Program Reviews

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!

A great programme to build your personal and professional growth. An internship places you out of your comfort zone in so many different aspects. A worthwhile and rewarding experience.

The first day I arrived, I met my programme coordinator. They made me aware of some important and useful aspects such as the metro system, emergency contacts, as well as a timetable listed with excursions and events that were held for us. These excursions were held every week, here we had the opportunity to meet other interns also on the programme.

I would definitely recommend this programme. Whether you are a student or have finished your studies and would like a break by interning in a different country. There is time to travel as well, especially during weekends and sometimes even after work depending when you finish.

My two month internship in Buenos Aires exceeded all of my expectations. I had the opportunity to help teach English at a school with grades first through seventh. As a Spanish education major and Teaching English as a Second Language minor I am very interested in languages and wanted hands on experience in a school. From working one on one with students, to teaching lessons my education internship allowed me to gain real world experience of what every day life is like in a classroom. Aside from my internship, Buenos Aires is a great place. There is always something to do, from going to museums, shopping at fairs, to hanging out with friends in plazas there is something for everyone. This program is a great way to be immersed in another language and culture and I am so grateful for this opportunity!

Looking back when I lived in San Diego, California, I still remember walking to my bedroom on a daily basis, sitting at my computer desk, sighing and staring at the enormous poster I had on the wall - it was a world map. It was there to remind, motivate and inspire me to go for the things that I truly wanted – to return to Spain, travel, continue to learning, self-educating, connecting and seeking understanding of other cultures and people. It was a difficult choice and challenge to go back to Spain, especially, this time, as an older guy. But I learned that in the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take. That simple paper on the wall, that world map, kept me on track; it helped me stay focus on my goals and to visualize the possibilities – that it was doable, reachable.

Fast-forward to now, I have reached that goal. And I couldn’t have done it without the help and continuous support of the superb, professional and friendly duo from Connect-123, Zuzana Jurasikova and Mireia Vila. I’m grateful for Connect-123, the journalism/translation/editing internship opportunity with ShBarcelona, and for the new friendships I’ve made with other student “Connectors.” I’m aiming to keep growing personally and professionally in the beautiful city of Barcelona. I’ve no regrets in the choice that I made in joining the Connect-123 family and picking Barcelona as the place to pursue my career objectives. For any young soul out there who’s contemplating on doing an internship in a foreign country that you’re interested in, just do it! I strongly believe in investing in your own experience and education because the impact can be of a positive life change, an unforgettable adventure, a transformative and eye-opening journey – in other words: priceless.

As an International Relations student, I was looking for the best option to make an internship abroad. I’m interested in global issues such as: international law, nationality, migration and human rights. Connect 123 made their best and I started to work in a non-profit organization which helps immigrants and refugees to get the naturalization in Dublin, Ireland. This experience is by far one of the best I’ve had as it helped me to grow professionally and personally. First of all, I was able to work in a multicultural environment. Each of my colleagues had different nationality; it helped me to discover new ways of working. Apart from that, I put in practice and strengthened the acquired knowledge during my studies, as I had to learn about Ireland’s immigration law and international treaties regarding asylum seekers and refugees. On a personal level, working with refugees and immigrants who are experiencing really difficult situations, made me realize that we need to raise consciousness when treating them in our countries. Every day they taught many things about life and to stay positive no matter what. On the other hand, knowing Irish society’s idiosyncrasy helped me to be more disciplined. Connect 123 was there before, during and after my internship. They picked me up at the airport and got me to my place; they always were in contact with me to know how my internship was going, and made events for my social integration. I want to invite Latin American’s students and young people to live this experience and to make more presence internationally.

My internship in Dublin had to have been one of the most valuable times in my life. Right off the bat, I was impressed with the placement they got me. I'm a student studying recording arts and music production, and Connect was able to hook me up at one of the premier recording studios in Ireland. Once I arrived in Dublin, Nikki and Rosie were there to help me adjust to living abroad, and made sure I was comfortable in my internship by giving me guidance and encouraging me to proceed independently. During the course of the summer, I was able to learn and excel in my internship, as well as travel all over Europe and see places I never would have otherwise. Connect-123 was sure to provide killer events and trips as well to help all of their interns explore Ireland to the fullest. I can't recommend Connect-123 enough!

My experience with Connect-123 was one of the best things that happened to me. I was initially stressed and hesitant to go to another continent and nervous to be in a place where I know absolutely no one. However, Connect-123 guided me through every step of my journey and found me the job that I was looking for and always comforted me when I was feeling anxious. The coordinators of the program went above and beyond to make people feel welcomed and to assure that they have a great time in the city, and they would organize all sorts of activities and inform us of events happening in the city. I spent two months interning at an immigration law firm. I feel like I found a new family, I built great relationships with my coworkers and found a place that I could call my second home. It was an experience of a lifetime. I loved my stay in Barcelona to the point where I was considering moving back! Barcelona will always hold a special place in my heart. I am forever thankful for this experience!