This past week in Madrid flew by, and I had a packed schedule, which I was excited about. During the weekdays, I met up with friends, explored on my own, and grew much more comfortable using Spanish. One of my coworkers who speaks the most English was on vacation, so I had the opportunity to connect more with the rest of the team, many of whom speak little to no English. Being fully immersed in a Spanish-speaking environment helped me build confidence and strengthen my language skills.
I noticed that the more I practiced Spanish with my coworkers, the easier it became to talk with my host family. Being able to participate in conversations over dinner and follow along with the news on TV felt like a huge milestone. On weekends, though, I speak significantly less Spanish since I’m usually with friends, and I’m a little worried it might slow my progress. To balance that out, I’m planning to read and watch more TV in Spanish.
On Saturday, we took a day trip to Sierra de las Guarramas, a national park in Spain. We hiked a steep 6 mile trail that involved some serious rock scrambling through the mountains. Along the way, we ran into wild cows, horses, and tons of little lizards. Honestly, galivanting through the mountains with my friends has been my favorite part of studying abroad so far. It was also incredibly refreshing to escape the hustle and bustle of Madrid for a bit.
Sunday, on the other hand, turned into an adventure of its own. Our train to Toledo was scheduled for 8:15 am, but it left at 8:12, without us. Determined not to let a missed train ruin the day, we found a nearby bus and paid €9 to get to Toledo. When we arrived, we were overwhelmed by the sheer number of tourists. Toledo’s narrow streets were packed with guided tours in several languages. It was frustrating to expect a peaceful stroll and instead be swallowed by four different tour groups every time we entered a site.
The heat and chaos caught us off guard and put a damper on our morning. After hitting all the typical tourist stops—including the zipline—we realized it was still only noon, and our train back wasn’t until 8:25 pm. We grabbed lunch, reset, and wandered around quieter parts of the city, checking out small shops and hidden streets.
By 5 pm, the heat and exhaustion were real, so we headed to the station hoping to catch an earlier train, but everything was sold out. We spent the next few hours at the train station napping, reading, and chatting. Our favorite phrase of the day quickly became: “At least we’re stuck in Spain.” When we finally boarded our train, we were told there’d be a short delay. Twenty minutes became forty, and by then we were delirious, laughing at everything and anything. Even though nothing went according to plan, we turned the chaos into something fun and memorable.
Looking forward to next weekend I hope to be able to take things in stride again, but also maybe plan my days a little better.
I am gradually learning that one big cultural difference I’ve noticed is the communication style. At work, I’m often given tasks that feel ambiguous to me, and when I ask for clarification, I usually don’t get much more information. I’m not sure if it’s just the company or Spain in general, but a lot of tasks seem to come with creative freedom. What’s helped me a lot is how direct everyone is—people are quick to correct mistakes, which I genuinely appreciate. In Spanish workplaces, it’s common to only receive negative feedback, but it’s always straightforward and not personal. If no one comments on something, it usually means it was done well. This no-frills approach cuts through the fluff and makes work more efficient.
I found comfort in my internship before I felt fully settled in my homestay, so I’ve been more comfortable asking questions at work since the beginning. My team has been incredibly patient and welcoming. They understand where I’m at and meet me there. At home, though, it’s been trickier. In the beginning, I would just nod or say yes to anything I was asked because I didn’t want to be rude, even if I had no idea what I was agreeing to. I’ve learned to step outside my comfort zone and ask follow-up questions to make sure I understand. It’s sometimes awkward in the moment, but in the long run, it leads to better conversations and happier people all around.
My new goal for the rest of this program is to never miss another train or flight (again)!