Survival Tips For Internships That Take You Overseas

By Uloop Guest Writer on August 6, 2014

Photo via http://news.anu.edu.au

It’s one of those things we all covet: the internship that takes us abroad.

Whether you’re interning with a London magazine (or, more likely, in a domestic magazine’s London offices) or studying the mongoose in South Africa trust us: your friends are wildly jealous.

Of course, internships that take you far away from home can also be incredibly stressful. Culture shock is a real thing. A lot of interns find themselves depressed and homesick and feeling really guilty because they can’t figure out how to enjoy the experience they’ve been handed.

Here are some tips to keep that from happening to you:

Learn the language. Yes, most of the world speaks at least basic level English now. Still, even in countries where English is the predominant language, there are cultural differences in how it is spoken.

Bone up on colloquialisms and slang before you go. For example: in England “pants” means something totally different than it does here in the US.

If English isn’t the national language, learn how to at least get by in whatever the national language is. There are apps to help you, sure, but learning the language is usually seen as a sign of respect.

Learn the currency. You’re lucky: almost every country in the world operates on a decimal system. It makes things so much easier to figure out.

Still, learning the conversion rate and what the names and values of individual pieces of currency are is important.

There are a lot of scam artists who will just keep insisting you owe them more, counting on your ignorance about their local currency. Don’t fall victim to that trap!

Plan ahead. Not just for weather and local fashion and dressing customs (more important in some countries than others) but for your budget.

Yes, you’ll be earning something through your internship but things might be more expensive where you’re going than where you live now. Learn how much basic necessities cost before you go so you can plan to at least cover those bases.

What’s more, if you do get stuck, make sure your parents or someone here at home knows how to do a Ria online money transfer so that you can get cash if you don’t have a bank account set up where you’re going.

Is crime a big deal where you’re going? Yes, most countries have a nefarious element—pickpockets and the like. In some places, though, tourists and interns are targeted more intensely than others.

More importantly, there are some parts of the world where it simply is not safe to travel or even go out alone. Know what you’re getting into before you go so that you won’t get caught by surprise.

Am I missing anything? I don’t want to freak you out but, no matter what you’ve seen on TV or read in books, simply packing a backpack and setting off is not usually wise.

Don’t count on luck. Be prepared! You’ll enjoy your internship much more if you aren’t constantly worried about making a mistake with this stuff!

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format