What inspired you to go abroad?
I always wanted to travel outside of the United States, but had only been to Mexico and Canada. When I was a junior in college, I really didn't have a plan for what I was going to do when I graduated, so I decided to travel abroad with Adelante Abroad. Putting together travel and an internship sounded like the perfect opportunity.
Why did you choose your specific organization?
Adelante Abroad was recommended by my university because my school only offered study abroad programs. I am so happy that they did because traveling with this company was one of the best decisions I ever made. I did an internship in social media marketing and worked with a boutique company in Barcelona. I chose this specific program because I have always had an interest in social media and really wanted to dive into the work behind it.
Influencer event for an Internship in Barcelona
What was your favorite part of your host country?
This is such a difficult question because there were so many things that were my favorite. The food in Spain is to die for, and the food culture is so different from that in the United States. I also loved that everyone took public transportation. The metros were so clean, and everyone would walk to work. The architecture in Barcelona was so incredible, down every street was another building with architecture that I was blown away with.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Adelante Abroad puts together its programs differently from any other company out there, and in the best way. My experience abroad was extraordinary because with my program, I was able to meet friends, whom I still talk with to this day, in the first couple of days while I was abroad. Adelante has the people participating in their programs go to a language school for the first 2 weeks while abroad, and that is where I met a ton of people. Not to mention some of the best Spanish language classes that I have ever taken.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
I was picked up from the airport by the staff who brought me straight to my housing. I was very nervous traveling abroad for the first time, and having airport pickup available helped me calm my nerves a ton. I was greeted by the Barcelona Program Director, who let me know when to be at the Spanish school the next day and gave me the keys to my apartment. I was given her contact information before I went abroad, just in case I needed anything.
What's one thing you wish you had done differently during your time abroad?
During my time abroad, I wish I had traveled every weekend. I traveled to a couple of different countries while I was there and explored Barcelona in the evenings. Traveling to other countries is so cheap and easy that I wish I had truly taken advantage of that when I was abroad. I got very familiar with the busy parts of Barcelona, but I wish I had explored more on my own to different parts of the city as well.
Internship in Spain Travel
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day while I was abroad looked like this:
- 9:00 AM Wake up and walk to a coffee shop around the corner for a croissant and espresso.
- 9:30 AM Get on the metro to the office
- 10:00 AM Start work (photoshoots, creating social media posts, influencer events)
- 2:00 PM Get done with work, meet up with my friends to explore the city, go shopping, and get lunch
- 9:00 PM Get ready for dinner
- 10:00 PM Dinner time
- 11:30 PM Get home from dinner and go to sleep
What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?
Barcelona is an incredible city and very dense. During my free time on weekdays, I would visit new restaurants, go to the beach, shop at Las Ramblas, visit the historic sites of the city, watch the FIFA World Cup at different bars, and go to the gym. On the weekends, my friends and I would take day trips to surrounding cities, like taking the train to Monserrat, traveling to Seville, flying to Ibiza, and exploring the city more.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I stayed in housing with other Adelante Abroad and international students. I loved how close this accommodation was to the metro and how fast I could get anywhere in the city I wanted. I loved that I met people around the same age as me at the accommodations and got to explore with them. I had my own room, which was really nice at the end of the day.
Adelante Abroad Interns on the Beach in Spain
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
One thing that every future participant should know about this program is that it is okay to be nervous about new things and getting out of your comfort zone. The best way to grow professionally and personally is by pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. This program was life-changing for me, and I think it is for anyone who participates.
Would you recommend your program to others? Why?
I would definitely recommend this program to anyone. This program is at an affordable price (better than any other program that I researched). You will grow more as an individual by traveling by yourself. I didn't feel pressured to go on any excursions that I didn't want to. I was able to make my own schedule, and this program helped my resume so much! I eventually started my own business because of this program.
What do you feel is the biggest benefit of traveling abroad?
The biggest benefit of traveling abroad is learning about new cultures. You learn so much from visiting other countries: how the people who live there actually spend their time, how people build lasting friendships and relationships, how people value their time with one another, and how cities are so different from where you grew up.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
My love for travel definitely started because of this program. I now travel more than 10 times a year just because I took the leap, got out of my comfort zone, and participated in this program. Living in Barcelona taught me to slow down and that living a fulfilling life is so much more than working a 9-5 job.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means spending your time wisely, away from your phone, exploring and adventuring, pushing yourself to do things that you would not usually do at home, making lasting memories, meeting new friends, falling in love, taking the risks that you usually wouldn't, learning what you like and don't like, and finding yourself along the way.
