#connect123

[capetowninternship-blog]

Two Weeks Later

Well, I've been back in Michigan for two weeks now. It's a great feeling to be back where I left off three months ago after picking up and leaving to live an entirely different life for the whole summer. I don't know where to begin...I don't know how I feel, I don't know if I'm "different," I don't know if & how much I miss South Africa yet. I guess there's just no place like home. Everything here just feels so right & I definitely want to keep taking every chance I am given to explore the world, but I'll be more than content to settle down in the Midwest.

I think one of the biggest impacts South Africa had on me is showing me how blessed I am. I'm so grateful for everything I have. I'm not rich & I'm not spoiled, but I have SO MUCH more than SO MANY people in this world have, and I don't think that's something I could have wrapped my head around until I really experienced it. I am so deeply grateful for where I come from, even if it's not "perfect."

I learned a lot about how to treat people and how to live my life to the fullest in South Africa & I really hope I am able to translate that mentality into my every day life. I hope that the people I met, even if it was only once, know that their kindness, compassion, and their willingness to show me their side of the world had a great impact on me, & I sincerely appreciate who they are.

Now that I'm home, back to work, back to class, and back to my daily routine, it sometimes feels like I wasn't actually in Cape Town for the summer. I definitely won't forget this trip, but I'm also so happy to be home. :)

[capetowninternship-blog]

Internships & Immunizations

I've been super busy lately, but a lot has happened over the past couple of weeks.

Simone from Connect-123 (the agency setting me up with an internship) sent me the information of the 4 agencies I could potentially work for this summer, and these are the 3 I am currently considering:

Native: This agency is bigger than the other 2, but with that comes a lot more of a professional feel. This is a digital agency that was formed when 3 already successful marketing and advertising companies came together, so you know they know what they are doing. I love their website and how reputable the company is, and it looks fun and fast-paced, just what I am looking for. Vivid Luxury Marketing: I love this company's website, too (which is obviously a big deal for me - first impressions matter!) My only worry about this internship is that it's for a high-class luxury marketing group. I don't typically find myself all about the luxury brands, but I like that it's a smaller business and I would be able to work in a few different areas with press releases and events. PLUS, the CEO is a woman! Living Your Brand: This company is also smaller and I would be able to work with the account manager and executives. They develop "lifestyles," from what I understand, and then market the brand from there. They are developing their social media, which is a good sign, but I don't know if this is the perfect company for me.

I'm really hoping I can get an internship with Native, but I am more than willing to keep my options open.

I also just did Google street view for ALL of the locations, as well as where I will be living for the entire summer. Here's a screen shot of my home for three months:

It's no Paris, but I am super excited! Although I do live next to a cafe named "mugged"....yikes.

I am also all scheduled for my international immunizations and consultation, so that will be...fun? Lots of shots and information overload, but one step closer to Cape Town!

Finally, I found out yesterday that I got a scholarship for this summer!!! I don't know how much it is for until March 23rd, but I am SO happy that one of the scholarships I applied for came through for me! This is going to be so helpful and much needed. Thanks, MSU APRR department!

[capetowninternship-blog]

Paspoort

I just got back from getting my passport! I'm another $150 poorer, so this thing better come on time - it should be here in the middle of April.

My picture is really cute, though....it looks like I have an entire sandwich in my mouth and I seem to have acquired a mole on my lip, too.

What a mug shot.

[capetowninternship-blog]

The Next Step

Today I heard from my contact in Cape Town! I have to send in my resume and do a phone interview before I am placed with the company I will be interning at for the summer, but I'm getting so excited - everything is falling into place so quickly!

I also have been doing more research on Cape Town over the past few days, and picked up 4 books from the library while I was doing homework there tonight. I just read one called "This is Cape Town," which was a good one to start with...a little old and smelly, but it had a lot of great information and even more gorgeous pictures.

A couple places I plan on exploring while I'm there: Bo-Kaap District 6 Table Mountain the Winelands the False Bay Coast

Here's another picture for everyone to look at and be jealous! (:

[capetowninternship-blog]

Off to South Africa

This is my journey to South Africa. I decided to pursue an internship abroad this summer, partly to experience something scary, but mostly to escape. I was accepted  into the program one week ago, and have been scrambling to get everything together before I leave for three entire months. Now that I am OFFICIALLY moving to South Africa at the end of May (I accepted the offer today!), I am applying for every scholarship I can, perfecting my resume, and trying to craft the perfect cover letter. I didn't realize how much work this was going to be. I can't get a hold of my advisor for anything, either. I think she fell off the face of the Earth - terrible timing.

Today I looked up plane tickets for the first time, and it looks like air fare is going to cost more than the program itself. So I'm spending this weekend looking for a flight, renewing my license (my 21st birthday was yesterday!!!), getting a passport, finishing three scholarship essays, and editing my cover letter. Hopefully I make it out alive.

I know all this work will be worth it, though. I can't wait to leave the country for a bit and see how the rest of the world lives.