Intern Abroad in New Zealand with WorldStrides

As a graduate student of social work and pastoral ministry with interests in community development, I researched a number of internship placements in a number of international settings. I soon found ISA/TEAN's wide array of opportunities. After some initial applications, their admission staff connected me with their Service-Learning program which allowed me to specialize in nonprofit work. What particularly struck me about ISA's programs in general was the amount of logistical support they lent me leading up to, during, and after my internship program. ISA/TEAN has a friendly, caring staff across the globe ready to support students. Through organized conversations, Zoom meetings, and micro-credential courses, ISA/TEAN gave me ample opportunities to reflect on my experience abroad—allowing me to approach my experience intentionally and informatively.

For my midlife crisis project, I went to New Zealand to live for almost 3 months. This endeavor was greatly assisted and made possible by my incredible ISA advisors and the global opportunity staff. They took the stress away from the process and guided me through all of the steps. I only leave a five because I was only offered one internship. That turned out to be not the most pleasant experience, and it would have been nice to have been offered options.

I really loved my intern abroad experience and the connections I made in my time there. It was definitely an experience that pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me become more independent. I loved the organized activities as well as the orientation trip and believe that I was able to learn so much about the culture and history of New Zealand. It was truly an unforgettable experience and I hope to make many more trips to New Zealand in the future.

My summer interning in New Zealand through TEAN was truly one I will never forget. The application and interview process supported by TEAN’s excellent staff was smooth and I was placed in the appropriate field in which I wanted to gain work experience. I had a blast on the orientation with the other interns; it was a great way to make new friends and get to see the country before settling into the internship. I lived in a beautiful apartment that TEAN organized with other interns, balanced working hard during the week and exploring NZ on the weekends, and established connections with my supervisors. I learned so much about my field, gained real-world skills, and pushed myself out of my comfort zone. It was a summer full of personal and professional growth and I highly recommend TEAN!

I was blessed with the opportunity to work for a boutique PR company in Auckland, New Zealand this past summer called Lily & Louis. I could not have been placed at a company that suited me better, and the work I did was actually exciting to me. I worked from 9-5 Tuesday through Friday, however, I never dreaded going. I was excited to meet more people, speak with my coworkers and my bosses, and take part in meetings where I felt like I was a part of the company. TEAN placed me with a company that allowed me to be myself and promote my own ideas, and my program advisor was always there if I needed her. I spent most of my time in the office which was perfect because it is beautifully decorated with hundreds of fashionable clothing pieces, desktop Macs for all of us to work on, a full kitchen, two separate offices for meetings (The White Room and The Black Room), and two adorable dogs that spent their days there as well (Lily and Louis). One day I was asked if I could drive, and I said, "Of course, but never on the other side of the road!" so one of my coworkers even taught me how to drive in New Zealand where we went on a mission to pick up doughnuts to decorate for a media piece we were working on. This experience was absolutely amazing, and I wish I could work here after graduation (if only NZ were closer to the US). I was able to travel to dozens of different places on my long weekends and learn and experience the work culture in what is now my favorite place in the world.

When I first watched Peter Jackson's adaptations of The Lord of the Rings at age 10, I knew I had to visit New Zealand. How could such sweeping plains, craggy volcanoes, and verdant farmland exist in one small island country? However, because of the stresses of traveling so far, I knew this would not be an easy trip to plan or execute on my own. What is a sad nerd girl to do? Luckily, I found my answer in TEAN; not only did they help with my travel and living arrangements, they offered me the chance to work for college credit and live in my dream city, Wellington, for two months. I had the opportunity to get real-life, cross-cultural work experience at Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand, a partner of the Globe in London that specializes in educational outreach for secondary school children. Aside from my 40-hour work weeks, I was able to explore the country that had fascinated me for so many years during my spare time. It took a few bouts of severe homesickness and many trips to the coffeeshop by the office, but in between searching for Hobbits and those ever-elusive Kiwi, I found a better, stronger version of myself along the way. I'm forever thankful to New Zealand and TEAN for allowing me the opportunity to live a dream and plan for my not-so-distant adulthood, all at the same time.