Reviews

Austin Neal

My medical internship in Cape Town in physical rehabilitation helped open my eyes to different cultures, ways of living, the struggles that people go through, and how resilient people are. The best way to learn is via experience, and that is exactly what I got. At the hospital, I was able to learn the sorts of things you aren’t taught in books. I observed therapy sessions and I got to work with a group of colleagues who, over the course of my internship, became friends. I observed and shadowed occupational therapists and physiotherapists as they treated stroke victims, people with disabilities and those with broken bones. Cape Town was an amazing experience that I will never forget. I met great people here and I feel like it has helped me grow in ways that I can’t put into words. Cape Town will forever have a piece of my heart.

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

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.

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.

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.

Katarina Esser

Doing my Child Life Practicum in Cape Town, South Africa, is something I will treasure forever. Not only did the Child Life Practicum give me valuable experience in a different healthcare setting, but also cultural experiences I would not have had in the USA. Coming home I feel like a better professional who is aware of cultural differences that can be found in a healthcare setting. Although every week we had group meetings, one on ones, and time in the hospital and in service sites we still had plenty of time to have fun! My favorite thing we experienced was the safari!

Alex Schramkowski

When I journeyed to Cape Town, the questions I had about the culture, my internship, the city, and the country as a whole were constantly on my mind. Would I enjoy myself? Would my internship cater to my professional and personal aspirations? Would I make important connections for my future? Would I learn about South African history and culture through incredible trips and site visits? All of those questions, retrospectively, can all be answered with a resounding yes! My experience working, traveling, and living in South Africa turned out to be wildly beyond what I originally imagined. Without Connect-123’s vigilant and constant support, advice, and help, none of it would be remotely possible. I’m eternally thankful for the staff I worked with and the assistance I received from Connect-123 before the flight, on the ground, and even when I returned to the States. Thank you!

Bryce Berry

My experience in Cape Town will never be forgotten. As this was my first time out of the country, I was pretty anxious about traveling. However, the amazing Connect-123 family made my transition smooth. I was able to relax and focus on experiencing Cape Town for its greatness. This city had so much to offer because of the endless things to see and do. Every day as I looked up Table Mountain I was reminded that I am in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Every site and every adventure were breathtaking. My internship here was everything I asked for and more. I met tons of nice people with big hearts and bigger laughs. The experience at my internship was than just work. It was an office filled with different cultural perspectives and personalities that enabled me to form a bond I will never forget.

Sarah Caplan

Living in Cape Town for two months really provided me with an immersive, cultural experience. The atmosphere in Cape Town is vibrant and lively, and I was able to gain a new perspective on what life is like outside of the US. I was able to get a full understanding of what it is like to live in Cape Town, and got to indulge in the many things the city has to offer. My internship in Cape Town provided me with skills and an experience I would not have been able to gain anywhere else. I will forever be grateful for my time spent in Cape Town and I will take the life lessons I learned there with me wherever I go!

Hana Petker

Connect-123 facilitated the most memorable internship experience in Cape Town, South Africa for me. I got to experience aspects of traditional culture and food through various activities organized by Connect-123. I ate local cuisine at authentic African restaurants, I visited local craft markets and enjoyed a wonderful wine tour of the renowned Cape Winelands. I fell in love with Cape Town's breathtaking scenery and got to appreciate its beautiful landscape while hiking up mountains and surfing the clear blue seas. Thanks to my internship facilitated by Connect-123, I acquired exceptional communication skills and developed a deep understanding of different cultures while working in an ethnically diverse environment. I gained new technical skills and underwent immense personal and professional growth. Most importantly, I met people within the medical field who will help with my career networking in the future. Thank you Connect-123 for the providing me with such a wonderful experience!

Nikki Jamieson

My experience in Cape Town completely surpassed my expectations. I was excited to experience a summer immersed in a culture so different from my own, but I was not exactly sure what life in my internship and outside of it would entail. Other Connectors and I spent time hiking the famous trails of the city, exploring the different areas and beach towns, and immersing ourselves in South African culture. My time spent in Cape Town opened my eyes in ways I never knew possible and I truly fell in love with the city that is so vibrant and unique. My medical internship gave me exposure unlike ever before. It gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge of different health care systems and medical practices used around the world. The doctors, nurses, and fellow interns I worked alongside were inspiring and made me look forward to going to the clinic each day. I can not imagine a better way to have spent my summer growing in knowledge, experience, and making connections with other students from all around the globe. I know this opportunity will shape the way I move forward in my education and career and for that, I am so thankful!

Justin Lee

My engineering internship has been nothing short of spectacular, and it has given me the building blocks to become a successful engineer in the future. I have been able to apply the important lessons and theory learned in engineering school to aid in multiple projects in the renewable energy industry in South Africa. Thank you Connect-123 for helping me put this internship together as coming to Cape Town has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. My time in Cape Town has undoubtedly been the best time of my life. Through Connect-123 I have met like-minded people, who share the same sense of adventure and self-discovery as myself. We have experienced as much of Cape Town as we can, all while forging lifelong relationships that are invaluable to each of us. I have surfed some of the coolest waves in the world, hiked to beautiful peaks, and sipped some of the finest wines during my time in Cape Town. I wish I could say I was proudly South African, as Cape Town has felt like home from the moment I got here.

Austen Zoutewelle

Three themes emerged in my life while in South Africa: embracing adventure, exploring culture, and absorbing information. First and foremost, living in such a naturally beautiful place provided a playground in my backyard. Each day I could find a novel, fun experience, like hiking Lion's Head to see the sunrise, choosing whether to run along the Indian or Atlantic Ocean or taking a drive out to Chapman's Peak. Intentionally capitalizing on the opportunities to fall further in love with our extraordinary world was a high priority for me. Second, my focus while living in a new place is to immerse myself in the local culture. In Cape Town, incredible opportunities abound to engage with many diverse cultures. People prioritize relationships in South Africa and my favorite moments were spent talking with others about their beliefs and backgrounds over coffee or delicious Cape Malay meals. People's most valuable gift is a narration of their stories and the people in South Africa that I encountered were gracious in taking time to talk with me and share their experiences. Finally, as a graduate student in Texas completing my final internship abroad, my time in South Africa focused on cross-cultural learning. I wanted to better understand how another culture approaches similar, global issues. One of the projects I completed for my degree was researching disaster preparedness in South Africa and the United States, specifically focusing on the drought in sub-Saharan Africa and Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Similarly, my internship was spent working at an organization that addresses violence against people with sexual and gender minority status in the Western Cape. I was working on compiling research that informed the organization's positions on relevant policy issues in Parliament, which was extremely similar to my work in Texas. In both contexts, I was able to see how different countries respond to and prevent problems that arise across the world. Cape Town, for me, is a 'thin place,' meaning the line between heaven and earth is extremely thin. People make the place what it is and I am grateful to the people of South Africa who let me walk alongside them experiencing the adventure, appreciating the diversity, and learning how to create universal opportunities for growth.

Marlowe Jackson

My time in Cape Town will forever hold a sincere place in my heart. As much as I would like to capture the essence of the experience into a few simple sentences, it is something only to be fully understood through being there in person. The indescribable feeling of the city is something I will never forget and will cherish for all my days. Cape Town is so much more than a beautiful landscape of mountains, city, and beaches; it is vibrant and home to contrasts, history, and diversity. The people are what made the experience so unforgettable and I am immensely grateful to each person I met along the way. I have Connect-123 to thank for helping me make one of my biggest lifelong dreams come true. My social work internship was everything I hoped for and much more. I savored each moment spent at my placement, an NGO for survivors of prostitution and trafficking. Sometimes life has a strange way of pulling you towards a path or place that you’re meant to journey, which is exactly what this experience was for me. If home is where the heart is, then I certainly found myself another home.

Sophia Nelson

Joshua Dowds

My internship and overall experience working at a leading hospital in Cape Town has left me with memories and friends that I will have for a lifetime. I came into the internship on the fence of what I wanted to pursue career-wise and with little medical experience. After working with the doctors at the hospital I can honestly say I left knowing what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing. I was given the opportunity to have many one-on-one conversations with both the patients and doctors during clinical and ward rounds. I was responsible for many tasks, such as running blood work, booking x-rays, completing admittance and discharge sheets, and updating the patients' results. The doctors were all very hands-on throughout my time there, getting us engaged and answering all of our questions. Outside of the hospital, my experience was equally as great. Having weekends off gave us plenty of time to really explore Cape Town and our program coordinators always had an activity for us to do. Whether we were shark cage diving, paragliding, enjoying the local restaurants and wine, or sandboarding, our tight-knit group of friends really took advantage of our time in the country. I hope to one day have the opportunity to go back and see the beautiful city of Cape Town again. Thank you Connect-123 for this unforgettable experience.

Emily Seibel

Spending a month in Cape Town has changed my life and reassured me that my career choice in Child Life is the right one for me. Connect-123 provided us with opportunities and information to build relationships in the community, in professional settings, and with the other Connect-123 interns. Cape Town is a beautiful city, from the spectacularly rigid surface of Table Mountain to the perfectly sweet children I worked with. Working at the children’s hospital taught me more than I ever thought possible about myself and intercultural communication. Many of the children I interacted with did not know a word of English but we were still able to interact and have fun, reinforcing a staple concept of Child Life: play is universal. I was provided with a number of opportunities to challenge myself as well as practice my strengths while working in the hospital. From coloring with the younger kids, to reading young adult novels to the middle schoolers, I was able to implement Child Life concepts into my work. It truly is remarkable what my internship director, my fellow program members, and Connect-123 packed into just 30 days. Strangers quickly turned into friends and adventure buddies, and staff became role models. This experience is one that will forever be written on my heart and I will forever be thankful for my jam-packed, yet short, month in Cape Town!