Two weeks into my last school year and the only thing I can think about is how much I miss the 79-degree Fahrenheit weather in Medellín. I wake up every morning wondering when my next trip to Colombia will be. Not if but when. Over the course of my six weeks in Medellín, I met people from all over the world. My time with Intern Latin America was one of the most eye-opening experiences I’ve ever had in my life. I even learned new words like “dungarees” and “keen”.
I also learned a great deal from my internship placement. While in Medellín I worked as a mobility strategist intern for the municipality of Sabaneta, Aniotquia. At my internship I learned how to effectively devise a mobility plan, the variables to consider when proposing new strategies and the importance of land use, as well as many other important themes. As a mobility strategist I created a presentation that discussed the different strategies and mechanisms implemented throughout different countries around the world to effectively decongest their cities. I gained a great deal of insight into the different offices and functionalities of each secretary.
Beyond this I gained a great deal of friends at the transit office who were very adamant to travel to the neighboring towns, leaving me with more than enough reason to return and see everyone one day. The best part about working at the Transito de Sabaneta was the friendships and connections that I made. Everyone was so friendly and kind, and more than happy to assist me with whatever documents or help I needed.
My time in Medellín was definitely an experience I will never forget. One of the most important things I learned was the value of traveling and the insight gained from working in a developing city. The city of Sabaneta is roughly fifty years old, if not younger. Working in this environment made me realize the challenges and struggles that many developing cities face. As someone who intends to work in developing cities, the internship provided me with the necessary knowledge to be able to better equip myself for this career goal. It gave me the necessary skills and information to make more accurate decisions when discussing my academic course load. It also helped me identify a clearer career path for myself.
Lastly, I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity because I learned the value and importance of traveling to other countries. This used to be nothing but a dream for me. This experience showed me what I am capable of achieving and has encouraged me to move forward with my dreams of helping build infrastructure in underdeveloped cities.
Photo 1. based on Medellín, Colombia 08 , by Ben Bowes, CC BY 2.0
Photo 2 and 3 by The Intern Group