Explore, Learn, and Work in Uruguay with Adelante Abroad!

Montevideo is a small and relaxed city, but not knowing anyone when I landed was definitely anxiety-inducing. However, my host family showed me around the city, and it was great to know that I could overcome things that once scared me! Everyone in Montevideo is incredibly kind, and multiple people were happy to reach out and offer help if I should need it. There were many trials and error such as getting a bus card in Spanish, learning how to ride the actual bus, navigating the 20 floor hospital I interned in, simply crossing the street, and learning the names of groceries in another language. At times it was difficult, but going outside of my comfort zone is what helped me to grow my confidence in myself knowing that I was able to accomplish these small but necessary daily tasks in another country.

I chose Uruguay for its safety and security, but quickly fell in love with the 'tranqui' way of life, the Rioplatense dialect and the hospitality between the people. My expectations were to put my head down for four months and work at the office doing my internship in translation, then return home. That couldn't be further from the truth. I met some amazing people from all over the world, who were fascinated about me and my country (the UK) and eager to exchange cultures. It was my first time visiting a country whose people didn't know much about the UK, and I learned so much about how it is viewed on the other side of the world. Simultaneously I learnt so much about Uruguayan culture from almost constant interaction with natives both in the office at my internship and also at the home where I was staying. I found that Uruguayans are lovely people and will always do the most to ensure you are doing okay- in a way that is so different from the customary and empty English "how are you doing?" to which you will always answer "fine". My experience with Adelante was amazing. Communication was always swift, I always found myself informed about the logistics of my placement and it was a big reassurance to have the programme coordinator in the country- especially as a young solo female traveller. I would heavily recommend Uruguay to anyone, but especially to any traveller who is concerned about safety. My experience here has been wonderful and I definitely see myself coming back

I had a very good time with my Internship. I enjoyed training so often and had a great time with my training partners. I must say the communication however was lacking along with the placement of the internship being too relaxed for myself.

I had an amazing time overall in Uruguay. My internship was absolutely perfect for me, directly relating to my career goals. My one notable complaint is that the housing situation was advertised as being 5-8 American students, but it was a 3-bedroom home, with one bedroom being for the Spanish teacher, and one a student from Holland. The living dynamic ended up being fine for me, but it was falsely advertised by the study abroad provider.

I spent 3 months in Uruguay, interning with a law firm in Punta del Este. The firm I interned with was the first firm to receive recognition for its continuous improvement and quality management by the National Institute of Quality (INACAL). It was an honor to collaborate with a firm with such recognition. My internship placement was flexible, and the team communicated with me well. I received university credit for my internship. Accordingly, I had to meet an hour requirement. My firm was happy to accommodate my hours and fill out all forms I needed for the university. As for Uruguay, it is a beautiful country. I have traveled to several countries in Latin America on multiple occasions, and my trip to Uruguay was the smoothest. Plus, the people were always willing to talk with me so that I could practice my Spanish. Overall, I enjoyed my experience and would recommend it to anyone looking for a meaningful internship experience.

I completed Spanish courses and a social media and promotion internship with a Spanish language school in Maldonado, Uruguay right near Punta del Este. I lived in the school residence for 3 months. I loved the neighborhood and being so close to the beach! The work environment I experienced was very flexible, which is a plus as I mostly made my own hours and worked from the garden of the school. The negative of this was that it sometimes lacked structure and feedback. I do think my language skills improved through writing in Spanish for posts and a newsletter as I was provided with corrections. I also was able to meet other international travelers learning Spanish and speak with them, which was super interesting. Uruguay is a beautiful country with a lot of different places to explore. My favorite weekend trips were to Colonia del Sacramento, a cobblestone street city lined with bright colored buildings, and Cabo Polonio, a secluded beach town with a lot of sea lions!

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This experience is a must, especially for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure in South America! Uruguay is a friendly, liberal (the most equitable country in South America!), accepting, and culturally rich country with gorgeous beaches all along its coast. The people were my favorite part of Uruguay. They are eager to learn about you as much as you want to learn about them. I ran into a lot of wonderful folks who wanted nothing more than to share with me their knowledge and experience of Uruguay for me to absorb and appreciate. Uruguay has a lot to offer and has its own unique culture to experience separate from the rest of Latin America. I highly recommend Uruguay, especially for those who love the outdoors and can speak intermediate Spanish. I miss Uruguay and plan to go back and visit places I did not have time to see and also reunite with friends I made during my stay (December 5, 2020 - January 31, 2021).

Uruguay is a place like no other. I may have come here at the wrong time of year (it's winter), but if I hadn't I wouldn't have been able to work at a place that really enjoy. I'm a college student, and most internships that are out there for people at this level just have you shredding papers and getting coffee. At International House I got the polar opposite. They had me observing classes, working with teachers, running workshops, and substitute teaching. I actually have teaching experience now, which is amazing and surprising from an unpaid internship. It helped that I'm a native English speaker, but they actually had me working and were using my abilities and asking for how I felt about the classes and what my feedback was about them. I actually felt like a valued member of the school. How often can you say that you feel valued at an internship? Overall, it's been a great experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Montevideo is a great city, but at the same time it is a city. I am not a huge fan of cities so while there are many museums to keep you occupied, it is easy to feel isolated from a cultural experience. My favorite experiences are when I left the city and explored Colonial for a day and Punta del Diablo for a weekend.

I had a great time in Montevideo, the internship was everything I could have asked for with my entry-level skill set. I feel far more comfortable and confident entering the workforce upon my return home. Plus, I have improved my Spanish greatly! Overall, it was a valuable experience.