Internships in Madrid - Adelante Abroad

This was probably one of the best experiences of my life. The people at Eureka are amazingly kind and welcoming, and the people that you meet are all very interesting. Also, we all had one thing in common-we wanted to improve our Spanish! My practicas/practical was in a geriatric residence and I was able to interact with the patients there by helping them with their daily physical exercise routine, mental games, and mealtime. Although it was only 4 hours a day, I enjoyed being around the nurses and residents, using the Spanish that I was learning. Adelante does a good job of following up with you to make sure that you are okay, and the directors at Eureka really take care of you. The location of the apartments are also very convenient, and with all the friends that I made, it was easy to not be alone.

I participated in Adelante's Intern Abroad program in the Summer of 2014 and I had an amazing experience. The two week Spanish course was extremely helpful and it was really was a great refresher for remembering the Spanish I learned in school. My internship program was unique because I had the opportunity to work with the same company that I would be working for full time back in America. It was amazing to be able to have international experience working for a company before I even had the opportunity to begin full time. I met amazing people in the program and also in the city. I love that it is a very independent program and you have the ability to explore and travel as you please.

I am finishing my Bachelors in Nursing, with a Spanish minor, so I was looking for a unique internship in a hospital setting. I applied to Adelante with this in mind, and they found a great choice for me! I was placed in a hospital with an orthopedic surgeon. I assisted him in the operating room and in consultations before and after surgery. It was definitely hard to adjust to the language difference, especially since surgical and medical words are sometimes quite complex. However, the doctors were very patient and I quickly became comfortable working and speaking in tense situations in hospital. The surgical team of nurses and doctors took me under their wing and taught me so much. Each and every nurse and doctor I worked with was truly exceptional.

For people looking for an atypical, rewarding experience abroad, look no further than Adelante.

I feel like most people love their time abroad, but wish they had been able to do away with classes that really didn't contribute too much to their academic growth. With Adelante's internship placement, I had the wonderful chance to immerse yourself in the day-to-day of Madrid interning under a renowned psychiatrist as well as helping out with an LGBT/human rights organization. Both the these internships gave me real world experience in sectors that I am thinking about for post-grad, but, at the same time, forced my Spanish to improve immensely.

Then, while most people would be tied up with doing classwork, I had time to explore Madrid and other places as much as I wanted to. I ended up having time to read (which is never possible during semesters for me) and finished four books in Spanish, also contributing hugely to my learning. The school that Adelante bases out of in Madrid was also wonderful about having activities and always being welcoming when I stopped in to say hi and see what was going on.

One major disclaimer for this program: I've seen this posted before and I was told by the Adelante staff as well (they were very upfront about this), but I want to reiterate that, in order for this program to work for you, you need to be quite independent and ready to take initiative in your time abroad. Since there is no structured abroad group or program, you need to fill your own time. Now, this freedom can be absolutely fantastic. Case and point: I became friends with my co-workers and made life-long friends from Spain. However, none of that would have happened if I hadn't gone out of my comfort zone a lot (and I'm already a pretty outgoing guy) and motivated myself every day to take advantage of my time. So, if you pick this program (which you should), just remind yourself to give it all you've got and to not waste time being lazy or nervous about trying new things. No one will be nudging you along, so you need to take advantage of the many opportunities while abroad on your own terms.

Quick Summary:
I just finished an amazing two-month "shadow a surgeon" internship program with Adelante Abroad in Madrid (September-October 2013). For this particular program, the first two weeks are spent taking intensive Spanish classes in a language school called Eureka. The following six weeks are spent doing an internship with a local hospital or clinic, where the student shadows an assigned surgeon. Honestly, it was an experience of a lifetime & I would definitely recommend this program!!

Program Administration:
In the few months prior to my trip, the California-based office of Adelante Abroad communicated with me via phone and email, explaining the program and answering any questions I had. They were all very nice and encouraging. The part that got a little messy was when I was actually leaving for Madrid. The program is run by both the California-based office and their Madrid-based contacts. The California office talks to the students that would like to go abroad, performs the screening process, etc., while the Madrid contacts figure out the internship details (they have major connections in Madrid). I was expecting to know who I would be shadowing at least 1 month prior to my trip. I found out 2 weeks prior to my trip that my internship assignment wasn't confirmed yet, although they told me who I might possibly be shadowing (not too great for reassuring panicky parents). In their defense, my internship was a unique one--I am a bioengineer searching a medical shadowing position. PLUS, Spain is on vacation for August and many of the businesses/offices are closed, making it really difficult to make the arrangements for my internship. But still, I would have liked to be reassured that there was something concrete for me to come to before leaving.

Living, Spanish Classes & Getting Situated:
I arrived in Madrid, where I was welcomed and taken to my centrally-located apartment by Angel, the main Adelante Abroad contact in Spain. I absolutely loved my apartment--close to everything, safe, and cool apartment mates from Adelante and Eureka. During the first two weeks I took Spanish classes at Eureka, and my experience there was perfect! The staff and instructors were incredibly nice and welcoming, and I really felt encouraged to speak Spanish. The internship coordinator, Antonio, met with me throughout the first two weeks to talk to me about my internship assignment. My assignment changed twice before I actually started. Yes, it was a bit frustrating and confusing at first, BUT once I started my internship, I felt much more relieved.

Internship:
I shadowed a surgical team in the orthopedics, sports medicine, and trauma department. It was a bit difficult to adapt because my lacking Spanish skills (this will happen with ANY internship abroad program), but it was an absolutely amazing experience. I felt like I was immersed in real Spanish life--culture, food, work. I came into the clinic and literally sat in the operating rooms while I watched back-to-back surgeries. I saw total knee replacements, rotator cuff repair surgeries, ACL reconstructions, meniscectomies, and much more. Whenever I had questions, the surgeon was willing and ready to answer. The surgeons really made me feel welcome, even including me for a team dinner during my first week!

Overall, I would definitely recommend this program.. I mean, how often are you able to do it all in one program--learn Spanish, live in central Madrid, AND watch cool surgeries!

I had an amazing time in Madrid. My internship was teaching English in a community organization. I loved working with the kids and had a great time. My Spanish improved immensely by having Spanish co-workers. I lived in housing with two friends that was just south of the Palacio Real. It was nice accommodations (aside from trying to figure out the washing machine!). I also appreciated having my own place, rather than in the language school's housing, which had to worry about noise complaints and unfriendly housekeeping.

I got placed in the law firm of my dreams (immigration law) with international coworkers and was living with 3 native Spanish university students my age. There is no bad time to go to Madrid; however, the summer months of July and August have the best sales and also the most flexible working hours, so you can slip away for a long weekend to travel wherever your heart desires (Madrid is central like that).

You won't find a cheaper and easier way to visit Madrid. Everything is included in the fee; housing, Spanish classes, the internship, and various outings to the city’s landmarks. The outings consist of guided trips to the various museums and sights. The internship was also great and gave me excellent insight into what it is like to work as an engineer in Spain. Throughout the whole experience Adelante staff was there to answer any question and help with any problem. My only complaint is the lack of activities or opportunities to meet and interact with native Spaniards apart from the nightlife.