Success Stories

David-Andrés Novoa, Madrid: Living Life to the Fullest

Moving to Madrid, Spain to complete an internship at the Canadian Embassy was like plunging into an exciting new adventure! I had obtained the position through my Co-op program at the University of Ottawa, and during my several months there I learned so much, both personally and professionally. Through the many challenges I faced, as well as the innumerable rewards, I discovered the importance of flexibility and of keeping an open mind when living in another culture, and these experiences have given me a new perspective not only on a possible future career in diplomacy, but also on my own identity as a Canadian.

I was required to perform many diverse assignments at the Embassy, from translation and research to public relations, and my English, French and Spanish abilities were put to good use dealing with a variety of people. Life at the Embassy was always busy, and I needed to be flexible and focussed in order to get everything done well! One of my most interesting assignments was my involvement with a major visit of a Canadian diplomatic delegation to Spain; I was responsible for the coordination of the entire event, and I really learned what I was capable of during this visit!

One of my most greatest difficulties was finding an apartment, but once I had found one I was able to use it as a base to explore the many beautiful regions of Spain. On weekends, I would travel around the country, and I got to experience the charm of Barcelona, the history of Andalusia and enjoy some of the wonderful food and music that Spain has to offer. Although my internship at the Embassy was a valuable experience, more importantly, living with the Spanish people and discovering their culture made me appreciative both of their traditions and of my own. The welcoming people and great friends I made there made the internship a challenging yet incredibly rewarding experience.

By: David-Andrés Novoa
University of Ottawa, Ottawa