The best part of this experience was living in a foreign country and working in a foreign office. I have traveled a lot, but actually living in a foreign country is a very different experience. I am very happy I did this experience instead of studying abroad. I had many friends who studied abroad during college, and I met many Americans who were studying in Barcelona while I was there. The main feeling I got from them was that they were there to party and rarely had friends outside of their American circle. I really felt like I was forced to make friends from all over the world and step out of my comfort zone during this experience. On top of that, I was able to gain valuable professional experience to take with me in whatever I decide to do (not to mention a great experience to put on my resume)!
Lauren Corr, Mystic, CT

The best aspect of this experience was just the overall experience of living abroad. The country is incredible and I started to feel like I belonged in Barcelona. After a few weeks I was able to familiarize myself with the city and everything just clicked. The language school was awesome and I met a lot of really great people there. We all ended up hanging out on the weekends and that is where I learned a lot of Spanish because most of them were not English speakers. I have recommended this program to everyone I know and I am very glad I did this. It has forever changed the way I see life!

The most difficult aspect of this experience was getting used to living... independently... in a foreign country. It was very hard at first, but, I gradually became more comfortable with it. Then, by the time I had to leave... I didn't want to.
Brett Arnold - Mustang, OK

The Adelante program gave me a valuable opportunity to work abroad in a legal environment before starting law school this year. When I say that I worked in a law firm in Barcelona for 2 months, it never fails to make some jaws drop. The experience has given me an opportunity to view not only another culture and improve my language skills, but it has also provided me with practical comparative experience that I'll be able to use in the future years. On top of that, I made lifelong friends who I recently went back to see-in Barcelona and in other parts of Europe. The connections with these students, most of whom I met through Kingsbrook language school, are invaluable and they give me an extra reason to continue to return to Europe.

The most important advice I can give to anyone considering the Adelante experience is that you will get what you put into it. Adelante works to open doors, not to hold hands. They will attend to your needs and place you in the best position to succeed in whatever goals you intend to reach. It is up to you to work hard, attend classes, take in the magnificient city of "Gaudi," meet other people, practice spanish, eat new foods(tortilla espanol y paella), watch a futbol (soccer) game, stay up until 6am, enjoy "puente," and maybe even take an occasional "siesta."

Hopefully, if you're from the United States, you'll show the best side of our country and you'll go into this situation not comparing everything to the U.S, but learning how to blend in and live life from an exciting new perspective. You'll miss home at times; you'll miss food and friends and holidays that you know so well. But maybe.... you'll learn that just because something is different, it isn't necessarily better or worse; that people are impressed when you go out of your way to understand their point of view.... even if you don't agree; and that a smile means the same thing in every language!

This program is a gateway to seeing another side of the world and another side of yourself! I'll look back at my time in Barcelona, the best city in the world, as three of the best months of my life.
Adeu (In Barca you have to learn some Catalan)
Joey Garcia - Morgantown, West Virginia

The culture and language immersion and the live on your own experience were the hightlights of this experience.
Amanda Maya - Boca Raton, FL

The internship itself was a great experience. My supervisor was excellent as well as all the people I worked with. The apartment I lived in was excellent and the landlady was very nice. I learned a lot from her because she didn't speak much English. She was like a mother to my roommate and I. The language school was great in that I made some great friends which is especially good if you go alone like I did.
Krystle Macadangdang - Atlantic Beach, FL

The opportunity to actually live and work abroad rather than just travel meant I could immerse myself into the culture and lifestyle. Barcelonians are nice people but a little cold toward foreigners. The city is fantastic and just being here for this period of time was an unforgettable experience. A lot was learnt by doing things myself and making the most of the time here, but having the base of an Adelatne set up was extremely helpful.
Bhavesh Patel - Birmingham, UK

My best experiences in Barcelona were outside the internship and the classroom. Getting to know the city, the people and the customs was a wonderful experience. I also had the opportunity to travel outside of Barcelona as well. I would say that the international experience itself, the newness and originality of it all, was the best part of my experience.
David Prado - Williamsville, NY

The best thing about this international experience was the people I was able to meet, particularly the people I met through staying with my host family. I became good friends with my senora's daughter and her friends and it ended up facilitating exactly the type of experience I wanted, as I was living in Spain for the second time. The downside of my experience was that at times I felt a bit lonely and felt as though I wanted to be able to go out at night and experience the city, but given that I lived a bit far from the city's center, which meant taking the metro during late hours, sometimes I opted not to go out and venture. However, I did not feel that the distance outweighed the positives of everything else.
Neda Lajevardi - Miami, FL

It was definitely different from my study abroad experience in the past. This made me realize what it really is to live in a different society, not as an international student, but as another member of society who goes to work, and meets people, other than just students. I learned a lot from myself. I confirmed that I want to continue studying and working internationally.
Sandibel Borges - Pullman, WA

Everything about this experience was beneficial, from the beginning discomfort, to the eventual appreciation, love and comfort of Madrid. The best aspect of the experience was surely the cultural immersion. I got to know the city of Madrid, and its surrounding areas as if it was my permanent home. I met the most wonderful people, experienced so many value-less events, and discovered a new educational and professional interest. My internship company opened my eyes to an entirely different and exciting field of work and gave me opportunities that I would have otherwise never had. This is why I will probably return to Madrid in a few months to continue working there.
Renata Parras - Charlottsville, VA

One of the best aspects of this international experience was the chance to work internationally in an entirely Spanish speaking business.
Alex Sirkin - Wayland, MA

I think the best thing that I've got out of this experience is learning the European culture and meeting all different kinds of people from everywhere. The people that I have met really enlightened my experience and I've learned so much through them. I would suggest this experience to anyone.
Ann Marie Manfreda - Kent, OH

I loved the whole thing! My roommates were great and I got excellent job experience at my internship. Everything was more than I expected. I would definitely recommend this program.
Bethany Cioffo - Skippack, PA

My cultural immersion experience in Spain has been fantastic. I feel very lucky to have found the Spanish/European/American friends I have made here and to live/intern in a great location in the center of Madrid. I have learned so much about Spanish culture as well as American culture (the good and bad!) and I have chosen to stay in Madrid and teach English for 6 more months to see what it's like to live on my own here, to gain teaching experience and to continue strengthening my Spanish. I thank Adelante for giving me this opportunity without having had to go through a university or a complicated, super-competitive application process, so I would recommend the program to someone considering it
Melyssa Ojeda - Raleigh, NC

The best thing about this international experience was primarily my assimilation into the Spanish culture and the huge improvement in my language ability. The worst thing about it was that because I was there for only 2 months, I did not have the opportunity to make too many Spanish friends.
Chelsea Ashbrook - St. Louis, MO

The language school was great; the staff were extremely welcoming and created a family-like atmosphere that was very much appreciated as a new-comer in a foreign country. I thoroughly enjoyed my internship, I learned a lot about the business, was given a great deal of responsibility and made great friends during this experience. I am planning on returning to Madrid.
Kate Loughlin - Orinda, CA

The people that I worked with at my company made a wonderful impact on my experience. They were so sweet, helpful, patient and went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable. It was difficult to understand some of the things that went on at the company because of the language barrier. Obviously that is no one's fault but it hampered my experience at times. Although it was a challenge I don't regret it. The school was also a great resource for friends and advice.
Morgan Johnston - Boulder, CO

"One of the best aspects about this experience was being immersed in such an amazing culture and getting to live and work amongst the local civilians. It was a great insight as to the daily life of Spaniards that I would have never received by simply traveling through the city. Also, I was able to meet a lot of other adventurous Americans and Europeans through this unique experience, which only enhanced my learning of different cultures and customs. It opened my eyes to how other people live and I was able to compare others' lifestyles with those in the US, becoming aware of things I hadn't noticed of my own culture. It was great to have the opportunity to travel around the country as well and explore even more amazing places than just Madrid."
Theresa Carpinito, Middle Tenn State University

"I was absolutely enamored with the Spanish language. I wanted to learn as much of it as I could in the shortest available time. And I found nothing more wonderful than my ability, after a while, to communicate to my Spanish friends with real conversation topics. The chance to meet so many amazing people that I would never have met otherwise was the greatest part about this experience and is what would make me venture forth again. I really can't say enough about those that I had the pleasure of working with, they become a sort of family away from home and they certainly did not hesitate to let me know that I was appreciated and welcomed into their family. Besides the obvious annoyances that accompanied being far from my home country, my only complaint was that I couldn't fit everyone in my suitcase to take back to Boston with me!

I really want to thank Adelante for a wonderful experience, there were definitely tears involved in the last day of work. Thank you, thank you, thank you for finding such a great company for my intern placement. And that was only work. I made an insane number of great friends from all around the globe by joining Madrid's ultimate frisbee team, Los Quijotes."
Kristy Desilets, University of Massachusetts

"You have to be really independent in this program. Nobody is there to baby-sit you and often you're placed in an apartment where people have been living with each other for a while already. For me it was perfect and I had no problems, but it's not the typical study abroad experience where you're with 40 other Americans and everybody goes out together. Certain people probably wouldn't be ready for that kind of independence.

I had a great internship, they were so wonderful. They let me do real work, no copying or filing. I would recommend this internship again, the only thing is that for 2 months it was too short. They have thousands of products, and by the time I learned most of them and got the hang of it there, I had to leave. It was definitely an international experience since almost everybody who worked there was from a different country. It was a great experience working with so many different people and getting to know their cultures a bit better."
Andrea Grieco, Fordham University

"I want to thank you again for everything. The way everything has been handled by you and Adelante has allowed me to have the most wonderful experience here these past few months. I just got back last night from Salamanca, and had a wonderful time there. I will keep you updated on what is happening (back home)."
Josh Uller, University of Arizona

"I can't possibly thank you enough for the incredible time that I have had here in Spain and the opportunities that have come my way. I just wanted to let you know that I think you have a great program and will only continue to improve. Many Americans are too spoiled and hard to please. You give us the head start and the opportunities are here, what we decide to do with them is up to us."
Ben Shakal, St. Cloud University, Minnesota

"Through research on the web, I found a lot of companies offering assistance to individuals interested in living/working overseas. I had spoken to a number of people prior to speaking with Adelante and without a doubt knew I was picking the best option by contracting with Adelante. Kimberly clearly explained the process to me in great depth prior to filling out any paperwork and the process went according to plan and without issue. After completing the application process, it was simply a matter of buying a plane ticket. Getting setup in Madrid could not have been easier. Highly recommend."
Bo Summers, Kansas City, MO

The trips that I led as part of my internship were definitely highlights. I was lucky to have a good and fun group of friends throughout the entire time I was there, so that of course helped me have a positive experience. The work environment was friendly and the people were knowledgeable and patient.
Grace - Rye, NY

This experience gave me an appreciation for another culture and helped broaden my global perspective. I loved the daily experiences of living in Sevilla. For example, going to the market to get fresh fruit and bread each day was so much fun, it became part of my daily routine. And as a result I built relationships with the market owners, which added to the overall experience.

Working at my internship was a wonderful experience and one that I will never forget. Some of my most favorite memories from Spain were on trips that we lead to either Portugal or Morocco. The staff were an amazing team to work with and made me feel part of the group from the beginning.

While in Sevilla I also was a nanny for a Spanish family. I would take the train to their house in the evenings and watch their children. I loved spending time with them and they became like family to me.

The experience came with some challenges, of course, but I learned from each challenge and it made me a better person for it.
Acacia Littrell, KY

I did Adelante because my indecision about majors left me with no time to do a semester abroad, and it turned out to be a much better use of my time. In one trip I got to see if I liked living abroad, liked working internationally, and enjoyed business as a career, not to mention the incredible people that I met.

My job took me all over Sevilla distributing flyers, and to Tangiers, Morocco to test out a new type of vacation package that we could market to our clientele. This experience has proved useful even months later during employee interviews, when I'm asked to evaluate that business and discuss changes that I helped implement. If I get the job, part of the credit will go to Adelante :)
Kathryn Roberts - Cabin John, MD

"It's really indistinguishable which student is with which program except that some programs supply more of the material necessities (i.e. mobile phones). But I don't feel disregarded without those things. In fact, I'm grateful that the Adelante program allows me to do this so independently. Some of the students that are in the organized programs with contacts here are being chartered around like they are touring Andalucia and instead we are able to move at our own pace and see things without the "I'm a tourist" group setting. I, for one, appreciate that.

I really like that Adelante is a "no frills" program. So far there is nothing that I would wish were different. I'm very content and very pleased. I will let you know if anything changes, but honestly the organization of the housing, the courses, the information before hand, everything has beenvery good. I really like that Adelante is small enough that I can feel that my status is important to you and to the people here. Wow, I've said a lot. Basically, I'm very happy with my decision to do this and honestly, the fact that I found it on the internet was a huge risk for me because I wasn't sure of the validity. But I'm here now and everything is even better than I had imagined and huge part of that is the people that are in charge and the people that we are working with here. So thank you so much!
Abby Marten, Seattle University

For me the best part was meeting new people from different cultures and learning from them to make myself a more well-rounded person. Also, the fact that I was pretty much on my own and could do what I wanted once the classes were done made the experience that much more exciting, and allowed me to get to know and to connect with people I might not have had there been strict rules and guidelines I had to follow.

The only 'bad' thing I can think of about the experience is that some people came into the program with certain expectations and when things didn't go exactly how they thought they would they weren't happy. I came in not really expecting anything in particular and when something came up or didn't come up, I just went with it. I know you tell people this already, but maybe make it more clear that things aren't always going to be perfect and when they get messed up just deal with it!
Phil Belko, CA

"Chile is a wonderfully unique place. It offers so much to those that are willing to dive in and live as the people do. The Chilean people were endlessly interesting, and their way of life is something that made me think about my own life in the US. I think that the most valuable change that a lengthy international experience provides is the popping of the US student bubble. It is important to see things from a different perspective and be, for at least a short while, on the outside looking in. I found that the people in the program were always at least partially open to the idea of change. We experienced Chile together and came out different, more aware, and more alive. Adelante provided us with a common goal, and gave us a support system that was invaluable and educationally sound".
James Garcia, University of California, Irvine

"Class is going well and I plan on studying outside of it to further help me learn the language. It is quite awesome to see people speaking so much Spanish. Chileans are quite interesting as a people and very different than I expected - which is a good thing. This past week, our language center decided to take us on a guided hike up to a 2,000-meter mountain peak. The hike was brutal, but we all managed to scramble up to the top. The view was awesome and very rewarding. The empreza in which I work is an extremely professional environment, equipped with a talented staff and a strong desire to get things done on time. And on a side note, my roommate and I enjoy talking with our botones (doorman). He always talks to us about the avocado tree in the backyard, his times in Nueva York, San Francisco and Miami, and about the customs here in Chile. He's awesome, and were enjoying learning some Spanish as he steadily pumps out the stories. People in Vina are warm hearted and eager to hear our stories. It is amazing to make Chilean friends, they are full of laughter and go on many good adventures."
Peter Hanson, University of Illinois

"I had a blast in Costa Rica thanks to Adelante. They explained everything to me before I arrived and continued to check up on me while I was there. They really made my stay in Costa Rica enjoyable. I was hooked up with a great family and I wouldn't have changed a thing about my Costa Rican experience. I also had fun with my job that was found for me. The whole thing was a great experience; I met lots of people and made a lot of contacts."
Michael Steer, Trinity University

"The best aspect of this international experience is having the chance to live on your own in a foreign country; it really forced me to step outside my comfort zone and do things I usually am scared to do; I really improved my language skills and I feel more confident about living abroad independently; Oaxaca is beautiful!"
Medina del Castillo, University of Louisville

"It felt great to improve my Spanish speaking abilities, both in the classroom and out in the city. I also loved meeting so many people who had different experiences and perspectives from my own. I always felt safe walking around the city and I also loved being able to travel outside Oaxaca which was very easy and cheap by bus. The less amazing aspects of this trip are few. I had a fantastic time and if I could go back in time I would have arranged to stay for a longer internship as I was advised to do. It was difficult to work with children in such a short span of time. I was warned that 6 weeks might not be a long enough internship time, and now I understand why. By the time I had gained the childrens' trust and figured out the rules, it was time to go. One of the best aspects of this experience is that I made several friends that I am still in contact with, and will hopefully be able to visit again. I had an overall very positive experience and I would recommend Adelante to anyone."
J. Davis, Gainesville, FL