EA Faculty News Spring 2021 Interview with Hailey Egelhoff
Interview with Hailey Egelhoff -- a three-time Ed Abroad alum and former Peer Advisor in Education Abroad
Hailey attended the Tanzania Global Seminar in Summer 2018, the CIEE Amsterdam Social Sciences program in Fall 2018, and completed a Global Internship in Buenos Aires, Argentina in Summer 2019!
She's currently abroad in Spain so we asked her to give us a glimpse into her life abroad during the Covid-19 pandemic, and reflect on her experience in Spain vs her other time abroad in other countries.
Q: Where are you in Spain and what are you doing?
A: I am currently in Valverde del Camino, Spain which is a small town of about 12,000 people in the Andalusia region of Spain. The town is in the South-East of Spain and this is considered the “country”, so it is pretty different from what I am used to in Denver or Boulder! I am working as an English language assistant - or an “auxiliar” as we are called here - at a primary school as part of the North American Cultural and Language Assistant Program through the Ministry of Education of Spain. I work about 12
hours a week with the English, Natural Science, and Social Sciences classes with first through sixth graders. It is a bilingual elementary school so most of the material and activities supplement what they are already doing in the classroom such as learning about healthy foods and habits. For the American holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving I have led the class to teach the students about these days and how they are celebrated back home in the states. With the new COVID restrictions I can only enter one classroom and all my other classes have been online. This is new for me and for the school, making it a learning process for everyone involved! While I only work directly with first grade and there are lots of technically difficulties, the kids are all so excited to learn and try to speak English it makes it always worth the challenge and effort.
Q: What is it like to be in Spain during the Covid-19 pandemic?
A: Being in Spain during the pandemic is a completely different experience than a typical year. In terms of getting here, all of the steps to getting my visa were delayed and I actually ended up getting here two weeks after I was supposed to start work. It all worked out since I am now here and was able to book a last-minute ticket and my school was extremely understanding about the situation, allowing me to arrive late and work extra hours to make up for lost time. Right now, Andalusia’s regional and municipal borders are all closed except for essential travel. Additional restrictions and regulations require all non-essential businesses close at 6 PM, although a new rule allows restaurants to provide take-away options until 9 PM, and there is a curfew from 10 PM to 7 AM. Since all municipal borders are closed and I live and work in Valverde del Camino, I have been unable to travel to other cities in Andalusia or Spain more broadly as I would have liked. While this is not ideal, it has provided the opportunity to really get to know Valverde del Camino. I have explored many different parts of the town and the surrounding natural areas. It has been quite an adjustment getting comfortable with a slower pace of life that is partly Spanish and partly small-town life. One of the biggest differences between COVID in Spain versus the U.S. that I noticed immediately is that mask wearing is a standard here and I rarely, if ever, see anyone not wearing a mask out in public, even while running or cycling. It’s interesting to see how people have adjusted to the restrictions to maintain parts of traditional Spanish culture. Before the restrictions I hardly ever saw people out during
siesta (from 2 to 5 PM) but since everything has to close so early now, people are getting together earlier to socialize rather than later in the evening. I love that people here seem to be conscientious of the restrictions and regulations to stay safe while maintaining parts of Spanish culture and daily life. Due to the pandemic, various cultural events that draw large crowds have been cancelled, making the smaller events even more important and exciting such as the Christmas lights going up all around Valverde. While it is a difficult experience to be in Spain during a pandemic and not get to experience everything Spain may have to offer in terms of travel and festivals, in a way it is more special because I am able to focus on getting to know the locals, improving my Spanish language skills, and appreciating my town which is relatively COVID-free for the moment.
Q: How does your experience on the Tanzania Global Seminar relate to your new experience in Spain?
A: My experience in Tanzania camping for weeks and learning about conservation and indigenous peoples was very different from my current experience teaching English in Spain; however, I learned skills that have helped with my new adventure. In both situations, there was a significant language barrier. I could not understand any Swahili, Maa or Hadzabe in Tanzania and although I do speak Spanish, everyone speaks so quickly and with a different accent that I can still feel lost. Tanzania taught me how to be okay in new or uncomfortable situations where I may not understand what is going on all the time. I learned how to listen more intently and how to become comfortable asking questions if I do not understand. Now, I often find myself listening to the conversations going on around me and rather than tuning out or feeling awkward, I just listen and I find that I am understanding more and more every day. I don’t mind asking for help or simply saying I don’t understand and if someone can repeat themselves so I can join the conversation or respond correctly.
Q: How did your time in Tanzania prepare you for this new experience abroad?
A: In Tanzania, we learned that there was time and then there is “Tanzanian time” which is much more relaxed than I was used to in the states. This taught me to be “kua flexible,” meaning being patient and flexible with time and plans. The idea of “Tanzania time” and being kua flexible definitely applies here in Spain where everything happens on “Spanish time.” Nothing is really rushed, and plans can change rather quickly so I need to be ready to adapt to the situation. This typically means being a little
over-prepared and being ready to assist a teacher if I get called into a class or just being okay with plans starting an hour later than initially planned. Nothing is ever “easy,” but I have found comfort and routine in each new environment. Every day is a new challenge but it is awesome, and I love the constant opportunity to learn and grow. Even the “failures” or mistakes make a good story and I know how to improve or what not to do next time.
Q: What would you like to share with others about the differences and similarities between studying and teaching abroad?
A: I would say that studying abroad and working or teaching abroad are two pretty different experiences and are both challenging and rewarding in their own ways. Studying abroad for a semester in Amsterdam gave me the skills I needed to be able to now work abroad. I am more familiar with the ups and downs of travel, the excitement and the homesickness. Being here in Spain, I am more immersed in the culture and the town than I was during my semester abroad, largely because I am one of only two Americans here and one of the five native English speakers in a town of 12,000 people. I am confronted with a different culture and language at every turn which is exhilarating and nerve wracking at the same time. My experience studying abroad was similar, however more people spoke English and I shared the experience with a larger support network. While studying in Amsterdam for a semester, I was with a group of students both through my program and at the university which made the adjustment much easier in terms of finding my niche and meeting new people. Since I am now working in Spain and I am not attending classes, there are fewer people that are in a similar position as I am, which can make it more difficult to meet people and connect with others, with our jobs, different commitments, in a small town during a worldwide pandemic that discourages meeting new people. However, there are other auxiliaries in my region and town with whom I have been able to connect via WhatsApp and Facebook groups for expats and Auxiliaries. I have simply had to be more proactive and seek out people or activities to get involved and grow my social circle.
Q: What are your favorite things about Spain?
A: Everyone I have met here has been so friendly and welcoming that it has made this difficult transition so much easier. Right away, the director of my school offered to pick me up at the bus stop in Huelva after traveling for 20+ hours and drive me the last leg of my journey to Valverde del Camino so I wouldn’t have to take another long bus ride. She welcomed me into her home with lunch prepared, introduced me to her family, and took me to my house, making my first couple hours in Valverde wonderfully comfortable. Even people I meet in restaurants and shops are very patient if I have trouble with the language and are happy to talk with me and offer help if I ever need anything. The language barrier has been a larger adjustment than I had anticipated and definitely should have prepared for but this is an amazing opportunity to improve my Spanish skills and learn “Andaluz” - the specific way people in Andalusia speak. I love the language and how animated people are and I cannot wait until I am able to express myself in the same manner.
Hailey attended the Tanzania Global Seminar in Summer 2018, the CIEE Amsterdam Social Sciences program in Fall 2018, and completed a Global Internship in Buenos Aires, Argentina in Summer 2019!
She's currently abroad in Spain so we asked her to give us a glimpse into her life abroad during the Covid-19 pandemic, and reflect on her experience in Spain vs her other time abroad in other countries.
Q: Where are you in Spain and what are you doing?
A: I am currently in Valverde del Camino, Spain which is a small town of about 12,000 people in the Andalusia region of Spain. The town is in the South-East of Spain and this is considered the “country”, so it is pretty different from what I am used to in Denver or Boulder! I am working as an English language assistant - or an “auxiliar” as we are called here - at a primary school as part of the North American Cultural and Language Assistant Program through the Ministry of Education of Spain. I work about 12
Q: What is it like to be in Spain during the Covid-19 pandemic?
A: Being in Spain during the pandemic is a completely different experience than a typical year. In terms of getting here, all of the steps to getting my visa were delayed and I actually ended up getting here two weeks after I was supposed to start work. It all worked out since I am now here and was able to book a last-minute ticket and my school was extremely understanding about the situation, allowing me to arrive late and work extra hours to make up for lost time. Right now, Andalusia’s regional and municipal borders are all closed except for essential travel. Additional restrictions and regulations require all non-essential businesses close at 6 PM, although a new rule allows restaurants to provide take-away options until 9 PM, and there is a curfew from 10 PM to 7 AM. Since all municipal borders are closed and I live and work in Valverde del Camino, I have been unable to travel to other cities in Andalusia or Spain more broadly as I would have liked. While this is not ideal, it has provided the opportunity to really get to know Valverde del Camino. I have explored many different parts of the town and the surrounding natural areas. It has been quite an adjustment getting comfortable with a slower pace of life that is partly Spanish and partly small-town life. One of the biggest differences between COVID in Spain versus the U.S. that I noticed immediately is that mask wearing is a standard here and I rarely, if ever, see anyone not wearing a mask out in public, even while running or cycling. It’s interesting to see how people have adjusted to the restrictions to maintain parts of traditional Spanish culture. Before the restrictions I hardly ever saw people out during
Q: How does your experience on the Tanzania Global Seminar relate to your new experience in Spain?
A: My experience in Tanzania camping for weeks and learning about conservation and indigenous peoples was very different from my current experience teaching English in Spain; however, I learned skills that have helped with my new adventure. In both situations, there was a significant language barrier. I could not understand any Swahili, Maa or Hadzabe in Tanzania and although I do speak Spanish, everyone speaks so quickly and with a different accent that I can still feel lost. Tanzania taught me how to be okay in new or uncomfortable situations where I may not understand what is going on all the time. I learned how to listen more intently and how to become comfortable asking questions if I do not understand. Now, I often find myself listening to the conversations going on around me and rather than tuning out or feeling awkward, I just listen and I find that I am understanding more and more every day. I don’t mind asking for help or simply saying I don’t understand and if someone can repeat themselves so I can join the conversation or respond correctly.
Q: How did your time in Tanzania prepare you for this new experience abroad?
A: In Tanzania, we learned that there was time and then there is “Tanzanian time” which is much more relaxed than I was used to in the states. This taught me to be “kua flexible,” meaning being patient and flexible with time and plans. The idea of “Tanzania time” and being kua flexible definitely applies here in Spain where everything happens on “Spanish time.” Nothing is really rushed, and plans can change rather quickly so I need to be ready to adapt to the situation. This typically means being a little
Q: What would you like to share with others about the differences and similarities between studying and teaching abroad?
A: I would say that studying abroad and working or teaching abroad are two pretty different experiences and are both challenging and rewarding in their own ways. Studying abroad for a semester in Amsterdam gave me the skills I needed to be able to now work abroad. I am more familiar with the ups and downs of travel, the excitement and the homesickness. Being here in Spain, I am more immersed in the culture and the town than I was during my semester abroad, largely because I am one of only two Americans here and one of the five native English speakers in a town of 12,000 people. I am confronted with a different culture and language at every turn which is exhilarating and nerve wracking at the same time. My experience studying abroad was similar, however more people spoke English and I shared the experience with a larger support network. While studying in Amsterdam for a semester, I was with a group of students both through my program and at the university which made the adjustment much easier in terms of finding my niche and meeting new people. Since I am now working in Spain and I am not attending classes, there are fewer people that are in a similar position as I am, which can make it more difficult to meet people and connect with others, with our jobs, different commitments, in a small town during a worldwide pandemic that discourages meeting new people. However, there are other auxiliaries in my region and town with whom I have been able to connect via WhatsApp and Facebook groups for expats and Auxiliaries. I have simply had to be more proactive and seek out people or activities to get involved and grow my social circle.
Q: What are your favorite things about Spain?
A: Everyone I have met here has been so friendly and welcoming that it has made this difficult transition so much easier. Right away, the director of my school offered to pick me up at the bus stop in Huelva after traveling for 20+ hours and drive me the last leg of my journey to Valverde del Camino so I wouldn’t have to take another long bus ride. She welcomed me into her home with lunch prepared, introduced me to her family, and took me to my house, making my first couple hours in Valverde wonderfully comfortable. Even people I meet in restaurants and shops are very patient if I have trouble with the language and are happy to talk with me and offer help if I ever need anything. The language barrier has been a larger adjustment than I had anticipated and definitely should have prepared for but this is an amazing opportunity to improve my Spanish skills and learn “Andaluz” - the specific way people in Andalusia speak. I love the language and how animated people are and I cannot wait until I am able to express myself in the same manner.
Last Updated February 2021