A Whole New World
While teaching in Spain, Cain meets the daily challenges of a different culture and country.
In a way, Gabby Cain (WC ‘18) is making up for lost time. While attending Indiana Wesleyan University, Cain and a friend made plans for a long European trip.
Then COVID put those vacation plans on hold. Cain made sure her dream was not detoured, just delayed.
In September, Cain landed a job as a language assistant in Cadiz on the peninsula of Spain.
“Seeing the world and experiencing different cultures has always been a passion of mine,” Cain said. “There is still something every day that amazes me and makes me grateful to live in Spain. “Whether running along the beach at sunset or exploring the oldest inhabited city in Europe, I’m reminded of the beautiful place I get to live.”
Cain discovered RVF International, an organization that seeks people who want to serve as English teachers in Spain. The program, run by the Spanish government, places native English speakers in schools to help increase students’ understanding of the English language.
It is estimated that only 14 to 22 percent of Spaniards speak English as a second language, making it one of the lowest percentage of English speakers in Europe.
“My job is to work with students to help teach them English and about American culture,” Cain said. “I work in a primary/elementary school, and my students are among the best parts of living here.”
This is not Cain’s first experience in working with children. Although she majored in psychology and minored in business, Cain’s passion for working with children led her to work for three years at Jill’s House in Washington, D.C.
Jill’s House is a non-profit Christian organization that supports families raising children, adolescents, and young adults between the ages of 6 and 22 with profound intellectual disabilities. The house provides short-term, overnight respite care and holistic family support services.
Cain learned about the organization through a job fair at IWU. Upon graduating, she moved to Washington, D.C., to work in Jill’s House’s year-long fellowship program.
After completing the fellowship program, Cain stayed on staff and worked full-time and part-time.
“We lived in apartments together, got professional experience, and dove into discussions on faith, disability, and inclusion,” Cain said. “To this day, I remain close with some of the kids I got to know more outside of Jill’s House.
“While this job differs from what I was doing at Jill’s House (teaching in Spain), it continues my passion for working with children.”
Understanding students with special needs and helping their families required patience for those working at Jill’s House. It has helped Cain appreciate how sympathetic and accepting her host country has been with her.
“As an American living in Spain, the biggest barrier has been the language,” she said. “It is a humbling experience when you realize how little of a language you know, in addition to the region I live in being known for their difficult accent.”
Cain said she has learned to approach situations and conversations with the mindset of “I’m living in their country to learn their culture and to speak their language.”
“The first week before I began to find my place, it was all extremely overwhelming,” Cain said. “Not being equipped to communicate what I need has made me feel embarrassed and dumb sometimes.
“However, many people have been patient with me and helped me learn. I love meeting people who are also language assistants, new Spanish friends, teachers and students from school, and even friendly locals at a coffee shop.”
Since the area Cain lives in is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, she spends much of her free time at the beach, exploring the city and having meals with new friends.
And yet, there are times when Cain longs for an American hamburger and French fries. When she caught a cold the other day, she learned there’s no equivalent to Dayquil in Spain.
“There is also guilt in leaving behind people you love and care about,” Cain said. “But this year is filled with many opportunities for personal and spiritual growth, to discover more about myself, dig deeper in my faith, and push myself outside my comfort zone.
“I’m learning more about what the Lord has called me to do in this life and to surrender every aspect of my life, even the littlest of things, while I watch Him work it out better than I could have ever imagined. I wouldn’t change this journey I’m on for anything.”