Meet Maria Lan Pedra Martinez. She's a smart, ambitious young woman from Barcelona who, despite holding both a B.A. and an M.A. in international relations, felt like something was missing. She wanted hands-on experience and the chance to grow her skills beyond the classroom.

Now, she's halfway through a nine-month internship at the Catalonia Trade and Investment Office in Washington, D.C.—an opportunity made possible through the BridgeUSA Exchange Visitor Program on a J-1 Visa. And she’s found exactly what she was looking for.

‍

Life in the Capital‍

Sponsored by the Cultural Exchange Network (Cenet), a nonprofit BridgeUSA J-1 Visa sponsor, Maria’s internship is part of a U.S. Department of State program that helps young professionals grow, learn, and connect across cultures. With nearly 30 years of experience, Cenet creates meaningful exchange opportunities through programs like Intern, Trainee, Research Scholar, Specialist, Camp Counselor, Teacher, and Summer Work Travel, offering visa sponsorship and ongoing support along the way.

For Maria, her placement at the Catalonia Trade and Investment Office has been a perfect fit. The organization helps Catalan companies connect with potential American partners, facilitates economic partnerships, and as she put it, Washington is a prime location for this kind of work.

“The international relations and business communities in and around Washington, D.C., are very broad,” she explained, “and they work through many development organizations.”

Maria is confident that the practical experience and international exposure she’s gaining will “definitely help” her find a job back home and, as she hopes, may even “catapult my career.”

Beyond her professional life, Maria is fully embracing her new city. While she admits to “a little more culture shock than I expected” at first, she now loves life in Washington. She shares an apartment with friends in the Columbia Heights neighborhood, spends weekends exploring museums and cultural attractions, and even managed a quick trip to New York with friends.

‍

The Bigger Picture

Even though she’s only halfway through her program, Maria is already reflecting on the long-term value of her exchange. 

“Being part of an exchange allows us to better understand the world we live in by being exposed to new cultures, different ways of thinking, and broader perspectives, helping us grow and become more open-minded and empathetic,” she said. “Those of us who have the privilege of participating in these programs also carry the responsibility of using what we’ve learned to contribute to the common good and apply the knowledge acquired in our home countries.”

Her director, David Rojas Mejia, has seen this impact firsthand. “Our interns bring us new ways of thinking, new ideas,” he said. “Having them is a blessing. They have, over time, changed the way we do our work. They connect our work to a new generation.”

David reinforced Maria’s perception that having an internship in the capital city offers special value. “Working in DC, she is exposed not only to business, but also to the World Bank and other international organizations.  Maria already has a strong international studies background, and the opportunity to interact with staff from the World Bank and other international organizations broadens her scope.”

David added that Maria has already had great experiences with helping to run a project and dealing with clients.

“When you are young, you want to devour the world,” David said. “Our duty is to make this first stop a way to teach them about the work environment—not to diminish their ambitions, but to give them a realistic sense of how things work.”

Building Bridges Across Borders

Ultimately, programs like BridgeUSA, made possible by sponsors like Cenet, do more than help young professionals. They deepen cross-cultural understanding and create long-lasting ties between countries. And, as David put it, “These exchanges support the strength of our economies and represent a small but important investment in the future prosperity of both our nations.”

Learn More

If Maria’s story inspires you, discover how you can be part of an international exchange. Explore Cenet.org to learn more about Cenet’s programs.