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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Roobini Daley
My internship in Cape Town was definitely a unique experience that required me to step out of my comfort zones. The pick-up, welcome pack and orientation really helped me get settled into the different environment. The teaching internship was really different when I was paired with an organization to tutor Grade 2 and 3 students but it was a little too short and quick for me. I had ended my day at 12.30pm everyday and only started at 9.30am. I volunteered myself to teach Mathematics to students and was assigned to teach grade 6 mathematics while shadowing a teacher. After volunteering I felt more productive and had learnt more than I could imagine as compared to just the 3 hours of teaching. The monthly outings really helped to bring all the interns together and allowed us to mingle and at the same time learn more about Cape Town's rich history and culture. Overall I think that my internship experience has been really good and I am really happy to have been able to experience it with the help of the Connect-123 staff.
Volunteer in Cape Town
Nicole Chandler
The summer of 2016 has been far from ordinary for me while in Dublin. I have been so fortunate to live in Dublin, have an amazing internship, explore Europe, and be exposed to new cultures. I have loved every second of it. I chose Dublin because it looked like a new and exciting country with beautiful views and hospital people and I didn’t have to learn a new language. I was offered an internship in a Dublin hospital's brain injury unit. The unit had thirteen residents that I quickly got to know. I was able to shadow Occupational Therapists and could also experience different units within the hospital. Every person I met was so kind and very helpful. I learned so much during my weeks in the hospital. Also being absorbed by the Irish culture was fantastic. I traveled all around Ireland as well as other countries. It was great to see new cultures, eat new food, and meet new people. I also met some amazing people living in the dorms with other interns. We could all share this great experience together. I would not trade this summer for anything and I owe it all to Connect-123. Thank you so much!
Internships in Dublin
Alexandra Stano
Once I knew I'd be studying and working abroad in Buenos Aires, I began to envision my time there. I pictured a relaxing summer vacation of sight-seeing and having fun. After three months of living here I can say that my experience has been completely different than what I had imagined. Living 'on my own' in a different country was challenging. I had to worry about buying groceries, cooking, protecting myself, navigating a huge city, taking my laundry down the street, budgeting my expenses and being successful at my internship. Managing all these responsibilities was tiring, but definitely doable. After a while, my daily routine became second nature. Whether it was going to a live drawing/jazz event, staying up until 7 am at a "boliche", "charlando" with my colleagues at work, or eating some of the best steak of my life, I began to experience all the great things Buenos Aires had to offer. My time abroad was not always relaxing and "tranquil" like I had expected it to be. Instead, it was better because I actually lived in Buenos Aires. I experienced the day-to-day ups and downs- something that would go unnoticed if I was just a tourist. I got to know the sounds, smells, and people of this beautiful city, which allowed me to make the most of this experience.
Internships in Buenos Aires
David Costantini
My first international volunteer experience was through Connect123. I spent a month in Barcelona as a monitor at a children's summer camp. The first week was tough adjusting to the country and language, the schedule and the kids. But after that it was full steam ahead! During the entire month Connect-123 was there to provide support if necessary, fortunately the assignment they found for me was excellent! It was a great match! The other camp monitors and the camp coordinator, were very friendly and genuinely nice people. There was good team spirit at the camp and I was proud to be part of it!! Thanks to my volunteer work my Spanish is now more fluent, I am familiar with the Catalán culture and food and have many new friends! I recommend entrusting Connect-123 with your volunteer placement. It'll be an unforgettable growing experience!
Volunteer in Barcelona
Brittney Frehner
As I reflect back on the past 6 months, to all the experiences I’ve had, places I’ve seen, and humans I have come to love, my heart has become immensely... fat. It’s hard to explain how much love I feel for the world and for the people I have met, but I can tell you that my heart has grown at least 17 sizes. If we were to see it in an x-ray, it absolutely would not fit! Not only have I come to know and love myself better, but I have come to know and love ALL humans better. My time here has given me new lifelong friendships, everlasting memories, and irreplaceable experiences. I am immensely saddened to be leaving this extraordinary place that I consider my second home and family. It truly is a strange feeling. Leaving everything to come to Ireland was different as I knew that it would all be there when I returned, but leaving here-- I don’t know when or if I will have the opportunity to return. I don’t know when or if I will ever see the many humans I have come to love. But, I am ever so grateful for the influence they have all had in my life. I leave them feeling as if I have known them for ages. And what a wonderful feeling that is. I will miss my time in Ireland immensely, but it will be good to go home. To go back and share what I have learned and what I have seen to those who may not ever have the chance to do what I have done. To go back to share and spread the happiness I’ve gained and to make the world just a little bit happier and just a little bit brighter, and hopefully a little bit better. (It’s a shame I can’t bring back all the milk and cows with me!! I’m positive they are the solution to world peace.) If you have the chance and the opportunity to take a leap of faith and live in a different land- DO IT. And if you have the chance to do so for more than 3 months, oh my goodness, please please please DO IT. The time goes by way too fast and when you hit three months, you’re just barely getting to know the place. Unless you don’t want to be heartbroken when it’s time to leave, I wholeheartedly recommend it.
Internships in Dublin
Zoe Laulederkind
I’ve only lived in two cities my entire 20 years of life, both with populations around 600,000. I’ve only lived in one country where the majority of people look like me. Shanghai, with a reported population in 2014 of around 24 million and a majority of obviously Chinese people, it was a huge step out of my comfort zone to say the least; however, it was a step I will never forget and never regret. Connect-123 helped me ease into this new stride I experienced in China by finding me a stellar apartment with two girls that I know will be friends with for life. Together, we, as participants of Connect-123, navigated Shanghai from the Pearl Tower to the Yu Garden, and beyond Shanghai from Guiyang to Beijing. Our bonds stem from our most vulnerable selves as foreigners, interns, and adventurers which makes them more intricate than the average roommate or coworker connections back home. Although all three of us interned in different offices around the city, going to work every day was still a blast. Before arriving in Shanghai, I had only ridden the subway once or twice in NYC. Suddenly I found myself riding the subway every day to my internship, getting to know the various routes around the city, and understanding the true value of clean public transportation. The subway serves as a sort of unification of the working people as we all share in this common daily ritual. I loved it! Despite the ride’s occasional hot and stuffy atmosphere, the air-conditioned Starbucks on the first floor of my office building awaited me kindly. My office was air conditioned too which made for excellent working conditions. I had my own desk and usually daily assignments or week long projects to complete. My boss was flexible and intelligent, and my co-workers exposed me to a variety of restaurants on our daily lunch breaks during which they were amiable and talkative. I learned more than you can imagine about Chinese Tax Law, foreign owned enterprises, and basic Chinese business logistics all the while living in a city that taught me independence, courage, and perseverance. Without Connect-123, all of the above would have been impossible. So I guess I should say Connect-123 makes what you believe to be impossible abroad, possible.
Internships in Shanghai
Camille Falezan
As I drove away from the airport and as my gaze fell on the city of Buenos Aires, I immediately knew that this experience would be eye-opening and unique but I was far from imagining to what extent it would be! Buenos Aires is a dynamic and fascinating city, beautiful during the day and frantic during the night. There is so much to do that you cannot possibly get bored and you will never have enough time to get to fully know it; from museums to parcs, cemeteries to “ferias" and from your office to the “boliches”, be ready to have an amazing time. And this experience could not have been smoother and as well orchestrated as with Connect 123! The team is fantastic, responding really quickly to emails and questions, helping me find the best and most suited internships, and helping find an accommodation As soon as I landed in Buenos Aires, I had the confirmation I had made the right decision: a ride had been organized to my accommodation, the next day I had an invaluable orientation during which my amazing (I cannot stress it enough!) program coordinator, told me about the DOs and DON'Ts of the city, and finally, during my entire time in Argentina, there were weekly events (wine tasting, shows, tours and so many more) to get to know other Connect-123 interns! I really enjoyed the city and the experience as a whole. I had two internships, one with the Province of Buenos Aires and the other one in a NGO giving business classes to small entrepreneurs and supporting them with microcredits. I really enjoyed both of them as they allowed me to explore and have firsthand experiences in fields I was interested in. My work at the NGO, in underprivileged neighborhoods, led me to see another facet of Buenos Aires that usually gets ignored by tourists and even by locals living in the “microcentro”, giving me a better picture of the diversity and complexity of this city. I got the chance, on top of exploring potential future careers, to discover directly the Argentinian culture, history and people. Actually, what I loved the most about Buenos Aires, about my internship and about my travels, was the people I met. The team I worked with, the entrepreneurs I met through my NGO and the soon-to-be friends I lived with made this experience a life-changing one. I learnt about their stories, their passions and their aspirations, their fears and their political positions. They inspired me, shocked me, challenged me. They made me grow. Encountering diverse people from another world, confronting yourself with another culture and emerging yourself in a different language are amazing way to learn more not only about that country in particular but also about yourself!
Internships in Buenos Aires
Morgan Greenberg
Making the big decision to come to Dublin for the summer was very scary. I didn't know if I would enjoy my internship, meet any friends, or even like the city! Gladly, right after arriving all of my worries were put to rest. Through my time in Dublin, I grew professionally through my internship and was able to feel a sense of independence I never had before. From the start, Connect-123 was there to promptly answer any questions or concerns I had every step of the way. They set me up with an internship that was fit exactly for me. I was fortunate to work for a small PR firm in Dublin that markets to women. The internship allowed me to learn so much about the PR world and decide it is what I want to pursue after graduation. Through Connect-123, I made lifelong friends. We bonded through weekend adventures and a love for all of the opportunities Dublin had for us. I would not change one thing about my experience and I am so thankful to Connect-123 for this amazing opportunity.
Internships in Dublin
Melissa Allan
I am really glad I came across Connect-123. I did not have any requirements to satisfy for university courses but was looking to expand my horizons with work experience overseas. Connect-123 made the process comfortable and easy. They were very contactable and responsive. Once in Barcelona too they were very accommodating. All of the staff members are very reliable and made me feel like I had a trustworthy point of contact, which is really nice when living in an unfamiliar city with different languages!!! Connect-123 take an individual interest in you and do their best to ensure you have a positive experience. The social events are well organized, super fun and a great way to meet new people. I did my placement with an organization who works to support LGBTQI+ migrants and refugees in Barcelona. The organization is predominantly volunteer run. Everyone there was warm and welcoming to me and I loved it. I was given a lot of flexibility and freedom in terms of the work I did for them which was intimidating but also fantastic experience. In addition, I have thoroughly enjoyed living independently in a city I do not know well and where the culture is so different to my own. I would absolutely recommend an experience like this.
Internships in Barcelona
Mackenzie Brecker
Spending my summer in Barcelona was one of the greatest experiences I could've asked for! Thanks to Connect-123, I was able to live in my dream city, and work there! I had always had a fascination with Barcelona, but I never had a reason to go before. I was very nervous to come to Barcelona without knowing anyone, but Connect-123 provided me with all the tools I needed. Through my program, I didn't have to worry about finding housing, which took a huge weight off of my shoulders. Also, Connect-123 had weekly social events to meet other people from the program! Even though I was able to meet a lot of my friends through living in my apartment, it was awesome to meet people who didn't live near you, and the events were always super fun! Barcelona is such a beautiful city and there are always things to do. When I wasn't at my internship I could go to the beach, go sight-seeing, or just walk around the city. It's sad that my time here in Barcelona is coming to an end. My internship was exactly what I was looking for, and I was able to gain a lot of experience for my field in journalism. If it wasn't for Connect 123, I would have never been able to find an internship like this. Looking back, I will never forget this experience, and I will forever cherish the memories and friendships I made here.
Internships in Barcelona
Fiona Chatterjee
Choosing to intern in Dublin through Connect-123 was one of the best decisions I have made. I always knew I wanted to study and/or intern abroad, and luckily for me, Connect-123 made it incredibly easy to find an internship in my field of choice. As a first-year college student with no true medical experience, I thought finding an internship in the health field would be extremely difficult, but thanks to Connect, I was able to intern in the Play Therapy Department at a local children's hospital. The internship itself was amazing; I had the opportunity to increase my confidence in my communication skills and to learn more about the different methods in which to interact with children and stimulate their emotional growth. In addition, simply living in Dublin was a wonderful experience. Exploring the city itself and its multitude of museums, churches, cafes, pubs, and historic buildings was immensely enjoyable; however, day trips to Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, and other areas of Ireland were also phenomenal. Lastly, the people I met during my stay in Ireland are some of the most amazing people I have ever met—the friends you make through Connect-123 become your friends for life. I cannot imagine a better experience for my first internship abroad and I would recommend Connect-123 to anyone interested in interning or volunteering abroad.
Internships in Dublin
Fadzli Jani
If you are searching for a sign, this could be it. It has always been a dream for me to see the well-known Sagrada Familia in real life and before I know it, I was right at the foot of the history-in-the-making. My experience with Connect-123 has been nothing less than spectacular! The application process was really easy and fast. I was really impressed by the level of energy they have in initiating regular meet-ups and events for the group of Interns & Volunteers in Barcelona. I no longer need to depend on “Trip Advisor” or search for tourism suggestions as Connect-123 team is constantly suggesting various events and festivals that we can choose to go via a common Facebook Group. What is more heartening is that they will listen to your interest and henceforth look out for any related activities. I chose to intern at an architecture firm which was an eye-opening experience. Within just 2 months, I am closely involved in 4 projects and even a chance to manage the company’s portfolio website. One of the projects was a submission for local a competition and the adrenaline rush during that period was pretty unforgettable. It’s working hours are very flexible and as long as I am done with the work assigned, I can leave as early as 4pm. Hence, I was able to do a little bit of exploration around Barcelona on my own, discovering random places and people around. Every day is unpredictable and there is always something to look forward to. The only difficulty I faced was probably the language barrier, as I do not speak Spanish or Catalan. Hence, there are certain moments when I wished that I learned Spanish before coming over to Barcelona. However, the people there are really nice and always try to translate whatever they were saying in English. Overall, I am really glad that I signed up for this! My term break has never been so productive yet enjoyable at the same time. Barcelona has taught me many valuable lessons in balancing between work and life. I enjoyed every moment in the streets of Barcelona as I witnessed every details of the remarkable architecture! Hence, for those who are still considering, wait no further to click that sign up button because it will bring you to whole new adventure!
Internships in Barcelona
Grace Nie
My internship at Shanghai was undoubtedly one of the most rewarding experiences I've had in my life. Firstly, a big thank you to Connect-123 for speedily setting everything up and allowing me to not have to worry about anything. At my request, Connect-123 arranged this internship for me within the short duration of 2 weeks. My internship was at an international private hospital in Shanghai. At first, I assumed this internship would just be a long shadowing experience with just shadowing day after day. However, at the hospital, they arranged for me jobs according to my skill and allowed me to learn a lot more than I would have in any other hospital. Everyone was so welcoming and open, and the doctors were all very patient with me (they would explain every case and have a discussion with me after every visit). I also was able to shadow some surgeries while I was there, which were also great to watch. But most of all, I think what is great about the hospital is as long as you're eager to learn and show them your passion to learn more, they definitely will accommodate your desires. (Lunch was also super cheap, filling, and delicious.) Outside of work, the Connect-123 team was also very helpful and would set up weekly trips and dinners. I got to know some of the other interns, and you would be surprised at the variety of people and internships you'll see there. Shanghai is a very vibrant and exhilarating city with lots to explore (and eat), so you definitely won't be bored as long as you're willing to get out there. Thanks again for this invaluable opportunity, Connect-123!
Internships in Shanghai
John Connolly
My experience with Connect-123 was great! I experienced life abroad, in the beautiful setting of Barcelona, where I could practice my Spanish and get practical work experience. I learned a lot about non-profit work and working in a different setting.
Internships in Barcelona
Jake Kohler
There’s a fine line many undergraduates like to walk along: traveling and working on something relevant to their major. Most end up doing one or the other. Connect-123 not only makes both possible, but also makes the experience seamless. Yes, you have to fill out a number of papers, but I can’t imagine anybody looking back and thinking, “man, Dublin would’ve been so much cooler if we didn’t have to fill out those applications.” Pick from any of Connect-123’s cities, tell them what you’re interested in, and sit back and relax. My coordinators kept me well-informed about what they needed from me, when a new offer came in, how to use the bus system, where to get groceries, etc. There was barely a moment of confusion during my internship experience. My internship consisted of working in an Astrophysics Research Group at a leading Irish university with six Ph.D. students. I studied the effects of solar storms on earth’s magnetic field. As it turns out, my coworkers were some of the best people I met during my experience. Often, we would stay afterhours to play games, or on lazy Friday, during hours. You might find the European work ethic appealing. That isn’t to say that work was easy. At times, I found myself unable to find the flaw in my coding algorithm. Fortunately, everyone was there to help. I got a real impression of what physics graduate school would be like, my main educational goal for my time in Dublin. When you arrive in a new country, you instantly notice some differences: people driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road, cashiers expecting a different currency, and in some cases (but not mine) citizens speaking an unknown language. However, the best differences, in my opinion, are the ones you learn after a night out drinking with your coworkers or the first time you hear the Irish bagpipes in the oldest pub in North Dublin with your newly befriended roommates. How many of these subtle contrasts you pick up on is in direct proportion to how long your internship is. As an avid traveler, I understand the desire to go to every historic city in Europe and every mountaintop around the globe, but there is something extra you gain when you live in a foreign city for an extended period of time: an in depth, genuine feel of the culture. You may find yourself coming back to your home country (or not!) with a few new slang terms, and a broader acceptance of peoples’ points of view.
Internships in Dublin
Katrine Pedersen
To experience a lot of firsts all at ones - such as traveling on my own, moving to a new city with another culture and starting a new job, I have been grateful to have had Connect-123 and their amazing staff as support both before and during my 4 month stay in Barcelona. Not only did they help me find an internship, they offered security and a safe environment in which it was easy to find friends in familiar situations as myself. I might have been doing the traveling on my own, but reaching the destination I was far from that. During my stay in Barcelona I have been working, traveling, meeting new people and experienced far more than I ever imagined. It has truly been a great experience all together. Moving here was a decision based on the possibility of gaining professional experience that can help me get accepted to my studies back home - but I leave with so much more! I leave with new friends, a backpack full of experiences, a travel-journal run out of blank pages and cultural insight, but most of all I leave with a better knowledge of who I am, I leave with an evolved version of me and the person I was before coming here.
Internships in Barcelona
Ainsleigh Toth
Cape Town is one of those amazing places that you will never quite fully understand until you live in it. It is a surprising city, from mountain side to beach sunsets to city lights, it really has anything you could want to do. Cape Town definitely is a raw metropolitan, so you must be willing to explore life outside of your comfort zone. Connect-123 provided phenomenal support leading up to my arrival, and then continued to answer any questions or concerns that I had throughout my time in Cape Town. If you want support along with individual freedom, then Connect-123 is definitely the program for you. Doing a social work internship in an orphanage and townships, it certainly gave me eye opening insight to the social situations in South Africa. Being one of the most amazing places to live, its astonishing to witness the extreme flaws of the social arrangement. I had the chance to do two different internships in two months and with that came amazing opportunities to experience many diverse situations. Each experience gave me a different chance to obtain knowledge about things that wouldn’t even be imaginable at home. I am so happy I chose Connect-123 to organize my summer plans!
Internships in Cape Town
Luciana Lima
I’ve always had a strong desire to have a professional experience abroad. Traveling is one of my passions, and I wanted to add to my career. So I searched a lot and had studied all the available options that could offer me this “travel + work” experience. I discovered Connect-123 and I have found it the best choice for me among all I looked. I decided to come to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for 4 months. I chose to work at a startup. I was part of the marketing team and I have helped them to launch their product in Brazil, adapting the communication to brazilian market and assisting their go-to-market strategies. The company has a great and friendly working environment with several foreign people, which is very good to make friends and exchange knowledge. All these months have been extremely valuable to have a multicultural professional development, improving also my interpersonal skills. Buenos Aires, such a beautiful city, could provide me a rich experience of cultural exchange, besides quality of life, full of leisure and entertainment activities (sometimes even free!), art, history and everything. I surely recommend this program!
Internships in Buenos Aires
Christine De’Antonis
I couldn’t have asked for a better experience during my four months in Cape Town. I gained professional experience through my internship at the Groote Schuur Hospital as well as increased cultural awareness through my everyday social encounters. I had a lot of fun both during my job, interacting with patients and coworkers, and outside of work exploring the city and South Africa as a whole. I gained a well-rounded experience through Connect-123 achieving job exposure as well as enjoyment. My internship in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department at Groote Schuur definitely provided me with medical exposure that I would have had difficulty finding in the United States. My primary responsibility was to work on a clinical trial research project that compared two different types of mechanical valves used in valve replacement surgeries. On top of this I was able to interact with patients, attend ward rounds, observe both cardiac and thoracic surgeries and assist with some responsibilities within the ward. My coworkers were all extremely friendly which made going to work enjoyable, and all of the consultants, registrars, and medical students were more than willing to teach us each day, which allowed me to learn so much about cardiothoracics and medical practice as a whole. Upon entering this internship, I hadn’t quite had my mind made up about whether or not I wanted to pursue a career in medicine, but after this experience I now know that this is what I want to do in life. On top of this, my time spent outside of my internship was wonderful. I made so many new friends from all over the world and I felt that I was able to fully immerse myself in the culture of Cape Town. Connect-123 set up numerous social events that made meeting other interns very easy, and they made sure that no one ever felt lonely in the foreign city. Over the four months I was able to do everything from bungee jumping in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, to hiking numerous mountains surrounding Cape Town, to wine tasting in the vineyards, and so much more. I had the experience of a lifetime through this program and I am so grateful to have received this opportunity.
Internships in Cape Town
Danny Goldman
Through Connect-123, I had the opportunity to work at a digital startup in Barcelona for 9 weeks--an experience in which I grew, learned, and pushed myself beyond my comfort zone. The idea of living in a foreign city completely independently is an intimidating one. Connect-123 helped me land an internship, find housing, and meet other interns living in Barcelona. In terms of the internship I was doing, I couldn't have asked for anything more. I worked with finance, marketing, and development teams on a variety of projects. The work I was doing was very meaningful to the company, and I left having gained a plethora of skills that I know will be valuable as I go forward. Additionally, I loved working with the very international team --about 25 young, motivated people from all over the globe. Outside of work, I had the opportunity to travel around Europe and meet friends that I will stay in touch with for many years to come. On weekends, I visited Amsterdam, London, Berlin, and Madrid. I spent a lot of time (in Barcelona and traveling around) with a few other Connect-123 interns in particular, but also spent a fair amount of time with my flatmates in my apartment through Barcelona Design Flats. All the while, I greatly improved my spoken Spanish and absorbed the wonderful Catalan culture. I'd say that the two biggest takeaways from my time in Barcelona for me are the independence and confidence I gained from living and working in a foreign city and the skills I took away from my internship. This would not have been possible without the support and guidance from the Connect-123 team. I can't recommend this experience enough.
Internships in Barcelona
