Jesse DePauw
Law Intern
Michigan State University
05 April 2013
There is truly no way to do justice to the eye-opening nature of my trip to Cape Town. I knew that it would be a great experience, but I had no idea how much the city would infect me with its allure and make me regret that impending flight home! Everyone at Connect-123 was more than accommodating. They were there every step of the way, which proved vital to my experience, since my placement was a difficult one to secure. They used every resource they had in fighting to get me into the placement I desired; I cannot thank them enough for their efforts.
I worked at a law firm for the three months I spent in South Africa. Working here was truly a dream come true. As I had already been accepted to law school before starting my internship, I knew that the training I would receive in Cape Town would only contribute to my knowledge of the legal sector. It may seem that legal training in South Africa would not apply to the U.S., but that is just not the case. Everything I did during my internship, whether it was drafting orders and opinions, serving summons and filing applications with the court, or just reviewing case law to prepare for meeting with clients, all of the things I was asked to do tested my ability to work efficiently and contributed to my knowledge of legal processes. The atmosphere was amazing. Everyone was so helpful and willing to explain what they needed; I never felt that I was alone in anything I was doing. It truly was everything I could have hoped for and more.
My time in South Africa allowed me to explore the vast cultural differences and immerse myself in a world I so eagerly desired to know. I was able to travel all over the country, experiencing the best South Africa had to offer, such as bungee jumping off a 216m bridge, attending 3-day music festivals, and feeding / playing with elephants up close in person! The team at Connect-123 (Celine, Charné Jackie, Jess, Miche, all you guys!) was so active in organizing activities, showing us the city, and making sure we were involved and happy with our placements. I never expected to be so guided every step of the way! There is no way that I will be able to stay away from Cape Town; I’ve already started planning my return trip! I hope everyone who reads this will consider how wonderful this city has been to me and how much it and Connect-123 can make your Study Abroad experience as epic as mine has been!