Ioseff, Hospitality & Catering student, Seville

The placement

I worked with a team of chefs in the kitchen, and helped with food preparation and cooking. I learnt how to make loads of new dishes and developed practical skills like knife skills.

One of the highlights of my trip was the lunch we would be given at work – every day the chef prepared us a different dish and I got to try amazing dishes that I’d never heard of before. It really opened my eyes to different styles of cooking. It was great working as part of a team and interacting with friends and colleagues in Spanish. I feel like my confidence has really grown as a result.

Working in a Spanish kitchen was really different to the English kitchens I have worked in. It was a lot calmer, even when the restaurant was busy, and there was a lot less shouting than there is in an English restaurant.

The location

I loved the intercambio (language exchange) as it was an opportunity to meet new people and practice Spanish. Seville is a beautiful city with amazing views, and sunshine every day. It was a treat to walk to work every day, and explore the city and pick up an ice cream or a coffee on the way.