I have been really grateful that my academic and internship experiences abroad have allowed me to travel on the weekends. While living in London I knew I wanted to make the most of flights around Europe any chance that I got, to move around and see more tiny corners of the world. Ryanair flights became my best friend. The cheap flights never took me to the popular places and I ended up exploring random bits of Ireland and Scotland. If you ever find yourself in Cork, Ireland, and order an Uber, you might just get to feed the driver’s pet crow.  

Camels in Morocco over our spring break. 

The Blue Lagoon off the coast of Malta. 

This semester, Spring 2025, I have been interning with HandsOn London, a nonprofit organization that helps connect corporate companies to volunteer opportunities around the city—packing kits for the homeless, cooking lunch in a dementia care facility, conservation tasks in parks and greenspaces, and beyond. Working with an international NPO has allowed me to connect with people from numerous parts of the world and learn more about the needs of vulnerable populations in London and the benefits of time and money in a volunteering standpoint.  

The Old Head of Kinsale. 

My internship, working in Brent Lodge Park. 

My school schedule has also worked in my favor—I got lucky. We got to choose our classes but had no idea the schedule that would correlate. On Monday, I don’t have class until 2:00 p.m. and then have class on Tuesday and Wednesday too. Thursdays and Fridays are the days that I am with my internship. Often I use Fridays to finish up internship work and write reports from the volunteering sessions that we run on Thursdays. This has allowed me to take Friday night flights and be back on Monday before class.  

 Skiing in Chamonix.  

Class field study at the Young V&A. 

I was worried at first that I would not be able to travel the way that I had originally hoped, but having class and interning Monday to Friday has not stopped me. For the weekends that I am planning to be away, I work extra hard during my off time in the week to create time and space for weekends out of London. I have written papers and completed assignments from all over Europe and it is always refreshing to have a change of pace from London.  

 Seven Sisters Cliffs in England.  

Sheep in the Scottish Highlands. 

My internship abroad has offered me the space and opportunity to adjust my schedule to what works best for me. Building trust over time, they knew and respected that I would get everything done on time and keep everyone up to date. I have had the flexibility to complete internship work where I want while still ensuring the vast majority of my hours were in person. At my internship, we talk a lot about how the service days are what the volunteers make it to be; will they work until they feel good about themselves, or until a difference is made for others? This semester has given me the space to continue finding out where I fit and craft future career goals while exploring the world and meeting new people.