At the end of September, a group of 18 Polish students came to work in Seville for 4 weeks. They worked in various sectors, mainly cooking and hospitality, however there were a few who carried out internships in logistical and administrative positions too.

The responsibilities acted upon by the cooks included preparing ingredients for consumption or cooking and learning about typical Spanish cuisine and local specialties e.g. tortilla española. The waiters had the responsibility of assisting in coordinating food service activities to have meals prepared at a specific scheduled time, along with setting tables and providing clients with the menu and information about its content. Those in logistical trainee positions were responsible for performing administrative management in transport operations, using a computer programme to add information about shipments and arrivals and organizing products in the store and warehouse areas. The main responsibilities of the administrative trainees included meeting and greeting clients and visitors, maintaining a high level of professional customer service and other general clerical duties including photocopying and filing.

The trainees did, however, also participate in activities beyond that solely of their internships. The first of these was participating in a tour of Seville. This was organised by euroMind and allowed our trainees to get to know the capital of Andalusia. The trainees also took part in a tapas night, which was a fantastic opportunity to try the local cuisine in a local bar, and to experience an authentic Spanish atmosphere as well as the tapas specialties. Furthermore, they enjoyed a language and cultural exchange with Spaniards from a local school, which allowed them to make international friendships and have an opportunity to practice their language skills. The first of their adventures beyond Seville into Andalusia was to Cadiz where the group visited the city centre, the Cathedral, the oldest fish market in Spain, The Tavira Watchtower, the Plaza de España where the first Spanish democratic constitution was signed, and Caleta beach. Another Andalusian city that the students visited was Granada, where they enjoyed the great landscapes on offer, and learnt about all the different religions and cultures in the city. Finally, they visited Gibraltar to experience a bit of Britain in the south of Europe. The trainees climbed up to the top of the Rock to admire the spectacular views with the monkeys, looking out to the northern coast of Africa.

Throughout their time in Spain, the trainees learnt the basics of the Spanish language, were able to work and enjoy free time in a multi-cultural environment and proved their own abilities to work individually as well as part of a team.