Reviews
Real stories from real participants, parents and university partners who share their experiences as well as their advice. Learn more about the benefits Connect-123 interns and volunteers receive on our programs around the world!
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Katherine Mooney
Through Connect-123, I had the very unique opportunity to be involved in multiple internships. I worked for a language institute that offers private classes, at a summer camp, as a camp counselor, and at a bilingual school, assisting the English teachers. The most lasting impression of these internships are the people that I met along the way and what they taught me. I love working with kids, so the summer camp was an amazing experience for me and a great way to practice my Spanish. The counselors were all very open and welcoming, and I made lasting friendships from working with them. Secondly, this was my first real professional experience teaching English. At first it was challenging for me, but after working with the professors at the institute and the teachers at the school, I was able to learn from their teaching strategies. Now, I have a much better idea how to teach English at varying levels and how to approach teaching difficult topics. All of my students were open to learning and very motivated, and listening to what was difficult for them made me understand how to be a more effective teacher. Using the skills I learned from my experiences with Connect-123, I am now teaching English in Chile.
Internships in Buenos Aires
Hubert Smith
Last spring, I spent three months living in Buenos Aires, Argentina and interning at a local hospital through the program, Connect-123. Luckily, I had already been accepted to medical school so after I graduated from college, I decided to take a gap year to travel and work in international medical settings. During my time in Buenos Aires, I completed a twelve-week internship with the department of oncology. Although I was assigned to the oncology department, I was able to rotate through and observe clinicians in various hospital departments, including, intensive care, coronary care unit, traumatology, gynecology, dermatology and surgery. Additionally, I had the opportunity to assist technicians with operating a 12-lead EKG monitor, attend and observe patient consultations consisting of casting, Pap smears, pre/post-operation check-ups, and other basic services. This experience taught me a lot about the health care system in Argentina and was a great way for me to improve my Spanish. I arrived in Argentina with basic Spanish skills and left as an intermediate speaker. Most weeks, I would go to the hospital for four hours in the morning and then spend three afternoons a week at a Spanish school. I was able to live in a large, shared apartment in the beautiful and lively neighborhood of Palermo. I lived with five other foreign exchange students and one Argentine from Salta. My roommates and I spent most of our free time exploring all the amazing cultural and social aspects of Buenos Aires. The staff at the hospital was also very lenient about allowing me to take time off so I was able to do a lot of traveling around Argentina and Uruguay. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone interested in travel, learning Spanish, and medicine. The program is really well run and organized. The local Connect-123 representative is really friendly and always available to help. Overall, I had a wonderful experience with Connect-123 and I absolutely loved Argentina.
Internships in Buenos Aires
Ben Waters
Getting to live two months in the middle of Buenos Aires has been one of the most remarkable experiences in my life and I can’t imagine how it would have turned out without the guidance of Connect-123. I decided to take a gap year between my senior year of high school and freshman year of college. Initially I was overwhelmed by the amount of time I had just opened up for my year and was unsure how I would spend my year. After days of research and months of planning I had my year mapped out and had been fortunate enough to get accepted for an internship set up through Connect-123 in Buenos Aires for the last leg of my journey. When I arrived in Argentina I was greeted by a very friendly driver who took me from the airport to the apartment that I would be spending the next two months living in. When we reached the apartment, which was located in the beautiful neighborhood of Recoleta, I met the owner of the apartment and was shown around what was a very nice complex and had full accommodations, I couldn’t be happier. The next day I met the Connect-123 Program Coordinator, who is full of knowledge about the city and advice on how to adjust to the Argentinian lifestyle. We also discussed the internship I would be beginning shorty at a school about 20 minutes’ walk from the apartment. Connect-123 also does a great job of finding activates to help their members experience parts of the city and culture that one would normally not experience. My internship was the highlight of my time in Argentina. I had the opportunity to work with children ages 7-14 as a athletics assistant and I had a great time doing it. The kids all were enrolled in English classes and enjoyed practicing their English with me as I practiced my Spanish. The other members of the staff were all extremely friendly and made an effort to include me in their group and conversations. At the end of the internship I was sad to say goodbye to the many good friends I had made during my time in Argentina but still stay in contact with many of them, another perk of working with Connect-123 Connect-123 was also very helpful in helping me travel to other parts of the country. With their help I was able to travel to Patagonia and Salta both of which were amazing experiences.
Internships in Buenos Aires
Lisa Bellmann
My dream of living and working abroad came true when I stayed in Dublin for three months. Connect-123 was a huge help during the whole time. The application process was very easy and fast and everyone involved was really friendly. They helped finding a great internship for me – I worked in an aquarium in a customer-facing role. This really helped improving my English and was a very interesting way of gaining new skills in the field of education. I was involved in the work with children and special-needs groups and learned a lot about marine life and conservation. Apart from this I loved discovering Dublin and the rest of Ireland. Connect-123 also organized social events which took place almost every week (like hiking, going on daytrips or just meeting in a restaurant or for a few pints!) and helped with housing, transportation and any question about the city itself. All in all, I can say that Connect did an amazing job and helped me make the most out of my time in Ireland. I will never forget my time on this beautiful island and the friends I met here.
Internships in Dublin
Daniel Pawelski
Hola! My name is Danny, and this past summer I spent 9 weeks in beautiful Barcelona working for a start-up company. This wasn’t my first time abroad, but it was my first time studying abroad and hopefully won’t be my last. This was by far the most unique and educational experience I’ve ever had. I got to fully immerse myself in a new culture for 2 months and I was very proud to call myself a local of Barcelona. I even got to travel to some neighboring countries like Switzerland and The Netherlands during my time in Spain, which was unforgettable. I made a number of acquaintances in Spain whom I consider dear friends and I truly learned more about a new part of the world than I ever thought I would, or could.
Internships in Barcelona
Audrey Gozali
My time in Buenos Aires was one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I had never travelled outside the country alone before coming to Buenos Aires, and Connect-123 gave me all the support I needed to thrive in this vibrant city. From setting me up at a home away from home to helping me navigate the busy streets, Connect-123 gave me the foundation for the incredible life I cultivated in Argentina for two months. Coming to Buenos Aires, there was definitely a steep learning curve in regards to the dialect spoken here, but within a couple weeks, I was able to communicate successfully with the porteños. As I have been studying Spanish for years and have continued my studies in college, learning to adapt to the speaking style of the Argentines felt like an unbelievable accomplishment. Moreover, the work I did at my internship was so rewarding. I worked on a joint project between two environmentally-focused NGOs, where I helped design and plan the construction of one of Argentina’s first natural swimming pools. While the majority of my research focused on the environment close to Buenos Aires, through my co-workers I learned a lot about the progress in the Green movement in various regions of Argentina and South America. From these two short months in Buenos Aires, I gained confidence in my Spanish-speaking abilities, enriched myself with the Argentine culture, and achieved more than I thought possible with my internship.
Internships in Buenos Aires
Carly Henderson
My internship in Cape Town was an unforgettable experience. Connect-123 did a great job of matching me to an internship which suited my skills and interests which helped me slot in straight away with my co-workers. I attended weekly antibiotic stewardship ward rounds in adult burns, medical and surgical ICU and also paediatric ICU and had a number of projects to work on keeping me busy during my internship. The experience has helped me realise that whilst there are often financial constraints associated with healthcare, I have witnessed first-hand, that the right attitude goes a long way towards safeguarding the patients, even in low resource settings. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and feel inspired to seek improvements through innovation however small they may seem. The team and other participants at Connect-123 are extremely sociable and which really made sure I got the most out of my internship, both at work and in my spare time. Cape Town completely took me by surprise and exceeded all expectations with its beauty, adventure and culture. There are countless fun things to do, whatever your interests or budget. The more I learned about the city, the more I fell in love with it and the experience will stay with me forever.
Internships in Cape Town
Isabella Sheehan
Having the opportunity to live in Barcelona for three months was nothing short of a dream. The things I learned both in and out of my internship will last a lifetime, and I owe a large part of that to Connect-123. From the very beginning, the Connect-123 team helped me outline my goals and ensured that I would receive an experience that aligned with my interests. Any questions that I had were quickly answered, and anything I was apprehensive about was reassured. Just a few short weeks after I began the application process I had secured an interview with an international public relations agency, where I went on to intern this past summer. At the agency I was quickly integrated into the team and given numerous projects. I worked right alongside my colleagues and was never treated as an outsider. I sat in on brainstorming sessions, and listened in on conference calls. I wrote, edited, pitched, and researched, sometimes all in one day. I have no doubt that my short time with the company will lead to a prosperous future. Before I had even finished I was offered a paid internship back home in the States, where I’ll work throughout my senior year of college. As for life in Barcelona…it’s hard to even put it into words. The friendships, the food, the culture, I felt as if everyday were an adventure. There’s a pulse that vibrates throughout the city and makes it come to life. Although it took awhile to adjust to the Spanish lifestyle, it didn’t take long before Barcelona felt like home. In the end, the hardest part of my entire experience was leaving. I wouldn’t trade my time in Barcelona for the world. I owe a lot to Connect-123, and I encourage all who have the opportunity to take a chance and apply. You won’t regret it.
Internships in Barcelona
Darlene Washington
Connect-123 created an amazing opportunity for me. I had the opportunity to spend 3 months in Buenos Aires doing things that I love. I did an internship at a public hospital, shadowing doctors. I had the opportunity to work in pediatrics, neonatology, and obstetrics. I was able to sit in on surgeries and get hands on experience with certain patients. Connect-123 provided me with the opportunity to experience what my career will be like in the future. I also had the chance to build my Spanish vocabulary and fluency. I built friendships with amazing people and learned interesting things about their culture. Going to Buenos Aires was a blessing for me and it was an experience I will never forget.
Internships in Buenos Aires
Lucy Morton
It’s difficult to sum up my two month experience in Cape Town without using the typical words amazing and unforgettable. Seriously, Cape Town is a beauty! As part of my 3 year scientist training programme in the UK, I was required to undertake a placement within a different field of healthcare in order to gain experience in a new environment. I love travelling and living abroad, and have always wanted to visit South Africa. Connect-123 provided an easy way for me to find an internship programme to fulfill the requirements of my training programme back home. Right from my initial enquiries they were so helpful and willing to find the perfect internship for me. They were able to match me to a placement focused upon infectious disease management and control, which was perfectly suited to my interests. Throughout my time they ensured that everything was going to plan and that I was enjoying it. Plus, they are all so friendly and helpful about the best things to do in the city! Although it’s possible to find an internship independently, Connect-123 allows you to meet and live with other interns, which is the best part about it! I have so many amazing memories from Cape Town and met a brilliant group of people to share my experiences with. I was able to go on insane adventures that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do if I completed an internship in the UK – e.g. shark cage diving, safari in Kruger National Park, abseiling Table Mountain! Cape Town is seriously the perfect place to intern – so many things to see/do, amazing food and of course so many wineries to visit!
Internships in Cape Town
Sara Fahlmark
During my time in Dublin, I interned at an organization working with at-risk inner city Dublin kids. I worked on a program that focuses on keeping kids/youth from entering the justice system, or to keep them from reoffending. I was able to learn so many skills, and put my knowledge of things I’ve learned in college into practice. Connect-123 was extremely helpful in placing me in my internship and connecting me with support all around Dublin and within my intern host organization. Although I already knew people in Dublin, Connect-123 did an excellent job at bringing the interns together and organizing trips. The accommodation was amazing and a great location. I would highly recommend other college students to intern with Connect-123.
Internships in Dublin
Olivia Rogers
In five weeks Buenos Aires became the place in my dreams to the place of my dreams. Almost everyone asked me when I was here why I chose Buenos Aires, why I chose Argentina and I can't describe it, it just had this draw that made me want to go there so badly. Connect-123 allowed me to leave my bubble of Boulder, Colorado and experience one of the most stunning places I have ever been. It was also the fastest 5 weeks of my life and if I could do it over I would stay for as long as I could, many many months. I participated in a medical internship as an 18 year old who hadn’t even started college (so no medical training whatsoever). I worked at a public hospital which opened my eyes to a different type of medicine, more creative than what I was used to. I learned so much about the culture surrounding health and medicine from the doctors I worked with and it added to my want to pursue medicine. I was able to participate in gynecology, orthopedics, emergency, trauma, surgery, dermatology and oncology. I had the chance to bandage, remove bandages, cut off casts, help assist the patient after surgery, help put in catheters and interact with the patients in every other section. The surgeries I had the chance to observe were the removal of several tumors: colon and cervical, the implantation of a pacemaker, the amputation of toes and removal of parts of the colon. All the doctors were patient with me, always helping me to understand, practice my Spanish and engage with what was happening. My living situation was perfect, I couldn’t have asked for better and I became very close with many of my roommates. My house was unique in the way that I had people living with me from all over the world as well as people who were native to Argentina. There were people from Spain, Holland, France, Amsterdam, Scotland and the United States which was a very cool experience from the mix of cultures and backgrounds. I was taught how to play chess, had many delicious asados, had people constantly helping my Spanish, drank mate often and made many friends that I still talk with. My living situation was also incredible because of the location which made it easy to access the train, subway and bus system to get basically anywhere in Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires is also an incredible city and I was so lucky to have the time I did to barely graze what the city holds. Several of my highlights were my day trips to Tigre, visiting the Malba, eating empanadas and going to an amazing bar called Florería Atlántico. Connect-123 definitely helps out by providing activities to help you experience the best of the city. One experience that Connect-123 helped me participate in was Fuerza Bruta which I loved! In Buenos Aires, obviously the primary language is Spanish and if you want to become more fluent and more comfortable then it is an excellent place to do so! My Spanish improved so much and almost everyone in the city understands that you are learning and are appreciative that you are trying. (So if you are worried about the language barriers don’t be! Yes, it is hard and sometimes you will be frustrated but it gets easier). All in all I couldn’t have asked for a better experience: throughout all parts - my internship, my living situation, how Connect-123 assisted me throughout it all and the culture and city of Buenos Aires.
Internships in Buenos Aires
Alexandria Plant
Being part of Connect-123’s internship program was one of my best decisions I have ever made. I had always wanted to travel to Europe, so to be able to do so while pursuing my career path was an incredible opportunity for me. Soon enough, I found myself in Dublin taking in the Irish culture and taking full advantage of my journey. In Dublin, I got a fantastic internship at an organization that helps to design therapeutic and personalized approaches to cancer. I got to be a part of truly integral and prestigious research. I worked in a top-notch facility, both in a wet lab and in an office performing analyses on breast cancer cells. It was one of the greatest learning experiences of my life so far. My supervisors were incredibly patient and kind when it came to my experiences working with them and learning from them. Besides my internship, I was fortunate enough to have the weekends to take full advantage of all that Ireland had to offer. I was blessed to be able to travel around the country, seeing castles, cliffs, and countryside, while taking in the history of this magnificent place. I got to be fully immersed in the culture, which is something that was so important to me, especially being of Irish descent myself. This only added to my incredible time spent here. I am grateful for my summer internship with Connect-123, and it has been a wonderful life-changing experience that I will be forever grateful for.
Internships in Dublin
Maureen Carney
My time in Cape Town, South Africa was absolutely indescribable. From the incredible people we met, to the breathtaking view of the mountain we woke up to every morning, Cape Town showed us its many treasures we were so fortunate to experience. The Connect-123 program allowed us to further these experiences through the support and guidance they dedicated to us throughout our time there. We were able to maintain a balance of excursions throughout the city and volunteering/service learning within health care settings and schools. Each and every day brought new learning curves and challenges, but also gave me valuable learning experiences that I will hold with me forever. I grew so much, personally and professionally, and I was able to expand my horizons beyond what I had already learned in the field of child life. I will never forget the children, families, and the people I met in Cape Town. I am honored to have been able to participate in this trip, and I am confident that I will be returning to Cape Town again one day!
Internships in Cape Town
Brian Hanks
I’ll start of by simply saying… what an experience! I started this crazy journey about 3 months before we actually took off to Dublin, and to be fair, I was a bit leery at first. I knew I would get an internship, but I was unsure how ‘customized’ Connect-123 was going to be able to get. There’s a few programs out there that offer internship abroad programs, but I was a bit nervous that I had chosen the right one for me. However, all nerves went out the door the minute I began speaking with Lea and her team. They took the time to listen to exactly what I was requesting and continued to probe further to insure their plans matched up with my goals. The internship I accepted was one of the most rewarding job experiences I have had to date. Mainly because it wasn’t just some fetch coffee and run copies internship, but instead, one where I could actually gain real world experience and even put forth plenty of ideas on my own. My coworkers were extremely helpful, and my boss was someone I could go to any time for questions and was someone who I consistently learned from. It was very apparent that the Connect-123 staff didn’t just match me with the first company they spoke to, but instead matched me with a company that they felt I would excel at….and they were right! The other major part that made this such a rewarding summer was the family feel that you get from the people you meet in the Connect-123 program. Each individual is from a different part of the country or world, and as the summer progresses you have the ability to get closer and closer to people you would have never had the opportunity to meet before. This bond started from the first week we arrived in Dublin when we all attended a C-123 event and carried on throughout the entire summer. It was so great being able to come back after a long day of work to an apartment complex where all of your new friends are staying and each of them have had a similar day to yours. The apartments we stayed at started off as nice campus dorms, but grew into a real community of individuals I can now call my friends. The last thing I would like to add or share with anybody considering C-123 is to just remember you get out of this experience just as much as you put in. Start off by communicating with the team as much as possible. This only helps them match you with the best company for you possible and will make you happier in the end. Once you get to your worksite, apply yourself and always be eager to take on new tasks or try new things. And lastly, attend as many Connect-123 events as you can. They already know the city you are in extremely well and the events are well planned, fun, and sometimes even more affordable than if you went without C-123. Wrapping up here, I would definitely recommend Connect-123 to anybody considering interning abroad and I couldn’t be happier with the service and experience I got from all those involved.
Internships in Dublin
Conor Byrne
I went into this experience unaware of what living in Cape Town would entail. I assumed it would be a good time, as did my roommates and other friends I met along the way, but I don’t think any of us had a clear idea of what to expect when travelling to South Africa. Despite this, working and living in Cape Town turned out to be two of the most adventurous and rewarding months of my life. And that is not just a personal memoir, but also a repeated statement one hears from nearly everyone they meet while being a member of Connect-123. In a single ambitious day, we could take surfing lessons at the beach, hike Table Mountain, and scarf down a bacon, cheese and avocado burger at Royale Eatery. As aforementioned, that would be an ambitious day, but it is not an impossible one. The point being, think of something you would like to do tomorrow, and Cape Town can provide it. As for the internship itself, I could not be happier with my placement. I was fortunate enough to be given rewarding work, and I was given great exposure into my field of interest. Additionally, I will genuinely miss the coworkers I have had the pleasure of getting to know over these past couple of months. As for other aspiring interns, there is a great range of internship openings that Connect-123 can coordinate for you in Cape Town that will bed tailored to your desired experience. All together, Cape Town has an abundant number of opportunities for the people who are willing to try them. To people who are up for the fun, Connect-123 offers you the chance to both find work that is beneficial and travel with the comfort of knowing you won’t be alone in a new place. The Cape Town coordinators are always happy to help should a problem arise, and they plan events to help you bond with your fellow Connect participants. Fellow friends, I should mention, who are always up for an adventure and a good time. I would advise any and all to live in Cape Town when they have the chance, and Connect-123 is a wonderful group to help you achieve this.
Internships in Cape Town
Ashley Robledo
Connect-123 gave me an opportunity of a lifetime… an experience I never thought I’d embark on. Two months living in the most beautiful, cultural city that is Barcelona and traveling around Europe? Yes!! Connect-123 found a volunteer opportunity for me that accommodated my desires. I volunteered for a foundation that worked with youth at risk. Through the foundation, I was able to improve my Spanish-speaking skills through playing with the children, make long-lasting friendships with my coworkers and even learn the basics of Catalan. Their summer activity schedule allowed me the flexibility to visit other cities in Spain on weekends and explore Barcelona after a typical work day. We held a few days of after school activities followed by a three-week summer camp that included outings and a week outside of the foundation relaxing in a gran villa. After a sunny day of camp, I would pick a new part of Barcelona I have never explored, take the Metro there and lose myself walking around. I took trips to other cities in Spain on weekends and lose myself in those cities as well. When the foundation concluded its summer activities, I embarked on a ten-day trip to France, Italy and the United Kingdom. I felt the thrill of it all exploring Barcelona and other parts of Europe on my own. I experienced the excitement as well as the hardship adapting to new environments. Solo traveling may sound scary, especially as a young female, but it gave me strength, courage and the confidence that allowed me to break out of my shell. I met so many people from all over the world and felt right at home living in Barcelona. You can believe me when I tell you it beats foggy Northern California… or you can take initiative and let Connect-123 give you an experience of a lifetime!
Volunteer in Barcelona
Karen Pontious
I fell in love with Buenos Aires at first sight. The city is charmingly beautiful and full of rich history and culture. My three and half months in Buenos Aires were spent exploring and living and working as a local. A year ago I gradated with and International Relations degree from the University of British Colombia in BC, Canada. I knew even before I graduate that I wanted to do an internship abroad that has to do with my field. I chose Connect-123 because it seemed like a reliable and credible organization to make job connections abroad as well as enjoy different cultures and adventures. I’m very glad I made this decision because I can now leave Argentina a year after I graduated and say I succeed exactly what I wanted to and gained more experiences than I could have even imagined. I worked at a nongovernmental organization that focuses on the prevention of economic crime. I really enjoyed working with the team. My supervisors were always laughing and joking around, which made coming to work always entertaining. They also taught me lost about Argentine culture, mostly the food and dessert that I HAD to eat before I left and I learnt how to prepare my first mate. I thoroughly enjoyed being apart of a local organization that focuses on economic crime and money laundering which are such crucial issues within Argentina today. Working abroad in a different language was definitely a challenge at times but was exactly what I wanted to accomplish and I feel like I can return to Canada fluent in Spanish and with a bunch of stories and experiences that I will always remember.
Internships in Buenos Aires
Pedro Quercia
I had so many distinct experiences in Barcelona. My stay was so different than I expected, normal life is suspended for a while and I had to deal with so many new experiences every single day. I had to deal with many different situations, from working in a new field with a different language, exploring the city and having new experiences, travelling, meeting people from all around the world. Europe is incredible, and Barcelona is one of the most diverse and exciting cities I've stayed in. I'll definitely plan to go back in the future. My internship was great, I worked in a start-up and had autonomy to help the team in different ways. I learned a lot about Marketing and Social Media, and my boss helped me out with my projects. Connect-123 had social activities every week with all other participants in the program. This was great because they were fun and helped us to get to know all the other people from the program. I learned and experienced so much from this program and I would recommend it to anyone who’s looking to learn, have fun and enrich their lives in the process.
Internships in Barcelona
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.
Internships in Buenos Aires
