I’ve figured out that small tour companies are my niche, especially companies with a specific target market such as students, foreigners, etc. In January I started googling tours in Granada and calling a few a day. This specific company showed interest in working with me right away because they knew they needed help in the category of marketing content, but they also weren’t very organized so we played phone tag for several weeks until I picked up the phone while I was on vacation in Mallorca with a job offer to travel to Morocco, tour Granada, Toledo and Madrid with their tour group. Since I am studying here, I decided I would join them in Granada and travel with them to Toledo and Spain for a long weekend. I literally had no idea what to expect, I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to communicate with them in either Spanish or English. But, I knew I’d come in with an open mind and excited to learn from this unique opportunity to travel with a different culture while gaining professional work experience.

I traveled for three days with 17 people who were family/friends from Indonesia and Malaysia. They all used to be in a famous rock band together and decided to have a reunion and travel to Islamic heritage sites in southern Spain and Morocco. Although I was joining their group 5 days into their trip, they immediately welcomed me as part of their group and seemed happy to have me there. One woman I became friends with introduced me to everyone in the group and loved that I was studying Economics, as there were 3 professors of Economics on the trip. The people in my group also loved telling me about their family and were interested in what I had to share about mine as well. They also loved to have their picture taken and they lovedddd shopping. Instead of touring more historical sites or something of that nature we would go to the biggest shopping centers of each city.

I also had the chance to try Indonesian food for the first time (four different times) and I absolutely loved it! Except, their spicy is REALLY spicy. I love mildly spicy food and have missed it lately since the Spanish never eat spicy food, but I definitely made up for that missed time when I had my first bite of this creamy orange/red sauce they add to their soups and rice dishes. Also, I learned that after every lunch and dinner it’s customary to have an orange and hot water, not tea, for dessert. Quite healthy indeed!

Although I was introduced as their photographer, they still asked if I wanted to have my photo taken in places and even asked to take pictures with me! One of my favorite moments of the trip was when I met up with the group the first morning in Madrid. Since we stayed in different hotels, I met the group in the city and they were all elated to see me and have me back with the group! It always great to feel like a part of the group instead of just being there for my job. One woman also gave me 5 packets of Indonesian specialty coffee which I am super excited to try!

Our last supper together came before I knew it and I was sad to see my new friends leave! As we were saying goodbye, many of the families offered for me to stay with them in their house and they would take care of everything if I ever came to Jakarta. I was touched by this offer because I knew they were being genuine and I was so thankful to have met this group of people.

I definitely have a very unique job that I cultivated and I absolutely love it. I’m so thankful I get to travel new places, learn about different cultures, network, try new foods, and make real connections with people I normally wouldn’t have the chance to. With that being said, it was a lot of hard work to get here because many of the companies I talk to already outsource their marketing or have a fulltime photographer. Anything worth having is worth fighting for!

Side note: this was also the first job I actually got paid for (kind of lol) so yay!! Day by by, día a día!