Whoa! My time here in Madrid flew by much faster than I
expected, and although I’m quite sad to be leaving, I’m walking away feeling
incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to learn and grow while
here.
As I’m sure you are all aware, my blog’s title is no longer
applicable to current situation. After two weeks of attending The Madrid Center
of Psychoanalysis, Mariah and I reached our breaking point, and were pulled
from the program ever so graciously by Tania. Reasons for our leaving stem from
the same difficulties I mentioned within the second to last paragraph of my
previous blog post. After week one, Mariah and I both continued to feel
underestimated by our Lecturers, in our ability to comprehend the subject
matter and the language in which it was being presented. Thankfully Tania
compassionately allowed us to terminate our program at the Madrid Center for
Psychoanalysis, and we began our internship at Spiral the following week.
For those unfamiliar, Spiral is drug and alcohol
rehabilitation center set in the heart of Gran Via. There, Mariah and I sit in
on live group therapy sessions in which clients reflect on doubts they have in
themselves and the program. In addition to Client’s struggles with substance
abuse, several also express self-esteem issues, symptoms of depression, and
narcissistic personality traits. Sessions become so dramatic at times I feel as
though I am sitting in on a live episode of Dr.Drew Celebrity Rehab! Many of
the clients are quite talkative and love cracking jokes about each other, and
attempting to speak English with us. Although melodramatic at times, Spiral has
very much opened my eyes to the harsh outcomes of addiction while at the same
time allowing me to empathize with patients on levels I never thought possible.
Even though the internship component of my time spent in
Madrid didn’t go according to plan, I am eternally grateful for all of the
wonderfully eye-opening and pleasurable experiences, memories, and people I
have encountered for the duration of my study abroad experience.
