AIFS Abroad: Study, Intern, or Study & Intern in Spain

Working in Barcelona is an unbelievable experience. The environment and culture is perfect for interns because employers value your ideas and input. It’s also an amazing place to build new relationships, grow as a person, and have an absurd amount of fun. GE does a great job matching you with roommates who will feel like family by the end of the program. Inma and Saskia were always there if we needed help and the events they planned for us were a great time. I feel like I learned a ton and have gained valuable tools to help me in all my future endeavors. I’d recommend interning in Barcelona to anyone. You are guaranteed to fall in love with the city and the culture. I can’t wait to go back!

This program was definitely a major growing experience for me and I will be forever thankful that I had the experience to travel throughout and work in Spain. It has shaped the way that I now see the world. As an international business major, an abroad experience was almost necessary for me and I'm so happy I chose this program. From the amazing roommates, planned group trips, accommodations, and staff, to the intense yet informative internship, I truly do not think that there was a better option for me to enroll in. I have learned so much about the field of my internship and a new culture, which never would have been feasible had I simply studied abroad or got a domestic internship.
Not every part of the experience was fun and games, but everything that happened has helped me to grow into a more independent and resilient person. Even though you go without family or friends, you make new ones with those working in your program and the program site advisors help you every step of the way.
My favorite memory was when 13 interns and I took a weekend trip to Morocco and spent the night in the dessert. Even though it was only a two hour flight, it felt like we were in a different world. The best part was that all of my best friends were there to experience it with me.
Lastly, if I could give future interns some tips, it would be to budget your time and money, get out as much as possible, and to call back home at least once a week. I would also recommend to be completely honest on your roommate and job survey, so that you get the best opportunities for new friendships and necessary job experience as possible.

My time here in Barcelona has been irreplaceable. The amount of care and input put into the internship placements and events really integrates you well into the friendly city, and allows you to quickly start to embrace Catalan culture. The Global Experience team is extremely nice, as well as the work environment in Barcelona. Much more than expected, people from all over the world are happy to socialize and chat. You will definitely make a lot of friends from all over the world, and valuable professional connections and skills throughout your time here. Barcelona is a city which allows you to enjoy your work in a professional environment, and have a nice time exploring the rich architecture, culture, and foods of the diverse city. It is an experience like non other. Highly recommended and worth every penny.
Tips for when you come here: Don't be afraid to explore just outside Barcelona, or other countries as well. I had an amazing trip to Morocco, and many others went to Portugal, France, Croatia, and the Netherlands (Amsterdam). Europe and other close countries are in your grasp. Go for it - you can't regret it.

My time here in Barcelona has been irreplaceable. The amount of care and input put into the internship placements and events really integrates you well into the friendly city, and allows you to quickly start to embrace Catalan culture. The Global Experience team is extremely nice, as well as the work environment in Barcelona. Much more than expected, people from all over the world are happy to socialize and chat. You will definitely make a lot of friends from all over the world, and valuable professional connections and skills throughout your time here. Barcelona is a city which allows you to enjoy your work in a professional environment, and have a nice time exploring the rich architecture, culture, and foods of the diverse city. It is an experience like non other. Highly recommended and worth every penny.
Tips for when you come here: Don't be afraid to explore just outside Barcelona, or other countries as well. I had an amazing trip to Morocco, and many others went to Portugal, France, Croatia, and the Netherlands (Amsterdam). Europe and other close countries are in your grasp. Go for it - you can't regret it.

Immerse yourself in the culture of Catalunya! Inma and Saski made this program a success from start to finish! Global Experiences made this an easy process starting with enrollment, skills training, resume and cover letter building, through being placed in an amazing apartment with great roommates and fun excursions planned! My advice to anyone thinking about coming to Barcelona is to make the most of your time in the city and learn as much as you can! I was placed in a finance internship per my request and worked in a coworking space in the Gracía neighborhood. I met so many different people from around the world and learned alot in my internship. I worked for a FinTech Startup company that specializes in all social and copy trading platforms. I worked in the Beta Haus with 8 other GE interns who worked for other companies here. During your free time, make sure to explore new neighborhoods or "barrios", find new clubs, restaurants, bars, etc. Rent a bike, hike, run and find the hidden gems of Barcelona! You can never be bored in this city because there is always something to do. If it is within your budget take some weekend trips to other countries, but don't worry if you can't because Spain has so much to offer. During my time here, I stayed in Barcelona and found things to do every weekend. I planned a day excursion with a group of people and went to a winery, went to Barcelona Beach Festival, took the train to Montserrat to hike, and other beach towns. The train can take you anywhere in Spain so use it to your advantage. You should never be bored in beautiful Barcelona! Have fun and don't forget to learn some Spanish while you're here! Vale! Vale!

Like many students today, I knew I wanted to study abroad, but was somewhat nervous about taking the first step. When I was browsing options and programs online, AIFS caught my eye due to their easy to navigate website, awesome photos and descriptions of their programs, and hearing great reviews from my peers. When I sent my initial email to the program coordinator, I had nothing but exceptional support throughout the entire process, via phone and email. Whenever I had an issue, my resident director was there to provide support, regardless of the situation. Purchasing the AIFS flight plan made my travel details even easier, because transportation was already determined, meaning I was less afraid about leaving the country by myself. Overall, I would rate my experience a 10/10.

Ever since I had spent a day in Barcelona in 2014, I knew that I would be back. What I didn't know was that this city would captivate me entirely, and that my time here would be one of the most satisfying and rewarding experiences that I've had so far.

From day one, the staff at Global Experiences has provided a friendly and personal atmosphere where I never felt left behind or that my questions were ignored. From leaving my home country to arriving in Barcelona, the staff at Global Experiences have been with me the whole way. My location coordinator, Inma, made sure that I felt prepared and confident in the city, and her years of experience helped to resolve any worries I had before I even knew that I had them. She was very in touch with her students on a personal level, from helping us figure out the Metro on our first day, to giving us a warm, honest goodbye on our last.

It was refreshing to see how much care and effort Inma puts into her job. Each excursion that she lead was just as fun and interesting as the last - so much so that it's hard to choose a favorite! Each event was well rounded, in that it endowed us with an in depth knowledge of the history of the place, recommendations on what to do there, and time for us to explore on our own. From famous places such as Montserrat, to the small, local town of Valls, Inma was with us to further develop our knowledge and appreciation of Spain and it's culture. The excursions were a definite highlight of my abroad experience and an aspect unique to Global Experiences.

My experiences with AIFS in Salamanca were amazing and unforgettable. Before I left, I received advising every step of the way from the adviser for Spain. When I got to Spain the on site AIFS staff showed everyone in our program around Salamanca, took us to dinner, engaged us in cultural activities, and introduced us to our host families. After the first two weeks I knew that I would miss Spain more than anything because of the incredible experiences that AIFS provided to me. I was practiced Spanish all the time, I took cooking classes, I went on excursions throughout Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, and I engaged in all of my classes. I wish that I would have stayed for a full year rather than only a semester.