From Rural Minnesota to the Bustling Capital of Spain

Hiiii everyone, my name is Anna and I’m teaching in Madrid this year! I grew up in Aurora, Minnesota, which is about an hour north of Duluth. I graduated from Carleton College this past June, where I studied Biology and Spanish. After studying abroad in Madrid my junior fall of college, I knew I wanted to return to the city. This led me to develop a fellowship project there in December of 2023 about inequalities in women’s soccer in Spain following the women’s national team’s World Cup win and the Luis Rubiales scandal (ask me about it!!). I ultimately decided to teach in Madrid because living and working here will help me learn what personal and professional avenues I want to pursue. I heard good reviews from friends who have taught for CIEE years prior, and as soon as I got my acceptance, I could feel that it was the right choice. I knew my time in Madrid wasn’t over. 

My goals while abroad are varied, and currently reside in my Notes app, which I open at odd hours to add to and edit. Here’s what it looks like so far:

To do in Spain/Europe

-Soccer network (volunteer)

-Real Jardín Botánico (intern/volunteer)

-Fala Português 

-Women’s league

-BLOG FOR CIEE

-Write for myself. Maybe some journalism stuff from soccer experiences/talking with people.

Can you tell I’m excited to blog? On paper, my goals are pretty straightforward. Get better at speaking Portuguese. Volunteer at a soccer club, volunteer at the botanical garden, join a recreational soccer league (time permitting). Write. These are all so typical of me that, truth be told, I don’t need a list because this is exactly what I would gravitate towards even if I didn’t have a written reminder. However, I can’t wait to see the unexpected consequences of these items, or things that pop up along the way that I would never have considered as an addendum to the list. I’m sure there will be ups and downs over the next 10 months, but I hope to take them in stride and, at the very least, learn from them all.

As I say goodbye to Minnesota, from the conifer forests and lakes of the north to the cornfields and cows of the south, to Minneapolis, with its buildings, bridges, and rivers working together to form (in my opinion) the most iconic of skylines, I reflect on what makes this place home. Of course, I’ve spent the majority of my life here, but I’ve found that it’s those around me that bring me comfort, and the people who have shaped me are what will keep Minnesota sharp in my memory. Though saying goodbye isn’t easy, I feel lucky because this means I have a wonderful community here. Madrid is familiar to me, but I look forward to all the new places I’ll go, the things I’ll learn, and the connections I’ll build. I’m excited to share the next few months with you, throughout the expected and unexpected. To my friends and family, I hope these posts cause the distance between us, momentarily, to become obsolete.

While awaiting my arrival in Madrid in three days, enjoy these photos of me cross country skiing and inspecting prairie plants with my sibling, Emma, as well as a photo of my family's cat, Geo (or Leo, if you're my mom). 

Until next time,

Anna

P.S. Follow along with me on Instagram @a.greenlee :)