Eliona decided to apply for an internship abroad during her studies because she wanted new experiences, to improve her language skills, and generally to get acquainted with working life overseas. She first learned about Mercuria’s international internships from her friends while still in ninth grade. When she started her studies at Mercuria, she found out how to apply a position abroad and eventually she got a job at the Sixt car rental company at Palma de Mallorca airport.
Working at Sixt Car Rental
Her workdays at Sixt typically began around 9:00 a.m. and ended in the afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Some days were extremely busy, while others were more relaxed. A long, hour-long lunch break punctuated her day, giving her time to eat and relax.
Eliona’s tasks included inspecting rental cars and providing customer service. She also assisted her colleagues whenever they needed help. Through this internship, she acquired many new skills related to customer service and car rentals. She found the work interesting and appreciated the opportunity to learn new skills. Eliona noticed some differences compared to Finnish working life — customer service was sometimes challenging, and handling complex issues with customers required extra effort. The workplace also had a stricter dress code, and office hours were considerably longer than those in Finland. On the other hand, she noticed her language skills improving, occasionally getting the chance to use Spanish with customers in addition to English.
Freetime
In her free time, Eliona often relaxed at the beach and went swimming. She also loved walking around the old town and getting to know Spanish culture. The food was delicious, and she enjoyed dining at local restaurants. Living in Mallorca was quite different from her home in Finland. Her apartment was near numerous bars and nightlife, which caused noise disturbances during the night.
Overall, Eliona’s internship abroad went well, even though adjusting to the hot climate and different eating habits was initially challenging. She learned to navigate a new cultural environment and significantly improved her language skills. Additionally, she gained extensive knowledge about cars. Perhaps the most important lesson she learned was the value of flexibility in new situations and the ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances. She believes the key to success lies in maintaining a positive attitude and collaborating with others.
Eliona enjoyed shopping and going to the restaurants in her freetime
