15 Oct Absolute Scholarship – Malika Braz – Hasta La Vista Madrid!
Coming here was a dream come true. I remember counting down the days until this opportunity was my waking reality. In the end, my expectations for myself and finally being here were different than I anticipated. I thought there would be more of a language barrier between the other interns and myself, but to my surprise, most people were from different parts of the U.S. Therefore, interacting and connecting was much more comfortable than I thought it would be. Furthermore, although there is a language barrier between the Spaniards and myself, I found that most of the people I encountered knew more English than I knew Spanish. Talk about a wake up call!
I’m Going to Miss All the Beauty, Culture, and People I’ve Grown to Love Here in Madrid
Everyone was accommodating and wanted to help me grow. So, rather than speaking to me in English; I was challenged. I enjoyed when people would frequently talk to me in Spanish because through that I learned a little bit each time until words became more familiar for me to understand and annunciate. My internship allowed me to see the business aspect behind the actual business, which I enjoyed because that is exactly what I needed in order to start the process of fulfilling my future as an entrepreneur.
This program has given me the opportunity to travel to places I would have never even considered. From Segovia to Barcelona, to taking a weekend girls’ trip to Sevilla. I don’t think I would have seen so many beautiful places and landmarks all in one month and with such amazing people. The culture in Spain is the best. I particularly love how they close down stores and restaurants for lunch so that everyone can eat communally as a team.
Being away from home allowed me to become more independent and I’ve learned things about myself that I did not know before. I also feel like I was forced to try new things and step out of my comfort zone. For example, I am more of an introvert, however, being here I was challenged to tap into my extroverted personality traits, and I enjoyed it a lot.
As my time here comes to an end, it is a very bittersweet moment. I was nervous about being away from home, in fact there was a point where I wanted to give up and leave Madrid at any moment. Yet I persevered. I retaught myself that running away is never a solution and that if you want something you have to work towards it. I’m going to miss all the beauty, the culture, and the people I’ve grown to love here in Madrid.
Thank You, Absolute Internship!
Thank you, Absolute Internship, for recognizing me, crossing my path and allowing me to have this month in Madrid with an internship and a scholarship. The internship placement was perfect for me and this part of my journey will never be forgotten! Thank you for preparing me for my future.
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