“Barcelona offers an incredible amount - I couldn't have imagined a better location.”
Organizational matters before departure
Without a fixed partner company, I have the freedom to “choose” a company and a location during the practical phases. I completed my first practical phase in Germany, but it was clear relatively early on that I wanted to go abroad for my second practical phase. So I applied directly to the first call for Erasmus+ in February without having a company. The International Office helped me a lot with my application for Erasmus and with finding a suitable company.
When I was contacted by Itelligence in Spain, I sent an application and shortly afterwards I had a phone call with the HR manager. At this point, I received a conditional acceptance from Erasmus. After the phone call, I was accepted for the internship and the scholarship was finally approved. I had to fill out a few documents, but it was hardly stressful because the International Office and the company were very supportive and everything went smoothly. I took out accident, health and liability insurance for the three months. There are many different providers and you can book relatively cheap packages.
Apartment in the center
I flew to Barcelona on the Saturday before my internship started (the following Monday), so I still had some time to arrive and find my way around Barcelona. I found a great room in a shared flat for €550 including utilities and a cleaning lady right in the center (La Rambla, near Plaça Catalunya). The apartment was great, I had a large room with two balconies. There was also a large living room and dining room where I often ate with my flatmates. In general, we often met in the living room, which was big enough to invite a few people over.
The location was great, as I was able to experience the turbulent and lively life of Barcelona very well. Everything was also easy to reach. Whether it was restaurants, shopping, the beach or the metro – everything was within easy reach. I found the apartment on Erasmusu.com.
Open atmosphere in the office
On my first day at the company, I received a very warm welcome and immediately felt at home. The office is very nice, close to Plaça Espanya, and you have a panoramic view of the whole city from the 19th floor. I was mainly assigned to the Shared Service Center, where I helped with filing invoices, processing customer data and approver rights. I also looked through CVs and social networks for potential employees for the HR department. I also created a 30-minute PowerPoint presentation that my line manager in Turkey gave. Overall, I can say that I was very well involved and took on responsibility. I also liked the very open, happy and relaxed atmosphere, which in my opinion is due to the mix of the openness of the Spaniards and the international team. You quickly get into conversations with colleagues and sometimes have lunch together.
You never get bored
After work, I often went to the beach or walked through the city and kept discovering new spots. The city has so much to offer in terms of restaurants, bars, clubs and, of course, shopping – you never get bored! As Barcelona is a very popular Erasmus destination, it is very easy to make contacts. I have made very good friends, which is largely thanks to my great apartment. In general, however, people here are very open and you meet new people all the time.
I recommend the T-jove 1 ticket for 105 €. This gives you unlimited use of the metro and bus for three months, which I was very grateful for as I used public transport really often. The prices in the supermarkets are comparable to Germany, although the fruit is slightly cheaper. There are also great deals on food in most restaurants, especially at lunchtime. When it comes to shopping: Especially in July and August there were lots of sales in every store and you can save a lot. However, you can always go shopping in Barcelona for a good price.
Conclusion and tips
I can only recommend an internship abroad to everyone. I can only speak about Barcelona, but I had an incredibly great time. My company here has opened up a lot of opportunities for me and I’ve really been able to take a lot with me. I’ve developed a lot both professionally and personally. The city also offers an incredible amount – I couldn’t have imagined a better location. If you have any questions or need tips (accommodation, secret spots, food…), I am always happy to answer them. Contact me via the International Office.
