Von Lara Lorbek und Leonie Pacher-Theinburg
If you ask people where they are going on vacation in the summer, the answer is usually, or at least very often, the south. That’s exactly where we went this summer. We were given the opportunity to spend five weeks in Spain, in Valencia to be precise. Of course, we didn’t want to miss out on that. We got two internships at the Spanish event agency Turevents&Go, which made this great trip possible for us.
After a day getting to know the city we got off to a rather turbulent start by helping with the final preparations for the 16th European Poultry Conference in the city’s impressive Palacio de Congresos. We were surprised and delighted at how much trust we received right from the start. Our tasks ranged from preparing various documents for the conference to the guest lists and welcome gifts. The assignments were sometimes challenging, which is normal for an event of this size, but together with the enthusiasm and motivation of the team, we managed everything. However, we were not only allowed to work in the background but also to participate directly in the event by carrying out the registration, distributing flyers and ensuring the well-being of the guests. With over 2200 participants from all over the world who took part at the conference, we were also able to interact with countless people and cultures, which made this internship even more enriching. The fact that we were constantly surrounded by Spanish-speaking people soon made it easier for us to communicate in this beautiful language. Together with the team, we also worked on some post-conference tasks after the event. Of course, our stay wasn’t just about work, as we also made the most of our free time.
On our weekends and in the afternoons after work, we loved to explore everything this vibrant city has to offer. One of our favorite activities was shopping. We strolled through the streets, visiting local boutiques and markets to find unique souvenirs and stylish clothing as well as jewelry. On weekends we often headed to the beach. The sun and the sound of the waves created the perfect setting to spend our time there. We had fun in the high waves on some days and enjoyed swimming in the warm and calm water.
Also, let’s talk about food – Valencia is a culinary paradise! We frequently visited our favorite café, Dulce de Leche, where we enjoyed delicious pastries and coffee and smoothies. We also tried out many nice restaurants and ate paella and tapas. On our last day of work, we went to get lunch with our co-workers, which showed us some more typical Spanish dishes.
In our last week we took a day trip to Madrid by train, which was a nice adventure. It took us two hours to get there by train and enabled us to explore the capital city. Once in Madrid we explored the beautiful parks, strolled the city and tried out a few restaurants.
Our time in Valencia was filled with enjoyable activities, great food, and unforgettable memories, making it a truly special place for us.
