by Emily Stebbins
The past few days in Spain have been absolutely amazing! Our class has learned a lot about the Spanish health system as well as had many opportunities to immerse ourselves in the Spanish culture. During the first two class days here in Spain, we learned that the Spanish have universal healthcare and the health system is operated in a decentralized manner. This means that certain aspects of healthcare are handled by the government while the rest, including delivery of care, are taken care of at the regional level. We also learned that Spain has both public and private hospitals like the U.S. does. On Tuesday May, 2nd, the first half of our class had the opportunity to tour one of the main private hospitals here in Madrid. During this experience, we got to walk through the ER department, the inpatient unit, and learn that that hospital has one of the best trauma teams in all of Spain. Our tour guide was in charge of international patients at the hospital so she gave us some insight into what it would look like if a study abroad student, or international patient in general, needed to visit the hospital. One of the coolest things I learned was that a lot of famous people/groups like the King of Spain and Rolling Stones have visited that hospital which has led them to create a separate waiting area to allow them more privacy.
One of the highlights of my time in Spain so far was getting to take a Spanish cooking class with our entire study abroad group. We learned how to make tortilla de patata, paella, and tarta de Santiago. During the class, the instructor explained the background of each dish and walked us through the steps of making them. The instructor spoke to us in Spanish which really allowed me to practice my understanding of the language. Fortunately, there was an English translator that worked right alongside the chef so we could fully understand everything. I helped chop vegetables for the paella, stir the paella, and flip one of the four tortillas we made. The kitchen smelt amazing the whole time we were cooking and it made me extra hungry. The best part was that when we finished cooking, we got to eat each dish for lunch! Everything was so delicious. The paella was the best I have ever had and now I am very excited to make it for my family at home! 10/10 experience and one I will remember forever.
After the cooking class, we were given the afternoon off to explore and do as we please. A group of my friends and I decided to go explore Retiro Park. This was my first time going into the park and I was in awe of its beauty. There were so many fresh flowers, big trees, and luscious grass. We then found a nice spot on some grass in the shade and played cards and a game called imposter. Even though it was a simple activity, it quickly became one of the best memories of my study abroad trip. We talked, laughed, and just enjoyed spending time with each other. This has been a once in a lifetime trip and has allowed me to learn so much about healthcare and culture across the world.
