By Lillian Williams

Today the group visited a privately owned optometrist in the big city of Madrid. Having had glasses for most of my life, I was expecting to know most of the information given to us while we were touring the business. However, I couldn’t have been more wrong and I was pleasantly surprised by not knowing almost anything about the behind-the-scenes making of glasses and visual therapy. Experiencing vision therapy helped me find a new appreciation for my eyesight. Although it’s not the best, I am grateful that it can easily be fixed with glasses. Viewing the shaping and filing of the lenses also made me appreciate the hard work that goes into the optometry business. The visual therapy helped me see the world in a new perspective and helped me have empathy for others who are not as fortunate as I am. The activities were fun and different and I’ll remember this experience for the rest of my life.

During the entire visit, Ana, the owner of the business, spoke and explained her job in-depth all in Spanish. At first, it was a little hard to follow because of the introduction to new vocabulary and setting, but as time went on I started to pick up more and more, and by the end of the visit I was comprehending almost everything she was saying. The immersion I have experienced with the Spanish language as I have been here has helped me to increase my input and output of Spanish. Not only this, but my confidence with the language has increased significantly. I am no longer afraid to speak to the locals when ordering food or just simply having a conversation with them. I am truly grateful for this experience as a whole and individually with specific moments.

The next time I enter the optometrist, I’ll be able to see it in a new light. I’ll have a better understanding of what the workers put their time and effort into in order to help me live my life to the fullest. The wait for the glasses to come in the mail will be less filled with annoyance and impatience, and replaced with gratitude and excitement. My experiences in Madrid today have opened my eyes and strengthened my confidence in Spanish. I would like to thank Mrs. Kiland and Ana for making this incredible experience possible and teaching me about something that is essential to me in day to day life.