For this month’s Scholars event, I attended the International Affairs Internship Panel in the Smith-Steeb glass classroom on Monday, September 9 as a professional development event. Prior to this event, I thought that obtaining an internship abroad would be rather difficult and did not even know where to look to find one. After hearing the panelists’ first-hand accounts, however, I have a much better understanding of the process and feel assured that an internship abroad could be an option for me. Two of the four panelists went through Ohio State for their internship and recommended doing so because, in their opinion, it was an easier and more straightforward process than going through a connection outside of the university. By going through Ohio State, the students were able to secure scholarships and housing. For the panelists who did not go through the university, finding housing, especially in another country, was a stressful time for them.

Since this event was put on by a member of the IA leadership council and largely focused on working abroad, it heavily related to the topic of International Affairs. Three of the four panelists had interned in another country – Canada, Portugal, and France – and the other worked for the state department in Washington, DC but her work dealt with international topics. By spending a summer working in another country, the panelists really got to immerse themselves in a different culture. Not only did they get to be a tourist in their respective country, but they also got to see a whole other side of the culture through their workplaces. Two of the panelists interned at international companies and reflected on how fascinating it was for them to walk down the hallway and hear multiple languages spoken at a time. The panelist who interned for the Canadian Parliament had a different experience since he worked in an anglophone office, but he says that he knows so much about Canadian culture now from his five weeks there. One of the panelists even took initiative to be directly involved in the community she was living and working in by joining an intramural volleyball league. She recommended for anyone thinking of interning abroad to join an intramural or similar group because it made her feel more at home there. It is also a great way to meet people who already have a common interest and she said that she made a lot of friends by being in the league.

I am glad I took advantage of this event because I gained a better sense of what it is like to intern abroad. Because of the panelists’ perspective, confidence, and advice, I am more inclined to apply for an internship abroad now than I was going into the event. However, whether or not I am able to intern abroad one day, I do know that I want to study abroad while at Ohio State and most of the panelists’ advice is transferable to that context.