What It’s Like to Complete an International Internship

During your time studying abroad with CEA CAPA, you may have the opportunity to complete an internship. I would highly recommend it. Not only do you learn more about your field of interest, but you also meet local people and can see a whole new side of your location!

Some of my fellow colleagues.

All of us really enjoy each other’s company.

My internship is with a small historical non-profit called Post Bellum in Prague, Czech Republic. They work with people who have become victims of harsh governments to preserve their stories, spread them, and protect the people. They have been known to provide birthday gifts, basic needs, and refrigerators, for example, to people willing to share their stories. In the past, they have worked strictly with people who lived under former Communist governments. Now, they are expanding to a much more global scale, including people who have lived under governments like those in Argentina and Chile.

Some of the past and present projects of the department.

My supervisor sharing about her work.

At this point, I have been at my internship for a little over a month and have already completed a large project. I edited together interviews from Cubans who lived in Cuba to create a 20-minute documentary about the reality of their lives in Cuba. It was presented at a conference and I was told people found it really moving. Knowing that something I worked on is being seen by and is impactful to so many people is an incredible feeling.

Edits from the documentary I was working on. I also made some short videos for social media.

Before beginning my internship, I had some initial concerns. I was worried that the internship would take up all my free time, but that has been far from the truth. I am currently taking five courses, the max allowed in the program, participating fully in the 20-hour-per-week internship, and traveling all around Europe and Prague. Most internships are partially remote, so this allows you to intern from anywhere sometimes. Personally, I have become very productive on long bus and plane rides to fun locations.

Me working hard!

One thing I did struggle a bit with is my schedule. My classes are all later in the day/afternoon and my internship follows a 9-5 schedule. This often means that many stores are closed once I am done for the day. It is convenient for participating in nightlife, but daytime activities become a bit harder. Plan a schedule with your internship so that you can have this time if you want it. Otherwise, those activities are reserved for the weekend—including Friday.

Me and the new intern bonding and creating new projects.

There are also some lovely perks, however. Besides the new skills and people, I can see a new side of Prague. I personally really enjoy the dog and stick bugs that hang out in the office. There are also office parties and invitations to local historical events that I partake in. For example, I have been invited to an interview with an international bestselling author and a celebration of veterans hosted by the city.

Some of the stick bugs that populate our office.

On chilly days we light a fireplace to keep warm.

The communal fridge where I can store all of my delicious lunches I get with my coworkers.

I had never participated in an internship before coming to Prague. All my previous work has been in the food or tech industry. I also faced difficulties finding internships at home. I live in a large city and there is simply too much competition for someone with no experience. CEA CAPA makes helping students find an internship in your desired field much more accessible. As a bonus, having an international internship adds a level of intrigue to your resume that most other people will not get. Due to this experience, I now have the knowledge to better enter my career field at home and can easily stand apart from the competition.