What inspired you to go abroad?
Aside from the overall desire to spend time abroad, my decision was actually a result of my university program requirement. In my international relations degree, I was required to either study abroad, work abroad, or complete a project abroad.
In truth, my path toward that degree was largely influenced by this international experience requirement—it just seemed like the perfect idea!
Why did you choose The Intern Group?
I chose to go through The Intern Group (TIG) because it was one of the organizations partnered with my university (Carleton University) that had my ideal destination. I was set on going to Spain as soon as I was accepted into my program, and once I discovered TIG had Madrid as a destination, I saw no other organization fit for me.
As for the Digital Nomad program, I selected it because while I really wanted to go to Spain, my Spanish proficiency was not very high which might have made my in person internship more challenging. With this program, I was still able to go to Spain but work remotely for a company in English!
What was your favorite part about Spain?
Royal Palace of Madrid
Without a doubt, my favourite part about Madrid and Spain as a whole is the attitude towards life. Coming from Canada, I was accustomed to the "live to work" mindset. It is normalized for your life to revolve around work and your career.
In Spain, however, the opposite is true: work to live. I learned fairly quickly that the locals value their time with friends and family, and many municipal laws reflect this value—reduced work hours in the summer, more vacation time, etc.
Cafes and restaurants were busy at any time of day, any day of the week. It made me realize that there is a way to still work hard but not be confined to a job!
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
My position within the Digital Nomad program allowed me to do incredible amounts of travel. Since I wasn't technically bound to Madrid, I had the opportunity to explore Spain, as well as other countries (France, Portugal, Switzerland, Italy) to my heart's desire.
I would spend my weekdays in Madrid, and head for a new city on the weekend. To this day, I cannot believe that was my real life at the time.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The local staff was fantastic. We had two TIG staff on the ground in Madrid who often organized events for all the interns to attend together. For us in Madrid, this involved picnics in Parque El Retiro, a dinner and a Flamenco show, and day trips to neighbouring towns such as Segovia.
They also would check in with us throughout our internships to ensure all was going well, and they were sure to update us on any important information. I would further add that they were incredibly supportive during the process prior to arriving in Madrid—from helping to secure the internship to finding housing accommodations, my experience could not have been smoother.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I had spent more time in Madrid. I was there for 8 weeks, which is incredible in and of itself, but I found that only by the end of those two weeks was I feeling really comfortable with my surroundings.
Had I spent a few more weeks there, I believe I would have been able to enjoy the city and maybe even more of the country to the fullest extent!
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
In front of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, Barcelona
Since I worked remotely for a company based in NYC, I worked based on their timezone, which was 6 hours ahead of Madrid. This meant I only started work at 3 pm local time.
With this context, I would wake up, make myself breakfast, and head out for a walk every morning. My walks involved trying to find a new coffee shop—this helped me explore the city! Then I would work from my apartment, usually until 8 pm (my internship supervisor was very flexible with my work arrangements), and then either make dinner or head out with friends!
What was also nice about this setup is that locals in Spain tend to have very late dinners, so I was never worried about missing out on a dinner outing—8 pm was considered early!
What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?
As previously mentioned, I most enjoyed walking around the city. With so much time in the morning before work, I was able to head in a new direction every day, checking out a new neighbourhood or area.
There are so many unique shops, restaurants, and cafes that not once did I feel like I was always seeing the same thing every day.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I lived in an apartment with 4 other roommates (5 total). One of the roommates was a fellow TIG intern (who is now a very close friend), and the others were young adults from other countries living in Spain.
It was a very international household with me from Canada, my TIG roommate from the US, and the others from France, Germany, and Chile!
What I liked most about our accommodation was its location. We were very close to the city centre, and even closer to two of the main shopping streets. We were within walking distance of all the main attractions!
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
That it will make you a better person. Having the experience and perspective of living in a completely different country with different customs and norms changes the way you perceive your life and what you think you know.
You learn so much about a new place and can bring it back with you, ultimately changing the way you look at yourself and your life back home. For me, my self-confidence grew tremendously.
Would you recommend The Intern Group to others? Why?
Absolutely! TIG made the process incredibly easy. All you do is give them your areas of interest, those being location and field of work, and they essentially do the rest for you.
They help secure an interview for an internship and find accommodation for you. They ensure you arrive well, and they are very involved while you are there too.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Menton, Frannce
The biggest benefit is the perspective you gain. As mentioned earlier, all countries have different norms and customs, and you grow accustomed to the one you live in. So moving to another country and having to learn their ways of being is incredibly eye-opening and refreshing.
You get to see something new and different, and even find ways to bring it back home with you.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I am significantly more confident, and I feel as though my worldview has greatly improved. I feel more at ease with not knowing something (which was all the time in Madrid), and can say that the people I met and the things I learned will stick with me forever.
In practical terms, it has also made me more interesting to others, specifically employers! It makes you stand out as a candidate to say that you worked in another country.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means learning, growing, and trying new things. To me, the purpose of travelling is to be somewhere new and different. So as long as I have picked up a new food, some new words, or a completely new mindset, the travel has been meaningful.
Meaningful travel also happens when it is spent with friends and family—and the new people you meet who become just that!
