Kiril during his internship in Frankfurt

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

Where am I from? Originally from Bulgaria, but I’ve spent a large part of my life in the Netherlands. I studied European Studies, but this internship has nothing to do with my studies. So why this internship? I took a Life Coaching course and wanted to find an opportunity to deepen my knowledge there. Also, I really wanted a reason to be back in Frankfurt. So 1+1 equals 2 :D

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

First, I was curious what my new home would look like. Would it be easy to commute back and forth (I stayed in a village just outside Frankfurt)?

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

There’s nothing left that can shock me about either country. But what definitely stands out is that Germans are not very good at maintaining infrastructure. Also, Frankfurt is a huge city and has always had safety issues in and around the central station. You see all kinds of strange people around: drug addicts, smelly homeless people, and other “odd”-looking individuals.

If we talk about less visible differences, it’s important to mention that taxes in Germany are much higher than in the Netherlands. When I first did the calculations, that was quite a shock for me. So be aware and use those special websites for gross and net salary calculations.

What does your typical workday look like?

At my internship company, every day looks different. I usually arrive one hour before the boss and perform certain tasks that every intern must do. Every Monday there is a meeting where everyone takes turns sharing what they’re working on and can get feedback from others. It’s a small team, but I have a mentor who supports and guides me daily. Besides small things like making coffee, I was given the freedom to work on a research project I find interesting. In my case, I did research on automation and its effects on the labor market. Of course, there is much more because you also support your colleagues with their tasks and assignments.

How is the working atmosphere at your internship company?

The working atmosphere is pleasant and relaxed, but that doesn’t mean people don’t work hard or don’t talk and consult. The boss once joked that it’s like a sanatorium (dead quiet, that is).

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

No, I haven’t been homesick for even a second.

Do you feel at home in Frankfurt? Why (not)?

Frankfurt is very international and has a lot to offer. I feel completely at home there. One month after I moved to Frankfurt, the first Hema store opened. So I didn’t miss anything at all :D

Is there a typical local dish that you REALLY can’t eat (or that you really like)?

I really like many typical German dishes. Especially the meat is prepared much better. I recommend trying the local apple wine.

Give us tips on who you should befriend abroad. The Russians? The Irish? The Chileans?

That really depends on the person. So I can’t give a general tip. I have two good friends from Russia, but it’s not necessarily the culture that brought us closer. It’s also the personality, which of course is shaped in a much more complex way — think of age, experience, education, family, etc.

Describe the people of Frankfurt in three words.

Diverse, open-minded, international

What have you learned from your experience abroad? Was it the beloved community you liked? The cheap cocktails? The beautiful nature? Or was your experience less than expected? Details, we want details!

It’s hard to answer these questions well without writing an essay. Initially, I learned that I don’t want to work in the big “corporate world.” The people I met were very intelligent, and I had wonderful conversations with them, etc. I’m just not a “business person,” and I don’t want a 9-to-5 job where I have to wear a suit and serve clients.

Besides that, I met very interesting people with whom I’m still in contact. I had been to Frankfurt before, so I already had some friends there, and I will definitely return. The experience was definitely valuable, and if I could travel back in time, I would do this internship again. Sometimes you have to go through certain things to get more clarity about who you are and what you want. Improving my language skills and certain competencies is certainly important, but I appreciate answering certain career questions even more.