Hola! I’m Veronica, the Program Manager for our internships in Seville, Spain. Curious to learn what this experience is like? Let me show you!
Starting your day
Your typical day in Seville will start around 8am with a delicious typical breakfast of toasted bread, jamon serrano (prosciutto), tomato and olive oil. You will then get ready and make your way to your internship placement, where you will be expected around 10am. To get there, you can choose to walk, take the metro, an uber or the tram, all of which are affordable and quick options to get around Seville, and easily accessible.
You will then be at your placement for around 4 to 6 hours, where you will gain practical experience in your field and the chance to learn from experienced staff.
Enjoying the Spanish lifestyle
Lunch is the main meal of the day in Spain. It typically consists of a protein or meat, pasta or rice, noodles, and vegetables. Many interns choose to bring their own lunch from home, but it is also very common in Spain to take a long lunch break from 2 until 4pm.
Many Spaniards also enjoy having a little “siesta” or nap at this time. You can determine what works best for you with your supervisor, according to your preferences and the organization’s needs, once you are in-country. It is also likely that you will be finished with your internship duties for the day by this time.
When you finish work for the day, around 2pm or 3pm, you have free time to explore everything Seville has to offer, interact with the other interns and students you’ll meet there, and take advantage of the ten hours of Spanish language lessons included with your internship.
Spanish people love waking up late and going to bed even later. This is why you will find shops, restaurants and cafes open until very late in the night, much later than in many other places.
Exploring the city attractions
As an intern in Seville, you will receive four guided tours included with your program fee. Discover these sites that make this one of the most stunning and charming cities in Spain:
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El Alcazar: A beautiful, royal palace with a history spanning over 1000 years. It was formerly the site of the Islamic-era citadel of the city.
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Plaza de España and Parque Maria Luisa: An impressive masterpiece that took 15 years to build, the beautiful square that is not just one of the most famous and well-loved landmarks in Seville, but also in the entire country.
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Seville Cathedral: Built on the ruins of the old mosque, the Seville Cathedral is the world’s largest Gothic temple and the third largest temple in the world after St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City and St Paul’s Cathedral in London.
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La Giralda: The bell tower of the Seville Cathedral. It was built as a Mosque, and offers unique views of the city from the top.
But there is so much more to see and do in Seville in your free time! Make sure you try some delicious tapas at one of the many restaurants and cafes on its streets, which are open until midnight most days; enjoy a Flamenco show and learn why Sevillians are so proud of their Flamenco culture; and have a leisurely walk along the Guadalquivir river at sunset. You must also pay a visit to the Setas de Sevilla, a breathtaking wooden structure, shaped like a giant mushroom that provides you with 360° views of Seville from 29 meters (95 feet) above the ground.
Rest and reflection
With so much to do, it is no wonder that dinner in Spain is typically served between 9 and 10pm. It is typically a light meal, and can include some breads, potatoes, meats and vegetables.
Finish your day reflecting on everything you learned during your internship, as well as all the cultural aspects and how these unforgettable experiences are contributing to your personal and professional growth. It’s almost impossible not to fall in love with a city like Seville, so make sure you make the most of it and bring back home a suitcase full of memories that will last a lifetime!
My insider tips
Seville is an excellent choice for your internship, but it is also important to keep the following recommendations in mind before you start your experience there:
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As stunning as the city is, it can also get very, very hot. Please be mindful of this if you are sensitive to the heat, as temperatures in the summer can get very high most days. Even in mid-September, when I was there, it was still pretty warm (around 90 - 95°F or 30 - 35°C). If you are coming during these months, please ensure that you bring clothes in light, cool fabrics with you.
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If you don’t speak Spanish, don’t worry! Most of our internships do not require any Spanish language skills for you to do them, as you will be matched with a supervisor who speaks English. However, you do have to be mindful that there might be a language barrier, and that making an effort to learn the basics of the language will certainly help you make the most of this experience. In order to help interns with their language, all of our internships in Seville also include 10 complimentary hours of Spanish language lessons. The only internships where interns do need a beginner to intermediate level of Spanish are: Medical, Nursing, and Engineering.
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In terms of safety, Seville is incredibly safe! Of course, this does not mean that you should stop taking usual safety precautions, such as not walking by yourself in very lonely areas, keeping your valuables within sight, etc.
Before I knew it, it was time to leave Spain and head back to our Intern Abroad HQ office. I left Seville feeling so excited about the quality of the internship opportunities we offer. I am certain that interns will not only gain incredibly valuable experience for their professional life, but will also fall in love with the city, the Spanish culture, and its people. It is definitely a city I know I will come back to, again and again.
Want to know more? Click here to check out more of my insights and recommendations!
Ready to get started with your own internship experience?
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