Hey everyone! Today marks already my 13th day in Madrid, but I feel like I’ve been here forever.. Time flies when you’re having fun! This week has been one to remember. I thought my coworker and I had a very productive time going to a town west of Madrid called Aldea de Fresno (one of which we visited once last week), and helping a number of immigrant women. Instead of traveling from one town to the other like the week prior, this week we spent everyday at Aldea de Fresno with the same group of women teaching them about Spanish work culture, what to expect, helped perform mock interviews, and even revised and created their CV’s. We did lots of activities with one another that brought a lot of laughter and connection amongst the group, and I couldn’t be happier with how much more comfortable these group of women felt after.

Each day was blocked off with presentations, a snack break, then an activity or using computers to help them manage their way through job sites. One thing my coworker stressed to them was the importance of being able to use technology. Nowadays, being able to function a laptop or computer can go a long way in any type of work that they do. This would go along with using our phones to good use as well. Being able to navigate a job sites, social media, or any platform that can bring employment opportunities was a big step in their journey here in the country. It was interesting to see the contrast of how some women knew how to navigate a computer whereas some didn’t really know how to at all. These women I helped out to the best of my abilities from logging in, navigating to websites, and even using the touch pad to their advantage. However, even with their slight challenge towards technology, I knew that each woman in the room was incredibly strong, diligent, and could work in any sector that gives them a chance. Of course, we talked about the significance of communication, body language, and managing stress as well, but we primarily spent the most amount of time showing them the reigns of technology.

Another important topic we addressed was workplace discrimination. How it affects us, what we could expect, and why we may experience such treatment. As immigrants, we made clear that even though much has changed and Spain’s community has become very diverse, there is still signs of discrimination in the community. People of color, those in the LGBTQ+ community, women in general, and even disabled individuals are typically treated contrastingly. In Spain, many people of color are seen working in the cleaning, cooking, and personal service industry. One note that I never realized that my coworker mentioned was that when looking around, there is not one colored Spanish law enforcement officer walking around the city at all. She explained how many years ago there used to be job listings that said they were looking for “Spanish only” but those have been taken down since laws changed towards promoting more diversity and less discrimination. Hearing all of this made me realize that the U.S. truly isn’t any different still, and we continue to see discrimination throughout the country. Hopefully, bringing awareness to this topic allows these women to stay in a relative headspace in what they can expect, and will allow them to stand strong in what they have the opportunity to do.

Now that is to say, I didn’t just do work and nothing all week. With the work part summed up as best as I can without stretching it out too far, I did some other personal activities after these days as well. This week my roommates and I met other people within our program and spent some time out together. We had dinner at an amazing all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant and also went to the pool the following day. It’s incredible to see just how busy the city is now that it’s finally summer break for many people because everywhere we went was packed. Most places have been a mix of tourists and locals, but it has been fun nonetheless. I think the mix of commotion in the city brings more productivity out of all of us, and it gives me joy to do the little things whether that be taking a simple walk to the grocery store, going to the gym to workout, or having conversations with my roommates. Although I do love tranquil days as well, there is something about blending into a bustling city that places me in a focused headspace. And not to forget, this Sunday I’ll have the chance to travel back to Valladolid where I studied abroad through Belmont the last two summers and see my host family! I brought their favorite American snacks (Goldfish and Nerds) that they asked for a year prior, and it’s the birthday week of the daughter and dad, so I can’t wait to see their reactions and spend the day with them.

That’s all for now! Until the next blog. Hasta pronto 🙂