Category Archives: About this Trip

Photo Dump and Project Finalization!

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Hey everyone! I have officially made it back home and have completed my Lumos project. 🙂 I’ll provide a more in depth report of what I’ve done with my presentation coming up, but wow has it been a dream. This opportunity has opened a path into my future that I thought I wasn’t sure I would be able to have, and I’m forever blessed. For now, here’s another photo dump and thanks for following along in my journey!

Here’s my younger sister in Spain visiting before starting her study abroad program through Belmont in Paris for a semester! This was her first time in Spain, so it was only right to try and show her around as much as I could

We explored Toledo (a city just about an hour south of Madrid) too! It was so incredibly hot... It was the hottest it had ever been in the region this weekend...  but regardless we pushed on!

We even saw the Bolivian festival that was set to happen that weekend as well on Gran VĂ­a! We didn’t stay for too long, but it was amazing to see the traditional dances and music on the street!

Then, the following weekend after my sister left for Paris, I went to Marbella, Málaga to see the beach again as my last trip before having to come back home the following week. This trip was amazing and don’t even get me started with the seafood! The food was incredibly fresh and quite literally the best seafood I’ve had.

Once I got back to Madrid, I spent the rest of the week resting and visiting the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum and a park nearby that I’d never gone to before. The Thyssen museum is located just a few minutes away from the Prado and had beautiful artwork as well.

And of course, more peacocks along the way!

And I even got to see the renovated BernabĂ©u stadium which seemed like a huge spaceship after work being done since 2019! The stadium is now undergoing its final completion phase, and should be ready for full use soon. It’s an incredible work of architecture, and the time and effort shows it all.

This trip has been incredibly special, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world. These last two weeks have been tranquil yet still very exciting to explore parts of the city I’d never seen before. I’ve learned so much, and the connections I’ve made here are some that I’ll never lose. Not only had this experience taught me to step out of my comfort zone, but it has pushed me to be a better version of myself. Whether it be improving my Spanish, trying new foods, or exploring places solo, it all has expanded my capacity of who I am as an individual. No matter how small a detail like this may feel, it builds who I am, and I’m incredibly proud of what I have been able to do abroad here in Madrid, and it has motivated even more to pursue what I want to do after this. I look forward to more adventures ahead with this experience now with me! Again, thanks for following along my short but meaningful journey. 🙂

My Final Week – A Turn Back To Reality (pt. 2)

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Along with my last blog update, there has been a lot of other things I’ve been able to do as well outside of the work I’ve been doing. One of the most exciting moments being my sister coming into town to visit before she started her study abroad program in Paris this semester through Belmont!

When my sister came, I was able to show her around the city and take her to many places she wanted to visit as well. For example, the day that she arrived, we walked through the Prado Museum and Retiro Park after she took a needed break from a relatively long flight. There, we saw as much as we could of the beautiful artworks as well as the more notable ones. Then, we walked all the way to one side of the park that had the roaming peacocks since she had been wanting to see them for a while. After some much needed sleep the next day having done a good amount of walking all through her jet-lag, we continued on our exploration throughout the area. This included a day trip to Toledo, a beautiful town about an hour south of Madrid where the town was built around castle ruins. The town including Madrid that weekend was incredibly hot with the heatwave going on that we were trying our best to hide in the shade as best as we could all day. However, the heat wasn’t going to ruin her weekend and the remaining days were filled with showing her around Sol, Gran VĂ­a, Fuencarral, and El Rastro as each are very well known locations nearby one other. Of course there are many other places as well, but these were the places that stood out to her. Overall, her visit to Madrid for the first time went smoothly, and I’m super grateful to have been able to be with her when she did.

The next activity I was able to do over the following weekend was take a weekend trip to Marbella down south again by the beach! Here, the weather was amazing and the seafood was incredibly fresh. During August, many people escape to the beaches because of the heat, and Marbella showed exactly just that. Here, I was able to enjoy some time off again and enjoy the heat away from Madrid’s concrete oven-like heat for a few days. Gratefully, the weekend passed by smoothly, and I was able to get back to Madrid right as the heatwave was predicted to pass. Now, Madrid has cooled down an immense amount, and the summer is coming to an end. With September just around the corner, and a few days left in my trip, it’s been an impacting experience filled with joys of learning. There’s so much I’ll be taking home with me from here, and we’ll see what these last couple days have in store for me 🙂

Another blog and photo dump coming soon! Keeping up with this blog has been a blast, and I can’t wait to show you all what more beautiful things I’ve been able to see!

My Final Week – A Turn Back To Reality (pt. 1)

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Wow have these last few weeks flown by! It’s been an incredibly bittersweet last couple of days thinking about my return back to the U.S., but I’m leaving Spain with incredible experiences, new connections, and a lot of emotions. I think I have a better sense of self and learned that I am capable of doing a lot of things outside of my comfort zone. Being placed in a situation to speak only in Spanish not only pushed me to reach past my speaking limits but it bettered it in the process.

In my last couple weeks of work, I’ve reflected a lot about what I’ve done and what social work in this area consists of here in Madrid. Many of which deals with a lot of in-person work as well as telephonic. The majority of people that reach out for assistance almost always reach out telephonically because many people either don’t have access to cars or leave outside the central part of the city. And although public transportation in Madrid is amazing, it can still be quite difficult for those that don’t have access to it from a distance. It’s amazing to see all the work the people in my organization have done. The roles each person plays are crucial and important to provide the best assistance possible for the immigrants who are in need of resources. Also being able to see everything first hand has shown me that it’s hard work and takes a team effort to make the process for them flow in a better direction.

This is a short but sweet update of work, and another part will come this week talking about some new places l’ve been able to visit 🙂

Week 1 – Traveling, Settling in, Exploring

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Traveling

During my last week in Nashville, Tennessee I packed away my apartment and decided on the essentials I would be taking during my 20 week internship. I spent my last few days before my flight at my mom’s house preparing for my journey to Belize, seemingly packing my life into one suitcase and a carry on. My internship in San Ignacio, Belize will be at San Ignacio Community Hospital rotating throughout all of the hospital’s departments. My first stop was Atlanta, GA in which I then took a flight to Belize City. Upon arrival immigration and customs were excited to hear that I would be spending 20 weeks in their country. As I left the airport, I was met by one of my hosts in Belize. The drive from Belize City to San Ignacio was about two hours long during which my host, Jaime Marin, spoke about cultural differences between Belize and the United States.

Belize has a diverse population with influence from all across Latin America, most speak three languages which are English, Spanish, and Creole. Jaime explained to me the social-economical hardships many face in the country, rising health issues, and limited resources. He seemed to be concerned about the culture shock  interns in the past had experienced. “There isn’t any fast food like McDonald’s or grocery store like Walmart in this country” was the first of many examples he explained as being different. I explained being Mexican-American and being comfortable to adapting to new environments when traveling which eased him as we approached San Ignacio. Jaime explained to me that locals and people I would be working with may look at me differently because of my American nationality due to common stereotypes and misconceptions. However, he encouraged me to always be open and tell locals about my own journey as a first generation Mexican-American.

Settling In

My host in San Ignacio is Nancy Marin along with her husband Jaime Marin who will both guide me throughout the next 20 weeks in not only my internship, but adapting to the rhythm of life in San Ignacio. Unbeknownst to me, Nancy is the first female political leader in Belize to lead a political party. Apart from this, she also owns an Ostrich farm which also serves as a restaurant! Given this, wherever I go, the locals I meet always know who I am staying with in town which has brought a safe feeling when being so far away from home.

My first day at the hospital this week consisted of me having a meeting and tour with the chief of staff. He reminded me that the medical system in Belize is often times limited in resources such as tools/equipment and especially out of stock on medications. He described healthcare as often times making due with what you have available.

Public healthcare is paid by taxpayers in Belize, therefore, it incurs no additional cost to its citizens. Even medication fulfilled at public pharmacies like the one located inside of San Ignacio Community Hospital are free of charge. During my first week at the hospital I rotated between the emergency room, outpatient clinic and the pharmacy. A few of the things I saw this week consisted of two open wounds that needed stitching (one of which I saw part of the ulna bone visible), a diabetic foot consumed by gangrene with an open wound infection which needed emergent amputation, and a suprapubic catheter which I had never seen before. At the pharmacy, I learned that many antibiotics used in the United States as acne medication are used in Belize to treat other conditions. I also learned that most medications prescribed here are not FDA approved, but many other medications do overlap. I also noticed that patients receive antibiotics here more often than in the United States which has made me question antibiotic resistance and the pros and cons of medicating an illness right away.

Exploring

The day after I landed, I visited the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins, it was my first time seeing pyramids from thousands of years ago in person! The journey up the pyramid was nothing short of exhilarating, with steep steps and no railings- you had a view of everything. From the top of the pyramid, you could even see past Belize into Guatemala. As we walked out, I even got a video of monkeys nearby the pyramids!

Towards the end of my first week I walked into town to do my laundry at the closest laundromat, during my wait I walked to the market where I bought papaya, dragon fruit, and apples. I even had a breakfast burrito with tamarind water for a total of $3USD. While eating my burrito, I was asked a question I have become accustomed to for over the past week, “where are you from?” I answered that I was from the United States. As I paid for my food and spoke to the cook in Spanish, the man who had asked me where I was from turned back around and asked me how I was fluent in Spanish. The workers and clients eating around me all paused and asked what had brought me all the way to their country.  I explained my parents speaking Spanish to me throughout my childhood as they originated from Mexico and me interning at the hospital for the next 20 weeks. Over the past week I realized that me speaking Spanish was more surprising to locals than me being American which was quite surprising, but it always made for a great conversation.

At the end of my first week in Belize, I visited the botanical gardens. The gardens included a bit of a hike and some adventuring! I was able to walk through a rainforest trail as well as a medicinal trail that explained how each tree/plant was used as medication. Along the trails we had two companion dogs walking side by side to us almost leading us through the trees. My favorite part of this self-guided tour was either going up the fire tower to find a stunning panoramic view of the rainforest or eating from the botanical garden’s fruit!

Photo Dump!

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Here is a photo dump of the past couple weeks of what I have seen day to day exploring and traveling around Madrid for work 🙂

These pictures are from small towns called Villaconejos, Titulcia, Navalcarnero, and Carabaña – places I went with my coworker to attend and assist people who needed help with finding resources and could not make it down to Madrid themselves. From what I have noticed, many of these towns are incredibly small and only have locals or immigrants (mostly Latin American and Morrocan) living there. Nontheless, the towns are filled with life and have their own, respective charm to them!

And here are some photos of what my work has looked like:
These are from Casa de Américas where the Bolivian presentation took place to announce the official date of the celebration on Gran Vía on August 16th! The building was incredibly beautiful and is a consortium for strengthening bonds with Spain and America (particularly with Latin America):
Here are some photos of what I have seen outside of work including places I have been for the first time/some that have changed since I have been here!:
Candelada – a beautiful town with natural mountain pools!
El Rastro – a part of Madrid that becomes a bustling flea market on Sundays! Here, there are a diverse range of goods and specialty shops where historic sites line the area as well as typical bars. One of those historic areas also being La Latina where August celebrations occur as people are on break.
And... some more photos of different parts of the city!:
Watching the sunset at a park called “El Parque de las Siete Tetas”, walking towards a park called “Campo Grande” and crossing a beautiful bridge on the way, seeing ducks and an immense book fair in Retiro, as well as simply passing by the streets of Madrid.

Calm Season

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Another two weeks have gone by and it´s been a mix of good work and some time off. With July ending and August starting, many businesses and stores are closing for break and vacation. I´m not quite sure if this is what it´s like in other parts of Europe, but in Spain, the end of July and all the way through August are dead periods where not much goes on within the country. During this time of break for many, there are a number of local events that happen as well as construction throughout the city that take place during this time. This can range from renovations, reconstructions, and new roads and you see this all take place throughout the summer months. Initially, there is little construction that progresses into more cranes, bulldozers, and concrete being placed around the city. This has increased traffic and commute times a generous amount, but because there are less people around, the traffic and construction cancels out.

This is all to say, work has been less busier than usual. My coworker and I are traveling less around the city and are spending more time reaching out to people electronically while organizing paperwork. With many people who we have on file on vacation, it’s harder to get in contact with them. However, this doesn´t stop the work we are trying to get done for when break ends. There´s still plenty to do in order to prepare for the upcoming season of work here and I´m grateful to be a part of it. This past week, the organization was invited to attend a presentation at Casa de AmĂ©ricas about a celebration coming up representing Bolivian culture on August 16th. Many other Bolivian based organizations, reporters, and people who work in CasamĂ©ricas were there to present and support the occasion! There were a couple performances of traditional dances that we would be able to see that day as well.. It was incredible to see the cultural differences between Bolivia and Spain from simply a few snippets of dances. That Friday was also a national holiday for Spain, so I was able to have a day off of work and have a longer, relaxing weekend. 🙂

With a little more time off to myself, I´ve been trying to figure out what I can do to maximize my opportunities in what I can do here. Even though I´ve visited many places around the city by myself and with friends, I´m trying to go out of my comfort zone and try exploring different parts of the city that many tourists don´t go to. In attempting to do this, I´ve noticed that the Spaniards continue to take advantage of their time as a community. Many local and smaller restaurants and bars continue to be filled with people throughout the night getting together with family and friends. This aspect is one that I admire about Spanish culture and wish that there were more places in the U.S. like this. I think we’ve become accustomed as a country to see bar culture, especially during the evening, as places of parties while having drinks. Here, people see bar culture as places to enjoy spending time with other people while conversing and eating tapas throughout the day. Not to mention bars are typically also places for families and kids at any point in time!

Side note: pictures will be posted soon!

New Experiences :)

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Hey everyone! Here’s another update for you all about what has gone on since the last:

To start off, my roommates and I with a few other friends went to Madrid’s Pride weekend celebration on the 5th! I had never gone to any in the U.S., and I had heard that Pride weekend in Madrid was filled with fun events for all, so I couldn’t not go. Unfortunately, I did not celebrate the 4th of July with a backyard barbecue with family, but I was able to talk and reflect on the day with my roommates wondering what our families were up to that day. Of course, we knew it was going to be a day of celebration, but Madrid had a couple places to recognize the day for the Americans that were there. Since then, the following the days I was able to spend time with my friends during the evenings after work watching the sunset while having a picnic at a park nearby, going out to eat tapas throughout the city, and exploring places outside Madrid. This past weekend I was able to go about an hour and a half outside the city to a town called Candelada and spend the day there at their natural pools that was filled with water purely from the mountains by the city. It was beautiful to see... I had never seen water so clear. Then, the following day, I was able go out to a park and play basketball and paddle with a friend. I hadn’t played basketball in so long, and padel was something I wasn’t accustomed to, so it was a day of learning and fun. For those that don’t know what paddle is, imagine tennis but with a softer and larger pickle ball paddle where the court is lined with a wall/barrier where you can play the ball off of. It’s an interesting sport to say nonetheless, but very entertaining to play.

In terms of work, l’ve had a mix of working with people directly with my coworker to more administrative work compiling/organizing paperwork for those that we had seen over the last couple days. In terms of in-person work, my coworker and I spent a few days last week at the organization’s other office location in Usera where we hosted more courses for those looking for basic assistance in finding work around the area. I was able to assist them 1 on 1 to teach them how to start writing one as well as using the technology they had to their advantage. Many of them struggled navigating their phones and computers, so it was a mix of teaching them how to use one as well as conversing with them to better learn about their abilities and characteristics. From establishing better understanding of their past work experience and their potentiality working here in Spain (depending on if they had necessary paperwork or not), I was able to assist them the best I could and redirect them to more professional help if they needed whether it be on the phone or in person.

Otherwise, in terms of these recent past two weeks, this is practically all! Spending time with friends, going out to explore more parts of the area that l’ve never been to, and eating good foods has been the routine so far. It’s been a continuing wonderful experience here so far, and I’m grateful for the work that l’m doing for the organization as well as the locals here.

To more adventures ahead 🙂

 

Settling In

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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 🙂

Final Touches… (Ready, Set, Go!)

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Hey everyone! There’s officially t-minus 2 days until I leave for Madrid, and I’m scrambling to get my suitcase packed and ready to go. I tend to be a procrastinator, but I’ve made efficient progress with the help of my sister! What really makes this process great too is having a sibling that is also getting ready to study abroad. It’s been an exciting process for the both of us since we plan on seeing each other once she arrives in France in August. This past semester has been filled with many fruitful conversations of what we could accomplish while abroad, and I’m so excited to be able to share this experience with her directly and indirectly. However, while planning and orienting myself for this new opportunity, I’ve made my see you later’s to many of my friends these past couple days, and I could not be more excited. It is a bit bittersweet leaving people for some time, but everyone I have talked to has been nothing but supportive for what this program entails, and I am incredibly grateful.

With just a few days left before I leave, I’ve gathered all the materials I need to enter Spain with ease and begin my journey to learning more about the country’s approach to serving their immigrant/migrant communities. Since graduation, I’ve taken some time to set some running goals of mine while I’m there. Of all of them, I wanted to emphasize the importance of having a meaningful time abroad, learning as much as I can, and enjoying my time there in the process. Since I’ve never spent an extended time away from home such as this, I want to go into this experience cultivating a joyful environment for myself and others filled with rich memories. Being able to make new connections, learn new skills, and develop an international foundation that I can bring back to the U.S. to better serve the community is what I hope to do by the end of this program.

But in all honesty, I’m pretty nervous to embark on this journey without the immediate help of other peers from home. Although I’m sure I’ll spend much of my time stepping out of my comfort zone, bettering my Spanish speaking and professional skills, and meeting new people, I still can’t help but feel some nerves diving into this. I’ve spent two summers studying abroad, but those were expertly planned experiences that I never had to worry about. Now, I’m in the shoes of the planner, and it is a bit more overwhelming than I thought it would be. Yet, I like to approach these new challenges with an “I can do this” and “nothing can stop me” mindset and tackle them head on because I won’t let hindrances add on and negate my ability to accomplish my goals. All in all, I’m incredibly excited to head on over across the pond and can’t wait to pour my experiences however I may contribute and share what I’ve learned out into this blog throughout these next 3 months! To those reading, thanks for accompanying me on this journey. 🙂

Egypt is Home :)

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Hey Everyone!

I am loving Egypt. The atmosphere in Shubra is very welcoming and community based and I am starting to feel like my integration into the community is paying off. I have mastered simple tasks like crossing the road, buying snacks from the local bodega, and having small conversations with my neighbors, and learning the bargaining culture.

Some honest thoughts continuing into month number 2 are as follows:

    • The Arabic language is so versatile and I love learning the informal Arabic as much as I love learning new words to add to my limited vocab. Only being here for a short time has already made me feel more Egyptian than I ever have and fitting in with the locals feels like a small win every time. I learned not to pay in high number bills as it can come across as rude or inconsiderate irregardless of your intentions or the fact that you only have a 100 to pay with.
    • While my accent is a giveaway that I am not a native some people simply think I am from a different middle eastern country and so more or less treat me the same as a local Egyptian. If I act with confidence it works out pretty much everytime.
    •  The bargaining culture is very fun but I’m still figuring out the prices of things as they sometimes change depending on what the seller is feeling that day and I never know when I got a good price.
    • Another really exciting update is one of my friends from the United Kingdom was able to come visit Egypt for a few days and we got to meet up for a little dinner before she left again back home. Getting to see someone familiar and sharing this experience with them for a few hours was truly an amazing time and I am really thankful that I was able to do so. 
    • Another really exciting part about being in Egypt is the family! While I don’t often get to see my family as they all have busy lives filled with work and school and daily life, some of my cousins and I have gotten the chance to reconnect after church on Sunday which was a really fulfilling experience for my inner child who has always wanted to have a large family. I got to play chess, eat amazing Egyptian food, and just overall be in their presence for a little which was really exciting.
    • Perhaps my most meaningful update is I recently took on a service at the local church on the weekends and some days after work to help teach English to children who are unable to afford a teacher, and whose parents are either deceased or illiterate. It’s been the highlight of my time in Egypt and truly amazing to get to be a part of as the kids are truly in need and feeling like I am part of the solution leaves a warm feeling in my heart. They are all extremely precious and graciously welcomed me in with open arms. Truly some of the smartest students I’ve ever had and while this service was unplanned it feels like it was meant to be. I love them deeply already and I can’t wait to watch their progress for the remaining time i’m in Egypt.
    • The Cathedral where I work
      • A funny shop name
      •  
      • My cousin and I playing chess
      • My friend from the U.K.
      • My cousin and I reconnecting 
      • A fun activity I did over the weekend
      • Office space
      • family pictures I’ve never seen
      • Another view of the Cathedral I work at .

 

Thanks blog thats all for now,

Until Next Time,

Nardien Sadik

Cairo Egypt