Architecture Internship with The Intern Group

Choosing to do my internship with the Intern Group was hands down one of the best decisions I have made in my life. From start to end, every contact I dealt with in the Intern Group reassured me that I had made the right decision choosing them to find me an Architecture Internship.

I chose to intern in Madrid as I had previously grown up in the UK and wanted to have the opportunity to travel back to Oxford, refresh my memory of places I had once been to, and discover other parts of Europe at the same time.

It was the first time I was travelling across the other side of the world by myself and I was absolutely nervous and excited at the same time. Of course, typical me got my dates mixed up as to when I was meant to arrive in Madrid due to the time difference. Which sent the lovable Madrid Program Director Thalassa in a panic, even causing her to post on my Facebook wall calling on family and friends to help with my whereabouts. Nevertheless, I got there in the end, with a driver waiting at the gates ready to drive me to my new home for the next two months.

The overall experience was one that can only really be understood by going on the internship and experiencing it for yourself. Being on the other side of the world, in a foreign country where I neither spoke nor understood Spanish, it challenged me in ways I never thought was possible and definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone. I learnt how to trust my instincts and realized just how friendly Madrilenos were.

Coming from Melbourne, - where everyone leaves their bag hanging open on the train, loosely carrying their wallet or their phone in their hand while shopping, or mindlessly being engrossed in their shopping as their shoulder bag hangs unprotected - it was a huge eye opener to me as to how on guard you had to be with your belongings when walking in the streets of Madrid. It's not to say that Madrid is not a safe country. In all honesty, once I'd gotten used to my surroundings, it was hands down one of the safest countries I had ever been in. As Thalassa had reassured me many times before I'd left Australia, every corner, bend or area was brightly lit in Madrid with police officers always on the lookout.

Whatever it is, it is probably a good idea to learn to read a map so you're not freaking out thinking you're lost and get yourself even more lost when really, you were only a corner away from your apartment (yes, that was me on many occasions). Definitely check up on the weather before heading to the country of your choice. Don't make the mistake I made of coming to Europe in the Winter, with minimal clothing because I had the mindset of "oh, how cold can it possibly be?". I was lucky the shops were still open when I arrived at 6pm and had a housemate more than willing to take me out to get some warm essentials.

I am someone who used to say that "I would never travel alone" because having my closest friends around me to enjoy every moment is crucial to me. I look back and realize how silly I sounded in saying that because some of my closest friends to date, are the ones I met on the program and went travelling to other countries with. Homesickness did kick in every now and then but it wasn't anything that everyone on the program hadn't previously gone through; so it was just a matter of helping each other move past it.

The best advice I can give to those looking or wanting to apply, is to throw yourself out there. Force yourself out of your comfort zone and give yourself a chance. Don't hold yourself back because you're scared of being alone. You may feel alone but all you need is to open your mind up, look up, and realize that you're surrounded by some of the greatest and friendliest people on this earth (program staff included).