Stop thinking and GO!

When I first started looking into internships for the summer, I feel as if I was playing it safe. Looking for opportunities near my house or at least in America. However, when I came across The Intern Group and then Intern Latin America, I thought when could I do this again? When I could I jump on a plane and get an experience people dream of? And that was how I decided to spend my summer working at a non-profit in Colombia.

When I arrived in Medellin, Colombia, you can say I was far beyond nervous. I had no idea what to expect, if I would meet people, what would happen if I did not like my job or my roommates. I am grateful that I loved my internship with Fundacion Juguemos en el Bosque. I am also so impressed that Intern Latin America made it such a smooth transition, I arrived and the next day I already had so much to do. Intern Latin America sets up events for all the other interns and these are the greatest thing, you meet the team, you meet interns who become friends, and you realize this experience and your time in a foreign country will be alright.

On the first day of my internship, someone from the Intern Group walked me straight to my office, introduced me to the organization. This does not happen in the real world, but having this for my first day was what I needed, it calmed my nerves knowing that I was not going to get lost, or that I would not show up and my job have no idea who I was. In my opinion, it was small things such as walking me to work, having intern events, and having a group of people who’s job is to make sure you are doing alright, and having the best possible experience you could have.

When I was first giving the information about the non-profit the intern group found for me, I was very skeptical, simply because I did not find this, I did not know what the organization stood for. Nonetheless, Intern Latin America could of not done a better job. Everything I wanted in an internship I was given. I wanted to work with the social worker and have field experiences with the kids, but I also wanted to work in the office. I wanted to enjoy my summer, but I absolutely loved it. The best thing about my summer was my job, was going to work everyday that is something I could of not asked for or expected. All thanks to the Inter Group listening to me and what I want.

Who can say that the highlight of their summer was working, or being in a foreign country for 10 weeks and surviving without your parents? After coming back from Colombia and hearing my friends say was it dangerous, what was the worst thing you saw, were you scared, did you carry pepper spray around and saying no to every negative question about Colombia is incredible. People will never consider going to Colombia because they still see it as a dangerous country, however, it is a beautiful country, a country that now has a piece of my heart, and a country I miss so dearly. So a piece of advice, jump, do it, and do it now. It will never be something you regret.