Ecology Internships Abroad

I signed up for Adelante Abroad as a way to have an immersive experience as an adult in my late thirties. I had previously spent three months living in Granada at an intensive language school, and this time I wanted something that felt more like truly living in the language. Adelante did an excellent job placing me in an internship. I'm in the process of transitioning from a career in tech to nursing, and they arranged a three-month hospital shadowing experience that was exactly what I was hoping for. Where Adelante fell short was in the housing placement. From the start, I clearly stated that I wanted a deeply immersive experience—that I wanted to engage as much as possible with the Spanish language and culture. My first homestay placement did not meet this expectation. The couple treated hosting as a business arrangement and more or less avoided interacting with me; we even ate in separate rooms. They also had another room open for foreign students, which was not disclosed to me. I requested a transfer and, given the short notice, accepted housing with another student from the U.S. Unfortunately, we had very different expectations. I was committed to speaking only Spanish, while she assumed everyone would speak to her in English. Adelante never mentioned that the homestay option might include sharing housing with other foreign students. Had I known, I would have found my own housing. I strongly recommend that, going forward, Adelante be more transparent about housing options. They should offer an option for applicants who are serious about language immersion to request a homestay with a family without other foreign students. I would have gladly paid more (within reason) for a full immersion experience.

The experience was very memorable, I gained a lot not only for career direction but also adventures that shaped my paradigm. I met a lot of really lovely people on the trip, from the staff to other participants of the program, it was truly a worthwhile experience to be a part of.