Civil Engineering Internship in Madrid

My 10 week program was an absolutely life-changing time of my life. Before choosing this program, I wanted a whole cultural experience, I wanted something new and I wanted to see a different side of the world. I had no expectations of what I was going to experience in Spain; I knew nothing about it, I didn't know how to speak Spanish, and I knew nobody going into it; and yet I can say this was the most life-changing experience I have had.

I was placed with INES Ingenieros Consultores, a fascinating engineering consultancy with a specialisation in transport infrastructure and restoring built heritage. I was tasked to assist them with flood modelling for 4 different regions around Spain. The country is quite known for their flooding from its mountainous geography so it was quite fascinating to see the focus on construction and infrastructure assets. The company also showed me the different projects they worked on and different contracts they have with clients regarding asset management, consulting, and design services which was very insightful. My co-workers were very friendly and advised me a few times with their day-to-day lives and general travelling around Spain. My mentor was very smart and experienced in his field and I learnt a lot from his teachings. Overall the work was a 10/10 experience, it's a vast contrast to the work I've experienced in Australia and I feel quite accomplished having done this internship. I felt motivated most days to come into work and learn from the opportunities they provided me with.

From visiting the historical villages and getting to know different people from various backgrounds, this program was an absolute pleasure for organising events to meet other interns and see the main parts of Madrid. The organisers were extremely helpful and provided valuable insights with travelling. I've made lifelong global friends with this program with different backgrounds, and absolutely want to visit their home countries. I was very happy with the hospitality provided by this program.

In terms of Spain itself, it was an absolutely insightful experience to travel around the country. Weekends were an opportunity to explore different cities around Spain, to see its unique landscapes and explore the night-life of Madrid. Madrid is quite famous for its night-life, and its no disappointment; the streets felt safe, the music and culture is lively, and I'm quite happy to have seen this. For an adventurous and outdoorsy person, Spain is definitely on top of the list to visit. Hiking is plentiful and quite rewarding in this country. From the famous Picos de Europa, Pyrenees Mountains on the French border, and even mountains just one hour north of Madrid; just the experiences were absolute eye gazing moments. The landscapes were lively and the animal-life was abundant even during the late-winter/early-spring season. For a historical and cultural person, everywhere in Spain is abundant with life and heritage. Stone structures are preserved throughout time, religion is a big part of Spain, and the food is most Spanish the further away from the city you go (from my experience at least).

Overall, this solo adventure will forever be a big part of me and will sit deep in my heart. A huge thank you to The Intern Group Madrid Team for giving me this opportunity, for organising housing, events, and the internship itself; I will be forever grateful for the memories I've made on this journey and I will always want to return. It is such a lively country, suitable for almost everyone, and there will always be something to do in Spain.

Hasta luego, España!