What inspired you to work for Spain Abroad?
I have always enjoyed working with young adults and understand the value of globally diverse experiences. I truly believe that time away to learn from another culture is invaluable to a young person’s maturity and growth.
Why do you do what you do?
I have worked with young adults for over 15 years in a variety of different capacities. These are really important years in a person’s life to learn about themselves and what they want to do. I feel honored to play some part in that.
Rincón de la Victoria.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Connecting with the students and building strong relationships. I have always been a big believer that the most important thing necessary in creating change is a strong relationship.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
My education and background is in mental health, so I feel like that has provided me the ability to create an emotionally safe place for students and truly listen and connect with them in a meaningful way.
Enjoying Downtown Malaga.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Try and engage in as much of the culture as possible. This can be a once in a lifetime, life-changing experience only if you take advantage of the opportunities that you are given.
What makes Spain Abroad special?
We offer two options to our students. One option is a more traditional study abroad program where they stay with a host family and learn the Spanish language while being immersed in the culture. The other option is our exploratory program. This program involves coaching and mentoring with highly skilled and educated staff. In this program, we work hard to support students in discovering who they are and what they want to achieve.
Why should someone choose Spain Abroad over competitors?
The training and education of our staff, combined with the environment and activities that we provide, are truly unique. This is an experience geared towards personal growth and resume building.
What hopes do you have for the future for Spain Abroad?
We hope to connect as many students as possible to the rich culture and language of Spain. We have already found several incredible Spanish host families that are willing to open up their doors and welcome our students into their homes.
Flamenco show in Madrid!
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
A new, globally diverse, understanding of the world, and the people that live in it. We also want students to come home with a stronger idea of who they are and what they want to accomplish, plus a stronger understanding of the Spanish language.
How do you help support participants?
In our Cultural Immersion Program, students will have weekly group check ins as well as weekly excursions with staff. In our Exploratory Program, staff and students will be interacting through the day, doing coaching, mentoring, and connecting. It is a much more supportive program than most other programs out there.
London!
If you could participate on one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
I love both Leon and Estepona. It is hard to choose between the two cities. My home is in Estepona, right on the water in the walkable area of the city. It is truly beautiful.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
My advice is to stop thinking about it and do it! Many people are able to look back on their experiences abroad and pinpoint them as significant turning points in their lives, or at the very least, important and memorable experiences.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
I believe this is when you are able to truly take advantage of the opportunity and turn travel into a life-changing experience. You are able to look at different cultures and appreciate them and their history. You can also look at it and ask yourself “what pieces of this would work for me”.
How is your company handling Covid protocols? What should participants know about your Covid readiness? How are you assisting participants with navigating the new travel landscape?
All students traveling with Spain Abroad must be fully vaccinated. Host families are fully vaccinated. When in Spain, we follow the country's safety guidelines, currently asking all people to wear masks indoors and in public areas when social distancing is impossible.