Cherishing Memories of Barcelona

Isabella Ordonez got to combine her love of dance with her love of the Spanish language during her 8-week Dance Internship in Barcelona.

I came across PAA one day as I was searching the internet for something I could do after high school that would involve my dancing, while also going abroad. I was overwhelmed with the experience I received. Not only was the city of Barcelona breathtaking with all of its history and the incredible people who lived there, but every moment that I encountered within my internship was just as amazing. I was able to work with a dance school for two months in which I was able to work with students to enhance their knowledge of dancing, as well as for myself, learning about their culture. My internship placement was perfect for me. I worked alongside the most incredible people and was able to pursue my passion in a different environment than I was used to.

I chose to stay in a homestay while I was abroad, and I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to get a genuine feel for the culture. My host mother made my roommate and me authentic Spanish food every night, made sure we were well taken care of, and always had a good idea of things to do around the city. At my homestay, I was in the perfect location to walk to my internship and also get to the center of the city in a short amount of time. Navigating the city is so simple once you get the hang of it, and the public transportation is a dream. The on-site staff worked hard to make sure that every intern and student knew of the cultural events going on in the city, so you could feel like a local.

The internship had flexible hours so I was able to explore the city and even go to Paris one weekend! My boss and the people I worked with made the experience even better. I made so many friends and even traveled around Barcelona and Sitges with them on the weekends. Overall, I could not have asked for a better program to take me to such a wonderful country, and also let me grow. This was the best experience of my life so far and I will always cherish it.