The best part was probably the friends I have made along the way. I would have never thought I would make such good friends in two short months. I met people from across the United States, as well as the world (Spain, Italy, Brasil, Canada and Ecuador).

Gabby and the rest of the team are wonderful to work with and are always there to help if something arises. There are several opportunities to volunteer outside the internship, which provide a great experience to those who participate. I would recommend this program to anyone who has wanted to travel and work abroad. I can honestly say that I was sad to leave Cape Town, but can’t wait for future opportunities to take me back.

But what really made my experience in South Africa special was the work I was doing. Interning with the Neurosurgery Department at one of the largest hospitals in South Africa has to be the most incredible opportunity I have ever had. This group of doctors welcomed me into their family and taught me everything, from how to take a patient history to how to drill holes in a person’s skull. No question of mine was ever too big or too small, and everyone went out of his or her way to make sure my experience was all I had hoped for. My internship culminated with a large department dinner in the city one night, and the doctors each made sure to impart one last bit of wisdom before I left to go back to the States. I also have all of their email addresses and they made me promise to keep in touch. One of the hardest parts of leaving was knowing I probably wouldn’t see any of them again.

Connect-123 made finding this internship so easy. Gabby was instrumental in setting up my job with the department, and also in providing the medical interns with different opportunities to learn; whether it was attending a talk by any one of the doctors in the area or volunteering with different clinics, we certainly had a ton of exposure to medicine in Cape Town. The hands-on experiences I have gained, the friends I have made, and the adventures I have been on will never be forgotten. Thank you Connect-123, for a truly wonderful summer!

Photo courtesy of guillebot

MYTH:
It is correct to say “gracias” when someone hands you the mate

This might seem counter-intuitive, as it is pretty much standard practice to say ‘thank you’ when anyone hands you anything, anywhere in the world, ever.  But when drinking mate you’ve got to find a way to break that pesky, gracious habit as saying ‘thank you’ signals to the cebador (the guy in charge of the refills) that you are finished and don’t want any more when your turn comes around again.   So quit being so polite!

MYTH:
Mate is a cold-weather drink

There’s a strange phenomenon that exists among some native mate drinkers:  drinking mate in the summer to cool off!  The logic has something to do with the difference between your own body’s temperature and the temperature outside nearing each other and therefore making you feel cooler.  Could this belief have merit?  We’ve seen enough mate drinking at the beach to wonder…
PS: if you doubt that theory but still want mate in the summer, try mate prepared with cold water: tereré.

MYTH:
Mate is very good for you

Well, the jury is still out on this one.  According to popular lore, mate gives you energy, aids in weight loss, lowers cholesterol and contains many antioxidants.  Not too shabby.  But, on the other hand, there have been studies linking extensive mate usage to esophageal and other cancers (though it is unknown whether that is due to the yerba itself, the way the leaves are dried or even overheating the water used to drink it with).  And we can tell you from experience, drinking too much mate can cause tummy aches among native and non-native drinkers alike, so start off slow until you build up some yerba tolerance.

MYTH:
Due to its need for hot water and messiness of the loose yerba tea, Mate is not consumed in the car

This is funny, because compared to some other cultures out there (hmm, US?) Argentinians typically don’t drink or eat much in the car at all.  The exception to this, of course, is our dear friend, mate.  Mate is a road trip favorite, and any self-respecting highway gas station has a hot water machine so you can refill your thermos while you refill your gas tank.  But, Ojo!  There are frequently signs in the gas station restrooms reminding you not to dump your used yerba in the sink; the garbage or a plastic bag works just fine.

MYTH:
Mate is very, very bitter

Well, true.  Mate does have a grassy, herbal, bitter taste.  But mate is as diverse as it is popular, and it is acceptable to drink it with sugar as well…so don’t be afraid to ask!  (Although do ask rather than just loading it up with sugar, as if one person in the circle is drinking it with sugar, you all are drinking it with sugar).  And you do run the risk of receiving a disapproving look from the extra hard-core mate drinkers in the group, but you are a mate newbie, what do they expect?

Photo courtesy of Juanpol

Additional mate questions?  Leave a comment below and we’ll see if we can get Caro, beloved member of the Connect-123 team and resident mate addict to weigh in!

During my time there, I was involved in both parliamentary and monitoring projects. I had the opportunity to attend many meetings of Parliament, in which bills addressing issues from personal privacy to domestic violence were debated. The commission works closely with government in commenting and advising on various human rights issues present in new legislation, and being able to be involved in these new bills were highly rewarding.

On the monitoring side, I was involved in monitoring a temporary safety site for approximately 2,000 Zimbabwean nationals that have been forcibly displaced in the rural town of De Doorns as a result of xenophobic violence. I worked on a report detailing conditions at the camp and making various recommendations concerning site facilities, safety, and security.

Connect-123 enabled me to pursue my interest in constitutional law in the context of a foreign country’s history and culture. To do this in South Africa was particularly exciting, as it is a country that has made great transformations over the past few decades. To be able to witness the country’s preparations for an international celebration as it hosted the World Cup in 2010—while being involved in human rights laws seeking to redress its legacy of apartheid—was extremely rewarding.

The Connect staff is always available to help with any of your needs along the way, and they also organize monthly and bi-weekly events and trips for all of the interns to meet each other and experience South Africa together.

The variety of internships available to students is incredible.  During my internship I went to small businesses, like craft shops and agricultural farmers, to provide business consulting for how these companies could be more efficient, organized, and sustainable.  It was a truly rewarding and valuable experience passing on the knowledge I had to others that needed it.  Gaining hands on business experience in a foreign country during a summer internship was nothing short of priceless and I have the Connect-123 staff to thank for making it all possible.

I started from the core with a new logo and brand image, applied the new image to existing print media and also created new materials providing my opinion on ways for them to promote their organization. Being the sole person in charge of their rebrand provided me with a lot of responsibility and creative freedom that I would likely not have had at a design firm where I would have been at the bottom of the “food chain.” It was also very rewarding being able to use my skills to help such a great NGO. Having the whole identity package for my portfolio and the international experience for my resume are just more benefits of an amazing experience.

My internship was terrific, but that is just one aspect of the overall incredible experience. Cape Town is just as beautiful in real life as in the photos and provided a stunning environment to practice my photography and fine art hobbies. It provides sharp cultural diversities and an eclectic array of activities to suit anyone’s tastes from fine dining at the world class restaurants, letting loose on Long Street with the numerous bars and clubs, to hiking up Table Mountain or lounging at the Camps Bay beaches to name a few.

Cape Town will always hold a special place in my heart, but it is the people I met there that I will miss the most. The only negative part of my experience there was having to say goodbye to the great friends I had made. It was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had and I want to thank Connect-123 for making it possible.

The city of Cape Town alone is breathtaking. There are numerous opportunities for fun activities including hiking Table Mountain, enjoying the beach, wine tours, safaris, and bungee jumping! The shopping is fun, whether at familiar stores down at the Waterfront or at Greenmarket Square bargaining with locals for a good price. There are plenty of things to do in and around the city, so there is no chance to be bored.

Connect123 made traveling to South Africa and finding an internship very easy. They offer you enough freedom to be off on your own but give significant guidance throughout your stay so that you know you are well taken care of. Gabby, from Connect-123,  gave me extra opportunities beyond the rehab hospital to experience South Africa’s health care, such as clinics in the townships and volunteering at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital. These combined experiences were invaluable and really helped me shape my future nursing career. I made lifelong friends with the people I met through the program and locally, and I eagerly look forward to an opportunity to visit South Africa again.

Having the support of the medical team and the Connect-123 staff made me feel comfortable both in the hospital and in the city. Being in Cape Town also gave me the opportunity to explore the city and its surroundings. I met wonderful people that were part of the program as well as outside the program, and developed great friendships. While I was in Cape Town I learned a couple of words in Afrikaans and Xhosa.

Over all I had an amazing experience and it made me grow both professionally and personally. By volunteering I may not be able to change the world, but I am able to enhance the life of a child.

Additionally, before I even got to Cape Town, the Connect-123 staff was organizing group outings and other logistics.  I still remember getting an e-mail about one of the outings while sitting in the library studying for final exams and getting so excited for what was waiting for me on the other side of finals… While many people kept saying, “You’re going where this summer?” I knew that it was gearing up to be a summer of a lifetime.

My summer in Cape Town was phenomenal.  My internship placement Connect-123 helped arrange was a perfect fit for what I was looking for.  I was able to attend court, perform research for cases the organization was considering taking on, provide advice for issues arising in the walk-in legal advice clinic, attend advocacy events, and even go to a protest with youth speaking out against sexual violence!  The work I did was life changing and will undoubtedly affect me throughout my legal career.  Additionally, the attorneys and staff I worked with were amazing people who I continue to keep in touch with long after my departure from South Africa.

In addition to the great internship placement, the Connect-123 program provided me with an instant network of friends and activities to take part in.  The staff made sure that participants did not miss out on the Cape Town “essentials” (the penguins, seals, etc.) and was open to organizing other events that people suggested.  Everything ran incredibly smoothly and I could not imagine trying to plan my summer without Connect-123’s help.

Finally, since returning to the United States, my experience in Cape Town continues to have a positive impact on my life.  Professionally, interviewers ask me about my summer in Cape Town during each and every interview I have.  Additionally, researching an entirely different country’s legal system has sharpened my legal research and critical thinking skills. Personally, I made some wonderful friends while in Cape Town who I am sure will remain in my life for a long time to come. Since returning to Chicago, friends I met through Connect from as close as Southern Illinois and Michigan to as far away as Ireland and Scotland have come to visit.  No matter how long it has been, we always reminisce about our times in Cape Town and what a remarkable summer it was.

Besides being all of the things I described, at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital I found happiness in working with amazing people both foreign and native; in applying my skills where they were essential and beneficial; in learning about cultures I knew very little about; in being welcomed to, immersed in, and a part of those cultures, in working with the most adorable and remarkable children, and most importantly, in being a child life specialist. I volunteered with Connect-123 to bring something to Cape Town; to give my skills and my resources to those who would benefit from them. In return, Cape Town gave me so much more than pictures, t-shirts and wooden souvenirs. It’s more than I could ever put into words and something that will remain a part of me forever. After serving with Connect-123, I am not only proud of what I have accomplished, but I am proud of who I have become.

If you’re reading this and trying to decide if volunteering is right for you, it would be unfair for me to say yes or no. What I can say is that, for me, the hesitation came only in what I would be sacrificing. I had to give up all that was familiar to me to go to a foreign country. I traveled to Cape Town knowing that it was the path for me; that everything would fall into place. Now I know that what I gave up was insignificant compared to what Cape Town and The Red Cross Children’s Hospital gave me in return. It is not tangible, but within me. I share it in my interactions in both social and professional arenas. It comes through in my smile.

I volunteered with an after school marching band program that seeks to help children in the townships. Melanie helped establish a connection with the organization, although Connect-123 had not worked with them previously. She escorted me to my first rehearsal and facilitated my initial communication with the program director. Connect-123 took care of my needs in a generous and professional fashion and made my Cape Town experience one I will never forget!

Not only was this trip fun and exciting, but I also learned a great deal from my internship. Learning in the field is very different from learning in a classroom: having real-life experience is invaluable as you really learn what skills are important. I was given a lot of responsibility over the accounts of the company and their books. I learned how balancing accounts and compiling income statements actually took place in the real world, and I learned many skills that will help me in the future. Connect-123 really helped me to find an internship that was suitable to my future goals. All-in-all, my time in Cape Town will be one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

Seen as the gateway to Southern Africa, the Cape of Good Hope now known as Cape Town saw thousands of settlers disembark and make the arduous journey up country. Today Cape Town is still a popular destination which attracts many foreigners to its shores for work, study and play. Historically Cape Town has been called home by all sorts of nationalities from Indian and Malay slaves brought in by the Dutch to the French Huguenots who arrived, escaping religious persecution; this historic background may be one of the reasons why locals are so accepting of welcoming foreigners into the fold.

A city of contrasts, Cape Town is the only city where you will find the heart of the business and financial district nestled snugly between Table Mountain a World Heritage Site and the cold Atlantic Ocean. Taking a walk through the streets you’ll find many restaurants offering traditional African flair along with an eclectic mix of Italian, French, Mexican and Asian restaurants. The city hosts various multinational festivals from the traditional German Octoberfest, to the French inspired Bastille Day as well as the uniquely local Cape Minstrel Carnival, all of which we highlight on our monthly Connect-123 events calendar.

The Cape Minstrel Carnival happens annually on January 2nd and is celebrated as the “Second New Year” which was a resting day originally given to the slave community during the early settlement years. Today the carnival attracts thousands of musical troupes from around the Western Cape and offers a platform for them to strut their stuff in a vibrant display of music and bright sequined costumes.

The city centre itself has always been quite liberal, even during the Apartheid regime, the city was home to many underground clubs and theatres that refused to exclude citizens due to the colour of their skin, nationality, sexual orientation or religion. To this day, Cape Town is still well known for fostering the creative industries and promoting freedom of expression and subsequently boasts a vast array of theatres, art galleries, dance companies and craft markets.

With new visitors arriving every day fresh off the proverbial boat, most Capetonians relish the opportunity to show newcomers the best that Cape Town has to offer. It’s not hard to see why Connect-123 has one of its offices based in Cape Town as we are as excited as the locals here to showcase the city which you’ll surely be calling home during your internship.

What initially drew me to Cape Town were the pictures of Table Mountain and its stunning scenery.  At the risk of sounding cliche, the city was even better than I imagined.  Cape Town offered plenty of extra-curricular activities to complement my volunteer work:  hiking up and rapelling (abseiling) down Table Mountain, volleyball and surfing at the beach, wine tours and festivals in the surrounding wine farms, shark cage diving, botanical gardens, nearby safari tours, and the Garden Route (which includes bungee jumping, sky diving, and…ostrich racing).  Cape Town was affordable, the locals very hospitable and friendly, and, contary to popular belief, the city was not unsafe.  As with any big city, you just need to be vigilant.  Connect-123 did a great job making sure we were getting the most of our stay: they had bi-weekly networking events, they set up hiking and wine tours, and notified us of any local events.

I made many lifelong friendships during my stay in Cape Town and it’s an experience I’ll never forgot; I have Connect-123 to thank for this.  I hope I’m able to return one day for vacation, or if possible, a long-term work assignment!

My internship was organized by Mel and I began June 3rd working at a Secretariat representing those with disabilities.  I struggled somewhat with selecting an internship, as most of the volunteer work I’ve done in the past has been charity-oriented.  As much as I love the hands-on, one-on-one contact with the disadvantaged, I wanted this summer to be a more development-oriented experience.  I worked with two other interns on a couple of different projects.  The Secretariat was interested in re-branding the organization, making it more appealing to policy makers and government officials.  We also worked in the communications sector of the organization, improving the website and publications.  My favorite projects involved working with my boss, Thomas, on developing information on “Ambassadorial Countries.” Thomas travelled a lot to visit countries that could serve as models for other African nations to create, implement, and enforce policy that would best serve the disabled peoples of the country.  I loved getting to see his first-hand interactions with the government officials and his intense interest in developing the policies of the developing African continent.

Connect-123 was supportive and involved from Day One.  I enjoyed being in touch with Mel, and it was nice to have someone constantly on my side during the experience.  The office was also very helpful in planning extracurricular activities and fun excursions for my friends and I.  On behalf of both my sister (who worked with Connect-123 in 2007) and I, I’d highly recommend Connect-123 to anyone looking for a different type of internship experience in an unbeatable location.  Cape Town will not disappoint you!

For my internship, I was given the opportunity to observe live surgeries and take part in many different research projects at a pediatric hospital. Each and every morning I would wake up, I couldn’t wait to begin my day at the hospital.  The people who I worked with were very helpful and I formed excellent, everlasting relationships with them.  Now, as I begin my journey as a medical student, I will always look back on my experience in South Africa and maybe even decide to be a surgeon!

I definitely recommend anyone who’s interested in a health care internship to take the first step and be a participant of the Connect-123 program.  Thank you to the wonderful staff at Connect-123 for providing me with this exceptional experience!

Mental health is not only the absence of disease, but also the ability of people to cope effectively in and contribute to society. A person’s mental wellbeing is shaped by their interpersonal relationships, their community and the society they live in. Our history of human rights abuses, racial segregation, displacement of communities, repression and poverty has affected the psyche of many South Africans. This presents itself in high levels of violence, alcoholism, drug abuse and depression as well as anxiety disorders like post-traumatic stress syndrome and mood disorders. A lack of understanding of mental health issues, limited resources and a lack of psychological or psychiatric support in many communities exacerbates these problems and prevents their cure.

Traditionally mental health issues were dealt with in large institutions, but increasingly the responsibility for care is being devolved to community clinics, support groups and residential rehabilitation programs, slowly increasing access to care. An increase in this kind of support is essential in supporting people infected with HIV/AIDS and their home-based caregivers who are both highly vulnerable to depression. Education around mental health disorders is also essential in reducing the stigma associated with mental disorders and increasing the willingness and ability of people to seek help.

Several Connect-123 interns have been involved in doing occupational therapy, counseling and social work in mental health programs, whilst others have been involved in psychiatric research. The lack of staff and resources in the sector means that additional skills are highly valued and with the right skills there is a lot of potential to get involved in some very interesting projects.

I had the incredible opportunity to work with Connect -123 on a student trip to Cape Town, South Africa, in November and December of 2009. With their hands-on help and guidance, I brought 11 Ohio University students studying to be child life specialists for a 4-week child life practicum at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCCH) in Cape Town.

I had never done a trip like this and felt overwhelmed with questions and thoughts on how to pull it all together. I had the interested students, but needed to have resources in order to navigate the complexities of a trip like this. The entire experience turned into something much more than I ever imagined. Connect-123 staff was very accessible and helpful during our planning stages, so by the time we left for Cape Town, I felt very prepared. The students and I met via conference call with Connect-123 staff members Gabby Kelly and Caroline Hargrave; we had the chance to have our many questions answered, hear about the history of the child life program at RCCH, and discuss excursions we could plan as a group.

Once we arrived, we were well taken care of. Our students were safe (which helped calm the nerves of my students’ parents), educated and entertained during our 4-week trip. Connect-123 planned three very beneficial service-learning opportunities, including working with HIV positive teens, providing activities for a rehabilitation hospital, and providing child life services to a township medical clinic.

In addition, the experiences they gave us, including a very memorable overnight safari, were unbelievable. I highly recommend Connect-123 to any faculty and/or staff interested in planning an international experience for their students. It truly was a life changing experience for the students and for me. This trip was just the beginning of our continued relationship with Connect-123!