on my Spanish!
Overall, I have also been getting closer with my coworkers and enjoy talking to them about everything and anything. From American and Spanish politics to my favorite foods, thoughts on life in Madrid to my weekend travels and plans, they are always genuinely interested in what’s going on in my life. They love learning about life in America and how it differs from life in Spain.
Weekly Question → Communication Differences In The Workplace
Differences in communication throughout my time in Spain have been very insightful in understanding cultural differences and norms but also very difficult to navigate especially when working in an office where you are still learning the language.
When referring to high-context and low-context communication environments, Spain is considered a high-context environment where individuals rely more on the context of past experiences and in general the context outside of things that are verbally expressed. I have found this to be true and in many ways have enjoyed this type of communication. For example after I give a tour with my coworker I always ask her how I did. She always says I did good. However every now and then she’ll offer to do a specific section of the tour, I’ve found this is often her trying to show me how she would show a certain part of the residence and explain it. Showing me instead of just telling me, I’ve really enjoyed this as I can see and learn from an example. I’ve found that my co-workers and even my host family will often make it very clear with the context of what they want. Americans tend to avoid the topic and try to talk around it but I like the more indirect communication that in many ways feels much more direct than America which is considered low context.
One major difference in communication that I mentioned above is the openness to have any and all conversations with you. My coworkers will often ask me questions and start conversations that they say to avoid in the United States like politics.
Furthermore, most of the miscommunications at my internship have stemmed from the language barrier, as I am still learning Spanish. One particularly embarrassing example occurred during my first few weeks. My supervisor and I were discussing our weekend plans, and she mentioned a baby shower. The way she phrased it in Spanish led me to believe that her family was a baby shower for her. Not really thinking I responded with, “You’re pregnant?” It turned out the baby shower was for her cousin, not her. Fortunately, we both laughed it off, and she understands that I am still in the process of learning Spanish and sometimes miss important words or don’t fully understand something. Funny misunderstandings like this are part of the reality of communication when learning a new language. I’ve found that all my coworkers are incredibly helpful if I need assistance with a word, phrase, grammar correction, or just simply repeating themselves or speaking slower.
Spain Adventures
This weekend, I was incredibly fortunate to have my parents and brothers visit me. I got to show them some of my favorite spots so far in Madrid, including my neighborhood, Gran Via, Plaza Mayor, Retiro Park, and the Prado Museum. We also explored and experienced some new places together, like the Reina Sofia Museum, the inside of the Palacio Real, and had a meal at the world’s oldest running restaurant, Botín. Eating at the Botín was truly a once in a lifetime experience with exceptional food, service, and a live band performance.
While I’ve been enjoying my travels throughout Spain and my trip to Portugal, there’s so much to do in Madrid. It was amazing to have another weekend to explore. I’m so grateful that my program is taking place in Madrid, a city that is rich with culture and history.
See you all next week!!
