CEA Internships in Barcelona, Spain

One piece of advice that I would give someone going on my program is be aware that workspaces might be smaller and more intimate than ones in The United States. Going in, I was expecting to be working in a huge office with cubicles and separate work spaces, but was greeted by an office space in an apartment overlooking the beautiful Barcelona skyline.

By the end of the program, I really enjoyed working there because the environment made it less stressful and more enjoyable to work. Another aspect is that internship abroad programs are slightly different from a traditional study abroad one, for example, you are not just a student taking classes, but a professional as well obtaining life-long skills that will help you in the future. Another important thing I want people to be aware of-do not feel that you need to know everything about your career going in. This is the time to learn, make mistakes and gain experience worthwhile.

Moreover, as an intern, there were requirements and a schedule we had to follow each week in our two month period. We had to fulfill about 15-20 hours per week at our internship sites and a total of 120 hours before the program ended.

The average week consisted of working, interacting with co-workers, attending work events and exploring the city and embracing the culture. There were times where students would take the weekends to travel to neighboring cities and explore the popular attractions over there.

My biggest fear going into my experience abroad was being able to navigate the city and find my way around. I was especially concerned I wouldn't find my way to my internship placement, but during our orientation, the onsite staff gave us an activity to guide us to our locations so we knew ahead of time where we were going.

The way I also overcame this fear was by taking public transportation on my own, specifically the metro which helped me to map out the city and remember key landmarks. By the end of the program, I was taking the metro like a pro and genuinely enjoyed the daily commute that consisted of people-watching, street performers, and awesome scenery. Once you take yourself out of your comfort zone, you would be surprised what you can accomplish.

One thing that is really good to know is that with an internship schedule, you have the weekend free to explore your host city and to travel to close-by countries! Another great thing is that it's pretty cheap to travel around Europe.

There are so many beautiful memories and stories that I cherish that there is not one favorite. One memory that really sticks out is the one where we interns got to celebrate San Juan for the first time on the beach. I have never saw so many people in my life on one entire location enjoying each other's company and celebrating life to the fullest; it was a worthwhile experience.