Why did you choose this program?
I’d been looking for the perfect stepping stone to move to Spain and this program checked all the boxes. It gives you the chance to live and work in Spain for 8 months with the option to renew for another year. And the schedule is unbeatable. Four hours of (super chill) work a day and a 3-day weekend every week to travel? C’mon.
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
RVF International truly did all the heavy lifting. They guided us step-by-step, letting us know exactly which appointments to book and when (and sometimes even booked them for us!). They reminded us about all the paperwork we needed, double-checked everything we got back from the consulate (which absolutely saved me when they caught that I was given the wrong visa!), and continued to support us throughout the entire year. Plus, they kept things fun with competitions + amazing prizes! The only part you handle on your own really is finding an apartment — but even then, they give you as much guidance and support as possible! You’re not alone in anything.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
I honestly felt pretty prepared going into this, but one thing I was not anticipating was the incredible people I’d meet! I expected this move abroad to be a bit lonely and more of a solo journey — but I was very wrong in the best way. Within my first week, I met two fellow RVF participants placed the same city as me who quickly became my best friends and life-long soulmates. This journey has given me so much more than I ever imagined. If you stay open, it will reward you with life-changing experiences, connections, and so many magical moments you’ll never forget.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
Each school is different, but I worked Monday-Thursday from 10am-2pm. Some days I had a 30 minute break, others an hour or even an hour and a half. During your breaks, you can plan lessons — or if you get lucky like me and your school doesn’t expect much from you, you can go out to eat or run errands and come back later on. This is maybe the chillest job you’ll ever have, so enjoy it and don’t get worked up about the little things! You are mainly here to learn about Spain and travel on the weekends.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
My biggest fear was probably learning Spanish and understanding the Andalusian accent, which is notoriously fast. I overcame this by living and breathing Spanish from the minute I signed up for the program. I found podcasts, binged Spanish shows, wrote journal entries in Spanish, found Spanish locals online to practice with, listened to strictly Spanish music, etc etc etc. I was obsessed, and within 2 months, I already reached an intermediate level with no Spanish background whatsoever! Not saying it’s easy, but my fear lit a fire under me and I squashed it as soon as possible.
That said, my roommate here in Spain never learned Spanish and her experience has been amazing as well. While I highly recommend learning the language to be able to connect with locals and enrich your time here, it’s not a deal-breaker and you’ll be just fine no matter what! So don’t let the language scare you off. It’s become one of my favorite parts of living here and I prefer speaking in Spanish :-)
How has this program changed your life?
If it weren’t for this program, I never would have met the love of my life. My boyfriend is from Brazil and moved to Spain 12 years ago. After signing up for RVF International, I came to Spain to scope out what city I wanted to move to. On that trip, I met him, and we’ve been together ever since. We now live together with our puppy in a beachfront apartment right on the boardwalk (which is half the price of my humble studio apartment in Los Angeles) and we even plan to get married soon. Spain is truly my forever home.
And lastly, it’s important to mention that before arriving here, my life in the US was becoming increasingly more impossible. I was by no means thriving (post-back surgery, homeless, in-debt, jobless)… I owe RVF International more than I can put into words. They didn’t just help me move abroad, they helped me rebuild my life. I will be forever grateful and the #1 fan and spokesperson for this amazing program.
I hope that you give yourself the gift of this opportunity. It doesn’t have to be forever like it is for me. You can always go back home with a lifetime of memories from your 8 months in Spain.
