After five years immersed in academia and three humanities degrees under my belt, I spent my first few months as a postgraduate frantically applying for jobs, hoping to put the knowledge I’d gained in university to real-world use. After unanswered applications, rejections, and opportunities that just didn’t feel right for the impact I desired to make in this next chapter of my life, I remembered hearing about Meddeas. The excitement of potentially moving to a country as culturally rich as Spain came flooding back to me. This time I thought: Why not finally give it a try?
From my first interview with Meddeas, I knew the program would be a great fit for me personally and professionally. Travelling, learning a new language, and experiencing a new culture, all while gaining work experience that my CV was missing? Sign me up!
When I received my placement in Pamplona, my excitement for this new adventure grew, but so did my somewhat daunting to-do list:
1. Organise LOTS of Paperwork
Moving abroad isn’t all glamour; it’s mainly booking appointments, scanning and printing documents, and managing a language barrier. Thankfully, Meddeas was there to answer my endless email enquiries and provide me with step-by-step instructions to successfully work through this unavoidable part of the process.
2. Book My Flights & Pack My Bags
Getting to my placement city from home took hours of intricate planning, three flights, and the struggles of trying to pack my life temporarily into suitcases.
3. Say Goodbye to Home
My last moments in Cape Town were definitely bittersweet – from final walks along the beautiful South-African seaside to farewells with friends and family for the upcoming year.
4. Move to Spain!
I brushed up on my Spanish skills and chose to arrive a few weeks early for my placement. Once I arrived, I forced myself to step out of my comfort zone and join events in the city. This quickly paid off as I made local friends who could help me learn the lay of the land.
5. Find Housing
Finding a place to call my home away from home was the final task on my to-do list. I contacted as many people as I could on popular housing websites and social media platforms. With lots of effort (and a little bit of luck), I found a room in a shared apartment only a few minutes’ walk from my school in a peaceful neighbourhood.
And just like that, I was ready to take on the upcoming school year! A few months into my placement, I can confidently say that all the hard work, sad goodbyes, and stressful hours of planning were worth it for the teaching experience I’m gaining and the lifetime of memories I’ve already made in Spain.
Author: Gabriella S.