{"id":53076,"date":"2025-04-20T04:42:48","date_gmt":"2025-04-20T11:42:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carpediemeducation.org\/?p=53076"},"modified":"2025-04-25T05:02:28","modified_gmt":"2025-04-25T12:02:28","slug":"summer-latitudes-year-in-tenerife-and-bilbao-spain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carpediemeducation.org\/summer-latitudes-year-in-tenerife-and-bilbao-spain\/","title":{"rendered":"Time Flies When You\u2019re Learning to Be a World Traveler: Summer\u2019s Latitudes Year in Tenerife & Bilbao, Spain"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Written by Summer Sorensen<\/strong>, 2024-25 Latitudes Student<\/strong><\/p>\n

Diving into a New World: My Internship in Tenerife<\/b><\/h4>\n

There\u2019s so much I could say about my experience so far! I was nervous about traveling to an unknown place on my own for the first time\u2014especially to islands I hadn\u2019t even heard of four months ago.<\/p>\n

At the start of my FVP, I worked with See You Diving<\/i>, got my open-water scuba certification, and completed a marine biology internship in Tenerife, Spain. My days in Tenerife typically looked like this: I\u2019d get up around 8:30, depending on whether we were diving or having class that day.<\/p>\n

If we were diving, we\u2019d go out for two dives in the morning, with locations varying each day. On non-diving days, we\u2019d have class\u2014either entering previously collected data or giving presentations. Our internship and research focused on sampling seagrass and studying the importance of healthy seagrass growth. Seagrass is a strong indicator of how well the surrounding ecosystem is functioning.<\/p>\n

We used underwater whiteboards to record measurements like height, length, metric coordinates, temperature, and more. We also learned about local marine life, collected plankton samples, and gave presentations on seawalls, algae, and other marine topics.<\/p>\n

Additionally, I learned how to write manuscripts and worked in Google Excel and Word, gaining confidence in entering data\u2014skills that will definitely help me in college.<\/p>\n

Throughout the internship, Alice\u2014who runs See You Diving<\/i> with her husband, Beltran\u2014shared her marine biology expertise with us both in and out of the water. She was always enthusiastic, approachable, and ready to answer any questions I had. Her passion for the ocean inspired me to further pursue marine biology, and she made sure I understood and felt confident in everything we were learning. I can\u2019t wait to go back and visit one day!<\/p>\n

Now, I\u2019m living in Bilbao, Spain, attending a language school and staying in a shared apartment. My experience so far has been great!<\/p>\n

Challenges Along the Way<\/b><\/h4>\n

I think the biggest challenge has been staying present. Time is flying by, and I often catch myself thinking ahead instead of fully soaking in the moment. In Tenerife, I was learning so much every day\u2014it felt impossible to absorb it all! I wish I had recorded everything so I could revisit and reflect on it all later.<\/p>\n

Another challenge has been the social aspect. While I love connecting with others, being \u201con\u201d from morning until bedtime can be exhausting. The hostel was always buzzing with activity, and I didn\u2019t realize how draining that could be. It\u2019s been a valuable reminder to honor my limits and carve out time for myself when needed.<\/p>\n

Unforgettable Highlights and Favorite Moments<\/b><\/h4>\n

Wow\u2014so many highlights! One of the biggest was working with See You Diving<\/i>. I saw a turtle, an angel shark, stingrays, and so many fascinating fish. Scuba diving introduced me to a new world\u2014quiet, vast, and completely perspective-shifting. The experience of breathing underwater is surreal at first!<\/p>\n

Another highlight was spending time at the hostel\u2014singing karaoke, dancing, cooking, and forming connections with travelers from around the world. I\u2019ve made lifelong friends I can\u2019t wait to visit again.<\/p>\n

I also loved exploring the beaches of Tenerife, visiting the incredible volcano, and taking long walks.<\/p>\n

Finally, being in a city like Bilbao has been a joy. It\u2019s the perfect size\u2014not too big, not too small\u2014and super clean, with tons to explore. The beaches and coastline in Northern Spain are absolutely stunning!<\/p>\n

Personal Growth and Lessons Learned<\/b><\/h4>\n

When I started the program, I was really nervous about solo travel. I loved being part of a group in the fall, and I wasn\u2019t sure how I\u2019d do on my own. But I\u2019ve gained a level of confidence I didn\u2019t know I had.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always been most comfortable around familiar people, so this experience pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way. I\u2019ve also embraced a \u201cgo with the flow\u201d mindset\u2014something that doesn\u2019t come naturally to me since I love to plan. I\u2019ve realized that stressing doesn\u2019t help and that things usually work out in the end.<\/p>\n

Moving across the world to live somewhere entirely new\u2014with different people, a new culture, and unfamiliar surroundings\u2014was a huge leap. But I\u2019m incredibly glad I took the risk. I\u2019ve grown so much because of it.<\/p>\n

Inspired by Summer’s gap year? Learn more about the Latitudes Year<\/a> and carve out your own journey!\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n