Horizon Bridge: The Island Government Fellowship

My overall experience with Horizon Bridge was excellent, and I would highly recommend this program to anybody interested in government, international business, economics, or Spanish. What this program offered that most other programs lack is Spanish language immersion in a professional setting. Instead of simply conversing with locals or taking language classes, we worked entirely in Spanish with city, island, and national government officials. We learned the economic challenges the island faces, and the development strategies it employs in order to attract foreign investment. Much of the island’s economy is run by the local government, so we were given a unique glimpse into the workings of an economic model that is largely unfamiliar to the average American. I had the fantastically surreal opportunity to discuss high-level, important economic issues and strategies--entirely in a foreign language. We also spoke more colloquial, conversational Spanish with the locals, who are generally friendly and have a very easy to understand accent.
In addition to being a fruitful academic and professional experience, the program is held in an absolutely beautiful location. The island, with its verdant yet rugged terrain, offers an abundance of wonderful hikes and beautiful mountains to climb. As somebody from New York, it was blissful for me to swim in the ocean on a 70℉ day--in January! I will never forget the profoundly sublime feeling that overtook me on the last day, as I sat in the sun on a black sand beach and looked out at the menacing, seemingly endless wall of water in front of me. It was in that moment that I fully appreciated that this place is as close as it comes to a paradise on earth.

Hola todos,

I have been many places in my life so far, but Tenerife was different than all of them. I have done study abroad programs before, but this was unlike any of the others I have done/heard about. When I heard internship, I assumed the usual shadowing, but I did not realize they would ask for our opinions in real meeting rooms, with the government officials of the island. The Horizon Bridge Fellows were just that, fellows, not interns. We were treated as if we were employees and I have no doubt if I had stayed longer, that we would have been helping the government in real time. This tiny island is very ambitious, their passion to make their island a main tourist attraction and port was inspiring. The Spanish there is unique. It has hints of both Latin America and Spain; the best of both worlds.

Once we got off work, we immediately explored the island. The transportation is simple and I do not think you could ever run out of adventures on the island of Tenerife. I wish I could have returned and experienced things more than once. I have no hesitations in recommending this program.

Studying with Horizon Bridge was a fantastic opportunity for me. I was able to be engulfed in another society which allowed me to understand how they view business and government. One interesting aspect about community that I observed is how much they value conversation around food. It was not abnormal to spend hours talking around food. Eye-to-eye communication was used a lot more in the business setting rather than using email. I enjoyed the environment quite a bit. I would recommend this program to anyone interested in seeing how businesses work in other countries. Horizon Bridge has provided great exposure to businesses outside of USA.

Studying abroad in Tenerife with Horizon Bridge was a totally immersive experience. In comparison to some other study abroad programs that I’ve done, I felt much more like a local instead of a tourist. My days were filled with meeting government professionals whose goal was to teach me as much as possible about the intricacies of the island’s government. They were willing to answer my questions and challenged me to change the way I perceive island government relations. Before studying abroad in Tenerife, my understanding of island politics was very limited. The knowledge and understanding that I gained on my trip in Tenerife extends far beyond Tenerife in particular, as it will inform the way I think about all islands in the future.

My favorite part of each day was exploring the island with other Government Fellows. My colleagues and I would take advantage of each day after our fellowship and explore popular tourist destinations as well as “off the beaten path” hiking trails.” We even tied our extracurricular adventures into our fellowship. I was able to experience tourist destinations like the beaches, parks, and zoos firsthand. Then, during my fellowship, I spoke with government officials about the importance of those tourist destinations to the island’s economy.