ANTOINETTE RANGEL
Partido Socalista Obrero Espanol - Fall 2007

One of the best ways I became acquainted with the ways of the Spanish was through my internship. I had the pleasure of working for the International Relations department of the PSOE (Partido Socalista Obrero Espanol). Interning for the party that is currently in power was awesome as I really got to know the intricacies of the political system from the people who knew it best. Because I helped do the research for various projects they were working on, I did things like tracing the progress of Middle East Peace Talks to helping translate the party's campaign manifesto for the upcoming elections. Aside from being educationally valuable, it was also where I met some of my best friends while in Spain, whom I still keep in touch with. These friends helped me integrate into and learn about Spanish culture, its norms, traditions, the different vocabulary and expressions they use, the best tapas bars, and so much more…and as they would always tease me, I learned that "Americans live to work, Spaniards work to live."

DOROTHY MITCHELL
Córdoba Acoge – Spring 2008

My internship was at Córdoba Acoge, an organization that helps immigrants in Córdoba find jobs, get legal advice, and an overview of some of the challenges they will face. My supervisor was the woman in charge of public education and coordinating the workshops and classes the organization offers to immigrants. I had two main roles - one was teaching english twice a week to interested immigrants. I enjoyed that because I got to meet some really great people (mostly from Latin America), although it could be frustrating because most of the students didn't attend consistently from one week to another. I got experience in making lesson plans and in teaching. Although I don't think I want to be a teacher in the future, it was still a good opportunity. My other project, which I came up with, was to create a map of Córdoba with symbols representing available resources for immigrants, with a corresponding list describing each resource. That was very time consuming, but I think it came out well and will be very useful, because immigrants show up all the time looking for things that Córdoba Acoge doesn't necessarily provide. That was a good exercise in graphic design for me, as well. Although in the future I hope to work in the art world, I think that my experience improved my spanish, which could be important in just about any career.

ANDREEA COCA
Fundación Mujeres- Spring 2007

Aside from all the opportunities a capital city like Madrid has to offer, nothing in my experience there compared to having an internship at Fundación Mujeres (Women's Foundation), a Spanish ONG dedicated to improve the life conditions and experiences of women of all walks of life, across all social contexts. The two months I worked with the organization, where I was in charge of organizing and cataloguing the research materials used by my co-workers for workshops, conferences, reports (just to name a few of their involvements), as well as the materials Fundación Mujeres edited and/or published, not only offered me valuable insight into gender issues in the Spanish culture, but also knowledge about policies and programs designed to assure equal opportunities for men and women in the context of a bustling and heterogenic European metropolis within the European Union.

As a side project, I did independent research (using the documentation center which I was “remodeling”) on sexism in the Spanish language, which proved a challenge on multiple levels, from having Spanish as a second language, to questioning whether the issue could be raised in other languages and cultures as well. Towards the end of my internship, I also started an "intercambio" with one of my co-workers, and having part of the staff sing me "Adiós con el corazón" my last day of work definitely made me promise to come back and see them soon.

BEN KLEINMAN
Proyecto Solidario - Spring 2007

During my second semester in Spain I worked for a NGO in Madrid called Proyecto Solidario. The goal of the organization is to aid improvised children in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Morocco. I specifically worked in the department focused on improving education in Morocco. Proyecto Solidario has several projects in the region, all of which entail building and remodeling elementary schools in the rural areas of the country.

My job was to prepare research papers on the current education system in Morocco, provide an analysis of the situation, and summarize the programs that Proyecto Solidario is undergoing to help aid the country. I would then present my findings to the president and founder of the NGO. In addition to the formal presentations, I met with the president every week to discuss the progress of my reports. I would also frequently speak to other staff members working on the education projects in Morocco.

This internship was absolutely phenomenal for my Spanish. Unlike other internships where the work is primarily filing, during this internship I was doing research, writing extensive papers, and presenting my findings to the president of the organization. In short, I was reading, writing, and talking in Spanish everyday, and the result was that my Spanish improved substantially. I also gained a greater understanding of Spanish culture; specifically the education system in Spain, as well as how a Spanish NGO operates. I would certainly recommend this internship as you will both learn a tremendous amount about Spanish culture and dramatically improve your language abilities.

HARRY LESHNER
Commercial Cards Department, American Express
Spring 2007

I had to create client account review presentations. I also did general administrative work such as filing and checking to see if supplier invoices had been received. I also was responsible for training the new intern, who was from Madrid when he arrived. I greatly improved my Spanish during the course of this internship and I also learned a lot about the company.

SCOTT KESSLER
Instituto Internacional de Derecho y Medio Ambiente
Spring 2007

I translated various works from Spanish to English and vice versa while also reviewing various works the Institute was publishing in English. My Spanish increased drastically. I also was able to see how an environmental NGO specializing in environmental law functions and if I would like to pursue a career in that area.

ALEXANDRA COLEMAN
Hombre y Tierra - Spring 07
(NGO that provides assistance and advising to immigrants on employment opportunities, permits, residency procedures, etc.)

I was responsible for answering phones, logging in client data, (money owed, new client info., etc.) greeting clients and if needed I managed the front desk and would write receipts and write in new members (small interviews to help them fill out a questionnaire.) I’m not particularly interested in working for an NGO or in legal work, however it helped me with my language skills and certainly gave me valuable experience for a possible thesis in the future.

MOLLY KNOLL
Ashoka Emprendedores Sociales  - Fall 2006

I researched possible Ashoka candidates on the internet and newspaper articles and filled out a summary of their strengths and weaknesses. Also handled other various office tasks.

I think my speed in understanding spoken and written Spanish improved quite a bit. I learned a lot about assigning myself goals for the day and working independently.

LANA CORYELL
Colegio Reinado Corazón de Jesús(Private K-12 school)
Fall 2006

I was responsible for creating a lesson plan and teaching an hour-long lesson each week about American culture/English for each of the 4^th-6^th grades of the elementary school, 1^st-4^th years of the ESO grades and both years of Bachillerato. I also observed and helped out in the 5 year old class and the 3^rd grade in the elementary school.

I think I achieved mostly all of my goals, although I wish my speaking skills would have improved more. I didn’t really receive training, but the teachers were always available if I had any questions and offered suggestions to improve my work. In the middle and high school, the teachers supervised my classes. In the elementary school, I worked on my own. I am seriously considering becoming a teacher and so the practical experience was very, very helpful. I now know what it feels like to teach a class of 25 kids of various grade levels on my own.

This was the most valuable experience of all of my experiences in Spain. It helped me to practice my Spanish with native speakers and I also made a lot of connections in the community. It was also helpful because it gave me teaching experience that might be very useful in a future career.

CRISTINA CERRATO
Animatic Producciones - Fall 2006

During my fall 2006 semester in Madrid, Spain I interned at Animatic Producciones, a company that specializes in event production, specifically: themed parties, elegant dinners, circuses, concerts, plays and more. Since Animatic has only four full-time staff members, I was easily able to incorporate myself in the office and was quickly put to work with a variety of tasks. Most of my major responsibilities had to do with technology; I was responsible for teaching first, myself, and, later, my co-workers to use Adobe Photoshop CS and ImageReady CS in order to create a program that automatically batch watermarked the thousands of images that Animatic uses in its project proposals to new clients. In addition, I helped in the creation of the aforementioned project proposals and, in the process, often got to have my input and suggestions taken into consideration. Other times, my assignments were a bit more dynamic; I was sent to a local theater where I personally handed out 200 flyers announcing an upcoming casting hosted by Animatic. I also accompanied my coworkers as they shopped for supplies for our events—makeup, wigs, costumes and other accessories—and, I was there behind the scenes as the props were put to use and we turned the ideas from our project proposals into reality. In sum, I feel that working with Animatic was both a linguistically and a socially positive experience through which I learned many practical skills related to technology as well as gained important insight on Spanish business and culture.

STEPHANIE KANE
Guatemalan Embassy - Spring 2006

Interning at the Guatemalan Embassy was one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic year in Spain. It was an opportunity that allowed me to continue to better my Spanish as I learned about the inner workings of an Embassy. Moreover, due to the smaller size of the Embassy, I was able to get to know everyone in the office and reap the benefits of its family-like environment. When the President of Guatemala was in Spain on official business, the ambassador nonchalantly introduced me to President Oscar Berger as the “tap dance queen” from New York!

As an intern in the Office of Commerce, my principal responsibilities were focused on helping promote and facilitate commerce between Guatemala and Spain. When a company would contact us requesting the contact information regarding Spanish or Guatemalan exporters and/or importers, it was my responsibility to research and collect all relevant data. Then, on behalf of the Office of Commerce, I would provide the company with the requested information. My other responsibilities included maintaining a database of Guatemalan and Spanish business contacts and translating English documentation. However, perhaps it was at the international trade show IMEX ‘06 where I was first able to recognize the importance of my internship. Throughout the day we had several scheduled appointments with companies interested in investing in Guatemala and when the Councilor needed to attend a meeting with the ambassador, I was asked to conduct the next to appointments by myself! The experience I gained at my internship is remarkable, and I recommend all students studying in Madrid to seriously consider an internship because it is certainly worth the time and effort!


IULIA SPRINCEANA
Ashoka Emprendedores Sociales - Spring 2006

Working with a Spanish NGO was far from what I had in mind when I headed for my study abroad year with the Carlos III University in Madrid. As a double Economics/Spanish major, I had hoped to intern with a bank or financial organization, perhaps even a cultural institution such as an Embassy. In the end, it turned out that I found myself more comfortable within the Ashoka family. This is exactly what we were: Ashoka is more than a simple NGO-it was founded in the 1980s by Bill Drayton, an American, and over time has spread all over the world. The Spanish branch is therefore coordinated and cooperates with its counterparts in Latin America, the US, India etc. It is a wonderful environment! One gets to do office work, to organize the files and folders, to bring his/her own ideas, to design new templates for the storage of all the information they possess, to do reasearch on new candidates for the yearly Ashoka fellowship, any to work with an extraordinary staff that will consider the intern as a fully mature and responsible individual.

SETH MIRAN
El Colegio Público El Trigal - Spring 2006
 

My internship was at El Colegio Público El Trigal in Fuenlabrada (on the outskirts of Madrid). I went to the elementary school two full days every week. My duties were to help 3 teachers in classes (primarily English classes, but a number of regular Spanish classes – for example, math and reading and writing) for kids as young as pre-school and as old as 6th grade. They gave me my own lessons to prepare as well as helping them throughout the classroom while they were giving lessons. Additionally, I worked with some of the kids who needed extra attention in classes.

The internship was easily the best part of my semester in Madrid. The interaction that I had with Spaniards and the relationships that I cultivated, with both the children and the teachers, are those intangible and unquantifiable portions of my experience abroad that will stick with me the longest. It was also the most direct reason that I saw a marked improvement in my Spanish, particularly my speaking ability. During my last week, I got to go on a field trip with the first and second graders and all of the teachers with whom I was closest, an experience which reminded me not only of how much I had grown in Spain, but also since elementary school (since I can still remember being the chaperoned as opposed to the chaperone).

HALEY GILBERT
Elipse Iniciativas - Spring 2006

I worked as an intern at Elipse Iniciativas, a company that coordinates sports and special events.  Mainly, I worked in colaboration with the sports events manager to organize the 29th marathon of Madrid.  At first, I helped my supervisor map out the new marathon course, helping her with her powerpoint presentations of the new course. Then, she had me type many spreadsheets and put together packets for the head volunteers of the marathon. I did inventories of the medical supplies needed at every rest stop throughout the marathon, and put together team clothing for the head volunteers. I also was the only one who spoke English, so I was responsible for all English-Spanish translation that was needed, mainly with the English-speaking collaborators of the marthon. The experience was particularly great because I worked in an environment where I really improved my Spanish. By spending all of our two-hour breaks with the other employees, I improved my conversational skills and vocabulary. It was great to learn the vocabulary that a business uses, as well as the coloquial vocabulary that Spanish people use. I would highly suggest this internship! I got to go to the Gala that presented the marathon to the sporting community of Madrid, as well as participate as a key figure the day of and the day before the marathon.  I interviewed the female and male champions of the marathon for Elipse´s post-race magazine, and had many responsibilities the day of the marathon at the finish line. 



BRAD HARTMAN
OM Sports - Spring 2005

During my semester in Madrid, I did an internship at a sports marketing company called OM Sports: The Sports and Marketing Company.  Basically, OM Sports organizes 4 large sporting events in Spain & Portugal throughout the year--one polo event, 2 golf events, and a pádel event. My primary responsibility was to translate the company's information and publicity pamphlets from Spanish to English. Although the work was not thrilling, having the opportunity to interact with native Spaniards in a business environment was worthwhile. I also learned a little bit about what it takes to organize a large-scale

sporting event. Furthermore, just by being in the office I began to pick up on Spanish business vocabulary and professional behavior. The most valuable part of the experience was speaking with my officemates and practicing my Spanish with native Spaniards. It was also interesting to get some exposure to sports that are not common in the United States (like polo and pádel)!

JAMES PETSOULAKIS
American Express - Spring 2005

Right now I am interning with American Express in Madrid (Spring 2005). The job is everything you could imagine about office life but with the caveat of working with Spaniards. This is the most enjoyable aspect of the internship because outside of my apartment it is almost impossible to meet non-Americans. It is very interesting to observe the work ethics and politics of an office space outside the United States. After working with an American banking firm this past summer I had bases to compare the two environments, and I found so far that both function similarly in business but with distinctions in the social atmosphere. Along with the fascinating environment, the internship is providing meaningful experience for my future plans. Although, my actual work at Amex is not incredibly exciting, I am learning much about commercial banking and credit in the real world. This functional experience, along with the bonus of unique cultural immersion makes this internship very worthwhile. I recommend such an experience to anyone who doesn't mind sacrificing some free time while they are abroad because it will provide valuable insight for your personal and professional life for long after the study abroad period is over.

JOHN SHARPE
Bodegas Alicia Rojas -Spring 2005 

While studying in Logroño this past spring, I had the distinct opportunity of working in a place that, more or less, represents the true spirit of the la Rioja region: a winery. Named Bodegas Alicia Rojas, it is nestled at the base of the Pyrenees mountain range, boasting the largest winery estate in all of La Rioja (800 hectares). Among other things, my main projects consisted of translating the new website, providing multiple camera shots of the estate for marketing aims, office research, and field work, such as assisting workers as they maintain the vineyards.

My co-workers were extremely kind and amiable; in many ways, a work force of about 10 people functions more like a family, and that was definitely the case here. Without doubt, I have acquired a renewed understanding and appreciation of the world of wine; countless hours of meticulous care are invested into the grape harvest, fermentation, elaboration, and, of course, the final product inside the bottle. Having the opportunity to experience and work within such a place of established tradition and kind people has created an in-depth view into some of best parts of Spanish culture – parts I surely would not have experienced had I not opted for an internship.

Establishing friendships with native speakers, learning to communicate with them in a professional environment, and gaining a deeper knowledge of the region's most recognized product and culture has been incredible. I will surely remember and cherish this special experience for this rest of my life.

KATE HORTON 
Asociación ARI-PERU- Spring 2005 

During my second semester in Madrid, I spent a few days per week working with the ARI-PERU Asociacion.  ARI is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides free consultation, support, and advice for the immigrant population in Madrid.  As an intern, I observed volunteers of the association during the hours of free consultation; it was particularly interesting because Spain was in the middle of a regularization process for a part of the immigrant population, and I had the opportunity to note the problems and difficulties that some foreigners encountered.  I also spent my time researching U.S. immigration laws and processes, translating documents, and evaluating the association's webpages.  Working with ARI was a valuable experience for me, and has sparked my interest in further studies regarding immigration issues in the U.S.

KIM HULTS
Ciencia Divertida - Spring 2005

While studying in Madrid during the spring of 2005, I interned with Ciencia Divertida ("Fun Science"), a Spanish-based educational business run out of the capital city.  Ciencia Divertida is an international enterprise, with franchises in North and South America, Asia, and all over Europe, that offers scientific workshops, shows, and programs for children that are designed to be both educational and entertaining.  Ciencia Divertida's clients include individual parties, such families in need of entertainment for a communion or birthday party, as well as municipalities, shopping centers, and large-scale corporations.  As I worked in the central office, I conducted my business alongside the company's core management, including the CEO.

  
My day-to-day duties were generally based around translation of some sort,  translating various internal documents, workshop scripts, training manuals, and commercial materials from Spanish to English.  In addition, I helped edit the company's English website and performed various other editorial duties as needed.  Through my experience with Ciencia Divertida, I was able to get a firmer grasp on the nature of the Spanish business world, and was able to make great contacts for the future, should I ever decide to venture into their line of buisness. In addition, my  vocabulary and comprehensional abilities in Spanish improved, as I was forced to closely examine documents and discover the precise meaning of every sentence.  All in all, my internship with this company enriched my time spent in Spain and provided me with a personalized experience that could never be obtained in a classroom setting.

ALEXANDER SALVADOR-GUIDO
MITA Instituto de Desarrollo de Iniciativas Empresariales-Spring 2005

During the spring semester in Madrid I had the opportunity to do an internship at MITA ONG. MITA is a Non Governmental Organization that helps immigrants, women, unemployed and physically disable people to get into the financial and banking system in order to get micro credits and set up their own business.  I worked closely with the five persons staff of this NGO. My duties ranged from writing reports on the different projects that were going to be sent to the banks, to researching information about a specific economic activity, writing letters to different media companies, giving information to the people who came looking for assistance, and other office work. I also worked with my supervisor on analyzing "business plans" and the viabilities of the different business's ideas. I have learned a lot more about how micro credits work and how these micro loans can help to rise the standard of living of different groups of people that are excluded from the socio-labor market. I enjoyed the experience because the staff members I worked with were always willing to clarify doubts and were interested in me to learn what they were doing. The atmosphere in the place of work was that of cooperation. It also helped me understand the way financial institutions work in Spain and how they help create jobs. 

DAVID BARKER
Sociedad Geográfica Española- Spring 2005

I worked with La Sociedad Geográfica Española or the Spanish Geographical Society during my spring semester in Madrid. The non-profit organization promotes geographic awareness and Spain's rich history of world exploration through activities and an annual awards presentation to people who have contributed to the expansion of geographic knowledge. The Society does little with academic geography. As a translator for the website, I spent 7.5 hours a day translating biographies of Spanish explorers and updating the homepage. There was a seemingly endless amount of information to translate so I felt like I always had something to do, however it was tedious at times. Translating improved my Spanish vocabulary and my writing because I learned new phrases and how to write in a more formal style. Although I worked in a separate office from the other three employees, Margarita and Manuel were always willing to help me when I couldn't identify a word or the meaning of a sentence. The perks included a free menu of the day at a nearby restaurant and the opportunity to partake in the Society's activities like lectures and hikes. With these experiences, I was able to meet Spaniards and feel more like a Madrid resident. 

ABIGAIL TRENGROVE (Simmons College)
FUNDARCO--Logroño Spring 2004

While studying in Logroño for the 2003-2004 year, I had the opportunity to intern with Fundarco, an organization that, among other things, helps promote both La Rioja's presence on the web and Internet use among the Riojana community. I had the opportunity to combine my computer science interests with my Spanish major, a task that proves to be difficult in the States.  My experience is one that undoubtedly will benefit me in the future and my memories have enhanced the richness of my year abroad. The daily contact I had with my coworkers has left me with relationships, although some short, that changed my time in Spain from purely academic and university based to be something more in depth and adult with a priceless insight to how business is run in Spain.

During my second semester in Madrid I interned in Durán Subastas del arte, the oldest auction house in Spain.  Durán specializes in pre-twentieth century Spanish art, which enabled me to learn about reputable artists that are fairly unknown outside of Spain.  My internship also taught me how an auction house operates.  I worked along side of each department and learned how to differentiate between something fake and genuine, how to read silver marks and what happens the day of an auction.  Durán was a wonderful experience not only for what I learned, but also because everyone there is amicable and willing to help despite the sometimes frustrating language barrier. 

KATHLEEN FLEURY
Cinemanía--Spring 2004

During my second semester in Madrid, I interned at a Spanish cinema magazine called Cinemania.  The magazine is part of Prisa, a large communications company in Spain, and part of the Editorial Progresa that produces many magazines including Rolling Stones.  I served as an assistant to the six journalists and the two directors of the magazine, a role that required attending editorial meetings, helping to decide covers, writing monthly sections of the magazine and attending various premieres and press conferences as well as reviewing new Spanish movies on a weekly basis. 

The internship proved to be challenging but very rewarding. As an English/Spanish double major I am considering journalism as a possible career, and this experience gave me a wonderful opportunity to learn how a magazine works and to actually be part of the process of creating it every month.  I was also exposed to a wonderful aspect of Spanish culture on a more intimate level and was able to view many Spanish films that complimented and enhanced my personal experiences.  Most importantly, the challenge of writing for a magazine in a second language forced me to improve my Spanish greatly.  Overall my internship in Cinemania effectively took my immersion, both linguistic and cultural, to a new level and helped me to gain some exposure to a possible future career.

JOSEPH YOUNG
Analistas Financieros Internacionales--Spring 2004

While studying at the Universidad de Carlos III, my afternoon internship at AFI allowed me to use the tools and software used in monitoring and analyzing various bonds, stocks, and currencies that are of strong international importance.  My daily responsibilities included updating bond prices through the use of Reuters software and gathering other financial information for AFI employees through the Bloomberg system. While being able to apply the practical knowledge that I had previously learned in my economic classes to my daily internship, I also gained insight into the Spanish business work environment providing yet another opportunity to converse with Spanish natives. 

NICHOLAS DuBROFF
Federación de Empresarios de La Rioja--Spring 2004

I interned at the Federación de Empresarios de La Rioja (FER) while studying in Logroño.  The FER is a non-for-profit business organization dedicated to fomenting regional business growth within La Rioja.  I worked in the Euro Info Centre (EIC), created by the European Commission as a means of interconnecting regional small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) within the EU to increase interregional trade and ensure that SMEs will be able to compete within this increasingly competitive free trade area.

As an intern, I worked in a number of projects under the umbrella of the EU structural funds aimed at catalyzing economic growth within La Rioja.  This entailed translating documents, research, and contacting various businesses, embassies and consulates to interconnect local businesses with the rest of Europe.  My coworkers were very amiable, and the experience provided a unique perspective of the Spanish work place and business environment.  Meeting with the US ambassador to discuss trade between La Rioja and the US and working within the EU during the EU enlargement were particularly interesting and relevant, and would have been difficult to realize had I not been an intern.  Overall, the internship was very rewarding and fundamental to my immersion in Logroño. 

JAIME SCHWARTZ (Columbia U.)
Galería Javier López--Spring 2004
During my semester in Madrid, I interned at Galería Javier López, which specializes in ultra-contemporary art.  I worked closely with the three person staff of this small, but reputable, gallery.  My duties ranged from cataloguing the library, to researching artists, writing press releases, and generally assisting the director.  As a result of this experience, I have gained a much deeper understanding of how the art market functions as well as the challenges facing contemporary artists participating in this business.  I found my internship to be an extremely valuable experience not because of the introduction it gave me to a field I knew very little about but also because of the opportunity it provided me to apply my Spanish outside of the classroom and to build a relationship with native speakers.

CELEO SOLIS (Pomona College)
Instituto de Salud Carlos III--Spring 2004
During my semester abroad I interned at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, which is very similar to the National Institutes of Health in the US.  I specifically worked at the institute's school of public health with the department chair of a Masters program in International Health, who in addition to completing his medical training in Spain also attended MIT for graduate studies.  The students who participated in the masters program were mainly doctors and professionals from Latin America and Africa with a vast array of experiences to share.  In addition to sitting in some of their seminars, I conducted small research projects related to the department's research interests.  My experience there was very positive, because I was able to get a larger perspective of biomedical research, while integrating myself into the Spanish society.  As a result of my internship, I was motivated to apply for a job at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland after graduation.

TALIA SHALEV (Sarah Lawrence)
Ciencia Divertida--Spring 2004
During the spring semester of 2004, I worked as an intern for Fun Science-Ciencia Divertida.  The company aims to educate and entertain children in an innovative way, conducting science themed workshops at schools, birthday parties and fairs, as well as in museums, restaurants, shopping centers…  Through the internship, I was able to further explore my interest in language by translating the company's informational, corporate, and publicity materials from Spanish to English; I even had the opportunity to translate some of the actual scripts used during the science workshops.

Although the majority of my efforts were devoted to translating, I did have to carry out basic office tasks from time to time.  Strange at it seems, these tasks presented me with challenges I hadn't thought about prior to soliciting the internship.  Something as simple as answering the phone requires knowledge of a certain professional vocabulary, a vocabulary left out of my foreign language curriculum.  When, by the end of the semester, I had acquired a certain level of comfort in the Spanish speaking environment of the office, I realized that I would be more prepared to work in any office – using English or Spanish – in the future.The experience as a whole was very rewarding, and it was wonderful to be around so many native speakers on a consistent basis. 

Ekaterina Nikolova
Economistas sin Fronteras--Spring 2003
The second semester of my stay in Spain, I interned at Economistas sin Fronteras, a Spanish nongovernmental organization devoted to the creation of fairer and more socially responsible economic and social structures in Spain and in the Third World Countries. EsF gives technical, expert and professional support to other not-for-profit organizations, as well as manages varios projects with economic content.
During my four months there I worked in three different departments: initially in Communications, translating the EsF web site and many other projects and presentations into English; then I spent two months in the Cooperation Projects Area working on a Microcredit Network Project to be implemented in Somoto, Nicaragua and another one in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. That involved not only investigation and development of the projects themselves and contacting the respective 'contrapartes' from Nicaragua and Bolivia, but also looking for sponsors and contacting all the bigger banks and 'cajas de ahorro' in Spain, as well as the regional governments. Finally, I was at the Corporate Social Responsibility Office researching for and eventually assisting in the writing up a of project proposal to be presented to the European Union Commission for sponsorship. All in all, my Spanish got to sound professional and certainly more fluent, I got well acquainted with the NGO world (which was my major motivation for doing an internship at Economistas) and I met some wonderful people.

Donald Anselmi
Colegio Aldebarán, Tres Cantos--Spring 2003
While studying at the Sede Prim in Madrid during the spring semester of 2003, I obtained a teaching internship at a large primary public school, Colegio Aldebarán, in Tres Cantos. Tres Cantos is a village that is a forty-five minute commuter train ride from Madrid. This great experience met the criteria I had for an internship. I wanted an internship in the teaching field in order to gain more in-depth experience and exposure to the culture and work environment of Spain, to improve my Spanish speaking skills, and also to get some practical experience, since I would like to teach after college. While at my internship, I not only observed and learned more about the Spanish education system through extensive interviews and research, but also taught classes (both by myself and along with other teachers) in Spanish grammar, social studies and English to children of all ages.

Alex Westra
Analistas Financieros Internacionales--Spring 2003
My Dillon Dunwalke fellowship allowed me to intern at Analistas Financieros Internacionales (AFI), a leading Madrid based consulting firm. I was hired to work in the corporate finance department where I immediately began an extensive analysis of over 35 cajas de ahorros, or regional Spanish banks, which culminated in my helping to draft a section of a management plan later presented to a client. During the remainder of my four months, always writing and speaking in only Spanish, I analyzed financial statements and helped advise clients about their investments. I finished the internship with a study I developed relating to the geographic coverage, size and obligatory social programs of the regional banks.The internship was an extraordinary opportunity that added great depth to my life in Madrid. I sharpened my Spanish language skills and broadened my cultural understanding not only through working in the office, but also through interacting with my Spanish friends during several company outings or personal meetings. The internship was an invaluable experience, which will certainly help me realize my aspirations of working abroad or using my knowledge about Spanish culture and language while working for an international company.

Joseph Palombo
Fundación Paz y Solidaridad Serafín Aliaga, Madrid--Spring 2003
While studying abroad in Madrid for the Spring I interned at la Fundación Paz y Solidaridad Serafín Aliaga, which is a branch of the largest Spanish workers union, Comisiones Obreras (CC.OO). The goal of this foundation is to create and direct international development and cooperation projects primarily in Latin America, as well as northern Africa and the Middle East. The foundation is closely tied to CC.OO's Secretary General of International Relations and I worked very closely with the director of International Relations as well as the Director of the foundation throughout my internship. The main focus of the internship was my role as research assistant for the Director of the foundation, who was in the processes of writing a book for Comisiones Obreras on the nature of cooperation and development dialogue between the European Union and Latin American nations. This meant that I spent the first month and a half of the internship in an office scouring the internet and various libraries around Madrid for information on the EU-Latin American affairs. After the first few weeks of research I was asked to take what I had found and write a small discussion on the status of the EU in Latin America, which would end up being a part of the introductory chapter of the Director's book. Unfortunately, due to the heavy travel schedule of my boss, I had very little contact with him for the middle seven weeks of the internship and ended up having no real work to do for the last month of the internship. Nonetheless, it gave me a great chance to get to know many of the workers in the International Relations department and to have many discussions about the Spanish economy, Spanish workers' rights and the pros and cons of graduate studies, with some of the heads of the Union. All and all I learned a great deal from my internships, though there were some very slow days. I would suggest that anyone interested in International Affairs or Latin American development issues look into interning for Fundación Paz y Solidaridad Serafín Aliaga during their semester here. However, one should be careful to make sure that there will be enough work there to do throughout the entire semester.

Laura Martin (Brown University)
Volunteer work with "Solidarios"--Spring 2003
Solidarios is a Madrid based NGO that has social programs and also collaborates with other associations by training and providing volunteers. Training is in the form of lectures on social issues. Laura worked in a Solidarios program with a group of volunteers offering meals and assistance to homeless people in the streets of Madrid. She also participated in their training sessions.

Francine Segovia (Pomona College)
Volunteer work with"Solidarios"--Fall 2002
Francine worked with a group of volunteers offering meals and assitance to homeless people in the streets of Madrid.

Carolyn Kormann
Sotheby's, Madrid--Spring 2003
Sotheby's is the oldest and largest auction house in the world, with offices all over the world and specialists covering every area of the art and decorations world, from 19th century painting to vintage wines and from 16th century silver to contemporary photography. The Sotheby's office in Madrid is a regional office, signifying that there are no auctions carried out in Spain. Rather, the office is very small, and works to find the quality art in Spain that has the prospect of being sold and then transport it to be auctioned in London, Paris, Geneva, or to whatever city may have the corresponding Sotheby's auction. The office has four full-time employees: the director, the woman in charge of all transport, an expert in 19th-century painting, and a woman in charge of all that is not painting, such as furniture and tapestries. There is also a constant stream of experts from other parts of the world who come to see works that have been found by the office in Madrid. As a regional office, they also have a plethora of already established Spanish Sotheby's clients that work directly with the Madrid office in whatever aspect of the auction/art world in that they might need assistance, such as placing an absentee bid. This internship was awesome and incredibly fruitful in the sense that while I was working for such an important international company, I was able to be a very important and active member of the office, due to its small size in Madrid. I conducted research on possible art consignments, artists, clients and past sales. This research would be used to determine the history or authenticity of a possible consignment or to provide information for the Sotheby's catalog description of a particular work. I updated and oversaw
Spanish clients' auction bid requests as well as created and broadened the Sotheby's client databases. I created, after researching through past sales and client interactions, a database group of clients that have high interest in silver. I also created and sent estimate requests for various works of art to the corresponding specialist in whatever part of the world he or she may have been. I did a good deal of translation work, most in the translation of art descriptions. Sotheby's was a fantastic place to be for me since art is my huge interest and I want to work in the art world. I learned all the inner-workings of an auction house and now have a full understanding of the auction house's role in the art world as a whole. I also attended gallery and exhibition openings in Madrid, and learned a great amount about artists that I previously had not known due to the research I conducted. I was able to witness many pieces of art first-hand that are not available to the public and, thanks to the grand amount of time I spent with art experts of all fields, I gained a deep comprehension of how to value a work of art, and what are the important and respected aspects of different artists, movements and epochs.

Amy Dorrien
Colegio Senara--Spring 2003
A private (K-12) school for girls.

Non Credit-Bearing Internships:

Kristen Kincaid (graduate)
Richmond Publishing--Fall 2002 - Spring 2003
An editorial company belonging to the editorial group Santillana Educación which publishes foreign language textbooks for children and youth.

Patrick Kane
Federación de Empresarios de La Rioja, Logroño--Fall 2002
An organization representing businesses from La Rioja. Patrick worked in the European Information Office.

Sarah Griggs
Plataforma de Organizaciones para la Infancia (POI)--Spring 2003
An umbrella organization that groups 22 NGO's dedicated to promoting children's rights and welfare.

Credit-Bearing Internships:

Kent Newman
Medicus Mundi Rioja--Spring 2001
I did my internship with Medicus Mundi Rioja, which runs a small office in Logroño, La Rioja associated with FAMME (Federación de Asociaciones Medicus Mundi en España) and Medicus Mundi International headquartered in Belgium. Medicus Mundi is a NGO (non-governmental organization) dedicated to the development of health care in third world countries.
In my semester I had the opportunity to assist in all aspects of the health care projects, but also attended seminars coordinated by other NGO's and assisted in the establishment of a quarterly newsletter and a program of education in La Rioja. The most rewarding part of the internship was getting to work on the projects in all stages, from the first contact in a developing country to the final account of expenitures presented to the comunidad autonomia. In between I was involved in translating some texts and emails, formating projects to the requirements of the comunidad and revising budgets.

Meisan Lim
Bridge News--Spring 2001
Bridge News is a division of Bridge Information Systems which dedicates itself to providing news concerning the Spanish economy/ finance in both Spanish and English. During my internship with the company, I had the pleasure to work with Will Acworth, Senior Correspondent for Bridge News, Madrid. My chief responsibility was to provide assistance to Mr Acworth in researching for news materials, analysing and confirming details on market shaping events, as well as writing and translating articles. During the course of this, I have learned the art of news-writing: that is, concise writing within a short time. Since all news go on wire, it is especially crucial that one be quick and straight to the point.What was so unique about this experience was that it was not just journalism I was learning, but financial journalism. It is a combination of journalism, finance, Spanish language and economics, the latter two being my specialisations at university. Hence, the internship has indeed shown me another career option that I could pursue with my double-major degree in the future. Moreover, working in a firm as such was an excellent opportunity to learn more about the country's economy, politics and socio-economy, which was part of the goal of the programme. We were always one of the first ones to know what was going on in the country and the E.U. It comes without saying that my experience at Bridge, Madrid was also enriched by the kindness and support of all my colleagues. Thanks to them, I had a taste of what it is like to be in a profesional Spanish work environment and was able to improve my Spanish beyond the normal conversational level to a profesional level equipped with economic vocabulary. I was especially thankful to Mr Acworth who never failed to guide me and help me improve my writing. To familiarise myself with the Spanish economy, he suggested that I first read up on its past and present news and reports. He then assigned me to simple tasks like translating short Spanish news to English and confirming market events before entrusting me with longer, more complicated articles like that about Terra Lycos, a Spanish internet company. It was daunting for me at times, knowing that what I write get read by top businessmen, economists, financial analysts, and other intellectuals but under his guidance and supervision, I was able to accomplish the assigned tasks. In conclusion, I feel that my Bridge experience has indeed helped me prepare for my future career. The experience with researching, analysing and writing as well as working in a profesional environment, plus the training and supervision I received would be very useful for my career.

Bryn Saxe
Commercial Attaché's office of the US Embassy--Spring 2001
For my internship, I worked in the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) which is part of the US Department of Commerce. FCS provides American businesses with the information and the connections that they need in order to enter foreign markets, in my case the Spanish market. Once an American business decides it wants to enter the Spanish market, the FCS analyzes the particular market, finds Spanish distributors for the American company, and finally arranges meetings between the two parties to discuss contract details. When I began my internship in the FCS, I worked under the supervision of one of the five trade sector specialists whose area of expertise was Medical Devices, such as prosthetics and contact lenses. Under his supervision, I was given the task of compiling statistics on the sector for the years 1998, 1999, 2000. Once I had compiled the figures, I did a profile on the top five to ten countries who dominated the sector, where there were growing markets or opportunities, and what the dynamics of the sector were. All the information I compiled became the foundation for the sector report that FCS publishes every year. Much of my time was spent on the computer using Excel spreadsheets, writing reports in Microsoft Word, and searching the Internet for information on the Medical Devices sector which included searching the Spanish Dept. of Commerce webpage. I went to my supervisor when I had questions and we met once a week to discuss where the project was and what our deadlines were. We primarily conversed in Spanish, although my project was written in English. I learned a great deal of Spanish business vocabulary that I had not known before which was one of the goals of my internship. I gained experience in the realm of international commerce and business but despite this I would have enjoyed more hands on experience working with the clients than I had. All together, interning at FCS was a learning experience that gave me valuable knowledge and contacts that I can use in my future career.

Ajaya Shrestha
CODESPA--Spring 2001
CODESPA is a Spanish Non Governmental Organization. It focuses on economic development by means of labor productivity. Even though it primarily works with Spanish speaking nations of Central and South America, it also conducts projects in the Morocco, the Middle East and Asia. I worked for the Department of Monitoring and Evaluation. This department also dealt with accounting related issues of all the projects that were being conducted by CODESPA. There was a miscommunication during the first month. Maria Jose, my supervisor, thought that because I was majoring in Economics, I was solely interested in handling accounting projects. Once she found out about my interests, I was given more challenging and important jobs. During my time there, I worked on projects that were being conducted in Morocco, Ecuador, Bolivia and Jordan. All projects needed to provide us with a progress report on a quarterly basis. The department had to review these reports to make sure that a satisfactory progress was being obtained. Then, it had to write a report to either the European Union or the AECI (a branch of the Spanish Government). During my months there, I read progress reports of some of the projects, compared them to the original master plan and made sure that the project was, in some sense, within its stated time-line. On the accounting side, I revised all the expenses of the project and made sure that these accounts would be accepted by the EU or the AECI. On projects of countries that were not Spanish speaking, I translated Spanish to English and vise versa. On a particular case in a project in Jordan, a huge amount of funds had been spent on something that had not been sanctioned. The donor agency was not willing to accept this expenditure while the project has already spent the amount. We had to act as middlemen and try to find a solution. The emails from Jordan were in English and the emails from the donor agency were in Spanish. In conclusion, my internship was the hardest thing that I did during my semester in Spain. I spent more hours per week at work than at school. It really put me in a Spanish environment and forced me to learn more of the language. And the toughest part was speaking and writing in office level Spanish.

Zachary Bourque
FUNDESO (Fundación Desarrollo Sostenido), Madrid--Fall 2000
While studying abroad in Madrid, I interned at FUNDESO (Fundacion Desarrollo Sostenido). This NGO (non-governmental organization) or Spanish anONG, in cooporation with both state and local governments provides programs in Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula. I worked developing an educational program in South America and Madrid for school children. I also met at the Mexican Embassy to discuss the possibility of implementing a similar program in Mexico City. In addition to developing and carrying out these programs, I also often helped with the translation of proposals into English (since this company was comprised on Spanish speakers) in order that the company might request funding from US companies and organizations. My internship enabled me to really communicate with native speakers. It allowed me to learn about the culture and many of their own views. Also the few times I answered the phone "forced" me to communicate verbally with Spainards. As far as my future goals, the experience working for a non-profit organization was great to have that sort of exposure.

Wai Yee Chiong
WWB (Women's World Banking), Madrid--Spring 2000

David Daniel
Hilti Española S.A.,Madrid--Spring 2000

Amy Wales
ACNUR (Alto Comisionado de las Naciónes Unidas para Refugiados),Madrid--Spring 2000

Ivana Siric
Denton Lupicinio Rodriguez, Madrid--Spring 1999
I am a political science major, and before going to Spain, I was deeply convinced that I wanted to (and was going to) study international law after graduating from Middlebury. However, after working as an intern for four months in Denton Lupicinio Rodriguez, which is a member of the Denton International Group of Law Firms, I became aware that that kind of job would be too sedentary for me. In other words, I realized that my true interests are international and public relations (constant contact with people), and that I am not prepared to spend my life at a dusty desk doing reasearch (which is what the most of the lawyers there were doing). During the time I was there I was given three projects to work on. In the end, they all boiled down to pure research. Furthermore, I did not learn much Spanish through my internship because the research that I was doing was for the most part in English. As far as working with other lawyers, I must say that I was disappointed on that front as well. They were all extremely nice, but simply did not have any time to spend with me or to teach me certain things that I would have liked to have learned. All in all, this job experience was useful in the sense that it helped me realize what I do not want to do in the future. On the other hand, it did not really help me improve my Spanish skills or interact with more Spaniards.

Justin Twitchell
InterNexus Language Center, Madrid--Spring 1999
My internship was with InterNexus Language Center in Madrid. I was responsible for coming up with a marketing plan to open another language center in another city in Spain. I was also responsible for helping current students with any computer problems that they had. It was a great way to interact with Spaniards, and I met a lot of new people. It really was an experience that I felt was valuable to me, and hopefully it was valuable to InterNexus as well. It did help me learn Spanish better, as I was required to speak a lot more with Spaniards than I would of had I not had an internship. InterNexus also sponsored some social activities that helped me better understand Spanish culture and how I could incorporate some of it into my own life. I sincerely hope that other Middlebury students will be able to have the opportunity that I had of doing an internship abroad. I really enjoyed working in another country in what may be a once in a life time experience, but I certainly hope not that it is not.

Natasha Kobran
Once Upon a Time Films, Inc., Madrid-- Spring 1998
As a student spending a full year abroad, I was excited at the idea of being able to take part in an internship. I was sure that this experience would enable me to meet Spaniards, learn about the Spanish work environment, and improve my written and oral use of the language. As it turned out, these goals were all met over the spring term through my experiences as a production assistant at Once Upon A Time Films, Inc. You may do well to wonder at my choice of an American company for an internship experience, but I will explain how this experience worked to my benefit. I was looking for a job in the entertainment business, as this is an area that has always been a possible future job arena for me. It is difficult to land a job in this business, and sometimes just as difficult to find an available internship. It is a very competitive field, yet because of my Spanish language skills, I was able to land a very interesting job working in the office of a production company that is based in Santa Monica, CA. This company had come to Spain to film two "spaghetti westerns" near Madrid, and also in the south of Spain, in Almeria. One film, A Dollar For The Dead (TNT) starred Emilio Estevez, the other, Outlaw Justice (CBS), starred Willie Nelson, Travis Tritt and Kris Kristoffersen. My job was to translate in the office and on the set for the mixture of Spanish and American crews and actors. I also did other tasks like any production gopher, such as running errands, making photocopies, picking up actors from the airport, buying "welcome baskets" for the stars and directors, and making myself useful in the office in any way possible. I made phone calls for my boss, the executive producer; I sent faxes all over the world; I cued up audition tapes; I helped an assistant director when he needed to have his eye checked at the hospital because of the extraordinary wind and dust on the set. I did many different things that ranged from tedious (making sure the office refrigerator was always stocked with sodas) to exciting (picking up Emilio Estevez at the Madrid Airport), but I was always learning something new. I also really enjoyed learning basic skills in Spanish, such as answering the phone properly, bargaining with a shopkeeper, or getting specific information promptly over the phone. There are many areas of Madrid that would have remained unknown to me had I not pursued this internship, and I am thankful for the opportunity to work in a close environment with so many Spaniards. Earning their trust and acceptance was an important achievement for me as an outsider, perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of my internship experience. It is difficult to meet native speakers when you travel abroad as an American student, as there are always other Americans with whom you can converse. Being in a work environment with other Spaniards definitely helped me become much more confident with my Spanish and helped me feel a lot closer to the Spanish culture. I also learned a lot about the entertainment industry, and I would urge all juniors to intern for a company that seems to have the job you are searching for. It is a great way to earn work experience and to find out if this is really what you want to do as a career. I was able to meet a number of producers, directors, a stunt director, a costume designer, and other crew members who answered my many questions about the business. It is also a wonderful way to get your foot in the door. While working for Once Upon A Time Films I was asked to be fourth AD on one of the shows (I had to decline the offer as it would have meant quitting school). My boss also told me that I would be offered a job by their company if I should choose to move to LA, and that they would help me find a job elsewhere if I needed some assistance. These are the things that are great to hear when you are approaching your last year in college and looking for a future job.

Laurie Manus
Bufete Lupicinio Rodriguez, Madrid-- Spring 1998
I worked 20 hours per week at the Bufete Lupicinio Rodriguez. This a Spanish law firm dealing with many different types of corporate, environmental, and financial law. This firm has an international focus, and it is a member of Denton Hall International which is based in England. In short, most of the lawyers and employees are fluent in English or bilingual. Therefore, student interns must be determined to emphasize that they are in the office to practice their Spanish and not their English. I spoke Spanish around 95% of the time and really enjoyed spending time in the office with my colegas. Many of the young lawyers were very friendly and willing to help the intern with everything from the translation assignments to simple grammar or vocabulary questions. I was given three projects to do while I interned at the Bufete. I was supposed to focus mainly on environmental law but I was thrown into doing translations about business and financial contracts. I recommend that students be very open with their advisor at the Bufete because the translations can be very difficult and technical, even for professional translators. The part I enjoyed more than the translations was my work investigating Spanish packaging laws; my summaries were directly incorporated into a presentation for an American client. The work atmosphere is very laid-back and the lawyers appreciate the help that you give them.

Michelle Meis
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas,Madrid-- Spring 1998
For my Dillon Dunwalke fellowship, I held an intern position at the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas. Here, at Spain's main research institution, I was lucky enough to work under the direction of Dr. Pablo Campos. The research of this esteemed environmental economist centered on the multiple land-use systems in the southwestern part of the country. I have to admit that my first days at work were a little scary. Even though later on I became accustomed to the personality of my boss, Pablo, initially he did scare me. He said to me during my interview, "Michelle you have to work and produce results, not only stay here to read. If I am going to teach you, you have to give me something back. I don't have time for people that don't want to work." However, this was good because I knew that I had to be serious and responsible. I knew that it was not going to be an internship like one that I had done before. It would be an internship where I would have to work a lot, but one in which I would also learn a great amount. This is exactly what happened. Since Pablo is an economist, he does not waste time. Moreover, he does not permit that his employees, including myself, waste time. Because of this, I did things that he needed done. I had three auditing projects: one on cows, one on deer, and a third on cork. In these projects, my work was to (1) look for errors in his accounts, (2) figure out what would be necessary to expand on them, and (3) organize them in a way that demonstrated their importance. For example, my boss gave me a series of data on deer and said to me, "Michelle, this is your work for the next two weeks. I want results when I return." OK, I was a little nervous. What was I going to do? I didn't know anything about deer and I didn't understand the data. But, I had to do it. From the start Pablo made it clear that he was not going to permit a lack of results on my part. Thus, I started to examine the data and eventually (I have to say after much frustration), I realized what I had to look for and what method I would use to do it. When Pablo returned, I gave him the completed results. Through this work and my work with the cow data and cork data, I learned to be systematic. However, I also learned things not only from my work, but from the work of my boss in general. For my work, I think that Pablo felt that he needed to give me something in return or rather to teach me something more. He ended up taking me with him on a trip to a region where much of his research was taking place--Extramadura. There I was able to attend a conference in which he gave a presentation on his work. Because of this, I learned about his fundamental theories and his "accounts", which are his specialty. I also saw the dehesa and its cows and ancient oak trees that were the basis for my projects. It's clear that I gained a lot from this internship, but this is because I worked intensively. As a result, I feel that my boss also gained something from me. He told me that he was going to use my results in his next publication. Because of this, I think that I really did contribute to the work of Dr. Pablo Campos and to the Consejo Superior. I recommend that any Dillon Dunwalke fellows in Madrid who have an interest in sustainable agriculture and economics seek an internship with Dr. Pablo Campos. They will have to understand that they are going to work a lot. Moreover, these students will have to pay good attention to detail and be able to think and work systematically. However, in my opinion it is well worth it to work at this organization under the direction of a strict boss.