Reviews

Will Tracy

I just finished my two-month internship in Buenos Aires. Looking back, these past two months have been the most exciting and most adventurous months of my life. I made friends from countries all around the world, had the chance to see three different countries, and found a second home in Buenos Aires. My two main goals arriving in Argentina was to further improve my Spanish and to gain working experience; but I honestly think I got a lot more out of this internship than just those two goals. My time in Buenos Aires opened my horizons by giving me the chance to work and live on my own in a foreign country. My internship was with a start-up and third-party logistics company that focused on E-commerce. Every day was a challenge but my co-workers were extremely friendly and willing to help with any problems or confusion I had. Through my internship, I learned many terms and practices in logistics that a class simply cannot teach. At the beginning of my trip I felt that two months would be plenty of time to experience Buenos Aires and want to come back. But by the end of my trip I was having so much fun I wish I had two more months! If you have any interest in Latin America, practicing Spanish, and gaining important work experience, then Buenos Aires is the place for you.

Sarah Crockett

Having the opportunity to be living and working halfway around the world is indescribable. Everything is different, but it somehow still feels so normal. I work in Spanish all week. We share cultural “mate” (an Argentine “tea experience” if you will – Google it!!). I’ve made friends with the family that owns the local fruit and veggie stand down the street. That said, I still complain about the weather with my co-workers every day at lunch. I still pop popcorn and sit back and watch a movie some Saturday nights. And the parts that seemed so different and foreign when I arrived have become my favorite parts of the day. I’ve gotten used to the relaxed rhythm of life, where being late is not shamed. I’ve learned that, like most foreigners and local Argentines, I love talking about language and linguistics – how do we learn languages, how are expressions different in each language, etc. The best part about my experience in Buenos Aires is that I’m living a normal life in an extraordinary place. I work with an NGO that focuses on providing business development aid and financial support (in the form of micro-credit loans) to women living just North of Buenos Aires. These women take what they have learned from our NGO and start up their own small businesses, selling baked goods, homemade jewelry or finding and selling fashion pieces. Every Saturday, I go to the “neighborhoods” (which is what we call them) with a mountain of local Argentine volunteers to assist these women in their economic and personal development. Not only do the entrepreneurial women impress me every day, but the commitment and love of the volunteers that show up every morning at 8am inspire me. Connect-123 allows me to feel and be independent. I have the strength and the freedom to be on my own, experiencing my own journey that has never before been lived. At the same time, Connect offers me the support when I need it: someone to bounce my reflections off of, someone to call when I need to go to the hospital. I feel safe and supported, but I am independent. That is the best gift anyone can ask for when living and working abroad.

Abby Brazeal

My trip to Buenos Aires was one of the best experiences of my life. The Connect-123 program helped me meet some of my closest friends here. They were able to keep me updated on holidays and special events going on around the city that I would have never known about other wise. Connect-123 found me an internship exactly in my field of study, which was helpful for me to gain some work experience while also getting the opportunity to explore this beautiful city.

I was very pleased with the living arrangements I had. My house was full of younger students that were working and studying both from Buenos Aires and from the program, which was a great mix to have both groups. Going abroad with Connet-123 is a perfect mix of freedom and some guidance. They help you when you need it, but give you enough space to do your own thing and have your own experiences. I had the best trip of my life here!

Henry Ryan

I went to Buenos Aires, Argentina and it was truly a life changing experience. I didn’t even speak spanish and yet it was the best decision I have ever made. Internship: I had an 8 week internship with a start-up company. The process of getting the internship was incredibly easy. I simply spoke with a Connect 123 advisor on the phone, sent my resume to her, and within weeks I was able to align a Skype interview. Over the course of my internship, I was not only able to gain work experience, but I was also able to fully enjoy the culture and social life in Argentina. Argentina: I was pleasantly surprised to find that the city of Buenos Aires was much larger and busier than I had previously expected. With the surplus of bars, clubs, and social events; the only problem with Buenos Aires is that there is too much to do. If partying is important to you, then you will never want to leave. The cuisine is fantastic. Meats, cheese, and fruit are among the Argentine specialties and my personal favorites. From world renowned restaurants to delicious street vendors, I have had some of the best food of my life in Argentina.  Lastly, everyone needs to take trips to Iguazu Falls, Patagonia, and Uruguay or Chile. Connect-123: By far, the best thing about Connect 123 is how helpful the advisors are. When you arrive in Argentina, they give you everything you need to get started. If anything were ever to happen to you, then the Connect 123 administration would be there to help no matter what. My advisor was willing to meet with me wherever and whenever if I ever had any concerns.

Alina Oboloska

I have always had a special attraction for Latin American culture and my childhood dream was to discover it. This was the reason why I wanted Buenos Aires to be my internship destination. I am so grateful to Connect-123 team for making my dream come true! First of all I would like to thank them for finding a perfect internship for me. I had an amazing opportunity to work in a company that develops business projects between Argentina and South Africa. Connect-123 introduced me to other internship members and helped me to find an accommodation in the nicest area of Buenos Aires. Thanks to the perfect organization and permanent support of Connect-123 team I felt like home in this amazing country-Argentina. It was an unforgettable human and professional experience that I will never forget and that I highly recommend to anyone. You're in good hands with the Connect-123!

Nick Boccardi

I could not have been more satisfied with my abroad experience.  When I reflect on everything I’ve accomplished in just two months, it is amazing how much I’ve grown personally and professionally through the Connect-123 program.

What sold me on Connect-123 was the flexibility of their program.  They truly build the experience from the ground up around your needs.  I knew my needs and desires were very specific: I wanted to intern only for June and July while testing my Spanish abilities in a practical environment rather than a classroom setting.  Other companies I considered made me feel like I had to sacrifice something, but with Connect-123 I didn’t have to sacrifice anything. I was very honest with the staff about what I wanted to get out of the experience, and the staff made a genuine effort to get to know me and my needs.  As a result, I was placed with both a homestay family and internship that fit my needs perfectly and made me feel right at home.  The family I stayed with adopted me as one of their own and included me in their social plans.

In Buenos Aires, I worked with a venture capital firm doing marketing research and competitive analyses on new markets.  Because the office was intimate, I never felt out of place, and if I ever had questions, I was never afraid to ask.  My coworkers were friendly, patient, and willing to teach me anything they could about the industry and what they did within the company.  Not only did I learn so much from my coworkers, but I also felt the impact of my day to day work contribution, within the company.

Interacting with other program participants is another highlight of the program.  Connect-123 participants are diverse in every sense of the word, and it was a pleasure to spend two months with them.  I’ve made new friends from all over the world, all of whom had different reasons for being in Buenos Aires.  Everyone took advantage of the city however they wanted.  I’ve met people who were pursing undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and were in between jobs and traveling, and there was so much to learn from all of them.

The Connect-123 support system is very strong.  After my initial phone call with Katie, I felt like she understood me well and that I was in good hands.  She walked me through every step of the process and made planning my trip very easy.  During the trip, I asked Paula for recommendations on how to plan my trips to Iguazu Falls and Colonia, Uruguay.  With the information she gave me, the trips basically planned themselves (thanks, Paula!! =D).  Weekly Connect-123 events also help bring program participants together while getting to know the city and Argentine culture.  The program is very well organized and is very open to feedback and suggestions.

Just want to give a special thanks to Katie, Paula, and Vanessa for all of their help in making my abroad experience better than I could have ever imagined!

Shelby Pals

I interned through Connect-123 in Buenos Aires, Argentina for two months. It truly was one of the best experiences of my life. Buenos Aires is one of the most vibrant cities I have ever lived in. It seems a bit intimidating at first, but after the initial shock the city welcomes you as part of itself. All the advisors at Connect-123 were very helpful and always wanted you to experience all that you could while living in Buenos Aires. They provide everything that you may need while abroad such as maps, phones, and most importantly advice and guidance. Everyone is warm and friendly and are always just a phone call away. They truly care about their students and interns and I believe with Connect-123 you are in good hands. My internship was a great working experience. They placed me with a Spanish school and it was a perfect match. The people, environment, and job itself were just what I was looking for in an internship. I would gladly and strongly recommend Connect-123 for anyone looking for a great cultural experience.

Jay Lanners

My internship and time spent in Buenos Aires exceeded my expectations. I got the valuable work experience I needed, and the internship certainly helps differentiate my resume. In fact, my internship in Buenos Aires helped me gain pre-admission to IESE, one of the world’s top MBA programs, through the Young Talent Program. In addition, the Connect-123 employees were incredibly helpful and personable. They really care about matching you up with the right internship and housing and making sure that you are having a good time while living in Buenos Aires. It was a great way to spend two months of my summer. I improved my Spanish, got good work experience, made great friends from many different countries, lived in an exciting city, and got a chance to travel to some amazing places.

Victor Torres

Connect-123 is the perfect organization for someone considering an internship or volunteer experience in Buenos Aires. They provide all the necessary support you’ll need, without being overly rigid or inflexible. They allow you to choose what you want out of the experience, and do everything they can to find exactly what you are looking for.  With Connect-123 not only do you get an opportunity for an internship that is tailored specifically for you, but you receive other benefits such as local contacts, the opportunity to meet like-minded, yet very different participants, and the comfort of having local support so you never feel like you’re on your own. In my opinion, doing an internship in Buenos Aires is really the best way to not only learn Spanish, but to actually immerse yourself in a new culture, and get a chance to learn why the people and place are the way they are, something that the typical tourist would never have an opportunity to do. The organization I work with has been very welcoming and they’ve done a great job of helping me overcome my second language deficiencies. I’ve seen a substantial improvement since I started in just a matter of weeks. Living the porteño (the name for citizens of Buenos Aires) life style, has broadened my horizons and has been one of the best experiences in my life!

William Donnell

When I initially talked to Steven and the group at Connect-123 in Buenos Aires, I was excited about the opportunities that I could be a part of.  After experiencing what they had to offer, my expectations were definitely surpassed.  I was looking for a way to mix what I had studied, business administration, and the Spanish I had acquired abroad and at school. I really wanted my internship to be both in a Spanish speaking environment and to be career enhancing.  Connect-123 provided a perfect solution.  I worked in a financial group in the center of the city; my days ranged from working with the head of a mutual fund to giving input and doing research for an investment committee.  It was really interesting to see the business environment outside of the U.S., my home country.  I loved my time there, worked with some great people and learned a lot both in Finance and Spanish. Apart from the internship, my life in Buenos Aires was perfect.  The city is unbelievable, it would be hard to ever tire of endless asados (bbqs), a great nightlife and a diverse and international population.  The staff at Connect-123 knew the city well and always went out of their way to let me know where to go and what to expect.  I really felt that Connect-123 was working specifically for me; not only was my experience unique and custom tailored, it was rewarding on a personal and career development level as well.