AIFS Abroad: Intern Abroad in Ireland

Overall I had a really great experience interning with Dublin Well Woman Centre and living in Dublin. I was able to get a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of a non-profit, and grow my communication skills. Dublin has become such a special place to me and I am so grateful for this opportunity.

This summer I interned at a youth center that focuses on at-risk youth in the Ballyfermot area of Dublin. Coming into this internship I was really excited for the opportunity to work with young people in a different country who were used to a different lifestyle than myself. With that said, I was also really nervous because this kind of work was outside of my comfort zone. I found myself to be very successful at establishing relationships with the young people that I worked with throughout the summer. This not only brought me joy, but it also seemed to make them happy too. This made my working relationship with them much easier and more successful in the long run.
What I should also mention is that coming into this summer I was at a loss for what I want to do for the rest of my life. I've bounced from one idea to the next for the past three years I've been in college. This experience with Global Experiences and my internship has shown me exactly what my strengths are and how I can use them in the workplace. Plus, I now know that my heart lies in working with children at whatever age they may be and with whatever needs they may have.
Honestly, it would be an understatement to say that I had a good summer in Ireland. This two month internship and cultural immersion has changed my life for the better. I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to live and work here this summer!

I really enjoyed my time in Ireland this past summer. I loved having an opportunity to live and work in a city like Dublin. Personally, I feel like I have developed so much not only as a professional, but also as a person. I have gained very valuable experience as an intern because I was immersed very quickly into a professional environment and was able to expand on so many skills from my past experiences. Personally, I have appreciated how much more independent I have become - navigating my own way throughout the city, using public transit for the first time, and just being able to explore freely on my own.

I really appreciate Global Experiences for providing me with this opportunity. Without Global Experiences, I really would not have had such an ideal internship placement that is geared towards where I would like to be down the line. I truly believe that Global Experiences knows what it is doing in terms of career development, but I also think that Global Experiences is a little too costly for what it's worth. Socially, I also felt like I had a hard time getting to know people in my program, and I do not know whether that is because Global Experiences could have had more social events or day trips, but either way, I would have liked more activities for interns to get to know each other.

I have learned so much about the professional world and more about myself during my time abroad, which is why I encourage other college students to intern abroad or have some kind of international experience. Overall, I was very satisfied with my internship abroad and will never forget it. I am looking forward to how my experience here will help me explore my options in the future!

I'm extremely glad that I signed up with Global Experiences for an internship in Dublin. My job placement has been excellent. The city of Dublin has been great for sightseeing with some surprisingly genuine people to compliment it. I've learned so much about myself and more of my future goals by working and living outside of the U.S. for the first time.

It is a life changing experience, living abroad. Coming to a new place, intrigue and wanderlust take over as you immerse yourself within the unique culture and customs that define this “new place.” However Dublin was not one of these places, and this statement is not to be misconstrued as rude criticism. For throughout my three-month stay within this city I have come to realise a true value in Dublin, which in no small part has contributed to the success of my internship. This internship has built a substantial foundation and networking base for my professional career. The opportunity to live in Dublin City was a blessing, but the nature and experience of my internship was a far greater gift.
The city of Dublin or county rather, encompasses diverse urban and suburban landscapes while supporting a vibrant social structure. However these are commonalities shared with most westernized cities, and has become a sort of standard for life. The true value of and in Dublin has come from the unique qualities the city holds, which can be both blatant and subtle to the average pedestrian. Some of the more blatant or apparent aspects within Dublin can be found within the low-rise architecture; with the vivid and elaborate door/entrances, unique dry rock siding, and wide arrangement of greenery be it roof moss , wall vines, or the world renown Irish grass. The lack of street signs, turning any given walk into an adventure, and the iron gates adorn each house. In addition the use of the Gaelic language throughout the city, a trait that magnifies as one moves away from the city centre.
Yet there are also more subtle and inconspicuous qualities within Dublin that revolve around the unique neighbourhoods sprinkled across central Dublin. Harcourt Street and Road bring a career orientated ambiance to Dublin 2, with companies like Ernston Young and law firms like Mason Hayes Curran, and perpetuate the professional drive of the Irish work force. While the greater Rathmines area sparks the vibrant art and music scene within the city. St Stephens Green and the surrounding area set a foreign friendly environment and just north is the Scholarly or educational hotbed of Dublin, due to Trinity College and many museums. To put this in perspective or relate it to my professional purpose, the environment one surrounds themselves with perpetuates their motivation, innovation, and efficiency. Success begins with the bed one sleeps in, and my success
On the first day of my internship, my boss told me that this was a job and nothing else. From that day on I treated it as such, and I dealt the same level of diligence within work to each and every project I was tasked with. Seeing the success of the company around me, with new mergers and business acquisitions, drove my own ambition. Having to familiarise myself with new legislation made each day an intellectual struggle. While the abundance of tedious projects tested my ability to allocate time and plan my workload. However the most challenging and rewarding part of my internship or job rather was the freedom that I was given. We, my flatmate and I, pulled the finished project together; accomplished through the deliberation and collaboration with business contacts throughout many different fields, in addition to the accumulation and utilisation of company resources.
My job required efficiency and commended innovation, to which I supplied plenty of. I am not a boastful person, but I must say that my personal work ethic has grown exponentially over my tenure here. The contacts that I have made within this short three months will bring me a wealth of opportunities throughout my lifetime. I owe all of what I have accomplished over these past few months to my program Global Experiences, and all the people within it who’ve fostered my professional progress.

I've grown a lot mentally, emotionally and financially during the Dublin expirence. When I first arrived I got a foot injuring which hindered my first couple of weeks Expirences but after while everything was grand. The cliffs of mother was my favorite place and my favorite day was Paddys day because I was able to be in the parade. I Became very close with two of my coworker and my supervisor at work. There's always something to do in Dublin whether it's just taking the dart to Howth and loadsssss of great places to eat. Bring a rain coat the weather is unpredictable! If your interested in history there's tons of it and no one will have a problem telling you a little of Irish history. Dublin was awesome! I will truly miss it here.

Overall my internship went great, there was rarely a time where I would do the same thing 2 days in a row. I would either be assisting the producer, Alwyn, during a session with a band, help Darrel with mastering and duplication or live on site recording, or help Kyle with the social media aspect of the company. I would recommend interning with these guys to anybody that wanted to get into the music business but also have an overall chill and laid back experience.

The internship program in Dublin is an incredible experience! It pulled me well out of my comfort zone, faced me with unknown challenges, and shaped me into a stronger and more capable adult. I know I have learned so much from my internship, and I cannot wait to use these skills in my future endeavors. There is so much to see and fun to be had! On a typical weekend, I could tour Dublin or a nearby city, get some delicious food, and check out a local pub. My favorite experience was being able to see a different castle or sample of architecture each weekend. I have only been home for a day, and I already want to be back on the Emerald Isle!