A Day in My Life as an Intern in Sevilla

Hola todos! My name is Samantha and I am an intern with Adelante Abroad in Sevilla. I love traveling to new countries, learning foreign languages, eating local cuisine, and going to museums. For me, Sevilla was the obvious choice of where to intern since it has all the arts, culture, and slower pace of life I could ever want in a city. I also wanted to choose somewhere pretty different from my hometown to give me new experiences to grow. The prospect of going abroad can be a bit daunting, so I am here to walk you through what my life is like day to day as someone who took the leap of faith and dove right in. Come along with me as I take you through a day in my life as an intern in Sevilla.

My internship is at a business center about forty minutes by bus away from my apartment in the Nervion neighborhood. I typically wake up around 7AM to give myself plenty of time to get to the office by 9AM. This even gives me time to make some light breakfast and take my time to get ready without feeling rushed. I hop on the bus that stops right across the street from my apartment and head into the office. Sevilla has an excellent public transport network, and it is the best way to get around the city. And with a public transport card, the fare is very affordable as well. It is only forty-nine cents per ride for the metro and forty-six cents per ride for the bus.

My hours in the office are from 9AM to 2PM Monday through Thursday. I am very fortunate to have Fridays off in case I want to take a weekend trip or just go out and explore Sevilla more. When I get to the office, I settle in and make myself a cup of hot green tea before diving into work for the day. It is a typical office environment where I sit at my desk and go through whatever assignment I have to work on. The work assignments can change from day to day. Sometimes, I have to research the company’s global competition and look at their social media and advertising. I write up a report on the information I find to help improve the company’s marketing campaigns. On other days, I go through Excel spreadsheets or the company database to update data on clients and global competitors. The work environment is pretty relaxed in Spain, so my coworkers were there to answer any questions I had about what to do or any doubts I had if I was unsure of anything.

By 2PM, my work day is over and I pack up and head back home to my apartment. By the time I get home, I usually cook myself a light lunch depending on what groceries I have available. Other times, I start a load of laundry and go grocery shopping while the washing machine is running. Grocery stores are abundant in Sevilla and very affordable. Often after catching up on some house keeping and having a little siesta, I try to do one activity in the later afternoon and head into the center of the city. I love to experience a city as much as I can and go immerse myself in the local culture. For example, one afternoon I went to the Museum of Fine Arts or Museo de Bellas Artes. Another time, I went to Sevilla’s famous bull fighting ring called Teatro de la Maestranza. I also like to be a bit more proactive about going out since it is very easy to just go to work and come home without ever doing anything else.

In the early evening, my day usually goes one of two ways. Sometimes after my afternoon excursions, I go back home to make some dinner, take a shower, and then watch a movie before going to bed. Other nights, I get dinner in town and do some shopping. Sometimes, I meet up with friends for dinner or drinks and tapas later in the evening. Sevilla is usually super hot during the day with it reaching upward of forty degrees Celsius, or over one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, in the summertime. Therefore, everyone waits until after sunset to go out and meet up after having a long siesta during the afternoon. Dinner is usually around 9PM with bars and restaurants staying open until well after midnight. Usually, I meet up at a bar with my friends, order a tinto de verano or a beer, and just sit and chat for a couple of hours. Oftentimes we start walking the cobblestone streets at night together and enjoying the slower pace of life. In my humble opinion, this is one of the core experiences of living in Sevilla. One of the things I love about living in Spain is the emphasis on work-life balance and overall wellbeing. In Sevilla especially, one can feel the zest for life that makes up the fabric of the city.

On nights like these, I tend to get home rather late. I would say I get home around midnight or 1AM. This depends on if I catch the last bus home or take a taxi. (Side note: Buses stop around 11:30 which is pretty early compared to how late other businesses operate) I think that Sevilla is a very safe city for staying out late, and I always feel comfortable going home alone if I need to. Sevilla is truly a magnificent city that feels like one is in the beating heart of Spain. It is such an honor and a privilege for me to have the opportunity to intern here, and I feel so lucky. I hope this blog provided a little glimpse into my daily life and for prospective applicants, I say what are you waiting for? Fill out the application and go for it!

Sevilla is truly a magnificent city that feels like one is in the beating heart of Spain. It is such an honor and a privilege for me to have the opportunity to intern here, and I feel so lucky. I hope this blog provided a little glimpse into my daily life and for prospective applicants, I say what are you waiting for? Fill out the application and go for it!