I decided to do an internship abroad during the summer of 2025 in Madrid, Spain. At first, I was extremely nervous about making this jump to Spain but once I arrived it felt like home.

The internship was through a program called “Absolute Internship,” and they helped place me at a job for the summer. There were many students that were a part of this program doing separate internships from all over the world. Ranging from different states in the United States and different countries like the United Kingdom, Italy, and Australia.

This program allowed me to immerse myself within the Spanish culture but also learn about other people’s cultures from all over the world. My abroad experience enhanced my academic and professional experience by pushing me to think beyond a US-centered perspective. Prior to arriving in Spain, I never got the chance to travel to Europe. This allowed me to experience their culture, work life balance, and more.

At my internship, I was able to learn about the European markets and had the opportunity to create a comprehensive client database organizing information from 2014-2024. I was also able to collaborate with my team members to develop strategic layout plans for hotels, identifying optimal locations for placing client products within hospitality venues. This experience allowed me to strengthen my cross-cultural communication skills because more than half the people at work did not speak fluent English. I had to find ways to communicate with them that were not in English and figure out how to build relationships and connections with them in other ways.

My experience abroad affected me on a personal level in many ways. It proved that when in a new place, city, or environment I can depend on myself. I became very independent and was able to gain relationships with all the interns from absolute. We all lived together, ate dinner together, and traveled together and it is something that I will never forget or take for granted.

This experience fully changed me because not only was I able to gain professional experience, but I gained such good friends along the way that I will continue to cherish for the rest of my life.

Throughout the experience I learned a lot not only about myself but about the culture. Spanish culture is very laid back, and they value relationships and getting to know one another over everything. I had the opportunity to get to know all my coworkers on a very personal level and that made working and living in a new country so much easier to adapt to.

Overall, I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and experience, and I wish I could go back in a heartbeat!

• Name: Aidan Shefferly
• Status: Junior
• Major: Supply Chain Management
• Hometown: White Lake, Michigan
• Program: Business Internships in Spain