An Internship of a Lifetime Past Review
By Nancy Vazquez (University of California - San Diego / UCSD) - abroad from 07/01/2015 to 08/29/2017 with
Internship in Vietnam through SE Vietnam
The experience that I have so far at SE Vietnam has been helpful in get a better idea of what I want to pursue after I go back home to the U.S., and my experiences overall in Vietnam that were very much made possible by SE Vietnam are experiences that are invaluable and that I will cherish for a lifetime. Vietnam is a beautiful country, with its breathtaking nature and tropical beaches, there is no doubt about it. But what really makes Vietnam feel like home and a place that I have become fond of is the people, the friends that I have made along the journey.”
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
I have learnt a lot during my time as a Marketing intern through SE Vietnam |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everyone at the office was friendly, nice and care about other aspects of my life besides work which helped ease my homesick. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I stayed at a homestay for expats in Hanoi, the people there are very friendly by it is a bit busy since the homestay is also a coffee shop |
| * Food: |
The food here is amazing, you have to come try for yourself |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I am able to immerse in the local culture through getting to know my local buddies, they helped me a lot going around and getting to local hot spots and amazing places outside the cities to their family. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
I was taken cared of whenever I feel sick |
| * Safety: |
The traffic in Vietnam is a bit confusing and chaotic at first, but once you get used to it you'll be surprised how proud you feel when you can conquer crossing the street by yourself |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The people at SE Vietnam helped me transition into moving to Hanoi and beginning my internship. They helped me find a homestay at this place called Bui Xuyen Viet Travel Coffee, which is a small coffee shop that is all about travel. I really love my home stay. The people are some of the kindest I have met in Vietnam and extremely helpful in helping me navigate through the city and experience a local perspective of life in Hanoi. As for my internship, the staff has been very supportive and encouraging. They have helped challenge me and encourage me at the same time to contribute in any way I can to the company. After only a few days there, I could tell that I would really like my co-workers. They are a young, energetic, and sarcastic bunch who truly care about the company. It definitely feels like a team at the office. I know that I can talk to them about any questions I may have, and they are patient in letting me learn along the way. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Everything here is very cheap: food ($25/week), accommodation ($200 for shared room), transportation ($5/week for buses) |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Everything here is very cheap: food ($25/week), accommodation ($200 for shared room), transportation ($5/week for buses) |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Vietnamese |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
