The responses to my applications arrived bit by bit, but the Spaniards took a long time, regardless of the company. I didn’t get my first invitations to telephone or Skype interviews until the end of November, although my internship was due to start in January. Depending on the company, the interviews were then held in German, Spanish and English.

In the end, I decided to do my internship at Bosch in Madrid in Madrid. The application process consisted of an interview with the HR department in Spanish and German, where I was asked about classic things like strengths and weaknesses. Another interview with my tutor took place a few weeks later, where I was asked more specifically about previous knowledge of logistics, SAP and Excel. I was accepted on the same day and then had to quickly look for an apartment and flight and take care of everything else, such as taking out international insurance.

My health insurance already included Europe-wide insurance, so I didn’t have to take out anything additional in this case. However, Bosch also requires information about liability and social insurance, which is why these documents also had to be submitted promptly, as well as a certificate from my family doctor confirming that I am fit for work. As soon as these documents were all submitted, I received my employment contract and was able to submit the documents for the Erasmus+ scholarship.

I finally arrived a week before the start of the internship without having a permanent apartment. I had planned some sightseeing appointments for that week and stayed in a hostel in the city center for the first few nights. It is also necessary to arrive a week early, as Bosch requires you to have a so-called N.I.E. number so that you can be registered in the system, open a bank account and obtain a social security number. You can apply for the number at a police station.

I found some apartments via the website idealista.es, but you can also see lots of apartments on offer via Erasmus Facebook groups. Rental prices for shared flats in Madrid range between 300 and 650 euros. I was lucky and found an apartment right at my first viewing, which I really liked and in which I lived with a Spanish and an Italian Erasmus student for six months. It is generally possible to find an apartment very spontaneously in Madrid. But the hostels are also highly recommended for starters, as they range in price from 10 to 15 euros and there is a huge selection in the city center.

Bosch is located in the east of Madrid and is very easy to reach by metro, it takes about 20 minutes from the center. I completed my internship in logistics. My predecessor trained me in the first few days for my task of procuring materials for the production of ultrasonic sensors. I was introduced to the other team members and shown around the production area.

During the first few weeks, it was very difficult to find my way around the site and internally. As a lot of communication with other Bosch plants was also necessary, I first had to learn who to contact in the event of difficulties. However, the team supported me very well in this and all other matters and there was generally a very good working atmosphere.

My work focused on communicating with the suppliers and forwarding agents from Germany, Morocco, France and Spain and allocating the materials between the Bosch sites in Madrid, China and Mexico, which produce the parking sensors. I was given a lot of information and responsibility at once, which I wasn’t used to from my previous practical phases or other internships. I often had to use my own initiative, as the other team members responsible for production planning and scheduling were unable to help me with some things. The fact that most of the Spanish employees at Bosch have a very good command of German helped a lot at the beginning to find my way around. My tutor also always supported the team when difficulties arose and took the time to help or support me.

I spent my free time almost exclusively with other Bosch interns, as there were around ten interns in logistics alone. I also had a lot of contact with Erasmus students through my flatmate. Many city trips or activities in Madrid were organized via the BeMadrid website, so it was very easy to make contacts.

We often went out for tapas and drinks with the other colleagues after work. Madrid is particularly suitable for such activities, there are many great neighborhoods with small unique cafés and tapas markets, but also stores for shopping, e.g. in Chueca, Malasaña and Lavapiés. In summer and spring, we often met up on rooftop terraces to enjoy the sun after work. Parks are also very suitable for this, and Retiro Park is particularly recommended.

At the weekends, we traveled a lot by car or bus, as you can rent private cars from 20 euros a day via socialcar.com, for example. Thanks to Madrid’s central location, you can reach a large part of Spain in a maximum of four hours – so weekend trips to Andalusia or spontaneous beach days in Valencia were also worthwhile. We even went surfing in Porto once over a long weekend, which was also only about a six-hour drive from Madrid.

Other means of transportation within Spain would be the Cercanias, which allow you to reach cities around Madrid with a range of about 120 km. For longer distances there is the AVE, buses or flights, but these are very expensive.

Madrid itself has a very well-developed metro and bus network, for which I particularly recommend the monthly pass, which costs only 20 euros a month for people under 25 and can even be used for the Cercanias. When we stayed in Madrid at the weekends, we also went out partying from time to time. However, in Madrid you have to expect to pay at least 15 euros for entry and drinks cost around 10 euros. There is everything from small alternative clubs with indie rock music to huge discotheques with, for example, seven different floors with all kinds of music. However, the clear favorite among Spaniards is reggaeton or electro.