Fulfilling My Purpose

By: Enely Hiciano

Ending my first study abroad program in Madrid was the cherry on top of everything I had gotten to explore and learn while in Spain. I’ve always dreamt of studying abroad and challenging myself to be away from my family in order to learn something new about myself. Finally being able to do what I dreamt of despite the struggles I faced prior to leaving, made it all worth it when I got to Madrid. Sunday was my last day in the city and fortunately we had a full day of independent exploration and I instantly knew I wanted to reflect on my trip, go thrifting, try chocolate crepes and enjoy a dinner full of laughter with my friends. Before embarking on my full day of adventure, I stopped at a local Starbucks that was placed across from a mall that happened to have a playground outside. I noticed tons of families shopping, watching their children play, and teenagers sitting in the coffee shop spending time together in their soccer uniforms. An observation I made was how trusting parents were with their children. Most parents were watching their children play from the coffee shop, this stood out to me because I’m used to parents in the U.S. watching their children like hawks when they’re at the playground, for valid reasons. As I was leaving Starbucks, I called an Uber and I noticed that a street was blocked. Not knowing what this was all about, my friends and I walked over to the street that was closed to find that it was shut down because locals were watching a soccer game. Talk about a culture shock! I don’t believe the U.S. would shut streets down in order for locals to stand outside and watch a soccer game. I played soccer competitively for ten years growing up and seeing this community of soccer fans gave my inner child a sense of comfort. As much as soccer was my passion growing up, working in hospitals and interacting with sick patients became a passion for me as an adult.

The last hotel we stayed in was right across from a maternity hospital. Seeing that made me feel like a door of opportunity could be opening. I always thought it would be different to do my residency or medical school somewhere aside from the U.S. but I always stopped myself because in the back of my mind, I always thought, how could I do that. Then on my last stop in Spain, I looked over and I saw this maternity hospital and being in school to become an Ob/Gyn this was golden to me. I also fell in love with the area, which was quiet, filled with coffee shops, convenient stores, and thrift shops. While I’m having these thoughts on my future and thinking about wanting to live in Spain, seeing the hospital was almost reassuring that if I can take the leap of faith and move to Madrid. Seeing the maternity hospital was a sign of possibilities for everything I’ve thought about pursuing when it came to my future and studying.

Out of every city we visited throughout our journey in Spain, the city I felt most at home or could see myself temporarily living in was Madrid. I believe a part of the reassurance I had was because I was able to spend a full day to myself enjoying what I wanted to do. It helped because throughout the trip there were so many things that I saw in each city and as I saw it, I wrote it down and told myself I wanted to come back and explore it. However in Madrid, I actually got to do it right then and there and I feel like that made me connect and completely fall in love with the city. The most fascinating moment of my visit in Madrid was the thrift stores and the bookstore. As someone who loves both, I was in awe. I had never seen a bookstore look so full and picture worthy before. The gentleman that helped us was so kind and patient. Around the thrift stores I visited, there were people walking around with a fashion sense that I admired. I felt drawn to the fashion aspect of Spain. In Madrid specifically most fashion loving locals wore streetwear, but it was funky, and if they ever came to the U.S. they would most definitely stand out in the best way possible. Their sense of style was inspiring, and as I was shopping, I came across a ton of good finds. It definitely made me want to go back to Madrid to thrift some more, but this time I will bring my own empty luggage so I don’t have to pay for one while I’m there. If I could go back and stay in any city, it would be Madrid and since being back, I truly feel like a part of me was left there.