Three weeks into my internship in Madrid, something surprising has started to happen. This city, which once felt unfamiliar, is beginning to feel like home. The narrow streets that confused me on day one are now part of my daily commute. The rhythm of the late dinners, the lively plazas, and extremely active weekends no longer feels foreign. Instead, it feels like my new normal.
My internship at Latroupe, a European hostel chain, has also started to feel more comfortable. I’ve gotten used to waking up early each morning, navigating Madrid’s metro system half-asleep. I’ve established routines, both at work and in the city, that help anchor my days. But comfort doesn’t mean everything is clear-cut. This week, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about ambiguity, and how I’m learning to navigate the moments in my internship that don’t come with clear instructions.
At Latroupe, my main responsibility is analyzing data from our various hostel locations. The goal is to understand how each site is performing and uncover opportunities for improvement. At first, I thought this role would be purely technical—working with spreadsheets, cleaning data, and creating dashboards. But I’ve quickly realized that the biggest challenge isn’t the math or the software. It’s the ambiguity.
Some days, I’m given clear direction: “Compare guest satisfaction between Madrid and Brussels over the last month.” I know where to start, what metrics to use, and what outcome is expected. Other days, the instruction is more like: “See if you can figure out what’s going on with the Barelona location—it feels off.” That’s when things get a little bit tougher for me.
What does “off” mean? Are bookings down? Are guests complaining? Is it not bringing in enough revenue? These kinds of vague prompts have been the most challenging part of my internship—but also, surprisingly, the most rewarding.
My first instinct when faced with ambiguity was to do more digging, to try and find the answer on my own. I’ve realized that the most important skill in these situations isn’t technical, it’s strategic communication. When directions are unclear, I’ve learned to pause and ask my coworkers clarifying questions. These questions not only help me narrow down what I’m looking for, but also show my supervisors that I’m thinking critically, not just following orders. I’ve learned that in my role, part of the job is shaping the question, not just delivering the answer.
At Latroupe, people move fast, and things aren’t always neatly documented. This means that I sometimes have to take initiative. I don’t always have someone guiding me step-by-step. Early on, this made me feel uncertain and a little anxious. I didn’t want to make the wrong assumption.
But now, I’m becoming more confident in trusting my instincts. If I have to make an assumption, I document it and explain my reasoning. I’ve learned that it’s okay not to have every answer, as long as I’m transparent and thoughtful in my approach. This kind of independent thinking has been key to navigating the gray areas in my work.
Interestingly, the culture of Madrid has helped me deal with this professional ambiguity. Life here doesn’t always follow a rigid schedule. Meals run late. People walk slowly. Plans change, and that’s okay. I’ve found that this cultural rhythm is teaching me to be more patient with uncertainty, not just in life, but at work too.
Looking back at my first week here, I remember how unsure I felt, not just in my role, but about how I would fit into this city, this culture, and this company. Now, three weeks in, I see how much I’ve grown by leaning into that uncertainty. I’ve realized that not everything has to be perfectly mapped out. Sometimes, the best insights come from exploring the gray areas, both in my internship and in life.
So, while I still don’t have all the answers at work (and probably never will), I’m getting better at navigating the ambiguity. I’ve learned to ask better questions, to trust my process, and to embrace the messy parts of growth.