DLE INTERN RONAK PARIDA STUDIES ABROAD IN MADRID

By Ronak Parida, DLE Marketing/Content Creator Intern, Junior at Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

While my time as the DLE social media intern is coming to an end, I am excited for a new chapter in my professional growth through studying abroad in Madrid this spring. I have been thinking of going overseas for more than a year, ever since an acquaintance introduced me to the idea of studying abroad.

One of the biggest things that drew me to studying abroad is the global experience. In today’s highly globalized world, working with people that come from different countries and cultures is common. Even the DLE has members that tune into our programs from other countries. I believe that this experience is integral to any professional hoping to be successful. With the transition to remote work, I feel as if communicating with people in other countries will be even more common in the future, which makes studying abroad an even more valuable experience.

Since I am living with a host family, the language barrier poses a big challenge, but I am determined to try to break through it. I have been practicing Spanish daily for the past year through Duolingo and various other online resources. There is quite a long way to go before I am proficient enough to be comfortable speaking, but I am sure, through spending four months in Spain and communicating in Spanish daily, that I will make breakthroughs.

Of course, I will keep everyone in the DLE updated on what I learned after my time abroad. I look forward to sharing my experiences.