The most honest introduction to describing this past summer that I spent in Cape Town through Connect-123 is that it was the best I have ever experienced. When I first heard about the program it seemed too good to be true, but I was delighted to find that it really was as awesome as it seemed. Connect-123 not only arranged a great internship with the national park service located in Cape Town, but they also gave me the structure I needed to create the perfect experience abroad.

My work with the national park service was perfect for my interests and studies (Ecology). I had the opportunity to work outside everyday with locals. Connect-123 truly catered to my needs. I did not want to pay to rent a car, I needed to receive credit through my university, and I wanted to find an internship that was hands on and gave me plenty of practical experience. They found a program that allowed me to walk / take public transport every morning, I am receiving credit, and every day I learned valuable information about the field of Natural Resource Conservation.  One of my favorite aspects of my internship was working with the People’s Trail. It is a two day trail designed to promote environmental conservation to local underprivileged youth. During the People’s Trail I was able to learn about everything from the local culture, to the natural history of Cape Town. On the days where I was not involved with the People’s Trail, I was involved with Klipspringer research, working in a tree nursery to grow indigenous trees, trail maintenance, people trail hut maintenance, and any other miscellaneous work that the park needed.

Connect-123 gave me a wonderful internship that was perfect for my studies, and supplied me with the most valuable intercultural experience I have had in my life thus far. I was surrounded by like minded people looking for an adventure. Connect-123 gave me the setting to build friendships that will last far longer than summer. I am now determined to find an adventure that lives up to the one I experienced this summer. Thanks Connect!