If you’re among the small percentage of people who make the leap from saying ‘I’d love to travel but…’ to actually doing something about it, you’re probably a bit unique to begin with. So what does becoming an international intern say about you? Here’s a quick guide to the messages you send out to everyone else by being one of the few.
- Love of exploration
Growing up on movies like Indiana Jones and National Treasure, you always saw yourself pursuing a life where you
get to look rugged in a khaki shirt whilst trekking through jungles to remote Buddhist temples in South Asia. You have what, to your friends, seems quite an odd fetish for maps, perhaps having a world map on your wall with pins marking all of the places you’d like to visit. You probably started young, exploring the dark corners of your house in search of hidden cookies, but who can tell where this trait will take you in the end? That’s the real fun of exploration, and you wouldn’t have it any other way!
- Ambitious
A real go-getter, you don’t take defeat easily. You have high standards for yourself and expect everyone else to work hard and play fair. You can be quite ruthless when playing Monopoly but you still tip the board over when someone else cheats. You are your own worst critic, and even when you score 99% on a test, you berate yourself for missing out on 100%. Friends and family can see that you’ll go far though, and know that you’ll go the extra mile to achieve your goals.
- Unworried by your image
Are you the sort of person who wears odd socks, not as a fashion statement but just because it’s easier than finding pairs? Do you sing along to Mamma Mia, loudly and in public? If so, this could be you: travelling overseas for your internship in spite of uninformed warnings from friends about how you won’t have an enormous wardrobe of outfits to suit every occasion, may not have access to a shower every day and might even come across a few bugs. You’d rather find out for yourself and focus on diving head-first into a new culture, enjoying the important things in life.
- Open-Minded
Do you think you know all there is to know about the world, having watched CNN and the BBC? Do you know that your way of life is the best, with the only question being why other countries don’t seem to agree with you? If so, you’re in for a shock when it comes to interning overseas. Spending an extended period of time abroad exposes you to so many individual quirks of culture, seemingly odd practices and different worldviews to your own that if you don’t have an open mind when you leave home, you almost certainly will have by the time you return.
- An Appetite for Adventure
You know your Khao Phat from your Chow Mein, and whether it’s maple syrup on french fries to deep-fried pasta, there’s nothing you won’t try at least once. When it comes to interesting and unusual cuisine you’re every bit as adventurous as Bear Grylls, only without the TV production crew in tow. The idea of dipping into a whole new culinary tradition with mysterious dishes and surprise ingredients makes your mouth water and if it’s delicious enough you don’t become squeamish at the thought of which particular body part you might be consuming! If this sounds like you, you’ll be one of the few travellers who don’t make use of the seemingly ubiquitous McDonalds restaurants found all around the world.
Sounds familiar?
While fitting this profile isn’t a prerequisite to interning overseas, take a close look at yourself in the mirror to see how much applies to you. If you’re still convinced that you don’t fit any of these (admittedly exaggerated) stereotypes, give this to your parents, siblings and best friends to see what they think. Go ahead, I dare you!
Global Nomadic offers Professional Internships, Volunteer Projects and TEFL Programmes in 29 countries worldwide. Start travelling your career today!
