My name is Eliza, and I'm from Latvia. I'm 22 years old, and for the past three months, I've been in Madeira for my internship at the ARTE.M Association.
How did you decide to do an internship in Madeira?
I wanted to go to Portugal, but I wasn’t sure where exactly. I suggested to my friend that she join me (and she said yes!), and she told me about Madeira. She said I had to go because I would love it. Spoiler alert - I did.
How did you find your Erasmus internship in Madeira?
I was looking for an art gallery in Madeira to work at, and ARTE.M had a great website. It really spoke to me—it had a cool design, and I thought that the people working there were probably cool as well. That’s how I ended up here. Also, the website featured a lot of projects and experiences that intrigued me.
What were your main responsibilities during the internship?
First of all, we (me and my friend) had to open the gallery and take responsibility for both the gallery and the clients. Secondly, we managed social media for Art Center Caravel, and ARTE.M. Over three months, we worked on social media content.
We also helped with Erasmus+ projects—when groups from different countries came here, we facilitated their activities and helped Sveta (the ARTE.M association president) with organization. Another responsibility was writing e-books.
How well did the internship align with your field of study or career goals?
Actually, when I return to Latvia, I will be working in the marketing department, so social media and marketing are directly related to my career. Additionally, I enjoy working on projects in different fields, mainly in culture, since I graduated from a cultural university and studied cultural management. The projects we did here were quite similar to those I worked on in Latvia.
What skills did you develop or improve upon during the internship?
Definitely my English, because I had to use it every day to communicate with others. I also improved my communication skills, especially when interacting with people from different cultural backgrounds. Time management was another key skill, as we had deadlines for our tasks.
What was your favorite memory involving your work here?
I actually have two, probably because they’re more recent memories. The first one was when we went to a second-hand vintage shop and posed as models for social media content. That was really fun—I didn’t know you could work like that! The second was when we stayed on a farm for our therapy project training. We saw so many peacocks and even had breakfast with them!
What was your first impression of Madeira?
Madeira is really warm—very different from Latvia. I love the nature here, and also the people. They are very kind and open-minded.
What was the most surprising thing about living there?
That the island is so small! I didn’t realize just how small it was. And even on such a small island, there are about 200 different microclimates. Also, the landscapes are so diverse—you can see beautiful mountains, jungles, and even places that remind me of Ireland.
What were some of your favorite local traditions or customs?
Definitely the seafood—I just love it! And poncha. Also, I really like their bread, Bolo do Caco. I haven’t experienced their festivals yet, but I think I would love them.
How did you adapt to the culture and lifestyle of Madeira?
Life here feels much calmer. In Riga, everyone is always rushing somewhere and constantly busy. Of course, working in the gallery is fast-paced, and there’s always something to do. But I feel like the local people take their time—drinking coffee in the morning instead of rushing off somewhere.
What is your favorite place in Madeira?
It’s hard to say, but probably somewhere in the mountains—one of the hikes we did. My top three are São Lourenço, Pico do Ruivo, and Pico do Arieiro.
How did you balance work and social life here?
I worked on weekdays and had a social life on weekends. But even after work, I tried to go out, visit places, and attend social events.
Did you socialize with other Erasmus students?
Yes! We mostly attended events organized by "Madeira Friends"—a local community that connects international people with locals. We went to yoga classes, poetry readings, "Purple Fridays," community hikes, and an animal shelter.
We also met a few Erasmus students. First, we met some girls from Latvia who were studying here. We also lived with one Erasmus student. The environment here is very international, so I met a lot of Erasmus students.
What were the biggest challenges you faced during your internship?
For me, probably speaking English. I knew the language, but I wasn’t used to speaking it daily. Another challenge was balancing my work in Latvia with my work here. In the beginning, I also struggled with homesickness—I missed my friends, family, and boyfriend (a lot!).
Was there anything unexpected that you had to face?
When I came here, I knew I’d try a lot of adventurous things. The first surprise was canyoning—I didn’t expect to enjoy it so much! I also went whale watching and on a speedboat, which was exciting. And, of course, the hikes were very adventurous too.
What's one hidden gem in Madeira you'd recommend to others?
Okay, one shop—AB Concept. It’s probably not a hidden gem, since it’s quite popular here.
Another spot would be Nata 7. You can get coffee and a pastel de nata for just €1.50—such a great deal! I also love the food, view, and atmosphere at Barreirinha Bar Café.
What's the funniest or most memorable moment from your time here?
I can’t think of one specific moment, but working with my colleagues and our boss has been such an adventure. Every day, we laugh, tease each other, and share stories. I also really enjoyed making funny social media content—my colleague and I have had so many embarrassing moments on camera. We’re always laughing! Another fun memory was laughter therapy and energizer activities. That was a great experience too!
What's one thing you would do differently if you could relive the experience?
I would try surfing at the beginning, instead of waiting until the last minute. Now, I don’t know if I’ll have time to do it. I also really wanted to visit Porto Santo, but now I can’t afford it anymore. Lastly, I would have managed my work from Latvia differently so that I could have spent more time here, fully immersing myself in the experience without distractions.
Can you describe your time here in three words?
Paradise – because of nature.
Adventure – because it was my first time living abroad, and I had so many exciting experiences like hikes and other adventures.
New – because everything was a completely new experience for me.
What would you say to Eliza before she came to Madeira?
Don’t think twice—just go! Go earlier than we did. Save up more money beforehand so you can enjoy everything without stress. And most importantly, let go and have fun!
Read more experiences here:
Comments