¡Hola a todos! I have finally set foot back on American soil after spending 8 weeks studying abroad in Spain. I had the unique opportunity of interning full-time in Madrid and living with a host family during the summer, which gave me the chance to practice my Spanish, gain professional experience, and embrace the vibrant Spanish culture.
I am truly so grateful for the opportunity to have spent this time abroad. This experience has been life-changing for me in so many ways. Not only did Madrid meet and surpass my expectations, but I also met my personal and professional goals, surprising myself along the way. My biggest goals for the summer were to improve my Spanish, gain professional experience and clarity on my career path, and to embrace new experiences. Check, check, and check.
When I first arrived in Spain, I lost all confidence in my language skills that I had developed throughout high school and college. All my Spanish teachers have been from Latin America, so Spain’s accent and slang felt completely foreign to me. Plus, I was not prepared for the mental energy it took to listen and speak in a second language non-stop—at home, at work, in restaurants. It was so overwhelming. I found myself articulating basic questions and answers to my host mom and supervisor, but not much more. However, at some point in this experience, that completely changed. I shed the fear of embarrassment and the obstacle of perfection that I had always had in Spanish classes, and just tried my best. I welcomed grammar corrections from my host mom, and made a conscious effort to incorporate them moving forward. Plus, being intentional about sitting down for dinner with her and chatting made a huge difference. Not only was I able to articulate my basic needs, but actually have deep conversations and make some jokes! In my last few weeks in Madrid, we would sit down and have hours long conversations. I knew I could talk someone’s ear off in English, but now I can in Spanish too! This was my biggest goal in participating in this program, and am proud of myself for stepping outside of my comfort zone and letting myself be immersed in the language.
My experience interning at Mykolayiv Kmit & Asociados’ immigration law practice provided me with applicable professional experience and workplace language skills that helped me grow as a person and as a professional. In my role as a fiscal intern, I was responsible for drafting invoices and budgets, updating spreadsheets, preparing quarter-end reports, and managing clients’ payments. Although these responsibilities may seem simpler than those of an intern at a Big 10 accounting firm, I thrived in a smaller environment where I was able to take initiative on projects and to learn directly from my supervisor. I also gained some of the professional clarity that I was looking for this summer. I spent a lot of time working with numbers, updating Excel sheets, and completing tasks with close attention to detail. I was validated in finding that these are strong skill sets of mine that will apply directly to a future career in accounting/finance. Finally, I developed my skillset by using my language skills in a professional environment, communicating entirely with my coworkers and clients in Spanish. This challenged me, but also gave me professional vocabulary and extra language practice that will be useful in the future; especially if I choose to work abroad at some point.
Finally, new experiences: my time in Spain was packed with adventure and newness. Some were not so fun, like going to the doctor in a foreign country or getting lost on the metro. But those are insignificant compared to all the exciting new things I experienced. This was my first trip to Europe (and also my first time leaving the United States), so I was culturally enlightened in my time here. I experienced dance at a flamenco show, art at the Prado and Reina Sofia museums, architecture in Barcelona, and so much more. I also got the chance to try so many delicious gluten-free foods: the best pizza of my life, traditional Spanish dishes like paella (arroz negro with squid ink was my favorite), snacks from Mercadona, gelato, and amazing gluten-free bread. And don’t think I forgot about McDonald’s (they have gluten free buns and fries!), my favorite place to get food in Spain. I got to experience new places outside of my home base like beautiful hiking trails in the Guadamarra mountains, stunning miradors (viewpoints) in Malaga and Granada, and rocky coves in Costa Brava. I could go on and on about all the amazing experiences I had this summer.
Again, Madrid met and exceeded all of my expectations. I feel that through this experience, I grew into myself, my independence, my adventurous spirit, and my professional self.
Un abrazo,
Rachel 💌