I have been settling into Madrid very nicely so far! The city itself is beautiful, full of energy, and the people have been incredibly welcoming. My host family has also been wonderfully accommodating, which has made the transition much easier. One of the most rewarding parts of the experience so far has been realizing that I am able to understand most of what they are saying in Spanish. While there are definitely moments where I still get lost in translation, it feels exciting to see the progress I have made with the language in a real-world setting.

I have also had the chance to meet the other students participating in the same IIP program, and everyone has been amazing. I am really looking forward to continuing to get closer with them throughout the summer. One thing I did not fully expect before coming here was how much I would learn not only from Spanish culture, but also from the different backgrounds and experiences of the students in the program itself. They are all amazing and truly add something even more special to the program. It has already become such a unique mix of perspectives and personalities.

During our first few days of orientation, we had the opportunity to explore Gran Vía, one of the main hubs of Madrid, and participate in a walking tour throughout the center of the city. Seeing the architecture, crowded streets, cafés, street performers, and historical landmarks in person made everything finally start to feel real. Madrid is a very intense city, but there is also something very lively and exciting about it that makes you want to keep exploring.

Before officially starting work at Jaleo this week, I spent the weekend in Alicante, one of the most beautiful beach cities I have visited so far in Spain. I stayed right along the coast, which made the entire experience feel almost unreal. Between the beaches, the perfect warm weather, and the Mediterranean views, it felt like the perfect reset before beginning my internship. Everything felt colorful, preserved, and full of character. Walking through the streets felt very different from being in Madrid. Alicante had a calmer, more relaxed coastal energy while still feeling lively and full of culture. It almost seemed like its own country. It was one of those places where you could spend hours wandering around without really having a plan and still enjoy every second of it.

Now that the weekend is over, I have officially started working at Jaleo, a Spanish language school located in the right in heart of Madrid. The school focuses on helping people from around the world improve their Spanish skills and become more comfortable with both the language and culture. Jaleo offers a wide variety of programs, including part-time classes, intensive workshops, and one-on-one instruction designed for different learning styles and goals.

My role mainly involves communicating with potential students and helping explain what the school has to offer. One thing I have already realized is just how important communication is in this type of work. Sometimes we have to follow a script closely or send more formal, automated emails. Other times, the best approach is to make the interaction feel more personal and genuine. A large part of the challenge is figuring out when to switch between those two communication styles in order to build trust and hopefully encourage someone to enroll.

At times, the work can also become repetitive, especially when I am constantly going back and forth between messaging platforms and responding to different clients throughout the day. Even so, it has already taught me a lot about professionalism, adaptability, and customer communication in an international environment. I am so excited to see what else my internship can offer me.

Another interesting part of this experience has been adapting to the communication style in Spain. People here, especially in Madrid, tend to communicate much more directly than what I am used to in the United States. Conversations and emails are often short, clear, and straightforward instead of overly expressive or indirect. At first, the bluntness caught me off guard a little bit, but over time I have started to appreciate the honesty and efficiency behind it. It has definitely been a cultural adjustment, but also one of the most valuable learning experiences so far.