My Sage Corps experience in Barcelona was one of the most meaningful experiences of my college career. The program gave me the opportunity to live and work abroad while gaining hands-on experience at a startup, where I worked on sales, business development, outreach, research, content creation, and marketing projects. I appreciated that I was given real responsibilities and the opportunity to explore different areas of the company, which helped me better understand my professional strengths and interests.
Sage Corps also did a great job creating opportunities for us to experience Barcelona beyond our internships. Our City Managers, Pamela and Mikel, were incredibly kind, welcoming, and helpful throughout the program. They gave us great recommendations, made the scheduled events fun, and most importantly made me feel safe while living abroad. Some of my favorite experiences included our guided tour of Park Güell and our day trip to Sitges. These experiences gave us the opportunity to explore, learn more about the culture, and make memories together as a cohort that I will always cherish.
Living abroad challenged me to become more independent, adaptable, and confident. I returned home with new professional skills, meaningful friendships, unforgettable memories, and a clearer sense of what I want from my future career. I would absolutely recommend Sage Corps to students who want international work experience while also immersing themselves in a new culture.
What was your funniest moment?
One of my funniest moments was getting completely lost on the metro in Barcelona. I was struggling to figure out where I was going and literally pouring sweat 😂. A Spanish guy noticed I was lost and helped me order a Bolt to get back to my student housing. He even paid for it and wouldn’t let me pay him back! Looking back, it was such a funny moment, but it also reminded me how kind people can be when you’re traveling somewhere new.
What other participants should know
- The program went by way too fast
- Adjusting to a new country can be challenging at first
- Balancing work, exploring, and personal time could get busy
Response from Sage Corps
Thank you for sharing your experience, Sophie. We’re glad to hear you enjoyed Lisbon and had a positive experience with André who is a valued member of our local team.
We also want to clarify that the housing concern you mentioned was brought to our attention after the exterminator had already visited. Regarding the stipend, stipend amounts are determined by the host company. In this case, the adjustment that occurred was related to your attendance at the internship and missing work. Our team always encourages students to reach out during the program so we can help address any challenges as they arise.
We appreciate your feedback and would like to remind you that our channels are always open to talk to our students and better understand their experiences.
The Sage Corps Team