In September 2024 I studied for 4 months in Toledo, Spain. From the time I learned that I was required to study abroad for my major, I was thrilled. However, during the months leading up to this experience, I started to feel anxious. I had never left the United States before, and I was worried about feeling homesick, being apart from my family and friends, and experiencing a language barrier. Although I had studied Spanish for several years by the time I left, I was unfamiliar with the Castilian dialect. I wondered to myself; will I understand native speakers? Will I be able to effectively communicate?I found the answer to these questions the day I arrived in Spain. On the bus from the airport in Madrid to the smaller city of Toledo, a program director gave an introduction to the program, pointing out monuments as we passed by. Immediately, I felt overwhelmed by the speed at which he talked. I found myself confused with certain terms, asking myself, what does “vale” mean? Although I was nervous about this potential language barrier, I was determined to improve my Spanish and made an effort to explore the city by myself, which forced me to speak the language. While at first, I was unaccustomed to daily siestas and eating my meals several hours later than in the US, I began to appreciate these aspects of daily life. As someone who likes to go to bed and wake up late, I found that this was the norm in Spain. As a result, cafes offered breakfast until around 12:00 pm, which I often took advantage of. Although I enjoy driving, I appreciated how all of my needs were within a walking distance. This made me question why more cities in the US are not walkable, especially considering how this is an easy way to be physically active.

 

During my time in Toledo, I had the opportunity to intern at the rehabilitation unit of the Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos. This internship exposed me to the function of rehabilitation facilities in Spain and allowed me to further improve my communication skills. Because I spent several hours at the hospital each week, I quickly formed a bond with the patients. While they participated in activities such as painting or making pottery, I had the opportunity to talk to them and learn about their lives. In the beginning of the internship, I sometimes struggled to understand the patients. However, the more time I spent with them, the more comfortable I felt asking them to repeat themselves. This also allowed me to practice my speaking skills and build confidence in the language. Many of the patients at this hospital had spinal cord injuries and therefore had varying levels of mobility. I observed as patients used a medical assistive device that held up their arm as they painted. Additionally, I noticed that although these activities were beneficial for increasing the patient’s mobility, they seemed to have a greater impact on their emotional wellbeing. The rehabilitation unit provided a space for patients to talk to each other and form a sense of community. This experience made me realize the importance of community in treatment of disease, and I hope to use this knowledge in future endeavors.

 

My internship, academic experiences, and daily activities in Spain have provided me with a greater sense of confidence in my ability to communicate effectively. Now, whether I am preparing for a presentation, interview, or the first day of a new job, I think to myself, if I can navigate these situations in Spanish, then I can navigate them in my native language. I hope to use this resilience to approach future academic, professional, and personal experiences with an open mindset. This experience has better prepared me to approach change, which will be beneficial in the ever-shifting field of medicine.