ON THE ROAD: PROFILES
GABRIELA FRADE
Madrid, Spain
Gabriela works at a hostel in Madrid, and wants a career in museums.
“Earlier this year, I was traveling in Italy, deciding where to go next. I’d been to Madrid for a week of vacation before, so I thought, why not? In the moment of making a choice, why not go where you’ve enjoyed and been comfortable before?”
“I love working at the hostel. I get to meet new people every day from lots of different places. I’m from Lisbon, which is a smaller city, so we don’t get as many tourists at the moment. I prefer bigger cities like Madrid where I can meet people I wouldn’t get to otherwise. This is a really enriching experience because I’m always questioning what I think is normal for me, for my country, for my community.”
“I’ve been here three weeks and hope to stay a whole year. After working here, I’d like to move onto a career in museums, which is my professional field. And, I do miss being home – because you know, its home – but I specifically miss the sea and the river. In Lisbon, you’re always close to the water, and I appreciate that. Though I didn’t think this when I was actually living there…”
“My favorite part about Madrid is it’s culture, and the fact that it is everywhere. There are theatres, museums, and concerts taking place all the time. I also really like the way the people here put themselves on the street and scream for what they want. This might just be my impression, but I think they are very outgoing, and I love that.”