What originally inspired you to intern in New Zealand with GlobaLinks Learning Abroad?
Jessica: After studying abroad twice before, in Fiji for a semester and Scotland for a summer, I had the travel bug in me. I had the choice of either graduating early and starting adult life or do another study abroad. This was absolute no brainer for me, I was going abroad! I luckily had the financial aid to do so and I had a really hard time deciding where I wanted to go. I decided that I didn't really want to do more schooling since I didn't need anymore credits, so I decided why not intern or volunteer abroad.
I had done both my past study abroad experiences with GlobaLinks and had been looking at the internship program for over 2 years. I had actually visited New Zealand on my spring break while in Fiji and absolutely loved it. So I decided then there New Zealand was my next stop! GlobaLinks staff worked hard with me to get me an internship that I really wanted.
Describe your day to day activities as an intern in New Zealand.
Jessica: After landing in beautiful New Zealand, GlobaLinks planned a 3 day immersion trip which included a haka lesson, tubing with glow worms, and a visit to Rotorua! The haka lesson was both hilarious and very informative of the Maori culture. Tubing in a cave with glow worms above of us was amazing, and a definite must, if you are on North Island! The 3 day immersion introduced us to New Zealand culture and to help us adjust into Kiwi life easier and faster.
I interned at Child, Youth, and Family in Porirua, right outside of Wellington. CYF is New Zealand's Child Protective Services, and ran very much like our CPS system. I shadowed an experienced social worker and helped as much as I could from the organization.
I woke up bright and early each morning to take a 30 minute train ride to Porirua. A typical day consisted of making home visits to families, school visits to check on children, taking children who were under the agency's care to doctor appointments, supervising court mandated child and parent supervision visits, going to court to present current updates in cases, doing intakes and assessments, and the usual case notes and phone calls. It was a lot more hands on experience that I could not get in the States, which I really enjoyed.
What I thought was so unique about New Zealand was the emphasis on whanau, or family. CYF had whanau interventions, in which they were able to fly family from throughout the country to be in the same place at the same time, to help decide what should be done for the benefit of the child involved. The agency and the courts did not make all the decisions, but they allowed all extended family members to have a say and to make an agreement to all step in to make a difference in the lives of the children. In addition, I talked with many members of the staff about Maori and the Kiwi culture and lifestyle, and they were always insightful and wanted to share their stories.
How has this experience impacted your future personally, professionally, and academically?
Jessica:This internship was the deciding factor for me to continue to go to graduate school to get my master's in social work. I'm currently enrolled at the University of Southern California, and I have used all the information from my New Zealand internship in my current internship.
While other students had no idea that social work was a strengths based practice, I knew because of my wonderful experience. I walked into my master's program knowing and having done social work practice, straight out of college without a social work degree and very limit experience. This program not only helped reassure me that I am in the right profession, but it prepared me.