AIESEC Internships Abroad

In the summer of 2011, I went abroad to Budapest, Hungary to teach kindergarten kids English through a not-for-profit organization called AIESEC. As a quick introduction, AIESEC is the world's largest student run organization in the world and it's in over 110 countries. This experience started off as an excuse to experience the real college life, but ended up being so much more. I didn't care what I did; I just wanted to get away from New York for a while. In Hungary, I was picked up at the airport by a few of the students in this organization. I was assigned a "buddy", who was responsible for making sure I knew how to get a phone, train ticket and directions to the work place. The first week I was in Hungary, I had the biggest culture shock. Going into this internship, I wasn't prepared for the culture shock because I thought I had already experienced all that I could in New York. The first week, ended up with me going to work, going back to the hotel, and just moping around being homesick. However, the students of the AIESEC committee in Hungary would constantly ask me to go out to socialize and explore the city. in the end, I gave in and started to open myself up to the city. I ended up loving the city and the people! AIESEC had over 20 interns from other countries so I had a chance to meet people from France, Bulgaria, New Zealand, Iraq and so many more. I developed personally throughout this whole experience because I realized that I was really centered on New York. I had so much pride in my city that I wouldn't even give Hungary a chance. I also learned how to take care of myself. As for the work place, my boss was very kind. She offered all the assistance she could with accommodation and meals. Although I have been tutoring in New York for almost 3 years before this internship, I found it really difficult teaching little kids English when they barely knew Hungarian. Professionally, I learned how to adapt to a completely new environment and culture as well as problem solving. I gained so much from this experience, that I came back to New York and joined AIESEC. This summer, I will be going to Brazil to do a marketing internship with an NGO Company.