As my Barcelona internship comes to an end this week, I look back on the lessons learned and the experiences I have had with tremendous gratitude. At the beginning of the summer, I was a bit hesitant about exactly what my internship would be like and whether I would benefit from it professionally, especially when compared to a standard corporate America internship. In retrospect, I can confidently say that the skill set derived from living and working in another country cannot be replicated and has fueled both my personal and professional growth.
A significant difference between business in the United States and in Spain is the corporate culture in general. While hybrid workplaces have become commonplace since COVID-19, many interns and I had four-day work weeks. Having a three-day weekend was extremely beneficial as I was able to explore Barcelona and Europe to a greater extent. I also believed that having longer weekends to rest contributed to greater productivity while working. I often felt more energized after a weekend as opposed to being consistently exhausted due to long commutes and working hours. The typical workday in Spain is also a lot less hectic than a 9-5 in the United States. Many people will go home around 2 pm to eat a heavy lunch and rest before returning to work. In my case, 2 pm marked the end of my work days when I was in person. During remote work days, I often had around 2 hours for lunch and a quick nap, typically referred to as a siesta.
Another difference I’ve experienced is the culture of co-working spaces. While these do exist in the U.S. as well, they are far more common in Barcelona and have a unique, community-like feel as well. I would typically work in a co-working space on days when my supervisor had a meeting or event in central Barcelona. Each of the co-working spaces was different in their layout; some had an outdoor terrace, some had cubicles, and some even had restaurants and/or bars. Co-working spaces have allowed me to meet professionals and even other interns from across the world, while also immersing me in local culture.
Overall, my experience as an international intern has been informative and interesting as I learned about and participated in business operations for Singularis. The projects I have gotten the chance to work on and the interactions with professionals that I have had have shaped my perception of my future career. As I begin my junior year, I hope to utilize these experiences to challenge myself to go out of my comfort zone in all of my endeavors.
