Absolute Internship

1. Brief description of the host company/ organisation and supervisor(s) ERITAGE Studio Gallery is a vibrant contemporary art space in Lisbon that champions artistic plurality and uses art as a tool for human development and corporate engagement. It is a dynamic hub where international exhibitions foster intercultural dialogue. The gallery is led by its Founder and Creative Director, Joao Marcus Cavalcanti—a former finance professional from Rio de Janeiro who transitioned to gallerist in Portugal. He has built a remarkable cultural bridge between Brazil, Portugal, and Africa through artist residencies and shared productions. Committed to social dialogue and sustainability, Cavalcanti steers ERITAGE as a space where contemporary art intersects with social consciousness, making it an incredibly inspiring environment to learn from. 2. Your job duties, contributions and accomplishments My role as a Public Relations Intern was varied. My main responsibility was social media content creation and curation. I created and scheduled engaging visual content for Instagram including photography, reels and behind-the-scenes stories to promote current exhibitions and artists, greatly increasing the gallery's online engagement. I also carried out extensive research and reporting on galleries, visiting contemporary art spaces across Lisbon, looking at curatorial strategies and producing detailed reports that fed into our strategic programming. I provided direct support during the installation and de-installation of exhibitions, including handling artworks, setting lighting and display materials, and the safe packing and storage of works. These contributions have given me a holistic view of gallery operations from the public facing promotion to the physical logistics that take place behind the scenes. 3. Difficulties encountered during the internship (if any) The internship was not without its challenges. Professionally, I was initially daunted by the physicality of the role – in Hong Kong, gallery assistants rarely engage in manual construction, but here I was drilling into gallery walls to hang installations, meaning I had to learn proper techniques from scratch. Culturally, the language barrier was sometimes tough, as many locals do not speak fluent English outside of the tourism sector. I had to use hand gestures and basic Portuguese phrases. The city’s notorious topography, built on seven steep hills, was a real workout when commuting. This was personally my first experience living in an 8 bedroom flat with 7 other flat mates which really tested my patience and communication skills on a daily basis as well as bouts of homesickness over the holidays. 4. Knowledge/ skills/ benefits acquired from the internship I have learned a great deal professionally. I deepened my understanding of the artists' backgrounds, creative processes, and thematic concerns, which greatly enriched my appreciation for Portuguese art history and its cultural context. Translating these insights into words, I had the rewarding opportunity to write articles for the gallery's official Substack account—crafting engaging narratives that bridged the artists' visions with our audience, and sharpening my ability to communicate complex artistic ideas with clarity and warmth. On the practical side, I also gained hands-on technical skills in the safe installation and de-installation of artworks, from precise measuring and levelling to correct wrapping, safe transport, and meticulous inventory documentation—skills I never imagined I would learn but now value immensely. Most notably, I developed invaluable interpersonal and adaptability skills, learning to think quickly on my feet when my supervisor assigned last-minute work, and consistently delivering quality output under pressure without losing my composure. 5. Insights into the culture and people of the destination What impressed me most about Lisbon was not just its postcard beauty but its emotional depth, a kind of poetic melancholy that the Portuguese call saudade. This bittersweet longing is in the air all over the city, most distinctly in the plaintive guitar of Fado music drifting from dimly lit taverns, but it does not weigh down the culture. Instead it coexists with an extraordinary warmth and a deep sense of community. I loved the neighborhood life, like in Alfama, where old ladies gossip across clothes-lined balconies, and in the Santos Populares festivities, whole streets become open-air banquets, with neighbors grilling sardines together. The locals taught me desenrascanço — the uniquely Portuguese ability to improvise with charm and resourcefulness. They’re not on the clock, but on the clock of the golden descent of the sun over the Tagus River, valuing human connection over relentless efficiency. Whether it’s a long coffee in a quiet pastelaria or an informal greeting from shopkeepers, Lisboetas are quietly resilient and welcoming, making me feel less like a foreigner and more like a temporary piece of their lively, unhurried story.

My experience in Stockholm is hard to define in just one word, although I think I did a pretty good job with the title earlier. I can start precisely with how sweet the whole community was, and not just referring to the program environment, off course they were amazing. When I went, I was aware that I was going to face a lot of challenges, even more when I was thinking that I couldn't even imagine many of those challenges at that moment. It was exciting in a limited sense. Something I'm really grateful to this whole adventure for, is giving me the opportunity to prove to myself how agile, quick, and relaxed I can be when facing new places, people, and moments.

Working under Japanese architectural standards refined my attention to detail, from millimetric plan specifications and flawless physical and digital models to rigorous material and color approvals. Also, the firm’s global environment, operating across Japanese, English, French, Spanish, and Mandarin, significantly broadened my cross-cultural collaboration skills and global perspective. Beyond the studio, exploring Tokyo and four additional Japanese cities alongside international colleagues turned personal goals into lifelong memories.

My experience with the Absolute Internship abroad program was incredibly valuable and memorable. Spending 6 weeks in Madrid, Spain, allowed me to gain professional experience while also experiencing a new culture, work environment, and a new sense of independence. One of the highlights of the program was the opportunity to work at Asesoria Debe Haber Asociaciones, where I was able to develop skills in establishing new nonprofit national or local organizations by working on founding their board or statutes. The internship gave me a better understanding of my career interests and allowed me to apply what I have learned in school to a real-world environment while also educating myself on how this country's system differs from that of mine and learning how this can help me build upon my current professional knowledge. Outside of work, living in Madrid allowed me to explore new places, meet people from different backgrounds, and experience the local culture. The program staff was extremely supportive and helpful, making the transition to living abroad much easier. Although there were some challenges, such as adjusting to a new environment and working for the first time at a location that aligns with my professional goals, along with a slight language barrier, these experiences helped me grow personally and professionally. Overall, I would highly recommend this program to other students considering an internship abroad. It provided me with meaningful professional experience, unforgettable memories, and a greater sense of confidence and independence.

Throughout my 2 months living and working in Madrid, I absolutely fell in love with the city. The culture, food, social scene, and environment was unmatched. Thanks to Absolute, I met some of my best friends while abroad. I am so lucky to have found such an amazing group of people to share this experience with including our program coordinators who were the BEST. On top of my actual internship which gave me so many great connections, I truly built a life in Madrid during my time there. This summer has been the best of my life, I gained so many friendships, learned so much about myself, and experienced places and memories that will last a lifetime.

My time in Spain was surprising, to say the least. When I first got to my company, there were only two people on site. This was mainly because of the difference in starting times depending on the employee. My coworkers were very culturally diverse. Some coming from the Netherlands, some from various parts of Latin America, and a Filipina woman who was raised in Spain. All very lovely people. But the work culture surprised me as it was very lax and the coworkers were very kind. I was able to make friends with my absolute peers and go out around the city exploring the culture and practicing our Spanish. Barcelona was beautiful but surprising in the way of how the pride the people feel for their home reminds me of Puerto Rico.

This internship was truly eye-opening. It was my first time in a real workplace, and it pushed me completely out of my comfort zone — from the language barrier to adapting to a professional environment for the first time. I got to apply finance in a hands-on way that no classroom could ever teach, working on real projects with real businesses. Beyond the technical skills, I learned so much about myself: how I handle pressure, how I show up professionally, and just how seriously I take my work when it matters. It was challenging in the best way, and it genuinely shaped how I see my future career path. If I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.

This internship was truly eye-opening. It was my first time in a real workplace, and it pushed me completely out of my comfort zone — from the language barrier to adapting to a professional environment for the first time. I got to apply finance in a hands-on way that no classroom could ever teach, working on real projects with real businesses. Beyond the technical skills, I learned so much about myself: how I handle pressure, how I show up professionally, and just how seriously I take my work when it matters. It was challenging in the best way, and it genuinely shaped how I see my future career path. If I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.

This internship was truly eye-opening. It was my first time in a real workplace, and it pushed me completely out of my comfort zone — from the language barrier to adapting to a professional environment for the first time. I got to apply finance in a hands-on way that no classroom could ever teach, working on real projects with real businesses. Beyond the technical skills, I learned so much about myself: how I handle pressure, how I show up professionally, and just how seriously I take my work when it matters. It was challenging in the best way, and it genuinely shaped how I see my future career path. If I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.

After studying Mandarin for ten years, moving to Shanghai felt like turning years of learning into real life. Suddenly, the language I had studied in classrooms became the language I used every day: to work, connect with people and truly experience China from within. My internship challenged me professionally, while living on the other side of the world pushed me to become more independent, adaptable and confident. Knowing Mandarin helped me overcome cultural barriers and made every interaction more meaningful, from the workplace to everyday life and travelling across China. I went to Shanghai looking for international experience in one of the countries I love most, but I came back with something much bigger: the feeling that ten years of studying had finally found their purpose. China was no longer something I had learned about—it became a part of my story. Choosing just one photo to represent this experience almost feels impossible—two months in China gave me far too many places, people and memories worth capturing in a single frame.

After studying Mandarin for ten years, moving to Shanghai felt like turning years of learning into real life. Suddenly, the language I had studied in classrooms became the language I used every day: to work, connect with people and truly experience China from within. My internship challenged me professionally, while living on the other side of the world pushed me to become more independent, adaptable and confident. Knowing Mandarin helped me overcome cultural barriers and made every interaction more meaningful, from the workplace to everyday life and travelling across China. I went to Shanghai looking for international experience in one of the countries I love most, but I came back with something much bigger: the feeling that ten years of studying had finally found their purpose. China was no longer something I had learned about—it became a part of my story. Choosing just one photo to represent this experience almost feels impossible—two months in China gave me far too many places, people and memories worth capturing in a single frame.

After studying Mandarin for ten years, moving to Shanghai felt like turning years of learning into real life. Suddenly, the language I had studied in classrooms became the language I used every day: to work, connect with people and truly experience China from within. My internship challenged me professionally, while living on the other side of the world pushed me to become more independent, adaptable and confident. Knowing Mandarin helped me overcome cultural barriers and made every interaction more meaningful, from the workplace to everyday life and travelling across China. I went to Shanghai looking for international experience in one of the countries I love most, but I came back with something much bigger: the feeling that ten years of studying had finally found their purpose. China was no longer something I had learned about—it became a part of my story. Choosing just one photo to represent this experience almost feels impossible—two months in China gave me far too many places, people and memories worth capturing in a single frame.

I had the opportunity to participate in a study abroad with Arizona State University and Absolute Internship. We spent our time in Portugal exploring different parts of the country and learning about it's deep history and global impact. It was an experience I would love to live again and has inspired a desire to explore more parts of the world!

I decided to do an internship abroad through Absolute internships with a question, "can I live and work in Japan comfortably?" and I can say with confidence that the experience they provided absolutely delivered a resounding "Yes!". I was delivered a painless process duing selection, and they found me the perfect company that I could use my skills as an english and history double major to make a positive impact that was appreciated by my host company (Yukari Japan Tour, a tour company specializing in sake brewery tours) and showed me how I can be valued for the work I can do. The expereicne was made fun and relaxed with fantastic coordinators that cared about the work they were doing with us and who seemed to genuinely want the best for us as both representatives of Absolute Internships and as peers. I made some wonderful memories with both my fellow interns and my host ccompany, and I will forever be grateful to Absolute Internships for fascilitating the making of them.

I had a great experience during my internship in Japan this summer. I got to work in an international office, meet people from different backgrounds, and experience working in Tokyo. During the internship, I worked on financial products, Excel workbooks, research, and legal documents. Everyone in the office was really friendly and helpful, which made the experience even better. Overall, I learned a lot, became more comfortable working in both English and Japanese, and really enjoyed my time there. I’m very glad I had this opportunity!

I had an amazing experience with Absolute Internship! From the beginning, the program made the process of interning abroad feel organized and supported, which allowed me to really focus on making the most of my time in Barcelona. Through Absolute Internship, I was placed with Atlex Legal, where I gained hands-on experience in immigration law, worked directly with clients, participated in client calls, and contributed to meaningful projects, including developing an immigrant integration business plan. The internship gave me responsibilities that challenged me professionally and helped me become more confident, independent, and comfortable working in an international environment. What I appreciated most was that the experience went far beyond simply having an internship abroad. I was able to experience living and working in Barcelona, meet people from different backgrounds, and grow both personally and professionally. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and would highly recommend Absolute Internship to students who want international work experience while also stepping outside of their comfort zone and experiencing life in a new country.

My experience abroad was something I will always be grateful for. The internship gave me valuable professional experience and allowed me to learn what it is like to work in a different country and culture. I was able to gain hands-on experience in both warehouse and office environments, which helped me better understand logistics and supply chain operations. One of my favorite parts of the program was the weekend trips around Portugal. Getting to explore different cities and places with the other students made the experience even more memorable. The people I met through the program were one of the biggest highlights, and many of them have become lifelong friends. Overall, this experience pushed me outside of my comfort zone, helped me become more independent, and gave me memories and relationships that I will carry with me long after the internship ended. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking for a mix of professional growth, travel, and an opportunity to meet great people.

My global internship experience in Madrid, Spain, with Absolute Internship made my summer unforgettable! Absolute provided an easy transition during the travel process and the start of my internship experience. The internship placement process was smooth and provided professional and cultural growth.

I had an amazing time doing the 8-week program with Absolute Internship. I had the opportunity to travel to three different countries during my program and got to explore all over Spain. I met amazing people and I am very grateful for the experience and memories made throughout this internship.

This past summer I had the ultimate privilege of going abroad for a Marketing and Business Development Intern in Lisbon, Portugal. To say I had the one of the best summers of my life is an understatement, working in a city as beautiful and vibrant as Portugal was a such a rewarding experience both professionally and personally.