At the moment, I’m in the fourth year of my Psychology study. Due to COVID-19, I decided to take it easy with my courses and completely revamp my schedule. I enjoyed the freedom to choose what I wanted to do when, and I wanted that flexibility for my internship as well. One thing was certain: I wanted to do my internship abroad.
Dream
Doing an internship abroad has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. I love traveling and discovering new cultures. However, the idea was daunting because I only speak Dutch and English, which might limit my options for internships. That’s why I considered doing an internship in Curaçao. Many students from my program have done their internships there, and the idea of interning in a sunny country appealed to me. However, I couldn’t find an internship opportunity in Curaçao that made me go “WOW.” Also, I felt that Curaçao was too far away for a longer period abroad.
Exploration
In March 2023, I went on vacation to Madrid and thought that doing an internship in Spain could be a nice option. But then, how would I manage with the language? I enjoy learning languages, but Spanish is a whole different level. So, I decided to first research internship opportunities in Spain, and then I would choose a Spanish course to learn. I started researching internship placements in Spain and found JongLeren.es through my school. A student from my study did her internship there in 2019. I got excited about JongLeren.es after visiting their website, so I reached out to the former student on LinkedIn with some questions. She was so enthusiastic about her internship at JongLeren.es that I became even more excited myself.
Success!
After the LinkedIn conversation, I sent an open application to JongLeren.es via email. After two interviews with the owners, I was quickly informed that I got the position! I was overjoyed and proud. What’s also great is that it’s a Dutch company, but they’re offering me a free Spanish course so that I have a basic understanding of Spanish. This way, I didn’t have to worry about my Spanish not being good enough to complete my internship.
Despite all the anxieties and uncertainties of doing an internship abroad, I’m glad I made this choice. This is an experience that can never be taken away from me and will always stay with me!
