My exchange is going well. I continue to be highly motivated to learn from my Host to see what it takes to run a successful business. I have had the opportunity to take part in different activities and have learned, for example, about marketing, team management and customer meetings by also recognising cultural differences. I have learned about different ways of advertising the business, not just in social media, but also by events, and the importance of the image we want to give to others and how it affects the operators we work with.
One meaningful moment for me was when we were planning a professional meeting between the circus professionals in Canary Islands for initiating circus education at higher level educational institutes in Spain, thereby also advancing the recognition of circus as an art form similar to theatre and dance. From starting to be one of the first entities to offer circus school for kids in Gran Canaria, it has been both instructive and inspiring for me to see how by commitment, hard work and active engagement of different key partners it has been possible to be a pioneer and gradually influence the system. In other words, not running a business only for delivering services, but also contributing to meaningful social changes. Through the co-operation with my Host, I have felt very lucky and happy to be a part of this process and contribute to it also from my side.
When I first arrived, I was nervous about how my language skills would affect the work and whether I would be up to the task. I had a general idea that I would be giving classes and helping out, where needed, but I didn’t know exactly what my role would be. I had never taught classes in Spanish before, and in the meetings I initially felt a bit lost. There were moments where I misunderstood certain expectations or didn’t have the full picture. I received some constructive feedback and turned it into a valuable learning experience. It helped me to recognise how important it is to clarify even small doubts right away. Asking questions early can prevent bigger misunderstandings later on, especially when you are new to a team or working in another language
As for now, communication is going much more smoothly and I have been given more responsibility, as we have developed mutual trust. I also have a better understanding now, how the circus school works, and how important it is to adapt to the local context and team dynamics.
Another particularly meaningful moment for me was at the end of a course showcase, where students came together from different venues to perform. It was an inspiring event that gave me a strong sense of the community spirit the circus school is built on. I also had a chance to learn what happens behind the scenes of such a production — which was completely new to me. In one of the shows, I was responsible for the music and sound cues during performances, and in the second, I coordinated the team in charge of stagehands. Both of these roles were new to me, but I succeeded in handling them, which felt like a big step forward in my involvement and confidence.
Working with my Host has taught me a lot about how the organizational structure and location can influence a business. For example, I have seen how different each venue is and how that affects both operations and customer relationships. In the capital, the circus space is much smaller, but has more adult clients in their classes of aerial fitness. The space rent is also quite high since it is in the central area. In contrast, the larger space in another town is benefitting from collaboration with the local town council, which makes it more affordable, but there are limitations on what structural changes can be made since the building is publicly owned.
I’ve also been exposed to how branding and image are managed, especially when working with different customer groups. For adult groups, the atmosphere, visuals, and messaging need to project a certain professional tone and for kids courses the image is different. It has been interesting to see how marketing strategies and “image control” are adjusted depending on location, clientele, and services offered.
Based on what I’ve learned so far, I’ve started to think more on how the local context shapes a business. I didn’t expect to pay so much attention to things like local government partnerships, physical space limitations, or how client demographics shift between locations. Now I see how vital those factors are. I have also learned that even in creative fields like circus arts, business strategy and long-term planning play a huge role.
I admire how my Host has grown to become the largest circus school on the island, while still keeping its services accessible and affordable — especially for children. Also, as mentioned already before, it has demonstrated that as an entrepreneur you can also create social change. My Host has affected many youngsters, who went to study circus later at a professional level.