It’s 2 am, I can’t feel my feet anymore, and I’m standing in the middle of a snowy festival ground helping push cars that got stuck in the snow. Not exactly what my typical 9-to-5 looks like, but that’s exactly what made my experience at Tomorrowland Winter so memorable.
Let me quickly introduce myself: my name is Indra, and I’m currently an intern at Tomorrowland in the Global Journey department, with a focus on Discover Europe.
Tomorrowland Winter is a festival that happens every year in the snowy mountains of Alpe d’Huez. It is a time filled with skiing, music, festival energy, and picturesque mountain views every single day.
What made it so remarkable to me is that you get the opportunity to go up to three different stages located in the mountains: Reflection of Love, Orbyz and Frozen Lotus. During the day, artists play DJ sets high up in the snow, surrounded by views that almost don’t feel real.
The mountain stages are an experience in themselves. You can access them by ski lifts, and once you’re up there, you can ski from one stage to another. The vibes were immaculate, very Gen Z of me to say, but it’s true.
My Role During the Festival
Now you might be wondering: Indra, what was your role during the festival period?
My main task was helping out at the info point. I already had some experience working at the reception of a hotel, so that made it easier for me to feel comfortable helping guests. It was also a great opportunity because, during my regular internship, I usually work a 9-to-5 at the office from Monday to Friday. That means I don’t always get direct contact with the guests.
At Tomorrowland Winter, that changed completely. I was able to talk to visitors, connect with them, answer their questions, and help them enjoy the festival experience as much as possible.
One evening, I had a wonderful conversation with a couple from India who had attended all Tomorrowland festivals since 2015, which is absolutely crazy. People are so dedicated to Tomorrowland, and it made me appreciate what I do even more.
My aunt is also a really big fan and actually introduced me to the magic of Tomorrowland. That is part of why I applied for this internship in the first place. Talking to guests and seeing firsthand how much the festival means to them made the experience even more special.
Cold Nights, Teamwork and Festival Energy
It also got quite intense at times. It was super cold, and during some of my night shifts on the festival grounds until 2 am, I couldn’t even feel my feet anymore.
At one point, the snow got so bad that cars got stuck, and we had to help push them so people could get moving again. Moments like that really made it feel like everyone was in it together.
At the same time, the nights were also super fun. After my shifts, I was able to go to the festival and enjoy it myself. Being able to switch from working behind the scenes to experiencing the festival as a visitor made it even more memorable.
On the main festival area at the bottom of the mountain, there are four different stages: the main stage, the Cage, the Moose Bar and CORE. CORE was my favorite. With the big head and the atmosphere around it, it somehow felt quite cozy.
Behind the Scenes
It was also a big team-building experience. I got to bond more with my colleagues, and I can really feel the difference at the office now. On top of that, I was able to experience a festival I had never attended before, while also seeing how everything operates behind the scenes.
I naturally found it interesting to see how everything is communicated and organized. It made me realize how much an experience like this depends on communication, even in the smallest interactions.
Intercultural Communication in Practice
Intercultural communication was also a really important aspect of this experience. You meet people from all over the world, and every interaction is different. That made the experience even more interesting in practice.
I’ve been abroad many times before, including an exchange in South Korea and another internship in Denmark, so intercultural communication is something I really value and enjoy. It’s always interesting to see how people communicate differently, no matter where they’re from.
And as a small side note, I also had to face the fact that my French is not exactly strong, so that was definitely something I had to deal with head-on during the festival.
My Biggest Takeaway
If there’s one takeaway I would share, it’s this: you learn so much from people from around the world. Open your mind, allow yourself to experience new things, and step out of your comfort zone.
Even though I wasn’t able to keep the Tomorrowland crew clothing, which was super cute, the experience itself is something I’ll definitely hold on to for a long time. I’m already missing the morning walks in the snow.
Next stop: Tomorrowland Belgium.
