AIFS Abroad: Intern Abroad in Ireland

I met some of the most amazing people while I was in Ireland. However, I was not impressed when an emergency happened with my friends overseas on campus and the way it was handled by staff. I also have a hard time accepting how much money I spent on the program, because I have no idea what I even paid for. My internship cost more than a year of tuition. I now understand what for-profit organizations are about.

At first I was self-conscious at the notion of a program finding an internship for me, as opposed to finding it myself. But after a few Skype consultations with the Global Experiences team and then arriving in Dublin, I realized just how dedicated they are to representing you abroad. They didn't merely hand you an internship; they worked as a middle man for the job that best suits you after equipping you with the tools to get it. I have a very specific set of professional interests and Global Experiences satisfied them to a T. Not to mention they recognize the importance of balancing work life with cultural life as they were responsible for some one of a kind Irish experiences. If you're thinking about interning abroad, I highly recommend Global Experiences.

I had little to no expectations for Ireland and my internship placement going in. I was excited, but I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. Turns out, I was getting myself into the best two months of my life. I have never been more challenged and more happy. I fell in love with the country and the people. I was able to grow as a professional and an individual. I learned a lot about myself in a professional setting that has taught me a lot about my strengths and how I want to spend the rest of my life. I learned a lot about myself as an individual in which my independence and curiosity for people and the world has thrived. I developed relationships I will cherish for a lifetime, because I know they will last a lifetime. Global Experiences has become the single best decision I have made and would highly recommend this opportunity to others.

Global Experiences has been extremely helpful and amazing from the start. The way in which their program sets you with an advisor along the way to finding your internship is extremely personable. Everyone in GE has gotten to know me on an individual level and has been so helpful to finding me an internship that was fitting towards my needs. I am leaving Dublin with life long friends and can absolutely thank our advisor, Brian, for setting me up with the perfect roommates. As far as my location, Dublin, I have fell in love with this city and country as a whole. Living in Dublin you get to experience the atmosphere and culture of a city while also being just minutes away from the beautiful country of Ireland. This experience has left me in awe day after day, thank you GE!

I began working with Global Experiences in October of 2015 to become a part of their 2016 summer internship program in Dublin, Ireland. The resources that Global Experiences has to make sure that you get the most out of an internship are excellent. Their staff was extremely helpful about answering any questions I had, and I really appreciated their advice on crafting my resume and cover letter. The webinars that are also available to watch and participate in before you travel abroad are great. For my internship I was placed in the National Museum of Ireland Decorative Arts and History branch in the registration department. I helped to make sure that every object in the museum's collection had a location number and was entered in our online database. I worked at the museum Monday thru Friday from 10:00-4:00 and had the weekends off. With this schedule I experienced the real working environment of the museum and yet had time to explore Dublin and Ireland.
In addition to securing my internship, Global Experiences also planned excursions for us so we would be able to experience the sights and culture of Ireland. These excursions included day trips to Belfast and the Cliffs of Moher, a cooking night, and a musical pub crawl. With providing housing, excursions, and great staff support while I was in Dublin, Global Experiences provided the whole package. One of the best parts about doing this internship was that there was also flexibility. The excursions are not mandatory, so if you want to plan a weekend in London you can do that. I know several of the interns in my program traveled on their own or in groups. They went to places like Scotland, London, Venice, Budapest, Amsterdam, and Barcelona. Your internship is your first priority, but if you have the free time you can fill up that time anyway you want to.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed my internship experience and would do it all again in a heartbeat. I worked with some amazing people who I hope to stay in contact with for a long time to come. If you are planning on doing an internship abroad I would say go for it. However, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to prepare. You will still need to take care of yourself while you are abroad in terms of making sure you have food to eat and transportation funds. Along with being prepared also be ready to adapt. Plan A is not going to work out every time so having a willingness to go to plan B or plan C is essential. Look at it as an adventure. It will be unforgettable and you won't regret it.

I had an absolute blast interning in Ireland this past fall. I felt that the staff at Global Experiences really took the time to find the right placement for me and to help make the transition from living and working in the United States to becoming an intern in a foreign country as easy as possible. They were there for me every step of the way and I learned SO much. I would, without a doubt, return to complete another internship with this program. I could not have asked for a better experience.

Over the course of a semester, I completed an internship at UCD with Dr. Michael O'Connell. He is a political and social psychologist and researcher. Together, we conducted an experiment on subjective well-being. He introduced me to a mixed-methods approach to research, SPSS, secondary analysis, and secondary research. Some of the skills I learned include constructing data sets in SPSS, running secondary analysis of preexisting data, how to develop a research topic from start to finish, and how to submit a paper for publication. Overall, the internship was positive and I'd highly recommend it to friends, family, peers, and other students who are interested in developing a career in psychology.

Interning with the Irish Osteoporosis Society has certainly been a life changing experience for me. IOS is the national health NGO/non-profit organization that focuses on the prevention and awareness promotion of Osteoporosis throughout Ireland. I have grown both personally and professionally throughout my time in Dublin, Ireland. Moreover, I have made lifelong friends and memories during the past three months and I am very appreciative for this opportunity!