Dorien during her internship in Cape Town, South Africa

Type of Internship
Internship at a large real estate firm

What did you think of the city?
Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever been to. Table Mountain and the beach make the city feel incredibly magical. The only downside to Cape Town is the crime. It was a bit of a culture shock at first, but you get used to it quickly. South Africans aren’t exactly known for their work ethic—everything moves at its own pace. Compared to the Netherlands, that’s a big change.

There’s so much to do in Cape Town that it’s almost overwhelming. You’re afraid you’ll miss something or won’t have enough time to see it all. Time flies when you’re in Cape Town!

What did you think of the internship?
It took me a while to adjust. I’m used to a more businesslike environment in the Netherlands, but the company here is very informal. Everyone is so kind and caring. Whenever I talked about where I live or anything else, they were always eager to help. For example, I went on a weekend trip with a colleague, her daughter, and her son.

The work itself isn’t that different from back home. During the first two months, I took a two-week course, where I learned a lot about the company. My supervisor, Nancy, is super sweet and always organizes opportunities for me to learn as much as possible.

What was the most special thing you experienced?
I’ve had so many happy moments. That’s mostly thanks to the amazing people I’ve met—they made me feel at home very quickly, and I hardly felt homesick at all (sorry mom and dad!). So much happens here that the entire experience as a whole is really special.

Do you have any tips for students?
The best tip I can give: PLAN YOUR TRIP FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE!

What rating would you give your experience?
A BIG 10!!