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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Shelby Moran
I couldn't have asked for a more rewarding experience in Cape Town - and a lot of it is thanks to Connect-123 and my host organization. Between the two, I feel like I learned to know the city and understand it's unique perspective, both culturally and professionally. Connect-123 did a great job at encouraging program participants to get out of their apartments and experience they city - whether that be through hiking Table Mountain, touring a township, or visiting Cape Point. The regularly scheduled activities and outings helped participants see the city and its people. Overall, I found my internship to be the most rewarding, especially because I was the only non-Capetonian in my office. This coupled with the welcoming staff allowed me to engage in unique discussions with my co-workers about South African culture, music, and politics and compare and contrast them to the United States. The friends (many of them from work) and professional connections that I made in Cape Town will be apart of me for years to come as much as the beautiful, dynamic city will be.
Internships in Cape Town
Martina Peter
During six amazing months I was an intern in an Irish NGO based in Dublin. My work consisted of helping migrants with their application for citizenship. I had not expected connect-123 to find such a great match for myself – but they did it. Even though I did not have a clear idea of what exactly I wanted to do (it just had to be in the social sector and connected to migration), they managed to find the perfect internship. I loved living in Dublin and especially immersing myself in a new culture and enjoying the first time experience of everything that comes with it. Dublin has just the right size for a city: It’s small enough to get almost anywhere by foot (it might take you a while, you might get lost, but with numerous help from anonymous strangers, you’ll eventually get there), but it’s still a capital with a huge diversity of cultures, all of them offering something worthwhile to explore amidst the numerous sights of the city itself. Connect-123 provided the perfect structure for an internship abroad. It was a great help with building a network of people, that became friends, and getting around Ireland with the various monthly trips and events.
Internships in Dublin
Taylor Wichrowski
Upon arriving in Dublin I immediately fell in love with the city and knew my summer would be one I wouldn't forget. Connect 123 got me settled in my apartment and prepared me well for my summer and internship with a casual orientation filled with helpful resources about getting around the city as well as the rest of the country. I was very happy with the internship they found for me. I worked as a graphic design intern at a design and video production company and loved every minute! The internship alone was more than I could have asked for. My boss had me jump right into projects like logo design, weekly infographics, and animation. All things that I can happily add to my resume and portfolio. The company I worked at also had Guinness as one of their big clients, and on my second week I was lucky enough to help out at a video shoot at the Guinness Storehouse! Finding a job or internship anywhere is a difficult task and I was very happy with how well Connect worked with me to ensure I got one that I would be happy with. I would advise anyone interested to start applying as early as possible, as this will allow Connect to have more time to find you something you'll love. My program coordinator found various job offers for me over a two to three month span which allowed me to really be a part of the process. Connect also set up activities or nights out which were especially helpful in the beginning of the trip. It was a great opportunity to get a feel for the culture and meet the people I became such good friends with by the end of the summer. This summer was by far the best summer of my life, and I am very thankful that I chose Connect 123 as my abroad program. I'd absolutely recommend it! I'd also recommend Dublin because it's a great city in a gorgeous country, filled with some of the nicest and funniest people you'll ever meet!
Internships in Dublin
Hannah Sprick
With the help of Connect-123, I was able to spend the best summer of my life in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The local program organizers were incredibly helpful, and made sure I felt welcome in my new environment from the moment I arrived. They helped me find a wonderful apartment in a great location, and matched me up with an amazing internship. For three months, I had the privilege of working with a cross-cultural consulting firm as a translator and social media manager. It was a start-up company, and the assignments I completed were challenging but incredibly rewarding. Besides my professional experience, I also had a fantastic time learning about the culture and traditions of Argentina, participating in a variety of local festivals and traveling to several different cities. Our advisers also planned a variety of fun events that allowed me to meet other people in the program, several of whom have become my closest friends. I was very sad when the time came for me to depart, but I was also thankful that my experience with Connect opened my eyes to the possibility of living and working abroad in the future. All in all, I had a phenomenal time as a Connect-123 intern and would highly recommend this program to anyone who would like to gain international work experience.
Internships in Buenos Aires
Caitlin Cristante
I travelled to Dublin hoping merely to volunteer with ill and disabled children while experiencing the joys of Irish culture. But, through this opportunity, I became aware of my love of working with children and simply brightening their days. By being immersed in improving the well being of these children, I discovered skills and talents which I had not previously noticed that I hope to develop in every future job opportunity. Also, my eyes were opened to my love of Ireland and it’s culture—I can’t wait to return! I would recommend Connect-123 to anyone hoping to develop personal skills through “real life” experiences. My growth through this internship has been invaluable, and will absolutely guide me for years to come. I hope I never forget a minute of my summer in Dublin!
Ann Zedginidze
My experience in Dublin was amazing, I had a great internship where I helped with psychology research at the a local university. I am glad Connect-123 found this program for me because I learned a lot and developed great relationship with the professor I was working with. When I arrived in Dublin I had orientation that was very helpful, it answered my questions about transportation, food, my internship and much more. We also had a lot of opportunities to meet people that were also in this program. This was a great way to make new friends and go on wonderful adventures in Ireland! Overall, I am very, very grateful for doing this. I learned a lot and I would recommend this for anyone who is thinking about going abroad. The experience is invaluable!
Henna Mishra
Choosing Connect-123 to help me find an internship abroad was the best decision I could have ever made. From the first e-mail I sent inquiring more about the company and what it offered, I was constantly and quickly assisted by the program staff who worked extremely hard to find me the perfect internship. I had the rare opportunity to work in a developing web start-up in beautiful Barcelona and gained international business experience that I personally think is more valuable than an internship I otherwise would have held in the states. Aside from my highly rewarding work experience, I also was able to learn and grow so much under Connect's support--from planning festive, cultural activities around Barcelona to telling us about the more underground, local offerings of the city, I was able to leave my summer in Spain feeling as though I truly had found a new home. I definitely recommend Connect for anyone looking to have a life-changing time spent abroad, and I guarantee you will have an unforgettable experience!
Internships in Barcelona
Saahithi Karituri
In my two months in Cape Town, I have first and foremost fallen madly in love with the city and the atmosphere. My internship is so much more than I could ever ask for. Be it office work or coaching, I always learned something. I attribute a lot of my happiness to the amazing group of people that I have been fortunate enough to work with. Not once did I ever feel like an outsider. I always felt very much at home. My internship has afforded me the opportunity to see how a business/foundation is run. Not only that but I also got to see and experience the results of their labor through visit to games, coaching opportunities, and more. Everyone works so hard, no matter the nature of the work. It’s been inspiring to be in an environment where people are working so hard to make a difference. This internship experience has been like a dream to me and I don’t think I will ever be able to express in words how truly grateful I am. Connect-123 made all of this possible. I have made good friends through the program who I will be keeping in touch with for a long time. Be it planned outings on the weekends or impromptu trips here and there, it was always an adventure and a good time. I will definitely be back to Cape Town soon!
Internships in Cape Town
Jeanne Lieberman
My Connect-123 experience has been great! The team connected me to all kinds of opportunities and to all of the people who have made it possible for me to have the eye-opening experience that I have had in Barcelona. There was tons of flexibility in every step of the process and everything has personalized around my goals and desires. I have found the perfect balance of support and independent decision-making and Connect-123 has equipped me to be able to fully explore the unique opportunity that they helped me get together.
Internships in Barcelona
Will McAneny
I've been lucky enough to travel a great deal in my life, but can honestly say that Cape Town was the first destination abroad where I've ever felt like I never had to leave. It's an absolutely magical city, with fantastic weather, beautiful and friendly people, a wealth of things to do and one of the most fantastic settings that I've ever seen. I was there for six months, and rarely a day went by without going out into the city and exploring a new neighborhood or finding a cool bar or restaurant! Additionally, choosing to do an internship in Cape Town through Connect-123 rather than independently vastly opened up my experience of South Africa. First of all, the apartment complex that I lived in, Perspectives, was located smack in the middle of the city center, walking distance from the majority of the city's restaurants, bars, and tourist attractions. Any place I couldn't reach easily by walking was at most a 3-6 dollar cab ride away! Additionally, the group outings that Connect organized both made it extremely easy to make friends from practically the moment I set foot in the city and made visiting the various attractions outside of the city - Garden Route, Cape Point, wine tastings, etc - much easier to plan. Finally - and perhaps most importantly - the internship that Connect set me up with was absolutely FANTASTIC! I worked at a social enterprise whose mission was to plant trees in undergreened areas of southern Africa and to incite a more inclusive and popular environmental movement in the region. The organization regularly planted trees in Cape Town schools and organized activations to raise green awareness, such as free yoga on the Sea Point Promenade, giving away seedlings, and riding bikes to promote alternative transportation in a very car-dependent city. My role at the organization was as a social media and communications intern - I ran the Facebook, helped with events management, marketed to various media sources around the city, and performed a variety of other tasks that never failed to keep me busy. Additionally, I accompanied the organization to Livingstone, Zambia - home of Victoria Falls! - to plant 5000 trees in the country more plagued by deforestation than any other in southern Africa. Finally, one of my bosses was one of the most famous musicians in South Africa - so I regularly got to attend concerts for free and help out with selling merchandise and the like. Overall, I had an absolutely magical time with Connect-123 in South Africa, and can't wait to return!
Internships in Cape Town
Michelle Lizcano
Over the past few months I have had the opportunity to work as an intern for a non-governmental organization with the primary goal of improving the quality of life of people affected with HIV/AIDS. Because my future professional goals are set within the medical field, this internship was the perfect fit to help me gain more of an understanding of the field I am so interested in. It helped me understand the differences between the health care system within the United States as well as Spain. It also helped me gain a better understanding of Spain's HIV community and commonalities when working with the group affected by the disease. Interning abroad has always been one of my dreams in life, and when I heard of this program I immediately decided to investigate to find out more information. Working with Connect-123 was a great experience and I would recommend them in a heartbeat! They were always there to help and always found ways to make our living in a new country as easy as possible. I enjoyed the weekly events planned by Connect-123, which made it easier to become immersed in this new culture. Connect-123 is definitely the way to go!
Internships in Barcelona
Andy Mitchell
My time spent in Barcelona this summer has been one of the best experiences of my life. I was pleased with the organization of Connect 123 and their commitment to securing an internship for me. Arriving in a new city with a different culture can be overwhelming, but Connect 123 was there from day one to make the transition easy. Organizing events, and updating me on latest festivals to attend are ways they made this summer a blast. I also had the pleasure of meeting new people, who are now close friends and I will be able to keep in touch with for a very long time. As for my internship, I was lucky to land an internship with a Chamber of Commerce in Barcelona. While it was difficult to adjust at first, talking out problems and possible solutions with Connect 123 really helped me get the most out of my internship. I was really impressed with their devotion to making sure my work experience was everything I had hoped for. During my time here, I was able to attend special events that I helped organize at my work. These helped me develop crucial networking skills that I will be able to use in the future. Overall, I had an amazing time exploring Barcelona while also gaining great work experience and would highly recommend Connect 123 for anyone wishing to do an international internship.
Internships in Barcelona
Ruth Schorr
My time in Cape Town with Connect-123 was more than I could have ever asked for. With an easy transition into Cape Town life, I found everyday to be a new adventure and it was wonderful having many other interns around to share that experience with. Whether it was hiking, shopping, going on evening outings there was never a shortage of things to do or people to do them with. Connect made it so easy and accessible for me to get comfortable by walking me to work my first day, setting up evening activities, and being very available for any questions I had along the way. Overall my Cape Town and Connect-123 experiences were unforgettable and taught me so much. From making friends to learning exactly what I want to do from my perfectly matched internship everything was amazing about my time in Cape Town. I can't wait to return to Cape Town soon.
Internships in Cape Town
Meghan MacDonald
The experience of living and working in Cape Town has been life-changing. It has opened my eyes to a part of the world that has such an amazing culture and history and offers a great experience as a student. Cape Town is a very young and thriving city, but there is also an extreme element of poverty, which has been both humbling and eye-opening. Working as an intern at a social enterprise has given me an appreciation of how good it feels to be giving back to society with the tools and knowledge I have gained from my education. Not only did Connect-123 give me the opportunity to work with an amazing company, I was also able to meet so many truly incredible people over my three months in Cape Town. People who taught me lessons in so many ways, and people I know I will stay in contact for many years to come. In both an academic and personal sense I realize now more than ever how important it is to see the world, and that a huge part of my education has and will continue to build upon gaining new experiences in different places and getting out of my comfort zone. I think I have always had the travel bug, but it is even more amplified after having such an incredible experience of going from a tourist visiting South Africa, to making a life in the city of Cape Town.
Internships in Cape Town
Jessica DeFinis
Ever since I started learning Spanish I wanted to travel and work in a Spanish speaking country. Connect-123 allowed me to realize one of my life long dreams. I spent two months working as a nurse in a public hospital in Buenos Aires. The welcoming and inclusive atmosphere was beyond anything I expected. My co-workers and nurse manager immediately welcomed me to the floor and gave me as much responsibility as any other practicing nurse. The experience I gained was unparalleled to anything I could have found in the states. One of my co-workers became one of my closest friends in Buenos Aires. In addition to an amazing professional growth experience, the Connect-123 program was a great resource for meeting other Americans while I was so far from home. During my first few days in the city Connect organized at event near my apartment so I could meet the people who were about to become very close friends. My time in Buenos Aires was life changing and I would absolutely do it again.
Internships in Buenos Aires
Sarah Shefferly
The experience I have gained through this internship is beyond amazing, monumentally amazing one could say. Connect-123 was able to find me the perfect internship in Barcelona, Spain, which was just the cherry on top of my life in Barcelona. I worked for a company that promoted the underground music, art, and culture scene of Barcelona and was able to first hand experience the inside life of Barcelona. Through Connect and my internship, I not only learned a great amount about the Barcelona scene, but also met friends that I will never forget. My biggest take from my three month life in Barcelona was all the connections I made and all the people I had met, and how each one of them helped me realize and learn something new about this world. In school we aren't necessarily taught how to live on our own. The biggest life lessons are learned through experience, and that is exactly what I felt I recieved through this life in Barcelona. Knowledge gained from experiences; experiences with friends, strangers, work, parties, travels, and so much more. Its sad to go and return to reality, but I don't leave with a frown, I leave with a smile on my face because I know that the reality waiting for me back at home will be much easier to face with the experience I have gained through the Connect-123 program.
Internships in Barcelona
Josh Kohler
Connect-123 takes the laborious process of finding a job in a foreign country and places it nicely in your lap. That´s why I decided to use the program not once, but twice. From the airport pickup to the great response time regarding any location-specific questions, Connect-123 offers a seamless transition into other cultures. I was paired with a research-based banking job and worked with great people in Barcelona. The work experience I gained was unique and enlightening and will be a highlight on my resume. My weekends were paired with constant adventures. I checked off all of the "must-see" sites early on and found it easy to integrate into the culture of tapas, clubs, beaches, heat, public transportation and a severely enjoyable lack of sleep. My apartment had an entertainingly high turnover rate of foreigners, which further contributed to my successful experience. Overall, I would recommend Connect-123 and may have to plan a third adventure (Buenos Aires) with them in the near future.
Internships in Barcelona
Kaitlyn West
From the moment I arrived in Barcelona, as I remember it well, I was enamored with the city, the language, and the culture. I knew this was a good place to further my Spanish language growth, work experience, cultural knowledge, and my person as a whole. What made the transition from my fairly small town in the US to a the second largest city in Spain even more seamless was the friendly and tireless staff at Connect 123. From the airport pick up to the checking-in emails to the weekly group events Connect 123 truly became my second family for my three months in Barcelona. Thanks, Lea, Eli and Steven! As far as Barcelona goes, the city is beautiful and you will never be bored! It literally has everything, the beach, the mountains, a water park, an amusement park, countless bars and restaurants, and easy travel access to any other major city in Spain. Not to forget the public transportation is definitely a high point for the city, as well. Barcelona is a place where everyone can find something to do. My internship working in first the primary school and then in the kid's summer camp was a great learning experience! I was able to put to use my Spanish language skills everyday, all day, and put forth the skills I've learned in my Teacher's Education courses at MSU. From practicing my future profession I also gained knowledge of how to be an effective teacher and that is something invaluable to me. Overall, I spent the best summer of my life thus far in Barcelona and I gained experiences, memories, and friends that I will never forget. Thanks Connect 123 for making this possible!
Internships in Barcelona
James Orth
As I stepped out of the van sent to pick me up from the Pu Dong airport and onto the streets of Shanghai for the first time, I was overwhelmed. It was so different from America in nearly every aspect! The people, the size, the noise, the commotion. Frankly, I wondered how I would ever survive here, in this vastly foreign city. But with the safety-net of a tight-knit group of Connect-123 interns behind me, along with the support of my gregarious host organization I've come to love this city and feel a deep sense of nostalgia now that I'm leaving. From the difficult, yet rewarding work I did teaching English language to migrant Chinese children during the week, to the interesting and fun atmosphere created by Connect-123 during their weekend events, I couldn't have asked for a more balanced experience. Although at first I was nervous, I really am thankful for connect-123 for giving me this opportunity. I not only feel that I've really grown as a person, but that I have accomplished something of substance here in this city, as well.
Volunteer in Shanghai
Amanda Schultz
I have spent the past 3 months with an internship/study abroad program in Barcelona, and I have loved every minute of it! My internship experience fit exactly into my expectations, and I enjoyed meeting and working with all of my coworkers at my organization throughout the summer. Connect-123 understood my internship goals and found a perfect match for me at my Social Media Organization, and I feel like I learned a lot and am taking many great experiences home with me now. Not only was everything well organized, but the program was all very personal and friendly as well. Connect-123 offers helpful support if needed, as well as many recommendations for things to do to get to know your new city. I especially think they did a great job of ensuring well-roundedness during the program through trying new things, cultural experiences, and meeting new friends. I have learned so much from this summer abroad, and if I have the opportunity to use the program again then I definitely will!
Internships in Barcelona
