It’s never too early to start compiling your bucket list (the long list of things that you want to do before you die). There are some adventures best had while you’re young and free of major responsibilities, like raising kids or paying a mortgage. Consider your lifetime aspirations and think about if an internship abroad might help you cross a thing or two off your bucket list:
Spending an extended period of time, rather than just a vacation, in a foreign country is an important life experience to have under your belt. Not only will it help you understand a new culture on a deeper level, you’ll also gain valuable life skills, and become more self-sufficient.
Interning abroad gives you the perfect opportunity to learn or improve a foreign language. Developing foreign language skills in a professional environment will be great for your resume. Also, while picking up a second language, you can more easily connect to the local culture and see how language actually shapes beliefs and culture.
Interning abroad gives you the opportunity to befriend young, adventurous professionals from all over the world. These lifelong friendships that you establish abroad will not only lead to a long list of international professional contacts, but also you’ll make interesting, multicultural friends who you can travel with or even visit in their home countries.
Taking an internship abroad, instead of a domestic one, adds a whole new element of travel and cultural discovery to the internship experience. On the weekends you can travel to different places in a brand new region and really get to know a different country. Before or after your internship you can also take advantage of being in a far away region and take some time to backpack around before heading back home.
Spending some time in a foreign office or workplace gives you a unique insight into a foreign culture. You’ll gain international professional contacts and learn about your field in a different country. The experience also looks outstanding on a resume.
Picking up some favorite local recipes while you’re abroad will allow your trip to continue even when you go back home. Food allows us to travel without buying a plane ticket. Through cooking you can share your travels and cultural experience with your friends and family.
You can never truly appreciate what you have until you live without it for a while. Going abroad allows you to see your life through a whole new lens. Once you return home, you’ll value the people and amenities in your life in a different way.
Don’t commit to a lifetime of one career without giving it a test spin while you’re young and have time to change your mind. Getting real world professional experience can help you make life-changing decisions about your career path at an early age.
While interning abroad, why not pick up a new interest or hobby in order to better connect with the local culture. You’ll become a more interesting, multicultural person and also be able to pursue this interest while back home and connect to a whole new group of people.
Sources: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/travel
Photo 1. based on Hillcrest ‘Before I Die’ wall, by Tony Webster, CC-by-2.0
Photo 2. by The Intern Group