Reviews

Taylor Watson

I applied to Connect-123 in search of an internship to fulfill graduation requirements, and what I got out of my experience was more than I could have ever imagined. I did an 11-week health and wellness internship in Dublin. I learned a lot from my coworkers, they were so nice and always willing to help. I was blessed to have Nikki and Rosie, Connect-123 program coordinators in Dublin, assist me along the way with little tips and tricks about transportation, things to do, places to eat, where the best scones are, literally anything you could think of, they were always there to help! I was able to travel around Ireland and Europe a bit on the weekends with one of my roommates from Connect-123, which was amazing. There were group dinners, weekend trips and events planned with all the Connect-123 interns, which was a great way to meet new people and make new friends. Overall, it was an experience I will never forget and I cannot wait until the day I'm able to go back to Ireland.

Faizan Rai

Culture, politics, and nature. It is fair to say that my time in Cape Town can be characterized by these three defining features, along with much more. Having the opportunity to live, work and holiday in Cape Town exposed me to a whole new way of life, which is something I looked forward to before coming here. The city and indeed the whole country is abundant in culture, with various beautiful languages being spoken all the time and music being played from all walks of life. The accepting nature of South Africans compels me to return, as I have made lasting friendships during my experience here. Another aspect of Cape Town I have loved is how history and politics has echoed all around me, always. As a student of International Relations, I was eager to learn how South Africa functions. Through visiting historically significant sites such as Robben Island and various museums commemorating South Africa’s history, I have developed a passion for South African affairs and I wish to play a part in the progressive ambitions it has for its future. What has struck me most is how, despite the turbulent past, the people of South Africa remain ambitious, forgiving and hopeful to create a free and just society. Finally, it is fair to say that Cape Town is the most beautiful city I have lived in. The stunning landscape of three beautiful mountains on one side and the jaw-dropping blue sea on the other, with a city of narrow streets and skyscrapers sandwiched in between made waking up at 7am every morning more than enjoyable, as every day provided me with a new experience. I can count myself extremely lucky with the opportunities I was provided during my internship. Working in government was the ideal internship for me and Connect-123 ensured I gained an internship I would be happy with. The highlight of my work experience was being able to travel around the country for work. During my travels to Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth, I have gained vital professional skills as well as vast exposure to South Africa as a nation. In summary, I must thank connect-123 for making Cape Town such a memorable experience and exposing me to South Africa, a country that I will surely return to.

Donald LeCompte

Emily Painter

This summer I completed an internship in Dublin in historic building conservation. Connect-123 provided a dream-come-true opportunity with my internship. Building conservation is not a very large field, but I couldn’t have thought of a more amazing or perfect internship experience for this summer! My company was very friendly and taught me so much about the field. Connect-123 was super supportive and it was wonderful to have such a great community in Dublin! Having spent time traveling on my own, it was incredibly nice to have a ready-made group of friends waiting when I arrived. The connections at work and through Connect-123 will last me a lifetime and provide an amazing portal to my future career.

Nina Samarelli

Connect-123 found the perfect medical internship for me in Dublin! In the hopes of becoming a Physician Assistant, shadowing various doctors and nurses around two children’s hospitals has been an incredible experience, one that is difficult to find in the US. I have had the opportunity to observe what it is really like in a children’s hospital and how things operate. Each healthcare professional I have met has been more than willing to answer my questions and explain any type of medication, diagnosis or procedure. Not only were the people in the hospitals kind, but everyone in Dublin was! I felt so comfortable living in this city and it quickly became my favorite place in the world. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to advance in my healthcare career, meet some of the most amazing people, and grow into a more independent and confident person.

Sarah Treanor

I completed my environmental and sustainability internship in Ireland at a Dublin-based creative studio and shop with a focus on the environment and healthcare design. From the day I started my internship, I helped make the products that were sold in the shop, as well as help manage the cash register. There was a big street festival a few weeks after I arrived, so a lot of work needed to be done to prepare. After the festival, I assisted on a project that aims to create a green corridor connecting the Botanical Gardens (located in the Northwest Inner City) to the Liffey (the river running through the center of the city). The nature corridor, it is envisioned, will create a ribbon of biodiversity and fertile ground for social innovation, green enterprise and nature-based solutions in Dublin. The Connect-123 coordinators made sure that everyone was adjusting well to life in Ireland, and set up different events for everyone to get together at! Dublin is one of my favorite cities. It's not as big as NYC, and it also has a much more laid back atmosphere than anywhere I've been. For anyone thinking about doing an internship abroad, I can't recommend this program enough.

Iris Arborgast

Connect-123 guided us every step of the way as we applied for Chinese Visas. They helped us get settled into a lovely apartment in Shanghai and organized frequent events for the group of interns in Shanghai. They also assisted us in finding Mandarin classes. Shanghai is a convenient and exciting city - you could get lost in the number of activities there are in the expat community. My internship taught me a lot about NGO work, the environmental movement in China and how to work in a professional environment. Overall, a great experience!

Melissa Osorio

I participated in Connect-123’s internship program this summer. I enjoyed every second of my time in Dublin, Ireland. Dublin is a city that I’ve always wanted to live in and all my expectations were exceeded. The city is filled with many wonderful things to do and there is something in the city for everyone. I enjoyed my time with the program so much that I decided to extend my time in Ireland by a month after my internship ended. The price for the extension was reasonable, the process was hassle-free, and I was able to stay in the same lovely accommodation. I was still invited to every event and the program continued to look out for my well-being. Trust me the events can be amazing! I was able to visit Giant’s Causeway and cross the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge for one of the trips. I have been left with a positive impression of my experience with Connect-123 itself. The program is most definitely legit and well-organized. The program’s coordinators and advisors are wonderful people; I could always count on Rosie, Nikki, and Lea to be there for me if ever I needed them. I would recommend the program to anyone who would like to attain an international experience that will bring memories of a lifetime.

Ben Ditlevson

Diksha Chopra

I completed a web development internship in Dublin, Ireland this summer. I worked at a global tech company, where I gained valuable coding skills. I got the opportunity to observe how work culture differs around the world. My internship experience in Dublin was everything I wanted it to be, and more. On the weekends, I went on trips around Ireland and visited other countries in Europe. If you have the opportunity to come to Dublin for a summer, I would definitely recommend it. I’m already planning my next trip!

Chris Vandemark

It’s challenging to put into words the experience I had while in Cape Town, South Africa. From the amazing team at Connect-123 to the endless list of activities around the city, down to the entrepreneurship internship itself, I had the experience of a lifetime! I gained professional skills that I can apply going forward, along with cultural perspectives that I will not soon forget. Cape Town was the perfect environment for myself to mature as a young man, and I will forever be grateful to have the opportunity to travel there.

Treasure Roberts

Coming to Cape Town, South Africa for the first time I did not know what to expect, but this journey was everything I could have hoped for. I climbed mountains, I dived with sharks, I went surfing, I went to several braais (barbeques) and really learned so much about the culture. Tourism, however, was not what left a mark on my heart. It was being able to really engage multiple communities of Cape Town. My internship allowed me to see and do things that I never thought I would. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m so happy that Connect-123 facilitated it for me.

Joy Onyeanu

During the eight weeks I spent in China doing my medical internship in Shanghai, I formed amazing relationships with the doctors, staff, and other hospital interns, as well as with my fellow Connect-123 peers. Every day was like waking up to a new adventure! I’ve learned so much about myself while living and working abroad. I am grateful for the amazing opportunity I received to explore such a beautiful city and create lifelong memories. My internship experience in Shanghai is one I will never forget!

Emma Derr

Connect-123 planned incredible excursions during my stay in Cape Town. I especially enjoyed the educational outings to Parliament and Robben Island, and one of my favorite weekends was the Community Chef Mandela Day event when we cooked a stew for people in need. Having such great options every weekend at our disposable made the trip stress-free and enjoyable. I really felt like I got to know South Africa during my stay, and it amazes me everything we were able to see in eight weeks thanks to the program co-ordinators at Connect-123.

Andrew Brennan

My experience in South Africa was incredible. I was able to fully immerse myself in the country by exploring the different landscapes, meeting the people, and learning the culture. From hiking Table Mountain, walking on the beaches of Camps Bay, or going on safari in the Garden Route, South Africa’s natural environments are truly stunning. Additionally, interacting with different people through my internship, service opportunities, and other Connect-123 events gave me diverse perspectives from so many different backgrounds and cultures. Connect-123 provided me an outlet to discover and explore these opportunities and experiences that I know I’ll always cherish.

Reyhan Sinha

Connect-123 facilitated my sustainable development internship in Buenos Aires, Argentina over the summer. It was hands down one the best things I've ever done! Not only did I learn about working in a foreign country, but I also learned how to adapt to unexpected situations at work and my confidence grew in my ability to voice my concerns and opinions with my supervisor. I met some of the most amazing people, I made lifelong friends and I traveled to fantastic places such as Iguazú and Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. The two most important takeaways for me from this experience abroad were: 1. learning Spanish, and 2. figuring out how to push myself beyond my comfort zone.

Drew Weinstock

Adjusting to the different work environment at my business internship in Cape Town was certainly one of the more noteworthy aspects of my time in South Africa. Thanks to the great Connect-123 team, my Washington and Lee classmates and I always felt like we had people close by who could answer any questions we had or help us out at a moments notice. From the day we arrived in Cape Town, we felt like we had a solid grasp on the many opportunities and activities we could take advantage of. The same was true with regards to our internships in Cape Town. The Connect-123 team was consistently available to listen to our experiences and concerns, helping significantly from start to finish.

Garrett Byrd

Could you imagine taking a small town country boy from Indiana and shipping him halfway across the world and expecting him to survive an internship in China for two months? Well neither could I, but here I am. I have never been on a plane or been in a big city, but when Connect-123 gave me the opportunity to spend two months doing an internship in China at wastewater treatment company, I couldn't say no to the offer. I got to experience more than I ever thought I would during my stay in China. As part of my internship, I got to travel across China to different towns and cities seeing all kinds of new traditions, foods, and music. I got to take trips into the mountains seeing beautiful green landscapes and pristine blue rivers while engaging in the local community and learning so much about their culture. I was able to broaden my knowledge on wastewater treatment and learn more about China's environmental issues. Connect-123 made the transition from the slow small town Indiana life, to fast-paced Shanghai very easy. I had the resources at hand to adjust and manage problems. Connect-123 enabled me to truly indulge myself in the culture and make this a trip of a lifetime.

Louis Murphy-Harris

Having the opportunity to do an internship in Shanghai has been an inspiring and refreshing experience that I am sure will continue to shape my future and help me grow. Connect-123 facilitated a custom internship at a Shanghai-based work wellness company that aims to bring sport and wellness to corporates. I learned so much about organizing events for people, corporate wellness, and the growing demand for technology in the fitness and wellness sector. Outside of my internship, I have learned so much about international business, Chinese culture, technology and have discovered that opportunities are everywhere! I have loved living in Shanghai as it is completely different to my home which is completely in the country on the edge of New Zealand!

Monica Nievandt

I am so glad that Connect-123 was able to help me find this incredible opportunity! I couldn’t have been more thrilled with my software engineering internship in Dublin. The work environment was relaxed and the people were welcoming and friendly. I worked in software engineering and in marketing and helped collect and analyze data. The work that I did as part of my internship that will be useful to the company long after I’m gone. I learned many valuable programming skills along the way and further developed my professional communication and networking skills. Not only was my internship great, but being in Ireland was absolutely incredible. Every weekend I visited a new place and even got to spend time in some nearby countries. It truly was a summer to remember forever!