I’ve finally reached the finish line: my two-month international internship experience in Madrid, Spain has come to a close. It’s been about a week since I passed through the gates of my internship company, CIAL, for the last time and I’ve had the opportunity to do a good bit of reflection on the whole experience.
When recounting my summer adventures to family, I was asked what my ‘favorite part’ of the trip was. My first reaction was, how could I ever pick a favorite part? So, I was pretty surprised when after a moment of thought, I was able to come to a quick conclusion- my language development and use. Realizing that this was my answer gave me a feeling of immense relief, because before arriving in Spain thoughts of my Spanish not being good enough, would not improve enough, was not worth the effort, couldn’t get better, etcetera, had been plaguing me. Yet now when I think back on my summer, it makes me so glad because all of these worries were truly displaced.
At the beginning of my study abroad experience, I had a learning curve- it was difficult to follow coworkers in conversation because of their speed, or the unfamiliar Madrid accent, or the new lingo. I wasn’t that confident asking for a table at a restaurant or even saying hello to the bus driver. But being uncomfortable and experiencing all of these insecurities with my language use and immersion actually opened the door for me to overcome all of them! I started thinking in Spanish, without even realizing it at times. I was using it in so many different environments- at work, on transportation, at home with my host family, in casual conversation- that the Spanish language became comforting and natural for me. This experience of literally living my life in Spanish means that it’s no longer just a language I learn for school, or a language I study for my college minor. I’m now a lot more grateful for my abilities to be bilingual, and have a much better understanding of what that means. And so, that’s why I’m so grateful for this study abroad experience- it’s gifted me the best part of my summer.
Although my growth in my Spanish capabilities might be the closest to my heart, equally important was the growth in and skills gained through my internship at CIAL. I got the opportunity to work with a kind and knowledgeable team, shadowing and assisting different graduate students. They gave me the tools to explore cell biology and microbiology, as well as develop my familiarity with computer software platforms (and Excel!). This was my first internship, and also my first experience seeing what computational biology- my major- could look like beyond college, in a professional environment. It was also great to experience the day-to-day schedule of a professional researcher and learn more about how they go through each stage of a project or thesis, working with bosses, mentors, and peers along the way. That was really eye-opening to me, and so I’ll value my time at CIAL for years to come.
Switching to takeaways, one surefire thing that has come home with me is that Madrid is a city I’d love to return to, or live in! Besides the fact that it ticks off all of the normal checkboxes- amazing public transportation, beautiful and distinct neighborhoods, great food scene- it’s just a city I fell in love with. Being able to find favorite places off of recommendations from my host family, online blogs, or from my own exploration really helped me feel like Madrid was home. Plus, I was there long enough that traditions were forming- meeting a friend at a certain restaurant or tapas bar, seeing the same strangers on the bus to work every morning, getting the same snacks at my corner supermarket. I was able to settle in and feel like a part of the city. The people that I met were friendly and kind, and Madrid has a sense of pride in its culture infused through every block of the city that most American cities just don’t have. So, I’m so glad and grateful that I got to experience living abroad not only in Spain, but in Madrid- it truly has tweaked my perspective and taught me new things about myself. I also was lucky enough to meet some very good friends, some returning to school with me in the fall, and so Madrid was kind enough to give me that, as well. I truly don’t think the summer could’ve gone any better, and I certainly won’t forget it anytime soon!
Ciao, Katherine