Program Reviews

My eight weeks in Buenos Aires were more rewarding than I could have hoped for, in no small part due to Connect-123. I interned at a small women’s microfinance organization, to which I was matched through Connect-123. I came in with much uncertainty, lacking technical skills and high-level Spanish, so I was concerned about my role in my internship site. However, a great work environment and amazing coworkers made coming to work every day a privilege. I learned so much during my work experience while also making tangible contributions to my organization. Connect-123-led cultural events also helped fellow interns and I get a feel for the city, especially during the first few weeks. Through my time in Buenos Aires, I was able to make connections, improve my Spanish, better clarify career goals, and experience life in a vibrant, unique city. Additionally, it was a singular opportunity to improve interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, while growing personally. To those considering interning via Connect-123 or in Buenos Aires, I wholeheartedly recommend it!

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’ve wanted to work abroad since I started studying at university, but had always lacked the foresight and planning to be comfortable with spending an extended period overseas. Connect-123 provided me with help in all of these areas; quickly providing job offers, housing availability and all sorts of resources for living in comfort.

My job is in nanotechnology fabrications, and I was surrounded by intelligent and welcoming friends who are invaluable in learning more about science and engineering as well as local culture.

Barcelona has quickly become one of my favorite cities, with newfound lifelong friends, university and job connections and most importantly, incredible food. It’s a bittersweet feeling to know that my time in Barcelona is limited; but I’m already looking forward to visiting again, as well as the following internship through Connect-123 in Dublin!

My two month stay in Buenos Aires, Argentina was extremely transformative and more rewarding than I could have ever imagined. I interned at an organization that dedicates their efforts to the conservation of nature and promotes their values through education of the next generations. There I had the opportunity to write articles for their blog and conduct interviews with local contacts. My internship allowed me to learn about environmental issues and education in Argentina while developing professional skills like writing and doing research. Going into this experience I hadn’t spoken Spanish in years, but my supervisor and other staff were so kind, generous and patient that I was able to feel at ease practicing at the office. My work schedule allowed me plenty of time to explore the city and go on short trips with friends. Connect 123 organized some great cultural activities that allowed us to explore new parts of the city. This was my first time living in a big city, and Buenos Aires has so much to offer. This experience helped me to step out of my comfort zone and gain a lot of independence and confidence in myself while still feeling safe and supported. By the end of the summer, I felt really at home in Buenos Aires and plan to go back as soon as possible. Overall, I highly recommend this experience!

My time in Buenos Aires was absolutely amazing. I interned for a municipal government, and I had the opportunity to write two draft bills to present to the local council. This internship was a great way for me to refine my Spanish skills while learning more about how local government works. My working hours were very flexible, which allowed me to do a lot of traveling outside Buenos Aires. I was able to build lasting relationships with my co-workers, host family, friends that I met through this program, which is probably the biggest highlight of this journey for me. Being abroad isn't easy, but it's amazing how much you'll grow and learn in a little over two months. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Nothing about this journey is as perfect as it may look in the pictures, so keep an open mind and be ready to learn from your mistakes - as long as you do that you'll have a great time!

My six months as an intern with Connect-123 was an incredible learning experience. I met so many wonderful people at my internship, in Buenos Aires and around Argentina. I have returned to the US with skills I can carry with me for the rest of my life, as well as long-lasting friendships and amazing memories. My time at my internship as well as in Buenos Aires was eye-opening, fun, and challenged me to grow as a person and I think everyone should do something similar at some point. I would absolutely recommend Connect 123 and of course, Buenos Aires. I would do this internship not only for the work experience but for the life experience. Being able to travel around Argentina and the surrounding countries exposed me to different ways of living and helped me grow as a person. I can’t wait to go back!

Being an intern in one of the most famous international hospitals in Shanghai, China has exposed me to various learning opportunities. As a first-year college student who is pursuing medicine as a career, I had a lot to learn about the field and explore a variety of departments within the field. Learning about how medicine is practiced in different cultures other than the United States is something that I truly appreciate because I believe that it gives me an insight on different types of patient care. Working with physicians and other staff members at the hospital has helped me grow as an individual and gave me a clear vision of what practicing medicine is like. It is mainly because of this experience that I am now able to finally say that medicine is definitely the career path I want to take.

Connect-123 has helped me throughout the entire internship from finding housing for the summer to making sure that I got involved in the new things that were happening in the beautiful city of Shanghai. I also made so many great connections with incredible people from all over the world. Thank you, Connect-123!

Just over three years ago, an internship through Connect-123 launched my professional career. Specifically, I spent the summer of 2016 interning for a logistics company in Buenos Aires, Argentina. During my internship, not only did I gain valuable working experience, I increased my language capabilities as well. As a Spanish major in college, I wanted to have an experience where I could practice my conversational and workplace Spanish and this internship was a perfect opportunity to do that. In addition to the internship, my time in Buenos Aires allowed me to learn about Argentine culture and live like a local Porteño. Activities organized by the local Connect-123 advisor gives you the chance to have plenty to do and meet other interns. Furthermore, the housing accommodation allowed me to make friends with people from around the world.
My experience with Connect-123 was so positive, that when I had the opportunity to visit Buenos Aires last year, I made sure I saw my former workplace, supervisor, and program advisor. Recently, I accepted a full-time position with a company in the logistics industry and I give credit to the Connect-123 program for giving me the needed experience to be in the position I am in now.

I did an 8-week summer internship in a Plant Physiology and Ecology research lab, where I assisted with an investigator’s project on the Plasma membrane Intrinsic Protein of cassava. In the internship, I gained hands-on experience of many lab skills and got the opportunity to work closely with researchers. It was exciting to apply the knowledge I learned in class in the lab and do the experiments by myself. Talking to the PhD students in the lab allowed me to know how it feels to work in academia and helped me to rethink about my career plan and make future decisions. People in the lab were incredibly patient and willing to give me detailed explanations on whatever I did not understand. Overall, Connect-123 has provided me with a great experience in Shanghai and I recommend everyone to apply for internships through Connect-123!

This summer, I and a few other classmates from my college went to Shanghai for various internships. It was a great group, and we became closer to one another as we experienced Shanghai together. For my internship, I worked with a Public Relations and Communications start-up, GenNow, located at a WeWork facility. Being in a WeWork space was one of my favorite parts of the internship because it’s an environment where so many different start-ups are working on tons of interesting projects all in the same building. I helped write press releases, attend conferences, and edit articles.
Shanghai is something special. It’s so busy and beautiful. I met many local and international friends, and I realized how easy it is to do so. Chinese food is my favorite and in Shanghai, I was not disappointed by meals!
Consider this program even if you don’t speak any Chinese. In Shanghai, I got by from only knowing English because many people were bilingual and some public spaces had English translated signs. But still try to learn some basic Mandarin, as even a little bit can go a long way.
Overall, I left knowing a lot more about PR, international start-ups, Chinese culture, and independent travel than I did before. This experience even convinced me to consider earning a Master’s degree abroad. Many thanks to Connect-123 for the support along the way. I especially enjoyed our many group dinners and excursion to explore Nanjing!