Why is Málaga “the Place” for You?

I come from the north of Friesland where I really appreciate the peace and nature. I find that here too, nature is never far away. I hike a lot in my free time, recently I walked the Caminito del Rey.

Málaga is the ideal base for exploring the area, which I do a lot in my free weekends! Nerja, Córdoba, Seville, Gibraltar, Cádiz, I have already been to all of them and besides Ronda & Setenil de las Bodegas, Granada is also on my list. Although I am a nature lover, I also enjoy the dynamics of the big city. I live right in the center of Málaga, with all the city’s amenities within walking distance. I am very sporty and love water sports, there is plenty of sports on offer in Málaga. Besides hiking, I go to a gym with a swimming pool, where I sometimes go 5 times a week!

It is Clear that You are Happy in Málaga. And the Internship, how Do You like it at Jongleren.Es?

Good, I’m already halfway through my internship! I am doing an internship at JongLeren.es, an internship agency in Málaga. They help Dutch students find an internship in the Málaga and Marbella area and supervise them on site.

The internship is half a research assignment from my Finance & Control program at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences. The other half of my internship week I work along and that is fun and educational. I am used for administrative tasks, sometimes go on internship visits and above all experience many interesting things.

Why Did You Want to Do an Internship in Spain?

I wanted to get the most out of my studies and didn’t want to follow “the standard path” of four years of school, just doing an internship at a company somewhere and immediately going to work or on to a master’s program. In my opinion, an internship in Spain was the ideal opportunity for this, the opportunity to learn something different. I had never been to Spain before, it was an idea that arose during a holiday in Friesland with my parents in the summer of 2023, I often go on holiday with my parents on the Frisian lakes. In preparation, I took a language course in the Netherlands and continued with it here. I also use Duolingo intensively and regularly go to Intercambios* here in Málaga. The best way to learn the language is of course by speaking with locals.

*During an Intercambio, people of different nationalities come together to practice each other’s language skills.

How Did You Find your Internship?

I searched for companies for a very long time, unfortunately, partly due to the requirements of my education and a lack of good Spanish skills, nothing came of this. Through someone from my network I came into contact with Gordon from EURES who suggested that I could approach companies via Nederlandse Businessclubs on LinkedIn. This is how I came into contact with Jongleren.es.

How Did You get your Internship Financially?

In Spain you usually don’t get an internship allowance, that’s no different for me. Fortunately, I applied for an ERASMUS+ grant in time, for an internship in Spain I receive € 3,250. This amount depends on various factors and is not a fixed amount. I also have a grant for living away from home and because I don’t need my public transport card, I also get a compensation for that. In addition, I still do some remote work for my school for which I receive a fee. And in case of emergency, I still have some savings in the bank. I pay € 550 per month for my room in Málaga.

You shouldn’t underestimate the price of groceries. That is not much different from the Dutch prices. But all in all, I can make ends meet here, it also helps that I can live quite frugally.

How Did You Find your Way?

I found the first 2 weeks difficult, I really had to get used to it. I consciously looked for people and undertook activities and soon became a member of a gym. I think sports is a medicine for everything in life. From that moment on, I immediately started enjoying it.

How Did You Find Accommodation?

The internship company helped me with this, this is also one of the services they offer in addition to internship placement. I pay the rent myself. I live in the heart of the center of Málaga and within walking distance of work and the gym, so ideal! It is a small room, though. But, I’m not home often, so it doesn’t matter. I also have a Dutch roommate.

What Have You Learned that You Wouldn’t Learn During a Dutch Internship?

Life experience, another language and the different people you meet. I am in a completely different culture and I learn from that. An example is; in the Netherlands we often have a negative view of things, we like to grumble. Here people are more optimistic and more easily satisfied. This teaches me to look at things differently.

It all Sounds Very Positive, are there also Things that Were Disappointing?

Making and keeping appointments is sometimes complex here and by that I mean my landlord here. For example, we now have no hot water and a malfunctioning refrigerator. My landlord has known about that for a while, the promised new refrigerator should have been here 2 weeks ago. But apart from the bickering with my landlord, I can’t think of anything that was disappointing.

Finally, What is your Advice for Students Considering an Internship Abroad?

Just do it! I am so happy that I made this choice. I would say; do this before you are tied to a permanent contract or a mortgage. Now is the time! Seize this opportunity and make it the time of your life. And just to come back to my room in Málaga; take into account a different standard of living than we are used to in the Netherlands.