Spain In Review

When reflecting on my adventures in Spain, I thought it would be fun to compile some numbers for an overview of my travels! After looking through photos and emails, I saw that I had:

• Watched 8 movies in Spanish (2 in an outdoor theater!)
• Traveled to 3 cities outside of Madrid
• Visited 7 museums (I also wanted to visit another museum, Cerralbo, but unfortunately I got there a few minutes after they stopped letting people in)
• Read 2 books in Spanish
• Walked through 4 parks

While these are only a few numbers, they really helped paint a picture of how much I was able to accomplish outside of work during my eight weeks in Madrid!

Returning Home

I have been back in the United States for almost two weeks now, and as I slowly eased back into my daily routine, I couldn’t help but notice small things that surprised me after my weeks in Madrid. One unexpected thing was crosswalk signs. When pedestrians are given the signal to cross in Madrid, a green sign lights up. I loved seeing the different combinations of either a man, a woman with a dress and ponytail, or a couple holding hands in the different crosswalk lights. I remember the moment I was driving and saw the once familiar bright white crosswalk figure and had a double take. Another thing that I have missed is the Spanish culture of staying out later in the day. Although my stomach never quite stopped complaining about the modified eating schedule, I have always liked operating on a later schedule besides that and had appreciated all the people walking around and events held late into the evening. It has been strange to think of the sun setting as the end of my day again. However, this has provided me with ample time for reflection.

My Last Few Days in Spain

As my time came to a close in Madrid, I had to grapple with the reality that the bucket list I had created may have been too ambitious. The plethora of restaurants, museums, parks, and stores that I had flagged on my map were borderline impossible to fit into a single week. That being said, it may have been my favorite week throughout my time in Madrid. When writing this, that thought had initially surprised me. What made this last week so notable compared to my traveling misadventures and exploration? After a few moments, I realized that what made the difference was seeing the strength of the relationships I had built throughout my eight weeks here. I loved getting to know the intern from France more and being introduced to her friend that came to visit (who also worked for Fundación Esperanza y Alegría the year prior!). I felt sad to leave on the last day when my supervisor complimented me on my hard work and insisted that everyone in the office take a group photo before sending me off. I enjoyed keeping in touch with the German interns and laughing at their complaints of constant rainy weather since returning while in Spain we didn’t have a cloud in the sky. And when, on my final night in Madrid, I went out to eat with my host mom, I remember feeling more confident in my Spanish speaking than I ever had before. I could go into more detail about wandering the palace’s royal gardens and listening to musical performances while picnicking in the park, but recognizing the strength of the new relationships I had built was the true highlight of my last few days.

My Personal Growth

My experiences while interning at Madrid have taught me many valuable lessons for future work environments. I am now comfortable receiving more direct feedback, adjusting to an environment that provided less direction, and taking on leadership roles in a team.  I needed to be proactive in seeking out tasks and areas for improvement. This bolstered my research skills and gave me ideas for different platforms I could study when returning to school. In addition, I can now confidently attest to my Spanish-speaking ability in a professional environment. Having experience talking to coworkers, answering the phone, and speaking to guests has been invaluable for my growth.

Part of the appeal of this program was the chance to be immersed in Spanish outside of work as well. By the last few days, ingredients on menus had become familiar words and I could walk through shopping and restaurant interactions with ease. Conversations with my host mom also became more in-depth as I gained the comfort and vocabulary to ask more about her collection of books and current studies.

There were also some surprising ways that I grew after the end of this program. The other interns introduced me to the game Flagdoku, and this has led to an exponential increase in the number of flags around the world that I can identify. Perhaps the most ever-present struggle I face is directions. I think that struggling to navigate will continue to be a constant for me, but as I traveled more and more on the metro and on foot, I was ecstatic each time I saw a stop and thought: hey, I can find my own way from here! Getting somewhere without needed to reference a map always provides more peace of mind and allows me to greater appreciate the scenery.

Final Thoughts 

This was an unforgettable experience, and I have had an amazing time these past two weeks going through my photo album and printing out pictures of my favorite moments (with a separate album dedicated entirely to flowers). I feel more confident in my Spanish skills than I ever have before, and I now have confidence in my ability to navigate and thrive in an international environment. I am incredibly grateful to my scholarship donors for opening up the opportunity for me to be a part of this program. Every experience in every blog was possible thanks to you. I will carry these lessons and friendships with me for the rest of my life. ¡Hasta luego, Madrid!