My name is Elena, I’m a Spanish architect from Madrid, and I’m currently getting ready for what I believe will be one of the most exciting experiences of my life: moving to Los Angeles to work at Morphosis.
I recently completed my Master’s Degree in Architecture at ETSAM. After finishing my studies, I knew I wanted to gain international experience and discover a different way of working and thinking about architecture. The United States had always been a country I was curious about, and Los Angeles was especially interesting to me.
That is how I discovered the Architect-US and Arquia Scholarship opportunity. I applied with my portfolio and, after going through the selection process and an interview, I was lucky enough to receive an offer for an internship at Morphosis in Los Angeles.
Getting the opportunity was incredibly exciting. Morphosis is a studio I have admired for a long time, particularly because of its experimental approach to architecture and its interest in technology, urbanism and new ways of thinking about the built environment. The possibility of learning from such a different professional environment was exactly what I was looking for.
Once I knew I was going to Los Angeles, the next step was preparing all the documentation for my J-1 visa. At first, the process seemed a little overwhelming because there are quite a few documents and procedures to understand. However, everything became much clearer as I progressed through each step.
The support from Santa and Katie throughout the process was also incredibly helpful. They were always attentive and available whenever I had a question or needed help with any part of the process, which made everything feel much easier and more reassuring.
The most anticipated moment was definitely the Embassy interview in Madrid. I was quite nervous beforehand, but the interview itself was much quicker and easier than I had imagined. The consular officer asked me about the purpose of my trip, where I would be working, how long I would stay in the United States and what I expected to do afterwards.
The interview was conducted in Spanish, which helped me feel more relaxed. A few days later, my visa was approved and I finally had my passport back. It was a huge relief and, at the same time, made the move feel much more real.
Now I have less than a month left before I leave Spain.
There is still a lot to organize: finding a home, packing, saying goodbye to family and friends, and getting ready to start working in a completely new environment. I’m excited, nervous and curious!!
I’m especially looking forward to experiencing how architecture is practiced in the United States, improving my English, learning from the people at Morphosis and meeting architects from different backgrounds. I also want to discover Los Angeles beyond what I have seen in movies and photographs, and understand the city as an architect but also as someone who will actually live there.
I’m sure there will be challenges along the way, but that is also part of what makes this experience so exciting.
For now, I’m enjoying these last weeks in Madrid and trying to get everything ready before the big move :)))
