Anne during her internship in Barcelona

Hey! Where are you from? Where do you study/live/work?

Hi! I’m Anne, and I’m originally from Dwingeloo, a very small village in the province of Drenthe in the Netherlands. In 2017, I moved to Amsterdam to study Hotel and Event Management! At the moment, I’m doing an internship in Barcelona as a Front Office trainee.

What was the first thing you thought when you arrived in Spain?

I thought, yes – let the adventure begin! I absolutely love traveling and discovering new countries.

What was the most shocking difference between the Netherlands and Spain?

There are quite a few things. If you look at the differences between the Netherlands and Spain in general, I’d say the landscape and customs – like having dinner at 9:00 PM. But if you compare Barcelona and Amsterdam, I’d say the economy. You see many more homeless people in Barcelona, and the crime rate is also higher here. That said, I do think the city is more beautiful here and it has such stunning architecture! (Like the Sagrada Familia – absolutely gorgeous.)

What does your typical workday look like?

It depends on which shift I’m working. I have two kinds of shifts: the morning shift from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and the evening shift from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM. Mornings are a bit busier – we have check-ins, check-outs, reservations, and lots of prep tasks for the afternoon. In the afternoon it’s mostly check-ins and handling reservations.
I usually start my morning by preparing room keys, setting traces in the system, and sometimes helping with breakfast. Throughout the day, I do check-ins, check-outs, and manage guest reservations.

What’s the work atmosphere like at your internship company?

The work atmosphere at my internship is great! Not a lot of people work there because it’s a small hotel, so I know everyone personally.

Have you ever felt homesick? How did you deal with it?

No, I haven’t really felt homesick. I already live on my own in Amsterdam, and I’m having such a great time here that I don’t even think about feeling homesick!

Do you feel at home in Spain? Why or why not?

I really like the country and Barcelona is an amazing city, but I do feel a bit more comfortable in Amsterdam because of the crime rate here. You just always have to watch your stuff and be alert with your bags, etc.

Is there a typical local dish you can’t stand (or absolutely love)?

What I really can’t eat is octopus tentacles – and they eat a lot of fish here! If it’s fried, I love it, but otherwise it freaks me out a bit. I do love going out for dinner and lunch though – it’s kind of a hobby of mine here.

I even made a list of all the places I want to eat at.
My favorite lunch spots are: Flax&Kale, Tropico, Brunch&Cake, and Federal Café.
For dinner: Ikibana, Martinez Restaurante, Salamanca, and La Lluna.
For cocktails: El Paradiso, 33/45, and Crepes al Born!

Give us tips on who to make friends with abroad. The Russians? The Irish? The Chinese?

Everyone! People are incredibly kind and even during guest check-ins at the hotel, I’ve noticed that I don’t have one favorite group – I really enjoy meeting all kinds of different people!

Describe the people of Spain in three words.

Sociable, relaxed, and kind.
You often hear that Spaniards are very relaxed – and I’ve definitely experienced that. Very often when you ask something, they’ll answer with, “Yes, tomorrow,” and they’re often late as well. Spaniards also love food and drinks – I notice that in the Netherlands, most people just go home after work, but here in Spain, people usually go have a beer at a café or bar.

What have you learned from your experience abroad? Was it the lovely community you enjoyed? The cheap cocktails? The beautiful nature? Or was your experience less than expected? We want details!

Of course, I’ve learned more about working in a hotel and the Front Office, but the most important thing for me has been my personal development! I really noticed how much I’ve grown over these three months.

At first, I was pretty nervous and shy, but that quickly improved! Honestly, I liked the city more than the internship itself. The people were very kind, but sometimes you’d have to wait two hours for a check-in, and that could get a bit boring.
But the city is stunning – so many beautiful buildings, so much to do, lots of fun hotspots, beach and mountains!

(P.S. It’s truly a city for good food and amazing cocktails!)