Hi! I’m Zofia – a 24 year old Polish girl. I recently graduated from psychology studies. Apart from that, my passions are traveling, photography, surfing and skiing. I had an idea that after graduating I will do an internship abroad. I wanted to see what a yoga teacher’s job is like and spend the winter in a warm place. I didn’t know what lay ahead of me, but I knew I wanted to experience something new. But first…
How did it start and how to apply for Erasmus internship in Tenerife?
I’ve been looking for an internship that suits me for quite a long time. First of all, I looked for websites where host organizations advertise their internship offers. Here you can find one of them: Erasmus Intern Traineeship Portal. But due to the specificity and diversity of the psychology field and work in a language other than the one I studied, I could not find a fully satisfying offer related to my interest. I decided to brainstorm all the issues that were important to me and find a company that was closest to them. I took into account primarily the concepts of positive psychology, broadly understood well-being and the prevention of mental disorders through movement and a holistic approach to life. What was a secondary advantage for me was a place where I could develop creatively and implement my ideas and visions. What made the job more exciting and challenging was the location, on an island, where I could pursue my passions like photography and surfing, which is a challenge for me not only in the physical sphere, but also overcomes my mental barriers.
After all these thoughts, I started looking for specific spaces that combine all these aspects and sent emails directly to companies with my CV and cover letter. I got a reply from Eva from Yoga Tenerife with the possibility of cooperation, the vision of which really interested me. And now I’m here after a month of working together…
What does the Erasmus internship in Tenerife look like? What makes it so special?
From the very beginning, Eva was very open to my ideas and gave me a lot of freedom in choosing the tasks entrusted to me. She is a certified yoga teacher and marketing specialist. What I admire about her is her ability to combine both passions in work and her willingness to share her experience. Last month we set out to establish a marketing action plan and implement it.
The first thing I did was research about how meditation and asanas influence our mental health, we will soon publish articles on these. What we discussed was social media content – how we want it to look like, what we want to spread with our content to be valuable and educational. We have been working on very interesting and important topics such as: breath, mindfulness, balance, meditation, reducing stress, gratitude and more. What I really appreciate is the opportunity to express myself also artistically by taking photographs and making graphics. The beauty of the surrounding landscape in Tenerife stimulates creativity and action. Our immediate plans focus on working on the production of an online yoga course, which I am very excited about. Participating and assisting in yoga classes help me in my personal development on a physical and mental level, for which I am very grateful for. I really appreciate that I met Eva on my yoga path. After each class I feel more strong in my body and what comes with this is also more confidence with myself. I find her approach, which she uses in her practice, very inspiring – that yoga is for everyone. She takes care of the atmosphere during classes so that everyone feels welcome. Eva is a very good passionate teacher and skillful in passing on her knowledge with an individual approach, explaining the asanas very calmly and thoroughly. What makes the classes even more special for me is being surrounded by nature and the sounds of the ocean, thanks to which I can ground myself and focus more on the present moment.
What are the benefits I see after spending one month on my Erasmus internship in Tenerife?
After spending one month on an internship abroad I can already see my professional and personal growth. Working alongside individuals from different backgrounds allows me to explore the diversity of thought and approaches, broadening my horizons. Sometimes I have to overcome language challenges, especially when I have to communicate in Spanish. I hope it will get easier with time. 😉 Living in a new place can be demanding, especially at the beginning when you don’t know many people, places and whether you will find your way. In my actions, I try follow Rumi’s quote:
In essence, my one-month internship abroad is more than a brief professional stint: it’s a transformative journey. It allows me to gain a deeper understanding of another country and culture, fostering a broader perspective that extends far beyond the scope of the internship itself. As I navigate this experience, I understand that this is not just a stepping stone but a pivotal chapter in my ongoing journey of personal and professional growth.
Good to know after applying for Erasmus + traineeships
- You can apply through the international or Erasmus+ office of your higher education institution.
- You will get access to Erasmus+ Online Language Support which can help you learn the language used at your workplace.
- Traineeships abroad can receive Erasmus+ support from 2 to 12 months. I applied for 5 months.
- Erasmus+ grant levels are published in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide. I received a scholarship of 700 euros per month.
- Erasmus+ traineeships are open to any student enrolled in a higher education institution holding an Erasmus+ Charter for Higher Education.
- A traineeship can take place at any organization located anywhere in the world (with the exception of EU institutions).
Hope you find it interesting and helpful while applying.
Looking forward to the next four months here. I will update you on how it’s going 😉