Alumni Interview with Alexis Sullivan

What inspired you to travel abroad? 

I've always wanted to travel and experience a new culture. I decided I wanted to spend my summer of 2018 abroad somewhere, so I started looking at the beginning of 2018 to find somewhere I could visit. 

Why did you choose Bridging Gaps? 

They were honestly so nice and helpful from the beginning. They really wanted to cater to what you were interested in to find the perfect internship/volunteer opportunity for you (mine being in biology). 

What was your favorite part about Cape Town? 

Honestly, everyone was so nice and helpful. Cape Town has so many different things to do and experience. It really felt like home to me while I was there. 

What made your experience abroad extraordinary? 

Aside from Cape Town being such an incredible place with SO many things to do, see, experience, etc., I think Bridging Gaps made it so worth it. They answered any questions I had and helped me experience things that I really wanted to do. I think if I went there without any help I would not have gotten to do half of what I did with them. 

How did the local program staff support you throughout your program? 

They were some of the best people I've ever experienced in my entire life. They really cared about me and if I was comfortable in my accomodation and my internship. They were incredibly helpful from the beginning and answered any questions I had. They really care that their interns get the best experience out of their time in Cape Town. 

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad? 

The only regret I really have is not staying longer. I was in Cape Town for a month, but honestly I could have stayed for much longer. 

Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like. 

Aside from being in the lab I was interning at and staying in my accomodation, I would hang out with my roommates and just experience all of the things Cape Town had to offer (which included drinking a ton of the delicious wine and going around to the main tourists spots). 

What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad? 

I really just enjoyed experiencing Cape Town. It's such a diverse city and there is so much to do! 

What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it? 

I stayed at a house with five other girls who were all from South Africa. They were so nice and helpful while I was there. I am still in touch with some of them today! 

What is your best advice for future participants? 

Definitely do your research about what you want to do and what you want to see. Go in with an open mind and ask a lot of questions. Remember this experience is for you. 

Would you recommend your program to others? Why? 

YES! I had the best time ever and everyone should as well! 

What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is? 

I think just experiencing a new culture is so incredible and it helps you become a lot more open minded and open to more experiences. 

Now that you're home, how has your internship abroad impacted your life? 

Aside from having my internship experience that I can put on my resume/CV, I think just having that experience under my belt makes me want to travel more and it helped me be more open-minded to people and about the world. 

What does meaningful travel mean to you? 

I think it just means that you're getting what you want out of travelling and you get to come home feeling happy. You got to live your best life and can come back with those experiences that you can share to others.