Gal·la

How did you find your internship position? How did you apply for it? How did you prepare for your stay abroad?

First I skimed different lab websites considering their publications, the activity in social media, the career of the Principal Investigator (PI) and their team-building activities. I directly contacted the PI, introducing myself and stating why I was interested in performing an internship in their lab, as well as mentioning that I was planning to apply for the Marshall Plan Scholarship (MPS).

Don’t be afraid of being perseverant and send more than 2 reminders to each PI. I started sending emails Mid-May 2022 and I got the interview at University of California San Diego (UCSD) in July 2022. UCSD helped me with all the J1-VISA process, which took me 3 months in total and $350. VISA interview waiting times differ from country to country. Check the availability in different US consulates around Europe, before paying for the J1-interview. In some cases, you will only have to send the documents by mail, instead of performing the interview in person.

What practical arrangements have you made before the exchange?

After obtaining my VISA in November 2022, I booked a one-way ticket flight to LA. Try to obtain the VISA and book the flights as soon as possible, prices can skyrocket in a sec.

Regarding the insurance, I bought one of the most affordable in the market: J1 Exchange Insurance from ISO International Student Health Insurance ($40/month). I was lucky enough to not have to use it during my stay. Thus, I cannot tell how good they are.

Regarding the housing, I checked in different Facebook groups, Craigslists and Airbnb. I finally found my room via Craigslist. However, be aware of the scams. Try to make a videocall before exchanging any money. In my case I was fortunate to share the house with a wonderful American family that were always opened and attentive to me. If you want to be 100% in the American culture, I encourage you to live with a native family.

What kind of financial arrangements did you have to take care of?

The living costs in California are quite expensive, especially in San Diego and San Francisco. Usually, prices in San Diego went from $2000/month for a shared room or room without furniture/facilities, and around $3000 for a fully-equipped room. Public transportation is expensive and not well connected. Considering that California is huge, if you are planning to stay for more than 3 months, I would recommend buying a used car and selling it afterwards. It took me 1.5-2h to get from A to B by bus, when by car it would have taken me 20min. On groceries, I spent about $400/month. I usually bought veggies and fruit, so I guess that depending on the type of diet that you follow and how frequently you eat outside this number can even double. Coffees are one of the bests that I have ever tried. However, they cost about $6-8. So, prepare your wallet if you are a coffee-lover.

How were you greeted, trained and welcomed by the company?

Furnari’s lab is an interdisciplinary lab with people from all over the globe. Everybody was kind, supportive and helpful. We were doing science most of the time and I learnt a lot from their lab meetings and journal clubs. However, there was also room for parties and chitchatting with everyone. I learnt a lot from their cultures while working in the hood doing cell culture.

Although I felt prepared for this transatlantic experience, I think that I learnt how to work independently in a high standard level. In the US, the ability to work independently is highly valuable. Thus, sometimes you can feel completely alone. However, during these moments, you must keep in mind that the errors that you make are easier to remember than the ones seen that others did.

Please describe your accommodation

I found my accommodation via Craigslist. I sent an email to the email provided in an advertisement and then we scheduled a meeting to see each other. I was paying one of the cheapest rents compared to my colleagues ($2000/month including facilities and furniture) for a big room. I shared the space with a retired family, which always invited me to family plans. We went to the cinema together, to a concert in Los Angeles, swam with the sea lions, among other things. I had a lot of fun with them. We also celebrated easter and the 4th of July with their family, and accepted hosting my friends and family when they visited me. In San Diego I lived 2 blocks away from the beach, 30 min away from the lab by bus and 30 min walking to the surfing area. I am sure that I found the perfect spot!

How would you describe the country, culture and leisure activities you experienced during your stay abroad?

Although nowadays we have a lot of American influence in Europe due to the films and series, I have to admit that some behaviors, food and people surprised me a lot. I would describe the US as a warm welcoming country, with a very recent history but full of patriotism. I think that we must learn a lot from them the same way that they do from us. During my stay abroad I could meet extraordinary people inside and outside the lab. I specially made a lot of friends playing spikeball, the roundnet game. There I met people from all over the US, and they all agreed that San Diego was one of the best places in the US and that it was very different from the rest of the US. The vibe, the weather, the sunsets, the National Parks …

All these things also took up a space in my heart. After these 7 months in the US, I don’t think that I can make a reliable description of the US, however I can say that the experience has changed me and that I will probably repeat this adventure again.

How would you describe the internship?

My internship was a completely exciting adventure in which I acquired a lot of knowledge from a personal and professional view. It strengthened my skills of independent thinking, my self-confidence, organization, perseverance, critical thinking, and patience. The message that I would like to send to future Marshall Plan Scholars is to not try to exercise too much pressure on yourself. It’s hard to obtain results in 6 months and nobody is expecting anything from you. Every time that you fail and experiment, there’s a chance to improve it and learn from them. Do not give up and keep trying.

During my internship, I was told that I will have to induce cellular reprogramming to cancerous cell lines. Neither my lab nor I had any experience in cellular reprogramming, thus we had to start from scratch, and I had to establish the protocols. It’s true that I didn’t obtain publishing results, but I am satisfied with the work that I did, paving the path for future students in their lab.

What new skills and qualities have you acquired?

I can certainly tell that my English level, either spoken, written or listen has improved. I learnt a lot of daily vocabulary, which I think is as important as the professional one. Now I can understand most of the English songs! Since I met people from India, China, Japan I also learnt some words in their language and some particularities regarding food and culture. The US presents such a variety of nationalities as few countries have, and this is a very positive aspect of a country that contributes to open-mindedness of its citizens. I probably learnt some social skills trying to manage conflicts with my friends. I also learnt how to behave more professionally and nowadays I think that I have a more holistic view of the type of professional that I would like to be in the future. I am sure that 2 months after leaving the US, I’m only able to spot some of the big positive aspects that this transatlantic experience has caused in me.

How have your values and attitudes changed during your stay abroad?

I think that the US experience has definitely changed my point of view in multiple aspects, but I still that I am still the same afraid person that I was in the beginning of moving abroad somehow. These international experiences help to open your mind and consider other cultures. In some cases, you may feel sad or unlucky for not having the opportunities that other countries have, but in other aspects you may feel sorry for other countries that are in a way worst situation than your country. Although comparisons are odious, this adventure made me value how grateful I should feel to the opportunities, family, and friends that I have. Another lesson that I learnt was that you will never know enough and there is always room to learn. From my point of view, this is the attitude that you need to move abroad, nothing else.

Looking back, what was the greatest challenge in preparing for or during your stay abroad?

I think that my biggest challenge was the time difference with my home country. I was living 9h ahead from my family and friends, and we barely had time to talk. When they went to the bed, I still had the whole evening for me, and when I went to bed, they were waking up. I am a very familiar person and the fact that I needed 12h to go back home made me a little sad sometimes, especially during the first months. However, humans are survivors by nature, and after making some friends the sadness went away, and I was feeling fulfilled with my friends and routines there. In case that a prospective Marshall Plan Scholar is like me, I would like to tell him/her that everything comes to an end, so “carpe diem”.

What was your most positive experience during your stay abroad?

It’s hard to tell the MOST positive experience because I have lived a lot of good times during this stay. I learnt very very much at my institution, but I think that the most positive experiences were happening outside the lab. I think that one of the best parts of my trip was meeting such extraordinary and wonderful people in the US from all over the globe. During my last week in the US, I was feeling really sad because I knew I was not able to see most of them in a very long time. I wish them all the best for their future!