After a month of waiting at home, excitedly preparing for my 3 week trip to Spain and Morocco, the time had finally come! It was time to travel thousands of miles and leave the North American continent for this first time.

Immediately after landing in Málaga, the host city for the my program called Global Health in Spain, we were given the rest of the day to relax and settle in, but myself and many others couldn’t resist the chance to get out and immediately see as much as we possibly could. During our wandering, we found the Cathedral of Málaga, an iconic image of the city.

As we stopped for food nearby, already we were running into unanticipated difficulties. Although knowing Spanish was not a requirement of our program, we quickly learned it was very helpful when attempting to navigate the city. Fortunately, I have previous Spanish experience that I thought would come handy. Unfortunately, whenever I tried to speak, nervousness and intimidation would take over and I was unable to properly communicate! It was very surprising to learn that my Spanish skills were sufficient, but my Spanish confidence was severely lacking.

Later in our trip, we were assigned to visit the local open-air market and assess the nutritional quality of the food. I was shocked the variety of whole foods, fresh foods, alternative protein sources, and their low cost. Although not officially a learning goal of the program, this furthered my understanding of food deserts and their connection to human health, a critical lens for medical practitioners.

After many days in the classroom, we journeyed to a village about 1.5 hours away from Málaga known as Ronda. In the mere 6 hours we were there, we received a wedding invitation! I was surprised and overwhelmed by the village’s overwhelming acceptance of all people into their community, even a large group of tourists. I had heard that Southern Spaniards are known for their hospitality, but the stark contrast between American and Rondan kindness showed me how simple it is to brighten someone’s day.

One of our final stops in Málaga was visiting the Picasso museum and his birthplace in the center of Málaga. I am a huge fan of Picasso and was incredibly moved by seeing his life story pass by in the museum. Going to the museum reminded me how much I appreciate art and that I should spend more time enjoying the things I love, not the things I have to do.

Málaga will always be the first place I stepped on to a new continent. I hold such a soft spot for the city, it’s culture, food, and kind people. I had incredible experience exploring, learning, and making new friends. But the journey doesn’t end in Málaga! The next stop on my program was a trip to Morocco and learning about the healthcare system there.