Meet Egita in Lisbon!

We asked Egita some questions about her internship in Lisbon! Read the complete interview here:

Why did you choose to go abroad?
I am currently an undergraduate student doing a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Portuguese. My course includes a compulsory year abroad as a means of learning the languages I study. Therefore, doing a year abroad was already set in stone for me, however, this experience is one that I will never forget.

How did you find your internship?
I found my internship through Stage Euro who helped me with my search tremendously. From helping me complete a CV and a cover letter to giving me interview tips, I received the best help. In addition, they were always willing to assist with any queries that I had, and their support and patience allowed me to find the right internship for me.

How do you feel about your internship so far?
My internship here is great! I get the chance to work among different departments, such as, sales and marketing which always keeps me occupied and interested. I am constantly learning new aspects regarding the world of work and it makes me proud that I can share my personal skills with the team. Also, the people here are very friendly and supportive which makes our staff BBQ’s extremely fun.

How does the Portugese culture differ from your culture and what has impressed you the most?
The culture here in Portugal is not too different from that of the UK. In fact, it has been a lot easier settling in than I ever imagined. The people here are friendly and outgoing which makes you feel more confident when making new friends. Also, there are tons of things to do in Lisbon, such as, visiting museums, castles, rooftops, beaches, restaurants etc. There is never a dull day in Lisbon, literally, it is always sunny here! Generally, this whole experience has impressed me so far.

Could you take us through a day? What is your routine?
My daily routine includes waking up at 8am to get ready for work, I usually take a while to get ready, however, I leave the house at 9:20am every day. The bus stop is a 5-minute walk from where I live and so I usually get there for 9:25am, the bus tends to come between 9:26 – 9:33am. I arrive to work at 9:55am and begin my working day. At 12:30pm we have lunch on the terrace (because we have a terrace here) and commence work again at 13:30pm. I work up until 6pm and then leave to either return home or meet my friends for a coffee.

What is your housing situation? Do you live in an apartment? Roommates? Housemates?
I am living in a five-bedroom shared house outside the center of Lisbon. All the girls that I live with are from different countries around the world, such as, Morocco, Italy, Abu Dhabi and the Netherlands. Luckily, we are all students around the same age who have made the move away from home. This makes our living situation a lot easier as we understand each other’s difficulties and aim to help with any situation. However, as I am the only student doing an internship in our house, our interests are sometimes mismatched and at times it can be difficult to find available time for everyone to come together and do something fun. Although, we do have dinner together every evening and that allows us to catch up.

Have you made any trips so far? (Or have you trips planned/in mind?)
I have recently taken a weekend trip away to Porto which is one of Portugal’s most beautiful Northern cities. Me and my flat friends visited some very fascinating places, such as, the São Bento station and the Sé cathedral. We also tried the famous Francesinha, which is a dish that originated in Porto. We had an extremely good time and the weather did not disappoint!

What are your future plans?
In the future I am hoping to do a master’s degree, however, I have not decided where exactly I would like to do it. Fortunately, I still have plenty of time to make my decision before I graduate. In terms of my future career, I hope to take the right path for me and with my languages degree and background I feel like I am open to many opportunities without being limited to a specific career. I am a person who is excited about change and the process of meeting new people and I would ideally love to incorporate this into my future profession.

How has this experience abroad helped you grow both professionally and personally?
This experience has undoubtedly helped me become a more independent person as I have had to adjust to a new environment without the comfort of my family and friends. In addition to this, I am now confident with taking greater risks in life as living abroad suddenly makes you feel like the world is a lot smaller than we think. This opportunity has also contributed towards my professional experience as having a committed internship has encouraged me to take more responsibility. On top of this, I have had the chance to get a taste of the laboring world and what I should expect in the near future.  

How would you recommend other to do their internship/traineeship abroad?
The best thing about doing an internship abroad is that you get the opportunity to meet so many new people with different backgrounds and personalities that you would not usually come across. This really helps with learning and understanding new cultures and traditions that people have which is absolutely fascinating. Additionally, living in a foreign country by yourself really pushes you to your limits and you soon realize how strong you are! I will never get bored of seeing the world and making new friendships.

If you could express your internship experience in three words, what would these be?
Fantastic, fun and unforgettable.