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10 Reasons Studying Abroad Is Cool, But Interning Abroad Is Even Cooler

I mean seriously, you would rather study?

Karla Howard

Aug 22, 2018

University of Texas

302

10 Reasons Studying Abroad Is Cool, But Interning Abroad Is Even Cooler

Karla Howard

This past summer I interned abroad in Barcelona, Spain for a corporate law firm. I was in between deciding whether or not I wanted to study or intern abroad but ultimately decided on taking the internship. Honestly, it was the BEST DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE!

So, why should you choose an internship over studying abroad?

1. An experience to add to your resume – DUH!

Beachfront paella and cocktail (drinking age is 18 and up)

Karla Howard

Intern abroad to gain experience, expand your cultural knowledge, and EAT. DELICIOUS. FOOD.

2. Connecting with your coworkers—who will then connect you with their friends, and their friends' friends and so on.

Casual lunch outing during lunch break. Pictured are a few of my coworkers.

Karla Howard

Do not be afraid to make the first move with your coworkers. Being open, friendly, and talkative makes you one step closer to becoming more comfortable in the workplace and, ultimately, all around in the (maybe) unfamiliar foreign country.

3. Interning abroad will allow you to expand your horizons and career aspirations!

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Maybe after interning you will realize, "Hmm, I don't want to be a criminal defense attorney, I want to be a corporate / international law attorney and travel the world!" (like me).

4. YOU CAN TRAVEL.

Sitges, Spain

Karla Howard

It's not just about work, work, work.

5. Develop cultural connections.

La Boqueria--Barcelona, Spain

Karla Howard

Interning abroad allows you to connect with the culture of the country in which you are in, being that you are immersed in the language, engaging in the workplace with your coworkers, and gaining knowledge about how your field of interest is applied in a foreign country.

6. Forge life-long friendships.

Karla Howard

Hook 'em!

7. Find yourself.

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Maybe this is the missing piece of the puzzle you were needing to complete your life.

8. Go with friends! OR go by yourself and MAKE friends!

#ZLAM

Karla Howard

My friends and I had different internships, experiences, and met different people, but we always made time to experience what Barcelona and surrounding areas had to offer us. Experiences like these allow your friendships to grow in a positive way.

9. Keep an open mind.

Spanish fried anchovies

Karla Howard

You are going to be working and meeting people who may be a completely different (race, religion, language, etc.) and it's okay! Learning to adjust and adapt to different cultures will only make you that much of a better person and employee.

FYI, you will have plates of strange food placed in front of you sometimes, and you just have to man up and EAT IT (or at least, taste it).

10. Last but not least, you can take fun selfies at work!

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Hey mom and dad, proof I am working!!!

There are just so many more reasons why you should choose to intern abroad instead of studying, but there is no perfect way to put into words this experience unless you do it yourself.

I hope you readers decide to give interning abroad a thought, or maybe a try! After all, travel is the best gift you can give yourself. :)

-Karla Howard

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Recommended for you

10 Reasons Studying Abroad Is Cool, But Interning Abroad Is Even Cooler

I mean seriously, you would rather study?

1. An experience to add to your resume – DUH!

2. Connecting with your coworkers—who will then connect you with their friends, and their friends' friends and so on.

3. Interning abroad will allow you to expand your horizons and career aspirations!

4. YOU CAN TRAVEL.

5. Develop cultural connections.

6. Forge life-long friendships.

7. Find yourself.

8. Go with friends! OR go by yourself and MAKE friends!

9. Keep an open mind.

10. Last but not least, you can take fun selfies at work!

Subscribe to our Newsletter

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Phase One: The “I got this” phase

Phase Two: The “I have time” phase

Phase Three: The uncontrollable sobbing phase

Phase Four: The “help me, I've fallen and I can't get up” phase

Phase Five: The rejoicing phase

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

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