Medellín, Colombia has earned international recognition for innovation and its booming business and start-up scene. The up-and-coming city has much to offer an international business intern, including a wonderfully vibrant and warm culture. The international internship experience in Medellín is sure to have a life-long impact on a young person’s outlook and career.
In recent years Medellín, Colombia has flourished into a Latin American entrepreneurship hub. The city has been elected to host the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in March 2016. Business minds from all over the world have flocked to the city to take advantage of its rich opportunity. An international business intern will benefit from the real-world, multicultural experience of living and working in Medellín alongside successful business professionals.
Colombia has a wide variety of opportunities available for an international business intern. There are many internship roles available at several different types of businesses. Some of The Intern Group’s interns have worked in imports and exports, a firm’s international department, international trade and logistics.
International business interns in Colombia live in the safest part of Medellín. Accommodations are located within the upscale and secure El Poblado district. In the Intern Group program, interns have the choice of either living with a Colombian family or rooming in a shared apartment with either program participants or local Colombians.
Colombians have a reputation for speaking clear, well-enunciated Spanish – the best to learn in Latin America. The international business internship program in Colombia does not require Spanish-language skills. However, those interested in learning may take optional Spanish language classes at Universidad EAFIT. The school offers classes for all levels of Spanish in the El Poblado district. With some 405 million speakers globally, Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language in the world.
Colombia is an interesting and dynamic country live in, with an expanding middle class and growing economy. The country has been gradually working on putting poverty and violence behind it. Though certain sectors remain problematic, major cities like Medellín have gone under a complete transformation. The second-largest city in the country, Medellín, was once one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Now its homicide rates have dropped below cities like Washington, D.C. and New Orleans.
“Gracias” to its modern and well-planned public transportation systems, social innovation, infrastructure and technological investments, the Urban Land Institute named Medellín “innovative city of the year” in 2013. The consultancy Indra also called Medellín the best Latin American city to live in, tying with Santiago, Chile.
Medellín sits in the picturesque Aburrá Valley in the Andes mountains, surrounded by several hills. Medellín’s locals often identify themselves as from the Medellín province of Antioquia, referring to themselves as either as Antioqueños or paisas rather than Medellínenses. The term paisas comes from paisano, or “fellow countryman” and implies a cultural and regional identity encompassing Colombians in the states of Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda, Quindío and a few towns of Tolima and Valle del Cauca. Paisas speak a bit faster than Colombians from other regions. They also eat the traditional “bandeja paisa” or the paisa platter, which is a famous regional plate. The bandeja paisa generally includes fried egg, sausage, an arepa, avocado, chicharrón (fried pork belly), white rice, powdered meat, plantain and beans.
Medellín’s weather is always beautiful and spring-like, with the local temperature always between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The yearlong beautiful weather means it’s always a good day for a walk or eating outside “al fresco”. Medellín has even has been nicknamed “the city of eternal springs”. Along with its charming locals and warm weather, Medellín is famous for its colorful flower festival called Feria de flores, which attracts tourists from across the globe. In August, rural farmers march into the city from the province to display their intricate and awe-inspiring flower designs. Festivities also include an antique car parade, a horse parade, and a flower float parade featuring dancers, singers and performers.
Earn real-world international business experience with an internship in Colombia. The opportunity to work alongside established business professionals from all over the world will prepare a young person for their business career. Moreover, the chance to live and work in another country offers an intern abroad a unique cultural experience and insight.
Apply now and boost your career!
Sources: mycolombianrecipes.com, Frommers, wsj.com, www.kauffman.org, Wikipedia
Photo 1. based on MEDELLÍN, by Iván Erre Jota, CC-by-2.0
Photo 2. based on Colombia, Guatape, by Jonathan Hood, CC-by-2.0
Photo 3. based on Policía Nacional garantiza la seguridad en la Feria de las Flores Medellin 2014. ESCER Escuela de Policía Carlos Eugenio Restrepo, by Policía Nacional de los colombianos, CC-by-2.0