What’s it like to be an exchange student at Poatek

Our exchange student from Italy, Giulia, shares her thoughts about Brazil, our local culture, and what’s it like to work at Poatek. Know what she has to say!

“My name is Giulia, and I’m a 24-year-old Italian student. I’m almost finishing my Master program in Management at the University of Trento in Italy.

I’m having a Marketing internship here in Poatek thanks to AIESEC, a non-profit organization that offers young professionals the possibility to experience as interns and volunteers abroad. I decided to come to Brazil because I never got in touch with the local culture before. So, I thought it was a good opportunity for me!

I chose to have an internship at a startup because I think it’s a very different environment when compared to a classic company. Having already worked in a large company before, I was very curious to find out what it’s like to work in a small one.

I can say that Poatek has far exceeded my expectations. At Poatek, I found a very stimulating environment, with many young and professional people. The friendly and relaxed atmosphere facilitates the sharing of knowledge and mutual help, and I think that this increases the motivation of each “poateker”.

Thanks to the informal communication, it’s very easy to have a conversation with everyone, not only to better understand Poatek projects but also to discover the Brazilian culture and lifestyle.

One of the things that surprised me the most is the vastness of this country. Of course, I already knew that Brazil is as large as entire Europe, but I realized this only when I started to plan a trip. Every place is so far! Some weeks ago I went to Iguaçu falls and it was amazing. I’m so grateful for this opportunity. Being alone in another continent is an important challenge for me, so I’m trying to have as many experiences as I can.

An amazing view of Iguaçu Falls.

Regarding Porto Alegre, I really like the city, especially its sunset. I really enjoy walking at Usina do Gasômetro and eating churrasco. I love Brazilian food and I can’t stay too long without eating a pão de queijo! I think it’s a good city to have this kind of experience because it isn’t a touristic place so you can see how a real gaúcho lives!”

About the author

Giulia is an exchange student from Italy. She is currently an intern at Poatek.