Jacqueline’s Internship Overseas in Dublin

3

Wanting to step into the footsteps of a faculty scholar who’s interning in Eire? We lately caught up with AIFS Overseas internship program participant Jacqueline from Texas Girl’s College, who has been spending her fall semester interning overseas in Eire’s capital metropolis, Dublin. 

Learn on to be taught extra about her internship expertise with AIFS Overseas and the impression of being a world intern in Eire. 

Selecting an Internship Program Vacation spot & Time period

Deciding when and the place to research or intern overseas generally is a problem for lots of scholars and younger professionals (our workforce may help with that!), however irrespective of the place you go, you’re in for the journey of a lifetime! 

Jacqueline selected Dublin—a straightforward alternative for her, contemplating her curiosity in Irish tradition and her want to intern overseas in an English-speaking nation. Hear extra about why Jacqueline felt so strongly about selecting Eire because the vacation spot for her internship overseas:

“I selected Eire for a similar causes you’d count on from an individual selecting to go to America. The media I’ve consumed like TV reveals or motion pictures filmed in Eire, figuring out about Irish historical past, artists and musicians representing their Irish tradition, and a lot extra influenced me to decide on this nation for my internship. I used to be nervous like another vacationer, however I knew I’d be simply positive so long as there wasn’t a language barrier.” 

Why Intern Overseas? 

There are such a lot of causes to intern overseas! It’s a possibility to achieve skilled expertise in a novel setting, check out your chosen profession discipline, acquire tender abilities, develop your community, see the world, and a lot extra! By way of AIFS Overseas, Jacqueline’s fall internship in Dublin allowed her to push herself exterior her consolation zone, encouraging her to develop as an individual. 

Jacqueline explains one of many highlights of interning overseas was residing with roommates and exploring the nation and tradition collectively: 

“We have been in a position to discover collectively, attempt new issues, be taught in regards to the metropolis, and bond over residing in a distinct nation. I appreciated all their completely different views on Irish tradition and the way we have been all in a position to really see how nice variety is predicated on residing and dealing in Dublin.”

There are additionally scholarship and grant alternatives accessible to college students who wish to intern overseas—Jacqueline was awarded the AIFS Abroad Ambassador Scholarship. 

Internship Expertise 

Earlier than Jacqueline’s internship in Dublin at Cystic Fibrosis Eire, she didn’t know what business she needed to work in. Nevertheless, because of her internship, Jacqueline has turn into captivated with pursuing a profession within the non-profit business. 

“Since I’ve been in a position to expertise a distinct work setting, I now have an curiosity in working within the charity sector. I might have by no means identified about this type of work if I hadn’t began interning and spending my fall semester in Dublin.” 

Balancing Internships and College 

Jacqueline selected to intern in Dublin and take on-line programs at her college in Texas on the similar time. This can be a nice alternative for individuals who wish to acquire internship expertise whereas persevering with their research at their dwelling college. Fortunately, Jacqueline has been in a position to juggle her schoolwork and internship flawlessly… so long as she remembers the time distinction! 

“Schoolwork isn’t too troublesome when you might have people who find themselves in the identical sort of lessons as you and are sort sufficient to remind you that the time distinction nonetheless exists for delivering an project to your college again in America.” 

Skilled Growth 

Interning overseas means you’ll have the chance to achieve distinctive, hands-on expertise which can speed up your profession progress and develop your skillsets. Throughout Jacqueline’s internship in Dublin, she’s gained unbelievable perception into what it means to pursue a profession within the non-profit business. 

“Ever since beginning my internship at Cystic Fibrosis Eire in Dublin, I’ve been in a position to community with different professionals within the charity sector not solely by working alongside them each day, but additionally by attending a charity conference the place all of us have been in a position to talk about what fundraising occasions are profitable, how the group engagement goes with every Irish charity, and simply having basic dialog between fundraising coordinators.” 

Housing 

Do you know all AIFS Overseas packages embrace housing? Typical choices embrace shared residences, scholar residences/dorms, and residing with a native household in a homestay. Jacqueline’s lodging in Dublin have been in a scholar residence—an ideal method to meet different individuals! 

“I used to be additionally glad that I moved right into a scholar accommodating residence. Dwelling with 7 different individuals can sound overwhelming at first, however they’re now a number of the best individuals I do know. Since everyone seems to be from a distinct background, but all from America, it was mixture of a brand new setting and familiarity.”

Making Pals Overseas 

Faculty is commonly the primary time many college students are out on their very own, encouraging them to forge robust friendships with different college students. The thought of setting out by yourself for the primary time could make some college students hesitant about doing an internship program overseas alone or make them maintain off making use of till a pal is accessible to go together with them.  

We suggest that you just intern overseas when it’s handy for you. Likelihood is you’ll forge new friendships as soon as overseas, like Jacqueline did as an intern in Dublin. Do not forget that your friends interning overseas can be in the identical place as you—so that they’ll be simply as wanting to make buddies! 

A few of Jacqueline’s most rewarding experiences whereas overseas in Dublin have been made throughout easy moments with buddies: 

“One of the best occasions shared are once you’re with buddies sharing a meal, possibly simply engaged on homework collectively at a restaurant, celebrating a birthday, or renting a automobile to do the Ring of Kerry collectively.” 

Excursions 

One of many advantages of interning overseas is the flexibility to discover exterior your intern overseas metropolis. For instance, in the event you intern overseas in Dublin like Jacqueline, you’ll be able to simply entry different cities like Cork and discover the fantastic Irish countryside. 

Some excursions accessible within the Dublin intern overseas semester could embrace a day journey to the gorgeous Cliffs of Moher or a tour of the storied metropolis of Belfast. 

Making an attempt Out Transportation 

Though we suggest that you just take part in all of the AIFS-organized excursions, you may additionally take pleasure in planning some journeys by yourself or with buddies, as any AIFS worldwide internship vacation spot is bound to supply loads of sights to see and adventures to expertise. Considered one of Jacqueline’s favourite experiences in Eire was renting a automobile to drive the Ring of Kerry together with her buddies. This can be a famend 179km route in Southwest Eire circling via seaside villages and luxurious coastal landscapes. 

Along with utilizing transportation to enterprise exterior your internship metropolis, you’ll want to have the ability to navigate town or city utilizing native transportation strategies like practice, subway, or in Jacqueline’s case, bus. 

“After all, I’ve ridden a bus earlier than. It’s the one with the traditional yellow coloration with black lining that you just see in most American tv or motion pictures. Once you arrive in Eire, these are positively not those you see. Public transportation is the primary approach across the metropolis of Dublin, and it is advisable be taught quick to get round. So, technically, I discovered the right way to journey a bus on the ripe age of 26.” 

Tradition Shock 

Once you first arrive at your internship program vacation spot and begin to transition into your life abroad, odds are chances are you’ll expertise a little bit of tradition shock. Tradition shock is completely different for each intern—individuals expertise it in numerous levels as a result of various components. For instance, Jacqueline skilled tradition shock whereas adjusting to using the bus, together with different new experiences that she shared with the chums she made overseas: 

“We discovered that you will need to recycle your cans and the way you’re in a position to obtain cash to purchase groceries for all the things you recycle, and the way we’ll most definitely attempt to incorporate that weekly job again within the States. We discovered that it’s okay to ask questions on what’s in a meal at a brand new restaurant you’re eager to attempt as a result of sure meals could be made otherwise from America, and that simply because it seems like a ketchup packet, doesn’t imply it’s.” 

Ultimate Ideas 

As Jacqueline continues to embrace her journey, she sums up her expertise overseas in Eire: 

“My time in Dublin has been nothing wanting fantastic. I’ve met some superb individuals, skilled the Irish way of life, and seen a number of the most stunning views on this planet. I can’t wait to journey extra and share my Irish tales with my family and friends, and whoever desires to listen to. I won’t have to know the right way to journey the bus again dwelling, however I do know I can be returning to Eire sometime. So, I’ll preserve my leap card in my pockets, and hope that somebody asks me my bus route that took me a pair weeks to be taught (Bridgefoot, Faculty Inexperienced, after which Rathmines Rd. Decrease).” 

Are you a scholar or current graduate able to take the leap and be part of an AIFS Overseas internship program like Jacqueline did in Dublin? We’d love that can assist you begin your journey! 

Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to faculty college students and pre-professionals research and intern overseas. Our packages are extremely inclusive, which takes loads of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to offering issues like cultural and social actions, excursions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency help, on-site employees, and extra, you’ll take consolation in figuring out you’ll have help all through your complete expertise overseas.