I was born in Dublin many years ago but I was too young to remember. Revisiting Ireland was always a high priority for me because I wanted to connect with that part of my identity. When Drexel University and Connect-123 provided an opportunity to partake in an internship in Dublin, I was quick to take it. During my three months in Dublin, I interned at a small AI/engineering company, whose main aim was to create smart security cameras. It was an amazing opportunity to work with experienced engineers and mature students in such complex and interesting fields, learning invaluable skills for my education as well as my potential career. The relationships forged during this time have been wonderful, my helpful coworkers made my time memorable, both professionally and socially. Office flexibility gave me the opportunity to indulge in some of the many urban activities on offer. I took advantage of my time off to visit some of the main tourist attractions, including the Cliffs of Moher, the Guinness Storehouse, Galway and the National Museum of Ireland.

Connect-123 played a huge role in providing a smooth transition into Irish culture and history. They put on multiple events each month, giving me the opportunity to bond with the other interns. One memorable event was Experience Gaelic, where I was thrown into a wondrous variety of Gaelic games and culture. These events brought a variety of people from different places around the world together, allowing me to connect with other cultures. The opportunity to intern in Dublin has been a wonderful and enthralling experience. If you are looking towards interning abroad, I strongly recommend Dublin.

I did my internship with Connect 123 at the University of Cape Town for close to 3 months as a research engineer intern. It was nothing short of amazing!

My decision to join the program in Cape Town was almost an impulsive one, so I did not manage to plan sufficiently prior to the trip. However, the staff from Connect 123, particularly Caitlin and Lucie, were very helpful in advising on what to bring and prepare for! Over in Cape Town, they organised social nights for us to be connected with other interns from different countries that are doing various other internship programmes! This helped to ease the homesickness as we had our own family there! Our development and safety was their priority as they would send in emails every now and then to get updates on our progress and well being. They really had our welfare at heart!

All in all, joining the internship programme with Connect 123 was one of the best university decisions I have ever made! Best hospitality, best location, best experience!

My time in Buenos Aires was one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. I had never traveled 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.