Margot during her internship in Bristol

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

I’m Margot, I’m 21 years old and I’m from Ommen! Since 2014, I’ve been studying Media, Information and Communication at Saxion University of Applied Sciences in Enschede. At the moment, I’m doing a 6-month internship in Bristol, England. I’m interning at a company that specializes in creating online learning environments. For example, they develop e-learning courses for universities in the UK.

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

As soon as I got off the plane, I started looking around to see where I needed to go. I had already decided at home that I’d take a taxi, and luckily that was well organized at the airport! It didn’t really hit me yet that I’d be living here for six months. That only sank in once I had set up my little room and unpacked all my stuff.

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

Honestly, there isn’t anything hugely different between England and the Netherlands. I didn’t experience a real culture shock! The British are very polite and say “sorry” all the time. Also, in pubs and some restaurants, you have to order your food and drinks at the bar yourself!

What does your typical workday look like?

During the week, I always got up at 7 a.m. I stayed in student accommodation (which looked like a hotel), including breakfast in the morning, my own bathroom and kitchen, and a gym downstairs! Some mornings, I would work out for half an hour before heading to work. I worked from 9 to 5 at my internship company, and after that, I’d do some grocery shopping and head home again. In the evenings, I’d sometimes watch a movie or hang out with friends.

What is the work atmosphere like at your internship company?

Very relaxed! Everything is open for discussion, and nothing is too crazy — at least not that I’ve seen. That made me feel right at home in the office very quickly.

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

I didn’t really struggle with homesickness. Sure, there were some moments when I would’ve preferred to be home, but that didn’t happen very often. Doing fun things with friends really helps!

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

Bristol has definitely become my second home by now! Meeting lots of lovely people and being able to speak the language, of course, helped a lot. It really makes you feel like a true local in no time.

Give us some tips on who to become friends with abroad. The Russians? The Irish? The Chileans?

The English are very open and social, which is really nice. Especially in pubs, they love having a chat with you. It also helps that they enjoy a beer and are often already in the pub by 8 p.m. By midnight, you can usually carry them home…

Describe the people of Bristol in three words.

Social, laid-back, and open.

What did you learn 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!

I wouldn’t have wanted to miss my time in Bristol for anything! I made friends and learned so much from the experience. That said, I think people often have a different image of what an internship abroad is like. It’s nothing like a study exchange where you can go out every night — you just can’t keep that up when you’re working 40 hours a week.
Spending six months working abroad is also amazing, just in a completely different way! And if you’re ever in Bristol, definitely try a cocktail at a pub. While almost everyone drinks wine in the Netherlands, here they much prefer a cocktail!