Category Archives: Volunteer Work

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

Aug 27, 2025

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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 🙂

New Tasks + Weekend Trip!

Aug 13, 2025

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What a blast these last few weeks have been. From accumulating more experiences at work to having a weekend off with friends at the beach in Valencia, it has been great. I couldn´t be more grateful for all the friends that I´ve made here and to be able to travel with them is amazing.

At work, due to renovations being done at the second office location in the city, I have been able to assist my coworkers with different tasks. Although I haven´t been traveling outside the city center as I had been in June and July, there is still much work to be done in preparation for September’s work month. Making appointments with immigrants that need paperwork done with the lawyer to receive consultations on their situation in the country, it’s a lot of work to handle. Moreso, it’s interesting to see how this process goes with the organization here. For example, handling important documents, bringing in paperwork, and the next steps that are needed to get these people in a better position than where they are now. The lives these people lived in their home country to come to Spain in hopes of living a better life are what keeps them dedicated in their journey. For some, even without having proper paperwork, are trying to find ways to solidify their legalization and standing within the country. Many of which come from finding a job, but it’s difficult without proper paperwork and schooling. From the people that I was able to sit and interact with, with my coworker, most immigrants that came looking for help either had no college or high school degree, and to find jobs without having had higher education is hard and quite limited in any instance. However, although it’s hard, there’s always hope in finding what they need and living the life they hope they can live.

Outside of work, I’ve been able to rest and spend some quality time with friends that I’ve met here. Whether that be grabbing lunch or dinner with them or simply just walking around the city and hanging out, I’ve been enjoying and trying to make the most out of the time off that I have. This past weekend, I was able to take a trip out to Valencia where we went to the beach and explored different parts of the city. We also saw the sunset and how lively the beachside was during the evenings. Of course, this was all combined with amazing paellas and seafood! The food was incredibly fresh! Having been once, I thought I had a feeling of what I could expect the city to be, but oh was I wrong… Valencia is another incredibly large city with so much you can do. Although many people travel down for the beach and paellas, the city has a special charm that people would have to come visit to understand.

I can’t wait to see what more awaits these coming days! This has been an incredible experience so far, and I couldn’t be more grateful to be able to do what I do with my coworkers and friends.

Photo Dump!

Aug 12, 2025

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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

Jul 30, 2025

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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 Américas about a celebration coming up representing Bolivian culture on August 16th. Many other Bolivian based organizations, reporters, and people who work in Casaméricas 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 :)

Jul 16, 2025

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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

Jun 19, 2025

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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 🙂

Finding My Rhythm

Jun 10, 2025

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Hola from Spain! I have officially completed my second (technically first) day of work (yesterday was more of an orientation and getting the hang of their system/what I should expect to do), and I couldn’t be more excited for what I can learn from this experience. Some updates of what has happened over the last 3 days since arriving early Saturday morning: first, as I was in the process of moving into my apartment officially, I had the chance to hang out with Belmont’s study abroad program that is happening right now in Valladolid! They were in Madrid for the weekend, so I was able to reconnect with friends and professors. I was incredibly grateful to see them again post graduation, and plan on visiting them one more time before they leave this month.

Second, it is SO hot here. The heat has been keeping me sweaty everywhere I go, and it’s crazy to hear that this isn’t even as hot as Madrid can get during the summer. There are many people here on vacation touring from all over the world, and there seems to be a consistent trend of sun hats and umbrellas to keep the sun out of their faces. However, I can’t complain because, overall, the weather has been sunny with little to no clouds. It does make it a bit dry, but I would take dry than sticky and humid any day!

Third, my roommates moved in Sunday, and I was able to hang out with them during different points in time as each was arriving. That night was Carlos Alcaraz’s French Open finals match and because the TV in our room wasn’t working at the time, one of my roommates and I went to a nearby bar to watch the game! The environment was electric with many people from all over the world coming in to support Carlos’ win against Jannik Sinner. Then, shortly after, the UEFA Nations League final played where Portugal and Spain went head to head. Unfortunately, Spain lost in the penalty shootout after overtime, but it was a great match to watch nonetheless. For Spain to have two sports represented in respective finals matches was amazing to see since the city was fully alive throughout the evening. If only Spain could have pulled through at the end of the soccer match, but I guess you could say we win some and lose some!

To finish this quick recap, I think I’m starting to find my pace around what I’m doing and helping the organization. Today actually, I learned so much about the process in which it takes for immigrants to find jobs and be legalized to work here. Just like the U.S., Spain also has undocumented immigrants that work and organizations such as the one I’m working with has social workers and labor relations staff that attempt to find ways for these people to receive the documentation they need and work legally. Seeing and speaking with my colleague I’m shadowing, they told me that immigrant women tend to have the hardest time finding jobs, and they typically assist them more than men. We traveled to Carabaña, a small town (pueblo), which is about a little over an hour east of the city center but still in the autonomous community of Madrid and met with immigrants who lived in the area. Here, I was able to organize files/documentation as well as see in person the process in which a person working in labor relations assists those that need jobs and proper documentation.

In the meantime, here are some photos that I’ve taken recently. I’m excited to see what more I can experience 🙂

Final Touches… (Ready, Set, Go!)

Jun 4, 2025

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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. 🙂

Somos Juntos – We Are Together

Dec 30, 2018

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“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

I wasn’t sure what to expect when Christmas break arrived. I’d spent the last two months adjusting to living with new people and having a new work schedule and now I was going to be the only volunteer left in a three-bedroom apartment. The apartment felt eerily quiet. At first, I enjoyed dancing around the apartment without having anyone around, but by the third day I started to feel like a mad-woman. Working with the children and Face-Timing my loved ones just wasn’t enough. The idea of Christmas in Barcelona was the only thing keeping me going at that point.

However, the 20^th of December lifted my spirits. It was the last day of work but also the day I would sing Christmas songs with the children. When I arrived, I was elated by the presence of all the children and their families. The school was giving out hot chocolate and pastries. There was music playing and a do-it-yourself (DIY) photo booth. I no longer felt unsure of how my Christmas would feel. I’ve never felt more at peace than with the children and their families. It reassured my purpose in life and my intentions within my career, which is to consciously engage and have direct relationships with the groups and individuals I work with.

That day was magical! When the time came to sing Christmas songs with my children, all the teachers and families gathered around us to listen. I grabbed my ukulele, counted to three, and my little ones sang “Feliz Navidad,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” It was the sweetest thing I could have ever experienced. I was close to tears as I watched my class smile and sing along. Their eyes were filled with such love as they looked to me to guidance. It has been such an honor to be a part of their lives. They have made me a better person and I love those children more than I can express.

After we finished, the crowd asked me to do a speech. Oh, my lanta. Ha, I was nervous but I got through it. The teachers then proceeded to ask families from different countries to sing a Christmas song in their language. We were a family, enjoying and respecting each other’s’ cultures; from Spanish, Moroccan, Nigerian, to Gujarati and more. It was the beginning of the best Christmas ever.

On the 23^rd of December, I traveled to Barcelona to meet my Second cousin and her husband for the first time. Prior to us meeting, we had only spoken through Facebook. The family resemblance was uncanny. It was comforting to see a familiar face and be around a culture more familiar to my own as a Honduran. They gave me the REAL Spain experience. They lived on the outskirts of Barcelona in Vallirana, Cataluña, Spain. This is the ore country side of Spain, where the pueblos (small towns) are located. I felt lucky to be staying with them because it added depth to my experience and knowledge of Spain. It was without a doubt my favorite part of Spain.

During the first two days, we visited the church La Sagrada Familia and drove around Vallirana. Catalan is the language spoken in this area. When I joined them for the Christmas mass, I could barely understand what was being said. It was definitely not the Spanish I had grown up around. Nevertheless, I was beautiful.

On Christmas day, we drove to Barcelona to join my cousin’s husband’s family for dinner in a hotel. The dinner was superb from start to finish and the family was more than welcoming of my presence. They asked me to play Christmas songs with my ukulele and so I did. Their singing captured the entire hotel floor’s attention. Everyone enjoyed themselves greatly. After dinner, a few of us went off to visit Montjuic, a hill surrounded by a national museum, a castle, and a 5-Star Hotel that hosted for the 1992 Summer Olympics. Only the pictures can truly describe the beauty of it all, but even then, it’s something you have to experience.

My cousins and I spent the next day at Mont Tibidabo, which overlooks Spain and is surround by an Amusement park and a telecommunications tower as well as the famous catholic church Sagrat Cor. The view was breathtaking; and just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, my cousins took be to Montserrat the next day.

Montserrat Mountain is both a natural park and monastery, and home of Our Lady of Montserrat, which is also known as “La Virgen Negra” – The Black Virgen Mary. It was the highest I have ever been on a mountain. It was truly heavenly. I was in the clouds. Again, this was an experience that is better illustrated through photos and 100% better in person. Every day here has been a dream.

December 28^th completed my Christmas break. At 10:40 a.m., I ran into the arms of my boyfriend Trevor who in July, decided he wanted to spend New Year’s with me in Spain. I’ve been speechless ever since. Traveling is a beautiful experience but it is much better when you’re surround by people you love. I cannot wait to see how the rest of this break plays out.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year filled with love.

-Rachel B.

The Privileges of My Life

Dec 17, 2018

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We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” -Maya Angelou

Kudos to the individuals who choose to travel by themselves for six months or even a year. I have been counting my blessings and my privileges during these last two weeks. Traveling is an exciting and life changing experience, but not for the reasons that we romanticized in our society. Spain is beautiful country with breath taking sights all around. There is ancient history is all around me and I am taking it all in. I still can’t believe that I’m even here. But I also can’t believe that I’ve been here for 51 days without my family and friends! Technology has been blessing and a curse for sure! I’m to the point where FaceTime is becoming a nuisance.

I’m a proud emotional human who values the importance of physical touch. I love hugs! I’m not mentioning this to sound sweet, but to point out that something as simple as a hug can be taken for granted. As I mentioned earlier, FaceTime has become a nuisance. I see and talk to my loved ones but what I really need is to be with them. I have realized how privileged I am for the simple fact that I get to go back home to the people I love. Lately, I’ve been thinking about how many families are separated by choice or by force. I think about how many of them will never get to see their loved ones again and how this will shape their lives. Most of all, I think about my mother, my aunts and uncles, and my abuela. I think about the sacrifices that were made just so that they could come to the U.S. and live a better life.

See, my mother immigrated from Honduras to the United States at the age of 26. Her older sister, my Tia Rina, was the main reason my mother was able to come to New York. Tia Rina left Honduras first to find work in the U.S.. My abuela followed and then eventually my mother and her other siblings did as well. Now, my mother is a citizen and lives 30 minutes away from her mother and her siblings. Can you imagine that journey? Can you imagine the struggles that came with it? I’ve heard these stories first hand and I still can’t imagine having to go through that.

This story is my reminder of why I am on this journey. Despite the days when I am overwhelmed by feelings of loneliness, I remember how lucky I am. It hurts to go through struggles but that’s a part of life. I know this. I also know how hard my mother and father worked to provide me with an education that could expose me to greater opportunities than what they had access to when they were younger. Just thinking about them makes me tear up because I am so proud. I am proud of them and I am proud of myself.

I hope when present and future travelers read this they pause and reflect on the value of their trip. The mixed feelings and the struggles are inevitable. It’s all part of the journey. I’m coming to see that the purpose in “traveling with a purpose,” is more about self-growth than it is anything else. Unless someone has partaken in this journey, no one can truly understand the difficulties that come with it. It’s probably one of the most humbling experiences as well. Close your eyes and open your heart. The message will be clearer.

Con cariño,

Rachel

P.S. – The children at work continue to fill my heart with so much love. I’ve been teaching them Christmas songs with Lola, my ukulele, for the last two weeks, preparing them to present it to their families on Thursday! To no surprise, music has been extremely therapeutic for the kids. It’s worked magic on their little hearts. It has helped some calm down after a tantrum and has brought others out of their shyness. Lola has a place in their hearts for sure. I can’t wait to join them in singing Christmas songs this Thursday.

P.S. – Here are some more pictures of Valencia! xoxo