INTERVIEW TRAINEE – Gabriel Péan de Ponfilly

1 – Why did you decide to join the EU4EU program?

The EU4EU program was the alternative that seemed to me from the start to be the easiest to meet these expectations. This allowed me to access different types of organizations and to consider new possibilities (I didn’t imagine going to Bulgaria at first, for example).

My host organization was ICDET, an association which responds to calls for projects initiated by the European Union. Two branches are often distinguished in these projects: social and environmental.

2 – Was it easy to join the program?

It was relatively easy to join the program as I was already familiar with the Erasmus procedures. However, even without that, the administrative part is not more difficult than a “regular” internship within your country. In addition, when help is needed, it is easy to ask the school coordinator or the host organization if already in touch with them.

3 – Tell us your experience about living in another country (finding home, social relationships, friends, language, etc…)

In Bulgaria, I found an accommodation through Facebook (be careful with scams, my advice would be to do video calls and privilege the Erasmus students). Otherwise, university dormitories were also good options, and I also contacted the French embassy to be in touch with a more professional network (which I would recommend for longer stays or in case of any issues when arriving).

Otherwise, regarding the social life, I have been lucky to be in a big city (Sofia) because the ESN (European Student Network) was still active during the summer. What also helped was to be in a shared flat, so as soon as I arrived, I met flat mates who introduced me to their friends. In general, don’t hesitate to go out and ask for events (Instagram and Facebook Erasmus/foreigners pages or directly to pubs where you hear English speaking). Just dare to make the first move and send the first text, it is embarrassing for everyone but also everyone did that first step.

Regarding the language, English is always spoken by the young generation (and especially the ones you will meet) so this is never a problem and when a word is needed, Google Translate is never far, or the context makes it understandable anyway. Same, don’t worry about mistakes and just dare would be my advice, fluency will just come naturally.

4 – Tell us your experience about working in another country (it was hard/simple, my supervisor was great/bad, my colleagues were great/bad, difficult to understand, ect…)

In my case, working in Bulgaria has been only positive. My supervisor, Ivan, was very helpful in the way the expectations were increasing very smoothly. He is used to the program and welcomes the interns with great help and support. My colleagues were various, and some became very close friends, some gave me very useful and technical advice, and some were attentive to my advice. All were international and spoke different levels of English, so when it was difficult to understand it was never an issue to explain/ask again with different words.

5 – How important do you think it is for a university student to get an internship in Europe?

I think an internship in Europe helps to understand the cultural diversity and the career opportunities that are offered when crossing a border with an open mind. Doing it as a student can only help taking decisions for the rest of the life, whatever they are. To me, it has been a will since the beginning of my education, and I am glad to realize it is also important to be close to home sometimes. An internship is the perfect opportunity to know how it is and what we like.

6 – What do you think will be the advantages from this experience?

To make it short because I am repeating myself, here would be the main advantages: English proficiency, Adaptation capacity, Open-minding, Country discovery, New possibilities, Great job overview, Free-time immediately seems to be holidays, International atmosphere…

7 – Did you get what you wanted from this opportunity?

From a professional point of view, I wanted to discover the associative environment or European administrations, I wanted to work on a project linked to natural risks, I wanted an international working atmosphere and I wanted a feeling of responsibility. All this was made possible. From a personal point of view, I wanted an experience in a country less rich than France, I wanted a few additional degrees and I wanted to discover a culture that was foreign to me. All of this was also made possible.

8 – Will you participate in the EU4EU program in the future?

Probably not as I would like to also experiment a “more traditional” search for an internship, something I would describe as more classic to better integrate myself into the world of work as it would be my graduate internship.

9 – Would you suggest another student to join the EU4EU program? Why?

Yes, I would strongly recommend the EU4EU program, especially for the duration of 3 months, perhaps 4 or 5. And I would say to finish in one sentence that EU4EU allowed me to approach with serenity an internship in Europe that could easily be used for the future that I want.