My time abroad was a truly life-changing experience. I never imagined loving a small city so much – the people were so kind and welcoming and Salamanca felt like place I could call home. Throughout all my internships and work experiences in the United States, I always pictured myself working in a large city following graduation, but little did I know how open I was to the idea of working in a place like Spain. There were several cultural differences I noticed during my time abroad – some which were more difficult than others to overcome. Spaniards’ daily schedules typically began later and therefore, ended later than us as well. Despite having to start and end their day later, Spaniards seemed to enjoy taking their time in their tasks and even appeared more relaxed throughout the day; there was no sense of urgency or stress, everyone simply seemed calm and content. On the more obvious side, the language barrier was difficult to overcome. Despite the fact that some of my coworkers knew English, as a student with a limited Spanish background, I knew this could cause some obstacles. However, this only pushed me to improve my Spanish-speaking skills while abroad and because of my efforts, I feel as though I’ve made connections that will last me a lifetime. I should add that despite the significant differences in working in the U.S. and Spain, I did not find it very difficult to adjust back to working in the U.S. I believe if I had been there longer, there would have been some difficulties coming back to the U.S. It was odd to come home and have to drive everywhere rather than walk, but these differences were easily adapted to. I only found that I missed the city of Salamanca and the people a lot. The individuals I worked and interacted with were not only extremely kind, patient, and supportive, but they have grown into a network of people I would consider friends. Aside from the knowledge and skills I have acquired through this experience, the efforts made by my coworkers are what made this trip truly memorable. Once I returned home from my time abroad, I found myself having to adjust back to the normality of my everyday life.
This experience truly helped me develop a global mindset and advance my universal competencies. Though my experience was brief, I truly understand the benefits of working abroad and how it can open new doors for your future. I was able to develop and enhance my teamwork, communication, and presentation skills during my internship at Deloitte. My time in Spain not only helped shape me into the individual I am today – someone who’s open to new opportunities, eager to learn more, and willing to take that extra step out of their comfort zone – but it has allowed me to see the vast array of opportunities I have ahead of myself and has paved the way in the direction I want to launch my career.
