Okay, so let’s start. Could you introduce yourself?
Hi, I’m Gianmarco. I’m 23 years old and I come from Italy. I’m here in Valencia studying Spanish and doing an internship with Villarreal. Yeah, and I’m really liking my time here so far.
What got you interested in doing an internship? What did you want to do?
Well, actually, through my university course, internships are mandatory because they want you to get international experience. The reason I chose to do it at Villarreal and through Euroace was because the process was very convenient. I’ve already done one online before and also one in person last year, and I’ve had great experiences both times.
So I really, let’s say, was urged to come back because of those things.
So you’re doing your internship at Villarreal. What role are you taking in your internship and what are you doing?
So in my internship, I’ve had a bit more of a unique experience because I’m not specializing in a particular subject. But it’s been really great because I’ve been able to, because of that, look at very different parts of the club and get experience overall, just around everything, learning how a football team works in general.
But the main things that I’ve been doing are helping with research related to marketing and the academies that the club has, and also helping set up training drills for the youth academy teams and things like this. So it’s been really great.
How was the process of getting an internship with Euroace?
The process was really easy. I just applied through the website like normal. You just have to send a request, and it’s really quick and easy because you can just write a short paragraph. And then the whole process was really fast, to be honest. The response time is always super quick, and at most you have to wait a day, perhaps, for the most important information that they need to send you. So it was very simple for me.
So far, how have you found your experience with the rest of the Villarreal team?
Everyone has been really nice at Villarreal so far. Both the supervisors that you have and all of the different members of the team have been super helpful. They’ve been really nice in taking time out of their days to dedicate to having meetings with me, for example, or helping answer questions when I have something that I need to do that I’m not too sure about.
So they’ve been really welcoming to me, and it’s been a great experience. And on top of that, you also have the other interns that are there, which has been really, really great. Because through going to Villarreal on the same days, through working perhaps even together on tasks, you get to meet a lot of really fun people that have a very similar mindset to you.
And that’s a really nice thing when first coming to Valencia, especially because if you don’t know anybody, you get to know some people there. And yeah, that’s been a really good experience. Everybody’s been super nice to me.
And going to football matches?
Oh yeah, going to the football matches has also been great. They always provide free tickets, so it’s really fun. The only thing that is a little bit more frustrating is that it takes a while to get there.
But once you take that out, it’s an incredible experience. So it’s been super fun.
Let’s talk a bit about Valencia. Thoughts?
But I couldn’t recommend it more. Valencia is a great city, the experience here in Valencia is really, really nice.
I really, really like, let’s say, the comparison between the cost of living and the quality that you have. I think it’s a very social city, especially for somebody my age. You know, I’m 23. There’s a lot of other people that are following university courses and things like this. So it’s a great city to live in also because of that, as well as the weather being great for the majority of the time.
What have you liked the most about Valencia?
The thing I like best about Valencia is probably also having access to the beach, which is not always a guarantee for a city as big as this one. And having the beach there is really nice because even in the winter months, you can still go there and it’s a really nice walk that you can do.
And especially for a Sunday, when we’re just trying to relax a little bit more, it’s a really nice option to have, at least as something to do. And on top of that, when it gets warmer, there’s always people there playing beach volleyball. You can go on runs, you can swim even.
And yeah, that’s been one of the best things for me to have in Valencia.
Are there any cultural experiences that you’ve done or that you remember?
So, through Euroace actually, I went to the flamenco show. This was last year, and I really, really enjoyed it. It was nice because it feels like you’re also exactly getting a bit of a taste of what Valencian and Spanish culture is like, which is something that, if you don’t push yourself, you don’t necessarily have to do in Valencia because it’s such a big city.
And so that was a really, really nice change of pace from the usual lifestyle that you have, having an internship and stuff. And yeah, there are other things that they organize, like paella nights, for example. I’m going next week to the trip to Albufera, which I’m really looking forward to.
And so, yeah, there’s plenty of options to explore Spanish culture, let’s say.
I’m guessing you have found navigating the Spanish language quite easy?
Yeah, I have to say I’m quite lucky because, having also studied Spanish before in school and also being Italian, it’s been relatively easy for me because the vast majority of the time, before I knew how to speak Spanish a little bit better, I could just mumble in Italian and get away with it.
But I have to say that it’s quite accommodating. I think also here in Euroace, the teachers are all really, really nice. And the thing that I like the most is that they encourage you to speak so that you can get more of an understanding of the language straight away and so that you’re not overthinking or scared of speaking it.
And in general, I think it’s a relatively easy language to pick up, so I haven’t had any negative experiences with that. Plus, a lot of people, considering it’s a big city, also speak English, or at least you can get by with it a little bit. So it’s been really easy.
What’s something that you think you will always remember from this experience?
Oh, that’s a great question. I think the thing that I’ll remember the most is the connections that I’ve made with my peers here. It’s really been great because doing the internship through Euroace gives you a bunch of different avenues to create friendships.
And whether that’s through the school, whether that’s through the internship, or even just through your roommates that you might find in your house, I consider myself quite lucky because I’ve always had really nice roommates that I could always rely on at home.
But yeah, the connections you make, even with your teachers, with the other people that are here enjoying their time or having an Erasmus in Valencia, is something that’s going to stick with me for the entire rest of my life, I’m sure.
If you could describe the experience in one word, which one would you use?
Oh, the experience in Valencia in one word. I wish I could use a hundred, you know, but there are so many different words that come to mind.
I think social is a word that comes to mind. I keep talking about all of these connections and things like this, but because of how welcoming the city is and everything like that.
