Shadowing an orthopedic surgeon in Madrid--an experience of a lifetime!

Quick Summary:
I just finished an amazing two-month "shadow a surgeon" internship program with Adelante Abroad in Madrid (September-October 2013). For this particular program, the first two weeks are spent taking intensive Spanish classes in a language school called Eureka. The following six weeks are spent doing an internship with a local hospital or clinic, where the student shadows an assigned surgeon. Honestly, it was an experience of a lifetime & I would definitely recommend this program!!

Program Administration:
In the few months prior to my trip, the California-based office of Adelante Abroad communicated with me via phone and email, explaining the program and answering any questions I had. They were all very nice and encouraging. The part that got a little messy was when I was actually leaving for Madrid. The program is run by both the California-based office and their Madrid-based contacts. The California office talks to the students that would like to go abroad, performs the screening process, etc., while the Madrid contacts figure out the internship details (they have major connections in Madrid). I was expecting to know who I would be shadowing at least 1 month prior to my trip. I found out 2 weeks prior to my trip that my internship assignment wasn't confirmed yet, although they told me who I might possibly be shadowing (not too great for reassuring panicky parents). In their defense, my internship was a unique one--I am a bioengineer searching a medical shadowing position. PLUS, Spain is on vacation for August and many of the businesses/offices are closed, making it really difficult to make the arrangements for my internship. But still, I would have liked to be reassured that there was something concrete for me to come to before leaving.

Living, Spanish Classes & Getting Situated:
I arrived in Madrid, where I was welcomed and taken to my centrally-located apartment by Angel, the main Adelante Abroad contact in Spain. I absolutely loved my apartment--close to everything, safe, and cool apartment mates from Adelante and Eureka. During the first two weeks I took Spanish classes at Eureka, and my experience there was perfect! The staff and instructors were incredibly nice and welcoming, and I really felt encouraged to speak Spanish. The internship coordinator, Antonio, met with me throughout the first two weeks to talk to me about my internship assignment. My assignment changed twice before I actually started. Yes, it was a bit frustrating and confusing at first, BUT once I started my internship, I felt much more relieved.

Internship:
I shadowed a surgical team in the orthopedics, sports medicine, and trauma department. It was a bit difficult to adapt because my lacking Spanish skills (this will happen with ANY internship abroad program), but it was an absolutely amazing experience. I felt like I was immersed in real Spanish life--culture, food, work. I came into the clinic and literally sat in the operating rooms while I watched back-to-back surgeries. I saw total knee replacements, rotator cuff repair surgeries, ACL reconstructions, meniscectomies, and much more. Whenever I had questions, the surgeon was willing and ready to answer. The surgeons really made me feel welcome, even including me for a team dinner during my first week!

Overall, I would definitely recommend this program.. I mean, how often are you able to do it all in one program--learn Spanish, live in central Madrid, AND watch cool surgeries!