Interested in getting the scoop from a college student who interned abroad in Spain? Hear from Alyssa, a creative technologies major at Virginia Tech, who spent her summer gaining graphic design experience while soaking up everything Barcelona has to offer.
Discover how Alyssa’s internship in Barcelona with AIFS Abroad helped her experience Catalan culture, grow as a person, and figure out her career goals!
Choosing an Intern Abroad Destination & Term
Daunted by the prospect of choosing where in the world to study or intern abroad? We get that! The AIFS Abroad program finder allows you to find a program that fits your preferences based on a wide variety of factors, including term, location, program type, length, and more! Still can’t decide? Our team is always available to help!
For many college students and recent grads, choosing the right program often comes down to academic and cultural interests. For Alyssa, Barcelona’s lively culture and work-life balance were an ideal fit:
“I chose to intern abroad in Barcelona because I was absolutely drawn to the vibrant culture and work-life balance embraced there. It was incredible to learn about the food, people, and culture while exploring the historical sites like the Sagrada Familia, Gothic Quarter, Montserrat, and other towns outside of Barcelona.”
Once Alyssa arrived at her intern abroad program in Barcelona, she knew she had made a great decision. As she explained, the city truly has it all:
“The vibe of Barcelona is unlike any city that I’ve traveled to before. Just in this one city, there are old historic ruins, modern neighborhoods, beautiful architecture, mountains, the ocean, and an amazing creative energy throughout. During the day, there are tons of cozy areas and plazas to eat, drink, shop, and socialize, and even at night the streets remain lively and social.”
While plenty of people dream of interning abroad, some college students find it difficult to find a semester program that fits their academic schedule and graduation timeline. If that sounds like you, don’t give up on your intern abroad dreams just yet! AIFS Abroad offers plenty of short-term study and intern abroad programs that allow students to go abroad outside of the academic year, too. You can also intern abroad after graduation, giving you another opportunity to gain professional experience before taking the next step in your career.
In Alyssa’s case, she found that a summer program worked best with her college schedule:
“I chose to intern abroad over this past summer because it was what fit into my schedule the best, allowing me to earn credits, gain internship experience, and explore a new city between my semesters at college.”
Why Intern Abroad?
Professional experience and cultural exploration are two major reasons why college students and recent grads choose to intern abroad—but the benefits don’t stop there. It’s an excellent opportunity to build your resume, grow your network, explore career paths, and practice intercultural communication before entering the workforce.
Hear why Alyssa chose an intern abroad program:
“I wanted to intern abroad because it gave me firsthand experience working for an international company, strengthened my independence and confidence, and pushed me out of my comfort zone. Other college students should pursue this experience if they value international experience and want to broaden their perspective on the world.”
Internship Experience
AIFS Abroad international internships place you in a position that is directly related to your approved career fields. At a vetted local company abroad, you’ll gain hands-on experience while making connections with other professionals in the field.
As a creative technologies major, Alyssa’s graphic design internship aligned well with her career goals:
“I [interned at] a boutique that supports emerging artists from all over Europe. I worked on the creative direction and graphic design, creating visual brand assets and merchandise concepts across apparel, signage, and stickers.”
Not only did she gain valuable professional experience, but Alyssa also gained insight into how different work culture can be abroad:
“The differences in work culture in Barcelona versus the United States became obvious after the first week of working. This culture prioritizes life outside of work and quality time spent with coworkers and family.”
Language Learning
Many AIFS Abroad internship programs do not require foreign language fluency. So whether you want to hone your second language skills in a professional environment or get by with English—we’ve got you covered!
While Alyssa spoke English at her internship in Barcelona, she found that learning some Spanish helped her navigate life in the city:
“I was definitely a bit nervous at first about interning in a city where English isn’t the primary language. Because I don’t speak any Spanish, I had to quickly learn how to navigate the language barrier by staying patient in conversations and using Google Translate when it was needed. However, by being surrounded by Spanish for 8 weeks, it started to become much easier to understand common words I would hear every day.”
Housing
Did you know that AIFS Abroad has won awards for both our study abroad and intern abroad housing? It’s true! When you go with us, you can rest assured that you’ll get some of the best housing available. All our programs include housing that is vetted by our on-site staff to ensure it is both safe, central, and meets our standards. That means whether you need to stay in to study or rest after a long day, you can do so with real peace of mind!
Plus, AIFS Abroad housing is a great way to meet other people in your program. Alyssa’s student residence in Barcelona provided an ideal mix of both privacy and built-in community:
“I stayed in a student residence during the entire program. It was nice to be just down the hall from other AIFS students and interns, making group activities and meetups feel natural. I had my own bathroom and privacy, which made my stay very comfortable.”
Making Friends Abroad
Housing isn’t the only way AIFS Abroad programs set you up to make friends during your time abroad. Included social and cultural activities as well as trips and excursions make it easy to build connections from the get-go, as Alyssa did:
“I did not know anyone going into this program. I met many of the friends I still talk to today on the very first day I arrived. For me, I saw it as an opportunity to put myself out there and make friends with other students right away, even though I was terribly jet-lagged. In the end, I’m glad I did because first impressions are always the worst part, and the friendships that follow make the entire experience worth it.”
AIFS Abroad Activities and Excursions
In addition to helping you make friends, AIFS Abroad activities and excursions allow you to learn more about the culture of your program destination and explore your host city and country with a trusted local guide. Below, Alyssa explains one of her favorite activities she did with AIFS Abroad:
“I loved participating in the traditional cooking class where we learned how to make tortilla de patatas, paella, and crema catalana. It was super hands-on and cool to learn about the origins of the dishes as well as their significance to Spanish culture. Everyone took turns chopping vegetables, mixing the eggs, or pouring the dessert, and at the end we got to enjoy what we made. My favorite part was using a torch to melt sugar on top of the crema catalana!”
Cultural Appreciation
While some students and interns experience culture shock upon arriving in their program destination, with a little time and perseverance, this initial reaction often evolves into a lasting cultural appreciation. For example, it took Alyssa some time to adjust to the late dinners in Barcelona, but once she did, she saw how these mealtimes created more opportunities for connection throughout the evening:
“I really enjoyed how normal it was for everyone to stay up late, socializing, seeing friends and family, eating dinner, and just walking around the city. Even as it got closer to midnight, many restaurants were still open with people talking and laughing at their tables. It makes the overall community feel stronger and is something that I will miss from living abroad.”
Personal & Professional Growth
Some of the greatest benefits of interning abroad can be measured through personal and professional growth. Every new experience and challenge becomes a chance to build your adaptability, confidence, independence, and problem-solving skills. Often, when interns have completed their program and look back on their time, it’s easy to see how far they’ve come.
Hear Alyssa sum up the impact of her experience interning with AIFS Abroad in Barcelona:
“I grew personally by trusting myself and my abilities, academically by staying on top of deadlines and dedicating time to work, and professionally by working alongside my boss on projects and communicating effectively. I feel that through this experience, my future goals have shifted slightly from being only a graphic designer; instead, I am embracing trying more new things.”
Are you ready to take the leap and intern abroad like Alyssa did in Barcelona with AIFS Abroad? We’d love to help you start your journey!
When it comes to choosing a study or intern abroad provider, it’s best to go with an organization with the experience and support that allows you to set out with confidence and make the most of your program. At AIFS Abroad, our team is here to help at every stage with pre-departure guidance, on-site support, and post-program alumni assistance.
Throughout your time abroad, you’ll benefit from our inclusions such as housing, integrated career readiness, comprehensive insurance, 24/7 emergency support, on-site staff, and cultural and social activities and excursions. Studying or interning abroad is a leap of faith—take it with confidence, knowing AIFS Abroad is there to help you land on your feet.
