Learning log of artist Kristel Jekulovic from Switzerland

Introduction

The five weeks I spent in Belfast were a truly special and meaningful experience. From the very first day, I felt welcomed and, as time went by, the city became a place where I felt comfortable and at home. I had the opportunity to discover a different culture, visit fascinating places, and enjoy experiences that I will always remember.

One of the best parts of this stay was the time I spent with my classmates. We shared so many enjoyable moments through activities, sightseeing, evenings together, and new experiences. This made my time in Belfast even more memorable and allowed me to build friendships and create memories that I will never forget.

During these five weeks, I also improved my English significantly. Being surrounded by the language every day, both during my traineeship and in everyday life, helped me become much more confident when speaking, understand conversations more easily, and expand my vocabulary. At the beginning, I was quite shy about speaking English, but as the weeks passed, I became much more confident and comfortable communicating with others.

Thanks to this experience, I also developed a more productive and fulfilling daily routine. Each day was organised between work, activities, exploring the city and spending time with my classmates, allowing me to make the most of every moment. This routine helped me become more responsible, organised and motivated – qualities that I will carry with me in the future.

This experience helped me grow not only from a linguistic point of view but also on a personal level. It taught me to become more independent, adapt to new situations and approach every day with curiosity, enthusiasm and a positive attitude.

 

New Digital Skills

During my traineeship, I learned how to use applications that were completely new to me, such as Canva and GIPHY. Thanks to these tools, I discovered new ways of designing digital content and communicating through social media. I learned how to create eye-catching graphics, use templates, design personalised stickers and GIFs, and better understand how social media is used in a professional environment.

This experience introduced me to the world of digital communication and allowed me to develop valuable skills that will certainly be useful in my future studies and career.

Photography and Videography Skills

Another valuable experience was taking part in two free, in person, workshops at Apple Store Belfast, one focusing on photography and the other on videography. During these sessions, I discovered many camera settings and techniques that help achieve the best possible results when taking photos and videos. I learned how to make the most of lighting, composition, camera settings and the small details that can make a real difference to the final image.

Thanks to these workshops, the quality of my photography has improved considerably. I now take photographs with much greater attention to detail, composition and overall image quality. I have become much more aware of how to capture a moment creatively while maintaining a professional standard. These new skills will be extremely useful for my future artistic projects and for creating high-quality content for social media.

My Artistic Work with my work place host: Marketing Trainer Christine Watson

As someone who is passionate about art, I was very fortunate that my host – Marketer Christine Watson assigned me projects that perfectly matched my interests. Most of my work focused on artistic and creative activities, allowing me to express my ideas and develop my skills every day. Throughout these weeks, I had the opportunity to practise painting, experiment with different techniques and further develop my artistic abilities.

Early in the traineeship my host – Marketer Christine Watson also encouraged me to create my very first portfolio – a digital showcase of my artistic work to date. I used Adobe In design and shared it as a PDF.

During my traineeship, I created four original paintings as gifts for people who had made my experience in Belfast even more meaningful. Each artwork was inspired by the breathtaking landscapes of Northern Ireland and reflected my personal artistic style and the emotions I experienced while exploring the country.

The first painting was created for fellow Erasmus trainee Marilen. It depicts the dramatic Irish cliffs, painted in watercolour on paper and professionally framed. I wanted to capture the impressive beauty and peaceful atmosphere of the coastline, creating a meaningful keepsake of Northern Ireland for her to take back to Germany.

The second painting was made for fellow Erasmus trainee Katia and represents the Mourne Mountains viewed from the valley. This perspective highlights the grandeur of the mountains while conveying the tranquillity of the surrounding landscape. It was inspired by one of my favourite places that I visited during my stay.

The third painting was created for retired Marketing Trainer Lynda. It also features the Mourne Mountains, but this time from the perspective of the sea. I chose a much more vibrant colour palette to emphasise the contrast between the blue water, the green mountains and the bright Northern Irish sky, creating a lively and energetic composition.

The fourth painting is another interpretation of the Mourne Mountains, but from a viewpoint that I personally discovered during a work away day – Murlough Nature Reserve. After photographing the landscape myself, I transformed my own photograph into a painting, allowing me to recreate not only the scenery but also the emotions I felt while standing there and admiring the view.

Creating these four paintings was one of the most rewarding parts of my traineeship. It allowed me to combine my passion for art with the extraordinary landscapes of Northern Ireland while creating meaningful gifts for people.

Knowing that a piece of my creativity and personality will remain with them wherever they are is a feeling that I will always treasure, and it reminds me that I have left something meaningful behind in Belfast.

Belfast’s Culture

When I first arrived in Belfast, I found it quite challenging to adapt to the local culture. Many everyday customs and habits were different from those I was used to, and during the first few days I needed time to understand the rhythm of daily life in Northern Ireland.

As the weeks passed, I gradually became more familiar with the city’s welcoming atmosphere and strong sense of community. One of the aspects that impressed me most was the vibrant social life. Belfast has a bustling pub, café and club scene where people regularly meet friends, enjoy live music and spend time together after work or at weekends. This lively social environment creates a warm and friendly atmosphere and reflects the importance of community in everyday life.

I also enjoyed discovering Belfast’s rich history, creativity and cultural identity through its architecture, museums, festivals and public art. Experiencing these different aspects of the city allowed me to better understand local traditions and appreciate the unique character of Northern Ireland.

By the end of my stay, I had become very fond of Belfast. What initially felt unfamiliar soon became a place where I felt comfortable and welcomed. This experience taught me to embrace different cultures with an open mind and showed me how rewarding it can be to step outside my comfort zone.

 

Activities During My Traineeship

Throughout these weeks, I completed a wide range of tasks that allowed me to learn a great deal.

One of my first projects was writing my very first blog post using WordPress, which was a completely new experience for me. Under the guidance of my Trainers, Digital Marketing Trainer Christine Watson and Trainee Katia who was tasked to share her newfound skills with me, I learned how to structure a blog, upload images, add ALT tags to images, create hyperlinks and present information in a clear and engaging way, focusing on giving value and signposts to my audience – the readers or viewers. The blogging task significantly improved both my writing, in english and digital communication skills.

I also learned how to use Meta Business Suite to schedule and manage posts for both Facebook and Instagram. This was my first experience using a professional social media management platform, and it gave me a valuable insight into how organisations plan and organise their online communication. Fellow Erasmus trainee Katia, also from Switzerland, who had started her own work placement one week before my first day, was my appointed Trainer for this task, having been trained herself only a week previously alongside Marilen from Germany, Jonas from Austria and Giulio from Italy. She patiently explained how to create, edit and pre-schedule posts, helping me understand the importance of maintaining a consistent and well-organised social media presence.

One of the most interesting projects allocated to me was analysing the Argyle Business Centre from the perspective of a first-time visitor to the Shankill road business park. Using my artistic eye and attention to detail, I evaluated the entire customer journey, considering visitors’ first impressions, the different customer touchpoints and the overall experience throughout the site. I carefully observed each entrance and exit, the reception area and the main building, including the boardroom and the conference room available for hire. I identified aspects that worked particularly well and suggested potential improvements to make the environment even more welcoming, accessible and visually appealing for future visitors. This task taught me how creativity and design can play an important role in improving customer experience.

Alongside these projects, I immersed myself in the world of art and social media. I explored Belfast by walking around the city and photographing murals, street art and artistic details that caught my attention and that could make great backdrops for commercial photoshoots. I also created personalised stickers and GIFs, designed digital greeting cards and edited photographs for the Argyle Business Centre, developing my graphic design and photo-editing skills while becoming more confident using professional digital tools.

Another interesting experience was taking part in a remote working (work-from-home) trial. This gave me the opportunity to experience a different way of working and understand how effective internal communication, organisation and time management are essential when collaborating with a team all working from different locations. Although I enjoyed working in the office environment, the remote working experience showed me how digital tools can help people remain productive and connected while working independently.

During my placement, I also had the opportunity to experiment with different technologies used for content creation, including a DJI pocket OSMO and the Meta Smart Glasses. Using these devices allowed me to discover new ways of capturing photographs and videos from unique perspectives while producing smooth, high-quality content. It was fascinating to compare these innovative tools with traditional photography techniques and understand how they can be used to create engaging content for social media and digital marketing.

Another memorable experience was attending the Cathedral Quarter BID networking lunch. It was my first opportunity to take part in a professional networking event, where I met people from different businesses and organisations based in this lively area of Belfast. Listening to their conversations and learning about their work helped me understand the importance of building professional relationships, sharing ideas and supporting local businesses and artists within the community. It was inspiring to see how collaboration plays such an important role in the city’s business environment.

One of the things I admired most about Belfast was its incredible collection of street art and graffiti. Walking through the city, I discovered colourful murals, creative installations and impressive artwork that transformed ordinary streets into open-air galleries. Many of the murals reflected Belfast’s history, culture and identity, while others celebrated creativity, diversity and local talent. Photographing these artworks became one of my favourite activities, allowing me to observe the city from an artistic perspective and inspiring many of my own creative projects throughout the placement.

Places I Visited and Memorable Experiences

One of the highlights of my placement was the opportunity to discover many of Northern Ireland’s most interesting landmarks and attractions. Every visit helped me understand the country’s history, culture and natural beauty while inspiring both my artistic work and my photography.

       

Among the places I visited were Belfast Castle with its spectacular views over the city, Crumlin Road Gaol, the Ulster Scots Museum, and Belfast City Hall, where I particularly admired the beautiful stained-glass windows and learned more about the city’s heritage.

 

One of my favourite locations was the famous Umbrella Street in the Cathedral Quarter, one of the most photographed places in Belfast. The colourful umbrellas create a cheerful atmosphere and perfectly reflect the city’s creativity and vibrant character.

     

Another unforgettable experience was our team day trip to Newcastle. Throughout the day we visited several beautiful locations, enjoying the spectacular scenery of the Mourne Mountains, the coastline and the surrounding countryside – from Murlough Nature Reserve to Newcastle Promenade, the first bridge of the Slieve Donard Mountain, Tollymore Forest Park and the Peace Maze in Castlewellan Forest Park. Every stop offered a different perspective of Northern Ireland’s natural beauty, providing endless inspiration for my paintings and photography. The Mournes, located about a one hour drive from Newcastle and accessible by bus, is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty. This away day team excursion became one of the most memorable days of my placement and was also valuable in inspiring some of my landscape art pieces too.

Throughout my traineeship I also visited the Apple Store Belfast, where I attended photography and videography workshops that taught me valuable techniques for composition, lighting and camera settings. These practical tips have significantly improved the quality of my photographs and videos, and I now pay much greater attention to detail whenever I create visual content. I also learned how important it is to think about storytelling, perspective and natural light when producing engaging images.

Looking back at my original Placement Offer and Learning Plan, I am pleased to say that I successfully achieved all of my learning objectives and, in many cases, exceeded them. I not only developed the digital, artistic and communication skills that I had hoped to gain, but I also acquired additional experience in professional blogging, social media management, customer experience analysis, photography, professional networking and creative content production. The wide variety of activities throughout my placement allowed me to develop far beyond my original expectations, making this an incredibly rewarding learning experience.

About Me

My name is Kristel Jekulovic, and I am an Erasmus+ trainee from Switzerland with a strong passion for art, photography, graphic design and digital creativity. My placement in Belfast has allowed me to develop both professionally and personally while discovering a new culture and creating lifelong memories.

 

About Training Matchmaker

Training Matchmaker is a website that curates learning opportunities and lists Independent Trainers across Northern Ireland. It also helps connect students and educational institutions with high-quality international work placements. Through its network of experienced host organisations, it provides valuable opportunities for young people to gain professional experience, improve their language skills and develop personally while living abroad.

 

About My Work Placement Host – Marketing and Customer Service Trainer Christine Watson

I completed my work placement under the guidance of Chartered Marketer Christine Watson, who provided continuous support, encouragement and a wide variety of creative projects throughout my traineeship. Her experience and enthusiasm helped me develop new artistic, digital and professional skills while giving me the confidence to challenge myself and explore new ideas.

 

About Intern Europe

Intern Europe provides meaningful international internship opportunities that allow students to gain practical workplace experience while developing valuable professional and intercultural skills. These placements help young people prepare for future careers within an international environment.

 

About Erasmus+

This placement was made possible through the Erasmus+ Programme, which supports education, training, youth and international mobility across Europe. Erasmus+ gives students the opportunity to gain practical experience abroad, improve their language skills, discover different cultures and develop the confidence and independence that will benefit them throughout their future careers and personal lives.

Conclusion

Looking back, I can confidently say that these five weeks in Belfast have been one of the most valuable experiences of my life. I improved my English, developed new artistic and digital skills, learned how to use tools such as Canva and GIPHY, gained experience in creating content for social media, improved my photography through Apple workshops and expanded my creativity in many ways.

Beyond the professional and technical skills, I gained, this experience also helped me grow as a person. I learned how to adapt to a new environment, appreciate a different culture, become more independent and challenge myself every day. I will always carry with me the knowledge, friendships, memories and emotions I experienced in Belfast, knowing that this journey has been an important step in both my personal and professional development.