Nora Primoschitz, Kortrijk (Belgium), Summer 2022

When I first heard about the opportunity to spend a part of my compulsory internship abroad, I knew I wanted to take this chance. After months of planning and preparation, I finally went to Designregio Kortrijk in Belgium. This organization tries to build a more creative, innovative and entrepreneurial region and is the engine of a network of companies, designers, education and public space.
In the first few days, I had doubts whether it was really a good idea to stay alone in a foreign country. In fact, I thought about flying back home on the first day. Despite my uncertainty, giving up was not an option and in the end, everything turned out well. At work, I was part of a very friendly and helpful team of five people. I immediately felt comfortable in the office, which was a former museum building. I was able to choose my working hours flexibly and completed a great variety of tasks. For example, I helped to prepare communication tools for meetings and programs. Also, I conducted research on several topics and events.
During my internship, I mainly spoke English and with time, I found it easier to speak freely and spontaneously. I was able to improve my intercultural and communicative competences and to increase my knowledge about developments in event-management and the cultural sphere. However, I also achieved personal growth such as being independent and having more trust in my own abilities.
My internship abroad was an unforgettable experience that brought many benefits for my future life.