Intern Abroad in San José, Costa Rica with AIFS Abroad

I had an excellent experience with the Summer 2024 Internship Program in San Jose, Costa Rica! I initially applied for the program because I always had a knack for international travel and I needed a Summer Internship to help me gain proper work experience for my Accounting Major, and AIFS Work Abroad helped me get the best in both worlds. My housing situation was just what I needed and allowed me an opportunity to forge bonds with fellow AIFS Interns as well as local Costa Rican students. It was located right by some supermarkets and even a shopping mall, helping us Interns fulfil our daily needs. The AIFS center also provided excellent cultural immersion excursions, allowing me and my fellow AIFS interns/students to enjoy the rich biodiversity, cuisine (like Casados and fresh fruit), and hospitality of Costa Rica. AIFS Staff even offered guidance for students that might have had trouble commuting to the workplace that had hired them as an intern, including me, who needed specific bus directions. AIFS upon receiving my resume and cover letter wasted no time trying to get me paired with a workplace looking for an Intern of my background: an Auditing Department at a local Municipality. Once they connected them with me, I conducted an interview with them and got the job. My supervisor and colleagues were very friendly, always looked out for me, and made sure my work quality was up to standard even when they had long, busy days. My supervisor gave me a project where I analyzed the greatest risks facing the Auditing Department, but I finished my deliverables so fast that I needed mini projects to apply my learning and keep me busy, which my supervisor was happy to provide. My workplace allowed a flexible work schedule to make room for AIFS Excursions (which occasionally happened on weekdays) and was conveniently located enough so that I could commute easily through bus/uber. The only slight hiccup with the entire work process is the fact that it wasn't initially clear that my workplace worked all in Spanish and had limited English (Note: this might vary for workplaces in Costa Rica) before I conducted the interview, but since I already had an Intermediate Spanish Background which contributed to my desire to apply for the Costa Rica Intern Abroad program specifically, I adjusted accordingly and became the best of friends with my colleagues. AIFS did a great job in identifying a workplace that was right for me, and my workplace did a fantastic job in ensuring I had the proper learning, working, and bonding experience. Overall, I believe that the AIFS Internship in Costa Rica is top notch and even exceeded my initial expectations. I would recommend this program to any student that needs some work experience in their field as well as a good cultural immersion experience. I would even recommend this program to students who aren't the most adventurous, because getting work experience in a different country will greatly help them gain relevant hands-on knowledge and an International Network, and the cultural activities AIFS offers may help them warm up to life Abroad. I hope my story inspires students to go down the same path, and as they say in Costa Rica, "Pura Vida!"

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I recently had the incredible opportunity to participate in the internship abroad program in Costa Rica, organized by an outstanding company that provided an experience that was both enriching and stress-free. First and foremost, the program was impeccably organized. The detailed itinerary ensured that our 11 weeks there was filled with valuable experiences, visiting various places in Costa Rica. The company left no room for uncertainty, which was greatly appreciated in an unfamiliar country. One of the highlights of this program was the strong sense of community fostered among participants. From day one, we were encouraged to bond and support each other, creating friendships that enhanced the entire experience. This sense of camaraderie made navigating a foreign environment much easier and more enjoyable. The program's value was also evident in its inclusivity. The price was certainly worth it given the comprehensive services provided. The company not only arranged relevant internships and interviews, ensuring professional development, but also curated exciting weekend excursions that allowed us to explore Costa Rica's natural beauty. While I felt a bit overqualified in my internship placement and would have appreciated a greater challenge, the experience still benefited my resume and allowed me to gain valuable insights into the local work environment. Overall, my study abroad experience in Costa Rica exceeded expectations. I would highly recommend this program to anyone seeking a transformative and well-organized international education experience. The memories and skills gained from this adventure are truly priceless.

My experience with AIFS played a huge role in me finding my path as a student, in my career, and as a person. I was placed in an internship where we worked closely with the Municipality of Curridabat in the CITBIO project. We met with everyone from the mayor, city planners, university professors and students, and closely with landscape architects, arboreal, agricultural, soil, avian, and ecological experts. My comfort zone has expanded considerably, I went into this experience knowing no one and no Spanish, but AIFS provided us with opportunities to bond and to learn, and that is exactly what happened. This has catalyzed growth for me in ways I could not have imagined prior to this experience. If I could give any advice to someone looking into this program it would be to TRUST THE PROCESS. There will be ups and downs, of course, that is life, but take every opportunity available and embrace the discomfort because that is the beauty of it all-- seeing the full spectrum of the experience and carrying that with you.

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I decided to participate in this program for the summer of 2023, after graduating from college. Not only was this experience a great way to build some professional skills I would need on a resume, but it also served as a reward to myself for graduating with my bachelors. The program was very well organized, I felt extremely safe and supported by the staff during my visit, and I met so many amazing people who I am still friends with. During my 8 weeks in Costa Rica I traveled all around the country, swam in both oceans, and ate the tastiest food I have ever tasted in my life. Although the cost of living in Costa Rica could be a bit expensive at times, I really appreciated the trios that were included in the program, and that our housing accommodations included access to a kitchen, our own room and bathroom, as well as on site security. I never once felt endangered or anxious about being by myself in a foreign country. Karla, Jisenia, and Carlos were absolutely amazing at showing us around, making sure we were mentally and physically okay, as well as taking time to match us with the perfect internship. My internship boss was so kind and I learned so many things from her. I could go on and on about how worth it this experience was, and how if given the opportunity I would do it 100x over again. I learned so many important life skills, such as how to navigate the world on my own, deal with living with other people, manage my time and my career, as well as balance a social life. I felt that I came back from this program with a deeper appreciation for myself and all that I accomplished, as well as a sense of direction with what I wanted from my life. Please please please if you are able to do this program…DO IT!!! You will undoubtedly have the time of your life.

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Spending two months interning in Costa Rica during the summer was an amazing opportunity provided by Global Experiences. The housing was amazing and more than I expected and the internship was a great opportunity to learn about the host country and gain practical knowledge and experience in NGO work. The whole program gave us the ability to explore and grow as an adult in a new environment and make life-long friends and connections that will serve as bridges to future adventures and opportunities.There were many opportunities during the weekends to explore as a group the diverse areas and provinces of Costa Rica and my main regret is not taking advantage of that earlier. The program also provided day trips that were really great opportunities to explore areas we might not have thought to go to and be able to bond as a group. At work, I was able to improve my Spanish a lot and learn a lot about organizing priorities and tasks in a small NGO environment. The work environment was really relaxed and friendly, but also very focused on important tasks that any struggling NGO must face. I was able to not only learn more about that field of work (i.e., women's advocacy and prevention of teen pregnancy), but also was able to learn a lot about the challenges small NGOs face and the way to address and solve them as a group. Overall these two months were a great opportunity for growth and development as an adult and someone looking to go into small NGO work and advocacy work and with the help of our coordinator and in our excursions together, we were able to learn a lot about ourselves, each other, and Costa Rica.

This was, I believe, the most enlightening experience of my life. I was able to learn, cultivate social and professional relationships, and adapt to an environment better than I thought. It was amazing to see myself grow in this 2 month period through this program. My internship, as a Junior Engineer for Tico Electronics, was amazing as I was able to use my mechanical engineering skills/background to the fullest and learn industrial skills such as cost benefit analyses, risk analyses, time-studies, etc. I was able to present a sustainable design to senior engineering team and management to approve it for implementation. During my off/free time from work I was able to make connections with other interns, and other Costa Ricans as the language barrier became smaller and smaller every day. The events such as the Volcano Irazu trip helped me to connect with more things than I would’ve been able to in my city of residence (Houston, Texas). During my time, I was also able to visit the US embassy, volunteer with EducationUSA, and inspire other engineering students like me. This program helped me achieve all of these things, and more.

My experience of living and working in San José, Costa Rica for the past two months has been incredibly fulfilling! I have gained valuable knowledge for my desired field as well as a newfound love for Costa Rica and it’s people. Any internship gives one a more authentic perspective of their desired field, and my internship exceeded my expectations by also providing insight on interpersonal relations from a different culture. My coworkers largely collaborated on large projects making it easy to be a productive team member. The lack of competition between colleagues but empowerment to all participant’s ideas was refreshing. Outside of work, San José has opportunities for unique activities, delicious local food and coffee, and tropical biodiversity. When you are able to get out of the city on weekends, there is so much to experience!!

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Living and interning in San Jose with Global Experiences is an incredibly rewarding and completely unique opportunity! Living somewhere that is overlooked by most people is an amazing experience in an of itself, but this program also allows you to feel like you are living rather than just visiting Costa Rica. It is definitely worth it if you are looking to gain professional experience or to work abroad. As the first international intern at a public institution I was able to experience a wide range of things I never would have been able to otherwise, and as the San Jose program is so new there is a lot of flexibility and opportunity especially at work, to be part of and to contribute to projects that make important changes in Costa Rica. Being able to intern while having the support of the program and the option to travel makes it the perfect combination of everything. You have the independence to explore but also have a support system from the program and from other interns if you need it. Your internship is chosen specifically for you and is able to teach you and challenge you in ways that only being in a new place is able. If you are looking to learn or improve your Spanish, Costa Rica, and your internship especially, is the perfect environment to do it. Costa Rica is not like anywhere you have traveled before and that guarantees that it will be an experience that's completely unique to you. There are things and opportunities that will be apart of your life in Costa Rica, both at work and on your own time, that you won't be able to have anywhere else. I can't recommend living in Costa Rica enough. The things you are able to do and to learn from two months in San Jose with Global Experiences are things you'll use professionally and remember personally for a very long time!

I really enjoyed my time in San Jose! From day one all the way until the end, the experience was challenging and engaging without ever feeling frustrating to be a part of. Working and living in a country that was so different from my own helped me grow both personally and professionally, and I feel that I will be far better off in the future because of it. The program was high-quality in every aspect, from the amazing day excursions and activities to the accommodations that soon began to feel like home. I was free to be independent, but I always felt like I had support if I needed it. If you are looking for a great all-around experience in a beautiful country, then this is the program for you!