As I stare down my last week at Yugo, the song “Closing Time” by Semisonic plays in my head. I feel both excited and amazed. Last week, work was incredibly slow and mentally draining. Many of my coworkers escaped the mid-July Madrid heat by heading to the beach with their families, which left just a couple of us stragglers, alone and sweaty. Thankfully, some coworkers are back this week, so I get to spend my final days with more people around, which is nice.
During the week, we had our farewell lunch with EUSA. We enjoyed tapas at a rooftop restaurant. It was a lot of fun to see everyone again and chat about our internships. Everyone has been traveling all over Spain, and it was cool to hear their stories and adventures. After lunch, we grabbed gelato and started planning our weekend.
This weekend, we explored Málaga and Granada, two cities in southern Spain. We left Friday afternoon and returned to Madrid Sunday night. On Friday, we arrived in Málaga and spent the evening exploring the city. We had a cute little dinner, strolled along the beach area, and turned in early. We walked around the city a little bit and got our bearings before checking into the hostel. We had booked a mixed hostel room, but they upgraded us for free, so we ended up with a private room. It was the perfect setup for a great night’s sleep and good vibes all around.
Saturday morning, we woke up early and had an amazing açaí bowl breakfast before climbing through the castles and gardens of Málaga. Seeing the city from above was breathtaking. I was initially a little bummed that we weren’t going on a traditional hike, but after all the hills we climbed, my hiking itch was satisfied. After the castles thoroughly kicked our butts, we spent the afternoon lounging on the beach and swimming in the ocean. Also in Malaga we checked out a fish and fruit market that was to die for, it looked so amazing. Once we were tanned and tired, we headed to the train station to catch a ride to Granada.
In Granada, we watched the sunset from the Mirador de San Nicolás and had a lovely Italian dinner. The next morning, we visited the Alhambra. It was incredibly impressive. We spent a long time taking photos, walking around, and soaking in the views. After all that walking, we were completely wiped out and headed to the bus station to catch a five-hour ride back to Madrid. The bus was the worst part of the weekend, but it gave me time to catch up on my book.
The theme for this week is success. I’ve come to feel successful in many ways during my time in Madrid. I’ve overcome fears, stepped out of my comfort zone, and found genuine happiness. Here, success seems to be defined by joy. In a professional setting, people seem content with their lives regardless of wealth. They prioritize spending time with people who make them happy. I’ve noticed that the happiest people I’ve met here are also the ones I would consider most successful.
In my office, a successful employee isn’t necessarily the hardest worker or someone who puts in crazy hours. It’s the one who’s friendly, positive, and makes an effort to connect with others. In contrast, back in the U.S., being successful at work often means being constantly busy, committed to your job around the clock, and always reachable. In Spain, no one expects you to answer a work email after hours. If something doesn’t get finished, it’s simply left for the next day, with no guilt or panic. The most beloved coworkers at my job are most certainly the ones who can set down their computer and talk for however long in the middle of the day. I have a tendency to hop from task to task, which makes me come off as rude because I rarely stop to chat before lunch or inbetween tasks.
After my internship ends on Thursday, I’m heading to Barcelona to meet up with my family, and then I’ll fly to London to see a friend. Although I love my internship, I am really excited to be done and do my own thing for a little bit. Although my time in Europe will be up, I can’t wait for something in National Geographic. It brings new meaning to “You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.”