Interning Abroad: Adjusting to a Different Culture in a Unique Way

Being an intern is a great opportunity to learn about a company and a potential career path. But when you intern in a country you have never lived in before in a language you are not fluent in, you will learn a lot more than just that. But it won’t be easy.

When I learned about the opportunity to intern while in Barcelona, I immediately became interested. I thought this would not only give me extremely beneficial professional experience, but I also thought it would enable me to dive deeper into Spanish and Catalan culture. Now that the internship has concluded, I can confirm that this internship impacted me much more than I could have ever imagined. I will admit though, it was challenging. 

I interned at a company called Foods For Tomorrow, a startup company headquartered in Barcelona that produces plant-based meats. The company is growing rapidly, as it is in more than 5 countries and has plant-based chicken products, burgers, meatballs, and more. 

I had never interned at a startup before. Now throw in the fact that I have never worked outside of the United States. And now throw in that in the office, while my department, the international department, is speaking mainly English, the rest of the office is speaking a mix of Spanish and Catalan. I think it is fair to say I was a little lost at times. These were things I had never experienced before, and instead of creating a shell for myself, I decided to launch myself right in. 

I saw this as an opportunity to learn more about Barcelona and to practice my Spanish in a scenario where it didn’t matter how bad it was. While I only worked two days a week, I made sure to eat lunch in the office kitchen at least one of those days. At the beginning, I was hesitant to join conversations. However, as the internship progressed, I became more and more comfortable with my coworkers. And in my last few weeks, I certainly saw a noticeable improvement in my Spanish, as I was not only able to follow the conversations, but I participated in them as well!

I started asking their favorite restaurants in the city, how long they’ve been with the company, and I joined in random conversations such as whether people in the US go to movie theaters as often as they still do in Barcelona. 

Being in a new situation is daunting, and throw in that this new situation is happening in a country that is still new, and it jumps to another level. But instead of letting fear get the best of you, stepping out of your comfort zone and making the most of this unique experience is something you will certainly not regret once it is over. And now that the internship has concluded, boy am I glad I built these relationships and took advantage of the situation I was fortunate enough to find myself in. 

This story, while seemingly simple, is really a microcosm of what studying abroad is. It may seem daunting, especially during the first few weeks in a new country. But step out of that comfort zone and dive into that new culture, and make the most out of that experience. I guarantee that you will be glad you did.