In February euroMind welcomed 16 students from Tarnobrzeg, Poland to Seville. They spent 3 weeks completing individual work placements in the following sectors:  business and administration, logistics and freight, landscape architecture and hospitality.

Due to the wide range of their work placements, the students had a variety of tasks and responsibilities during their internships in Seville. The 2 students undertaking hospitality placements were responsible for making beds daily and changing bed linen, cleaning bathrooms and supplying fresh towels and toiletries, welcoming and seating customers in the restaurant, serving food and drinks and promoting local products and attractions to visitors from Spain and from overseas. There were 3 students who completed placements in landscape architecture; they were tasked with preparing new garden sites and plots using hand tools or machines, mowing a lawn, watering and taking care of plants, as well as loading, unloading and moving gardening supplies and equipment (among other things). Those who completed business and administration internships had a range of tasks, including: providing customer service in a professional and courteous manner, preparing, scanning and placing documents in electronic and paper registry systems, handling invoices, receipts and payments, receiving deliveries and stock management, and marketing. Finally, the students who undertook internships in the logistics and freight sector were tasked with organising products in the store and warehouse, marking and updating product prices, moving pallets and boxes to the store with the use of manual pallet truck, performing administrative management in transport operations and adding information about shipments and arrivals using a computer program.

Beyond their work placements, the students also had the opportunity to experience the Spanish language and culture firsthand. They attended intensive Spanish lessons throughout their 3 week in Seville with one of euroMind’s teachers, giving them practical knowledge of conversational Spanish that they could use during their stay. All of the participants passed with very good results! The group also participated in various cultural activities. Thanks to euroMind’s team the group were quickly acquainted with the city through their very own Seville tour, where they came to understand the city from a historical, cultural and artistic point of view. They were also lucky enough to see a Flamenco show, one of the most famous types of Spanish dances and folk music (which originated in Andalusia). They saw different artists and performers on the stage, including singers, dancers and a guitar player. The students also had the opportunity to visit two other important Andalusian cities. First up was Granada! With so much to see in this little city at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountain rage, the students made the most of their day trip by visiting the Alhambra, the Cathedral, the Albaicín district (where they took in beautiful views of the city at the Mirador de San Nicolas) and the Sacromonte district, where the Gypsy people have historically set up their houses in caves. Last but not least, the group headed to the sea to visit Cadiz, which was founded in 1100 B.C. and is considered to be the oldest city in Europe. It was also the starting point for Christopher Columbus’ expedition to the Americas. The students were able to absorb the city´s history and culture, visiting the oldest fish market in Spain, the Cathedral, the Plaza de España and finally the Caleta beach!

The students really enjoyed their time in Spain, from learning new professional and language skills in their various placements, to seeing all the different sights Andalusia has to offer, this experience will have undoubtedly have a positive impact on their futures.