Hi everyone! My name is Irene, I’m 25 years old, and I’m from Madrid, Spain. I studied Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, where I also completed my Master’s degree. I’ve always loved Madrid. My whole family is from there and it has always been home, but after finishing my studies, I felt like it was time to step out of my comfort zone and experience something completely different. That’s when I discovered Architect US.
Pati came to my university to talk about the program, and the idea of living and working in New York immediately caught my attention. At first, everything sounded exciting, but then all the doubts started coming. Where would I live? How would I organize my life? What would it be like to work in another country and, of course, in another language? I had never lived away from home before, so moving to the US felt like a huge step.
I initially wanted to find a summer internship that could last for a year, but by June I still hadn’t found the right opportunity. The Architect US team offered to keep me in their job pool in case something came up in the following months. And it did! At the end of July, I had an interview with my future boss, followed by a few emails sharing some of my recent work. Almost two weeks later, I received my offer letter, and what started as the possibility of an internship has now become a two year contract!
The visa appointment in Madrid was also much easier than I expected. The interview lasted less than five minutes, with very simple questions. My advice would be to stay confident, smile, and answer as naturally as possible.
Now I’m getting ready for this new chapter, and I’m excited about everything I’m going to learn, not only about architecture, but also about life. Professionally, I hope to discover a different way of working, learn more about the architectural process in the US, and improve my English, which was one of my biggest concerns at the beginning. Personally, I hope to become more independent, meet new people, and learn how to deal with all the new situations that come with living in a different country.
Two of my friends started this journey with me and are already there, so now it’s almost my turn! I’m excited, nervous, and a little scared, but most of all, I’m really looking forward to starting this new adventure and seeing where it takes me.
