Upon my arrival in Madrid, the city that I now consider to be my home away from home, I was pretty nervous about what the city had in store for me. The Intern Group had a driver waiting for me right as I left the airport. I was then given a folder that put all my nerves at ease. Inside was everything you would ever want when moving to a foreign country from keys to my apartment to emergency contact numbers. We pulled up to my amazing apartment where I met my roommates who made our apartment feel like home. I was lucky to arrive on the day of the flamenco show, where I met all my fellow interns and watched an amazing performance. From that day on I knew this was going to be an experience I would never forget.
I was given a unique opportunity for my internship through the Intern Group. It was with a top-rated, group and private tours and events company, called Insider’s Madrid. I was able to explore the hidden gems of Madrid with my boss who knew every nook and cranny of the city, while also learning the ins and outs of the tourism field. The Intern Group also set me up with a gig of teaching English to a couple of Madrileños. This ended up being another highlight of my stay. I was able to earn money while teaching my own language and learn some Spanish as well. It was a great way to meet some locals and to immerse myself in the culture and language of the city.
The Intern Group did not only provide me with an internship that I’ll never forget but also with friends to last a lifetime. My closest friends in Madrid were my fellow interns and we were able to explore the city together. The Intern Group made that quite easy as they set up different events for us such as touring Santiago Bernabéu stadium, traveling to Toledo, and day trips to local restaurant favorites. We spent almost every day after our internships at our favorite spots. We spent sunny days in El Parque del Retiro or on the rooftop of El Circulo de Bellas Artes. After a long workday we would grab a bite and a drink at Cien Montaditos or La Sureña. For a good cup of coffee or something sweet we would head to La Mallorquina or to the oldest café in Madrid Café Comercial.
I can truly say that this experience was life changing. Not only do I get to impress my potential future employers with an international internship on my resume but I also take what I learned with me everyday. This experience has taught me how to be on my own, no matter where may be, how to nail a job interview, and what is expected of you in the workplace. It also taught me not to be afraid of new opportunities no matter how intimidating they may seem. So if you’re afraid of interning in a foreign country without knowing anyone as I was, trust me, it will change your life for the better. Take the risk and The Intern Group will be there to guide you along the way. I promise you won’t regret it!