One month in Barcelona: Shadowing nurses in a Spanish hospital

Nursing major Lesli Guadalupe Eufracio-Amates recounts her experience of a month abroad at the Hospital Universitari Sagrat Cor through CEA CAPA's Pre-Health Seminar and Shadowing Program.

As a first-generation student, studying abroad was not something I grew up imagining for myself. There was no familiar roadmap telling me what to expect. There was simply an opportunity, a lot of questions, and a decision to take a chance on myself. One month in Barcelona taught me that sometimes the experiences that feel the most unfamiliar can become the ones that change you the most. For my family, seeing me leave for Spain meant more than watching me get on a plane. It meant seeing me do something none of us had done before. I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone, experience a different culture, and see what life was like outside of the place that I call home. I expected a month of new sights and experiences. What I didn't expect was how much Spain would teach me about independence, healthcare, culture, and, most of all, myself.

 I studied abroad through CEA CAPA's Pre-Health Seminar and Shadowing Program and completed a three-week healthcare rotation at Hospital Universitari Sagrat Cor. This program stood out because it gave me the chance to step inside a hospital in another country and see how healthcare is delivered in a different system and culture. Spain felt like the perfect fit. During my rotation, I spent a week in internal medicine, the emergency room, and the operating room. I was able to observe how healthcare professionals and different members of the healthcare team work together, and how patients and families are involved in care. I also saw how important communication is when working with people from different cultural and language backgrounds. I learned that there can be different approaches to healthcare while still sharing the same goal of caring for patients. This experience helped me think about the kind of nurse I want to become.  

One of my favorite parts of the experience was that I was not a tourist passing through. I lived in an apartment in the center of Barcelona, which meant I got to experience the city the way locals do. Just around the corner was Vivari, a café and bakery that became part of my morning routine. Walking there each day was something new for me, since back home I usually drove wherever I needed to go. In Barcelona, walking became part of everyday life, and I came to love starting each morning on foot, taking in the energy of the city. I was able to attend a Bad Bunny concert with friends. The venue was packed with fans from all over, and the excitement in the crowd could be felt everywhere from the moment I arrived. When the music started, the energy was like nothing I had experienced before.  The night ended with a spectacular fireworks show that lit up the sky. Best of all, the Sagrada Família was only five minutes from my apartment. Sagrada Familia is the tallest church in the world. I was able to attend church on Sundays. Mass was celebrated in Spanish, and being able to understand every word made me feel even more connected. I was able to follow and participate in Mass. They played a song I had heard many times at my church back home. Hearing something so familiar in a place so far away moved me deeply.  I got the chance to see Pope Leo XIV during his visit to the Sagrada Família. Streets were closed, and thousands of people lined up for hours, hoping to catch a glimpse of him. 

I also had the opportunity to take a weekend trip to Valencia, which gave me a chance to experience another side of Spain. Located along the Mediterranean coast, Valencia felt more relaxed than Barcelona, yet it was just as full of beauty, history and culture. One of the highlights of the trip was visiting Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, a stunning museum. Another memorable part of the trip was dining at a rooftop restaurant. Sitting above the city, I enjoyed good food while watching the sun set over Valencia.

Studying abroad also gave me a better understanding of what it means to be a lifelong learner. Not every lesson comes from a classroom. Sometimes learning happens while walking through a new city, trying a new food, getting lost, navigating public transportation, or observing a healthcare professional at work. I learned by experiencing. If you are thinking about studying abroad, I hope my experience encourages you to consider taking the opportunity. For me, studying abroad was an experience that changed the way I see the world and myself. As a first-generation student, I am proud that I took that step.  

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