At the AHK Spain, I worked in the market consulting department and supported the project managers with international projects and trade fairs. From market research to customer service, I was able to gain practical experience and deepen my knowledge of business and trade. My language skills improved significantly as I worked with both Spanish and German native speakers, sometimes in German, sometimes in Spanish. I got on very well with my colleagues at the AHK Spain, who were always open-minded, supportive and committed. I often worked together with Blanca, also a trainee in market consulting and now also a valued friend of mine. We both learned a lot from our direct supervisor.

After work and at weekends, I explored the culturally rich capital of Spain, Madrid, sometimes alone and sometimes with good friends. As I lived in a shared flat, there was always something going on “at home”. I lived with a French woman, an Englishman, a Spaniard, a Kazakh and a Taiwanese. We sometimes played games or cooked together and everyone talked about something. We always laughed a lot. Together with my flatmates, colleagues and friends, I went sightseeing in Madrid. I would recommend the many museums, e.g. the Prado, the Reina Sophia, the Thyssen Bornemisza and the palace, which offers a highly recommended tour of the old royal kitchens.

There is something to do in Madrid every day; on every corner of the city you will find lively street cafés, tapas bars or a fun attraction. It’s also worth exploring Madrid on foot and enjoying the diversity of the city, whether it’s walking in Retiro Park or exploring lively neighborhoods like La Latina and Malasaña.

Firstly, I recommend being open to new experiences and getting actively involved in local life. Most Spaniards are very open-minded and friendly, but it is really important to speak Spanish as it makes it easier to communicate with the people of Madrid and to make friends. In addition, most internships require a basic knowledge of the language.

When it comes to accommodation, it is important to start looking for an apartment early, as the housing market is overloaded and prices are correspondingly high. Secondly, I can only recommend living in a shared flat, as you can make new contacts straight away. Thirdly, I would advise you to look for an apartment in the city center or near your work or university to avoid long commutes by train.

As a student, you definitely need a train ticket. You can get anywhere for very little money; a student ticket for the whole month costs just 8 euros. It’s also worth looking early for train connections to other cities; you can find good deals to Barcelona, for example. With the AVE (Tren de alta Velocidad), a high-speed train, you can be in Barcelona – another beautiful city in Spain – in around two hours.