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Sara
Goke , B.A. Spanish and LACIS. As my final semester at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was coming to a close, I began to think, or panic, about what I was to do next. I reflected on my years at the UW as a Spanish and LACIS major, and the time I spent abroad. I had participated in three very different study abroad programs during my college career, spending as much time out of the U.S. as in it. The programs -- all wonderful, enriching, and eye-opening -- took me to Ecuador, Mexico and Chile. They inspired me to seek an experience abroad that would let me dig even deeper into my host country's culture. I envisioned myself participating in society instead of passing through as a tourist or exchange student. So, as my college career was coming to an end, my dream of working abroad began to form. Having explored quite a bit of South America, I decided to try another Spanish-speaking region: Spain. I began to search for an internship, scholarship or some way to work abroad. I asked my advisors, the UW’s Study Abroad office, my professors, the Global Studies Program’s Go Global! resources, and Spanish friends. I attended internship fairs and work abroad seminars. After all the investigations I was left with a few ideas but without a concrete plan of how I would realize my dream of working abroad. One day the persistence paid off. Through a friend of a friend I learned about a program that permits you to work abroad for a year. The Spanish government hires recent graduates to work in elementary schools and help in English classes. I immediately looked up the program on the Internet. The program appeared to be an excellent way to work in Spain (legally) and receive a steady income. Somehow I managed to gather all the necessary forms together and turn in the application on time. After a few months without hearing back from the Ministry of Education in Spain, I took it upon myself to contact them. They informed me that I was the first person on the reserves list, but had not officially received the job: if anyone declined the offer, I would be the first to go. However, receiving this news was not about to keep me from going to Spain. I decided I would go to Spain, and if I were to receive the job I could work out the details of my visa from there. Shortly after graduation and a week before my departure for Spain, I received word that I was officially in the program and would be a teacher’s aide in Madrid. As I boarded the plane, I was ecstatic at the idea of spending the next year working in Spain. Taking advantage of the two months before my job, I explored the distinctive regions of Spain, visited friends, and quickly fell in love with the country. Three months after my departure for Spain, I found myself back in the U.S. Due to lack of research on my part, and lack of communication on the part of the program in Spain, I found out I had to return to the U.S. in order to receive my visa. It's been an expensive learning experience, since I had to buy another round trip ticket. At least I was able to return with enough time to process the visa before the program began in October 2005. Plus, I appreciate my job in Madrid even more after working three laborious temp jobs in Minnesota to pay off my plane ticket! Sara’s tips to finding work abroad:
Posted January 2006.
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Sara’s work continues
as a teacher's assistant at an elementary school in Madird, Ortega y Gasset.
Her job consists of aiding the teacher's in the classroom, working with
the children, giving English classes to the teachers and helping plan
cultural events. Despite what appears to be a busy schedule, she still
has plenty of free time to explore Madrid and Spain. Sara has sent us email updates throughout her time in Spain (and while trying to get back to Spain!):
And some pictures of her travels: here and here (and there’s one more among the stories above). Other Badgers Abroad
Other Tales of Work Abroad
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