Hola everyone,
My name is Isa Coenders, I am 18 years old. I have lived in the Netherlands my entire life, but for the upcoming 4.5 months, I will be living in the beautiful Sevilla. I am here for my internship at ATD Bikes and, of course, for this new and exciting experience!
About me:
I am currently in my third year of Tourism Management at BUas in Breda. I love being around people, having a nice chat, and sharing some of my interests with others. (Of course, there is also some work to be done 😉). I also really enjoy putting a smile on people’s faces and bringing a sense of fun and a good atmosphere to a group.
Going abroad was never really a dream of mine. My own familiar surroundings and the people I know are something I really value. On the other hand, I also thought: how amazing would it be to live somewhere for a longer period of time and really step outside my comfort zone? A once in a lifetime experience!
So, my decision was made: if I was going abroad, it had to be Spain. Because of the sun, the delicious food, the language, the beautiful cities, and the fact that I have always felt at home here. I had never been to Sevilla before, but after hearing stories about the city and seeing videos and photos on social media, I thought: this is the city where I want to live for 4.5 months.
First Impressions:
When I arrived here four weeks ago, I could only think: my god, it is still so warm here for this time of year! After having a few conversations here, it quickly became clear that this is actually quite normal and that you therefore have to do everything tranquilo, as the Spanish would say.
Besides that, I think it is an amazing city. Wherever you look, you see beautiful architecture, cosy little squares, Spaniards enjoying drinks together, and therefore an incredible amount of atmosphere and fun.
I did have to get used to the rhythm here. Everything happens at completely different times, so there will be no more sitting down for a traditional Dutch dinner at exactly 6 PM.
During these first two weeks, I also started my internship at ATD Bikes, and all I can say is that I could not have chosen a better workplace. The people are incredibly welcoming, I felt at home from the very first moment, there is a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and the work itself fits perfectly with my interests and the things I enjoy doing.
Why ATD Bikes
Why did I choose ATD Bikes? Whenever I visit Spain, I always do a bike tour with different companies, and I find that to be the most enjoyable part of the entire holiday. Within a short amount of time, you get to see so many amazing places while also hearing all the stories behind them.
I thought it would be so much fun to now be able to share the same experience that I always have when doing a bike tour with other people.
I also really wanted to do my internship at a company with Dutch colleagues. At the same time, I wanted to work with people of different nationalities, so that I could learn how to interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds. But having Dutch colleagues as well meant that I could work in my own language and build connections. This seemed like the most enjoyable option for me.
That is also why I really liked that they offer Dutch bike tours. This gives me the opportunity to give people from my own country an amazing experience during their tour. On top of that, the work I do is very varied, so no day is ever the same here.
I am 100% sure that I am going to have an amazing time here. Not only because of the city itself, but also because of learning the Spanish language, my internship, and all the fun things that come with it. And maybe a little glass of sangria 😉.
Thank you for reading,
Chao!!
Address: Calle Alcalde Isacio Contreras, 1, Seville
Website: www.atdspain.com
Instagram: @ATD.spain
TikTok: @ATD.spain
