When I signed up for Connect-123's Dublin internship program I had never traveled abroad before, much less lived and worked abroad for 8 weeks. I had always wanted to visit Ireland and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so while getting some work experience at the same time. But I was worried--about navigating a foreign country, about not knowing any of the people traveling with me, and about whether my internship would be a good fit. Facing those fears led to some of the most rewarding experiences of my life. As a neuroscience student interested in a research career, I was seeking placement in a lab where I could learn some new lab procedures and practice my scientific writing skills. Connect-123 found me a great internship at a neuroimmunology research lab. My coworkers were friendly, my work was interesting, there was always something to do, and I gained an understanding of the subject matter that supplemented and strengthened what I'd learned in my classes. Outside the lab, I found myself exploring Dublin and the rest of the country both on my own and with the new friends I made in the Connect-123 program. I've come back feeling more confident in myself, more useful in the lab, and more cognizant of the world outside the US.