Amy Joines: Caceres, Spain

During my time in Spain, I had the opportunity to work for a small information technology outsourcing firm called External Informática.  I was able to experience firsthand the Spanish style of business, and I gained valuable insight into the vast range of cultural differences in the workplace while practicing my second language.

            External had a typical Spanish business environment.  They had only a few employees, and they were very knowledgeable about their clients (many of whom were family and friends) both professionally and personally.  They operated in a very modest office, and the computers and other technological appliances they used were much older than what is typically seen in an American business.

            Initially, I did some light office work to become accustomed to the environment, and I was able to spend time interacting with the employees and observing their business style.  I was shocked to see how laid-back and personally the business was conducted.  Any one of them would instantly stop what they were doing if I needed help at all.  More importantly, they seemed very happy to do it.  This emphasis on people, whether they were employees or customers, instead of on money and work, was perhaps the biggest culture shock for me. 

            However, my biggest lessons at work were learned during my conversations with my boss Julian.  He went out of his way every day to explain to me what he did and why he did it.  He would take me with him occasionally when he went to a meeting or on an errand.  Also, we probably spent two hours a week talking about every topic imaginable.  Some days we had light discussions about places to visit and things to see and do while I was in Europe.  Other days, it was debating topics from government policy to business culture.  Not only was this the best language practice I’ve ever experienced, but I was able to learn to examine my own views and culture, which I had previously seriously pondered, from the viewpoint of someone who think differently than I do.

            Doing an internship abroad was the most significant experience of my college career.  Although it may not be the most technically challenging work I have done as an engineering student, it opened my eyes to the vastness of the world and taught me lessons which cannot be learned in classroom.  I value that experience more than any other I have had so far in my life.