Program Reviews

This is My Review about Penang Internship. First I am gonna thanks for the AIESEC. I became AIESECer before I went on this Internship then I realize to apply for this project Few month back, because I was in the starting edge of my summer break. I have to Say truly, no one help me to do the paper work when it Needed ( visa and all preparations ). My parents were always busy with their wok . I had to go and figure out all by myself ( I was busy with my final during that time but I manage to do it somehow). I made my plans to Apply the Exchange before it break the Match. When I reach to the Penang Airport I had to wait for few hours but that is Ok, I was so hungry back then I had only dollars with me. I decided to eat something by giving dollar’s and that idea ended up with losing some money. Then one of my EP buddies came to pick me up from the Airport. He Teach me to survive with the New Environment. I was so tired after a 6 hours flight. I had to go the Their University which is My LC ( USM in Penang ), I feel like to rest somewhere then TN said some points about the project and I had to note it down which is nice. Then we went to the NGO. And I had most awkward moment because there was no one to talk but I manage to stay chill. I am the only one EP for that project. That was a really fight in the beginning but I manage to overcome my fears when time goes on.

So i Planned my First Week by checking my work load and my free time available. For Every Free time that i have, i made to go some where, meet people, Explore. Luckly i Completed my 6 week work with in 3-4 weeks. So i Had time to Explore Around and do any Stupid thing. Ha haa...

I think. i am the only one who had this much of experience for the first time in Sri Lanka. Because No one had a chance to visit other universities other than your university that you are staying. I went on mid night solo rides, i did everything. Most of them are so dangerous. well um not writing them in here. if you need to know them contact me. ha ha.

My Advice for every single traveler is, make sure your belongings are always with you. Always bring your passport wit you. Have some amount of money and also separate your money to shares and hide them in several places that you remember. Make a Travel Plan. Try to learn local language. Hangout with local community. Try to Explore outside from the Community. Get a good camera. Shoot everything because you gonna miss everything after some few weeks. Enjoy every single second.

AIESEC is one of the WORST organizations I have been trying to work with, in the last few months. When I first contacted them, they answered me quickly and I had a skype interview with them. The girl told me that I could start my internship within the next 3 months. To keep with my application, I had to pay 30 euro, which would be fine if I got an answer. After I paid, there was silence. They said that what I asked for wouldn't be possible, and after that, they never contacted me again. I am still waiting for their promised answer , after 4 months.

I wouldn't recomend AIESEC at all, they will just keep your money. It is better to save it and spend it on other serious organizations.

I spent roughly seven weeks in the beautiful but small country of Montenegro. I was working on a project called Enter Your Future where we taught some skills to help inspire their youth to achieve more in their careers. Personally, I taught graphic design and my students were very enthusiastic and willing to learn from someone who doesn't have the credentials which was amazing to me. Everyone was very welcoming and took care of me very well. I stayed in a dorm with the other 9 interns on the project with me and we became family instantaneously. We still skype and keep in touch!
The Montenegrins who were in AIESEC took wonderful care of us. They picked us up from the airport with a big welcome sign, were always on call in case we needed anything, and showed us the best parts of their culture and country. When we weren't working they took us out on excursions such as going to the seaside, river rafting, and hiking up gorgeous mountains. Not a lot of people know about this small country but it's definitely worth the visit because it's absolutely gorgeous! They are also all very hospitable people. I was treated with the utmost respect and kindness. When my friends and I were lost, they were there to help you out even if you didn't know them. I love AIESEC and how it's connected me with friends all over the world and I would relive that summer a hundred times over!

My AIESEC exchange was truly a life-changing experience for me. Where else would I have had the opportunity to work in a refugee camp and blind school? (Both social projects that I am passionate about!) Having returned from my exchange, I have continued to find ways to contribute to the greater community e.g. volunteering in a refugee integration related programs and organisations. AIESEC's network of students are truly an amazing bunch of people who genuinely care about making a positive impact on the world. AND because they're students and recent grads, they're all super friendly and understanding. They just want to help you find the right program and opportunity for you! Key recommendation: keep an open mind! Things may not always go to plan but sometimes, spontaneity gets you an A+++ experience.

I went on my first internship in the summer of 2012 for 7 weeks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Initially, it was scary. I never traveled abroad alone without my family for such a long period of time. But that is what made my experience so amazing. I worked with 11 other interns from 10 other countries. The 7 weeks were challenging, and really changed and helped me develop myself as an individual. It was so great I decided next summer to go on another internship with AIESEC.

In 2013, I went to Budapest, Hungary. This time for 10 weeks. It was the MOST amazing experience I've had. Coincidently, I had worked with another 11 interns. And this was when it hit me. Working abroad is great, but being able to have that work abroad experience whether its your first or second time with other people from all over the world; now thats fantastic.

Going to these countries through AIESEC not only allowed me codevelop professionally and personally but also allowed for me to engage in multiple cultures, not just that of the country I went to.

I'd rate it 11/10 if I could!

I did a program in Italy. In fact, I am still in Italy now finishing out the program. I was working for a summer camp to teach kids English. Now, I don't speak any Italian, so I assumed going into the program that I would be given either a translator or the Italian camp counselors would speak at least some English. I came from America, where as all the other interns came from places like China, Turkey, and Mexico. English was not their first language and none of them were completely fluent. That was the first bad sign of the program. The second was how my "accomodation" was a very small apartment with a 28 year old woman. After three and a half weeks with her, I moved into a small apartment with 5 other girls. While my host was nice, she was supposed to provide me with dinner, but she didn't. There wasn't anything in the kitchen that I could cook for myself. The only thing that could be found in her fridge was moldy cheese and disgusting cat food. She had two cats, a dog, and a porcupine. She was never around enough to clean up after any of them so they would often defecate on the floor. I slept on a leather couch. The entire apartment was rather disgusting and my commute to work was two buses and a ten minute walk, totaling about 45 minutes minimum. My first day of work was a disaster. I was scheduled to work only 5 hours a day, which I thought was fantastic. I arrived at work to realize that not a single counselor spoke english, and that I was to somehow teach 25 kids English with NO materials and no way to speak to them at all in italian. I also didnt know how to find my way back to the apartment, and while I said this, the lady in charge just kept telling me to stay calm. Maybe its a cultural difference, but when I am thrown into a country I am unfamiliar with, which speaks a language I do not speak, and I dont know how to get home, I will not keep calm. I expressed my concerns to the program coordinator and she said to keep a positive attitude and start cooperating more. After everything, the program was horrendous and not worth my time or the cost.

"Exchange isn't just a year in your life. It's a life in a year."

Well in my case, a life in two months. Through AIESEC's GCDP program, I was able to do something I'm really passionate about: teach and to do something I've always wanted to do: travel. To top that off, I've established a global network -- both professionally and personally.

Basically, I held several workshops on cultural sensitivity in middle/high schools in Linz, Austria under the Colors of the World program. During free times, I would hang out with local AIESEC members and my co-interns, and together, we explore the beauty of their city (and nearby cities).

6 months after the experience, I can still feel the "hangover" from it. Going on exchange was probably one of the best decisions I've ever made in my college life. I had the time of my life. And what's really amazing about it is this -- you can have it too. Sign up now!

P.S. Go to AIESEC University of the Philippines Diliman! You'll be sure to have a friend there -- me! :)

Although AIESEC Internships are a minimum of 6 weeks, I had the opportunity to travel to India for 2 weeks under AIESEC. Prior to leaving, I had someone contact me from India to make sure that I knew who was going to pick me up and where I was going to be picked up. Everything went as planned; when I landed in Delhi, all I had to do was make a call with the person to confirm location and no issues came up.
They also made sure that I had housing and made sure that everything was okay throughout my time abroad.

I had the chance to meet many interns from all over the world who were currently in India for their own internship and was in awe to see all of them living together and the bonds that were created.

Two weeks in India was far too short. Next time I go back, it will be for at least 6.

In the summer of 2011, I went abroad to Budapest, Hungary to teach kindergarten kids English through a not-for-profit organization called AIESEC. As a quick introduction, AIESEC is the world's largest student run organization in the world and it's in over 110 countries. This experience started off as an excuse to experience the real college life, but ended up being so much more. I didn't care what I did; I just wanted to get away from New York for a while. In Hungary, I was picked up at the airport by a few of the students in this organization. I was assigned a "buddy", who was responsible for making sure I knew how to get a phone, train ticket and directions to the work place. The first week I was in Hungary, I had the biggest culture shock. Going into this internship, I wasn't prepared for the culture shock because I thought I had already experienced all that I could in New York. The first week, ended up with me going to work, going back to the hotel, and just moping around being homesick. However, the students of the AIESEC committee in Hungary would constantly ask me to go out to socialize and explore the city. in the end, I gave in and started to open myself up to the city. I ended up loving the city and the people! AIESEC had over 20 interns from other countries so I had a chance to meet people from France, Bulgaria, New Zealand, Iraq and so many more. I developed personally throughout this whole experience because I realized that I was really centered on New York. I had so much pride in my city that I wouldn't even give Hungary a chance. I also learned how to take care of myself. As for the work place, my boss was very kind. She offered all the assistance she could with accommodation and meals. Although I have been tutoring in New York for almost 3 years before this internship, I found it really difficult teaching little kids English when they barely knew Hungarian. Professionally, I learned how to adapt to a completely new environment and culture as well as problem solving. I gained so much from this experience, that I came back to New York and joined AIESEC. This summer, I will be going to Brazil to do a marketing internship with an NGO Company.