Meet the Blogger: Sara

Buenas! My name is Sara and I am so excited to be a part of CIEE’s Teach English in Spain program this academic year. 

About Me

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I attended Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts where I graduated in 2023 with a double major in neuroscience and Spanish. After graduating, I moved back to Los Angeles where I worked in research. Everything seemed perfect: I had a stable job and I was exploring my hometown with a new perspective as a young adult, but I felt like there was a spark that was missing in my life. 

Why Go Abroad?

I always dreamed of having an experience in Europe. Knowing that my ancestors came from Spain, I knew that I wanted to visit to learn more about my heritage. When I was in high school and learned that I could study abroad, visiting Spain suddenly seemed attainable, but this dream fell short due to the pandemic that affected my college years. 

I figured there had to be another way to live abroad, and teaching English abroad through CIEE’s Teach English in Spain program appeared to be the way to accomplish my goal. I completed and submitted my application early, and I was beyond ecstatic upon receiving my acceptance letter. I was going to have the experience of a lifetime! I also obtained my TEFL certificate through CIEE’s 150-hour TEFL certification course which exposed me to pedagogy that has helped me become better prepared to work as an English language assistant in Madrid. 

Leading up to the big move, I completed the visa application process by gathering the documents needed, filling out the form, and attending the appointment. I received my school placement in which I was assigned to a primary school thirty minutes away from the city center by metro. In spite of following all of these steps, the concept of living abroad still seemed so surreal to me. It didn’t hit me until a week before my flight that I would be moving literally across the world. Finally, with my backpack on my shoulders, suitcase in one hand and my VISA in the other, I boarded my flight to Madrid. A mix of emotions were hitting me: I would be far from home for a year (with both distance and time zone), but I was also excited to start this new chapter full of wonder and personal growth.

My Experience So Far

I am just coming up on the three month mark of living in Spain. Overall, I have had such an amazing experience so far in adjusting to a new country and school. I am very appreciative of CIEE’s five-day orientation, in which I was able to meet many amazing people during my first week here in Madrid. I have enjoyed exploring so much of what Madrid has to offer, from restaurants and cafes, to parks and soccer games. My primary goal over the next seven months is to continue exploring this amazing city, games, practicing my Spanish, and traveling around Europe. I hope you will join me on this adventure!