When Excitement Meets Uncertainty
You’ve already taken those first steps by choosing your internship placement and deciding how long you’ll be abroad. Now it is time to turn that excitement into reality. As your departure date approaches, fears, doubts, and questions about your internship abroad may start to creep in.
Stepping foot into the unknown is no small feat, many people experience a multitude of emotions beforehand. With traveling abroad for an international internship, you’re meeting unfamiliar people and stepping into a new culture all while performing new job responsibilities. Knowing what lies ahead can naturally create uncertainty.
In fact, excitement and nervousness often show up together. Doubt doesn’t mean you are unprepared, it shows you care about making the most out of the opportunity. This is a new experience, and it is normal to respond in both anticipation and apprehension.
Facing those obstacles and continuing forward despite uncertainties allows you to grow, feel confident in your experience abroad, manage expectations, and feel more grounded.
So, what are the most common fears interns have before traveling? Here are some honest answers, without sugarcoating it.
What If I Get Homesick?
The Fear
Going abroad means long flights, navigating airports, and figuring out all the other little details. Once you land, you are far from home and your typical routine. Upon arrival, it can be mostly exciting but as the days pass you may begin to feel a little uncomfortable. That feeling typically signals that you are now leaving your comfort zone and might be experiencing culture shock. There is just a lot of ‘new’. New culture. New place. New people. New food. New smells. New experiences.
The Honest Answer
It is natural to miss home. In a new environment, you are experiencing mental and sensory overload. However, it can also feel extremely rewarding and a little surreal that the internship you signed up for some time ago is actually happening.
As you settle in, continue to expose yourself to your surroundings. After a while it will begin to feel like second nature. Fortunately, we’re here at any point if you need it. You also still have the support of your loved ones back home if you ever wanted to give them a ring or shoot them a text.
Keep going. Keep expanding that comfort zone. Hopefully, you will begin to feel more confident and content with your surroundings. Once you return home, take pride in the fact that you pushed through and are returning with experiences that will last you a lifetime.
Tip: Make sure to have a plan in place for your phone before you travel internationally so that you have the freedom to talk to family and friends back home whenever you need. Some options include downloading Whatsapp, purchasing an esim, or seeing what is offered with your current carrier.
What If I Can’t Afford It?
The Fear
Being worried about the financial side of any abroad opportunity can be stressful because the human brain loves to categorize it as a non-necessity. When you might have school, rent, food, bills, etc to pay for going abroad can almost be viewed as a luxury.
Also, you might think: will it be worth it? Will the skills I gain from the internship advance me in my career? What if I don’t end up having a good time?
The Honest Answer
When you look back at your life when you are older, will you be happy or upset that you did that internship in South Africa? That is the question to ask yourself beforehand. Ideally, you will walk away with new professional relationships, skills, and experiences that you can apply in both your career and personal life. Understandably though, life is expensive and financial realities are real concerns. Ultimately, only you can decide whether the opportunity aligns with your current aspirations or interests. Remember that money will always return while experiences shape who you become. Additionally, you can always consider saving some of the cost by choosing to do a hybrid or fully remote internship. These options allow you to contribute to a meaningful cause while in the comfort of your own home.
Whether you define it as a luxury or a necessity, it helps you shape your confidence, form opinions, and discover new passions. It can also allow you to realize that the realm of possibilities far exceeds what you might have originally thought.
Tip: One method of funding your internships can be through university funding, grants, scholarships, and more. See the resources Roots provides on our website.
What If Something Goes Wrong?
The Fear
Murphy’s Law states if anything can go wrong, it will. At any point of every day, we as humans should understand that something can go wrong. So naturally, interning abroad will be no different. Except this time, you are exposed to a higher amount of new situations. Therefore, there are just a lot more opportunities for situations to arise.
Overall, there might be a lot of questions swimming around in your head like: is the country I am going to safe? Will there be other interns? Where am I staying? Do I need a visa? Are you trying to be prepared or thinking of every possible detail in an attempt to not have things go wrong?
The Honest Answer
It is good to be prepared to avoid a major hiccup in-country. Since signing up with us offers you an advisor to connect with, you should already know most of the answers listed above before your internship starts. However, there will always be questions that can’t be fully answered until you are experiencing them firsthand. For those, it is best to not let the “what if” questions take over. While it is easier said than done, accepting that things can and always will go wrong will equip you with the mental tools to face them when they happen. Furthermore, remaining open-minded and flexible as there are always different solutions to tackling an issue. As many of our internships are located in smaller communities and, assumingly, new environments for you, situations could be more prone to delays. These types of situations help develop practical skills such as decision-making and adaptability as well.
Things go wrong. Ask for support if you need it. Be prepared but enjoy the journey.
Tip: Do your own research before meeting with your advisor so you know exactly what you would like to ask in order to feel prepared. See other ways that can help you feel ready for your internship.
What If I Mess Up Culturally?
The Fear
Being respectful with etiquette, social norms, clothing, and language is the proper way to learn about a new culture. You may be balancing travel logistics and learning how to perform your internship while trying to interact with locals.
The Honest Answer
No one expects perfection. With modern day travel, you can be halfway around the world by the end of the day. Instantaneous exposure to a new culture can almost feel like whiplash. As long as you try to be respectful and follow their way of life, that is the best that anyone can do.
Will you make a mistake? Probably. Is that okay? Absolutely. Also consider that both we and the host organization will specifically prepare you during onboarding for how to adapt to your internship country. Since learning about a new place can be a bit overwhelming, the way we simplify it is by providing you with a simple list of the do’s and don’ts. The people you are interning for especially should understand that you are learning as well. Overall, your efforts are typically very appreciated by the locals as it shows your interest in their way of life.
Tip: Some ways you can prepare to be in-country is to learn basic phrases in the local language, understand the climate and what clothing is appropriate for the culture, and understand how to greet others. That is a good base to start with until you are able to expand your knowledge there.
What If I’m Not Ready?
The Fear
You have been looking into doing an internship for a long time. You have the time and ability to do it but you still don’t feel ready.
The Honest Answer
Our website offers a lot of content to explore if you are still unsure about taking that next step. Between blogs, intern reflections, our FAQ’s page and more, you will get a taste of what the process will look like. From there, we’ll guide you through the process, answer your questions or concerns, and eventually match you with the internship that fits you best. As we’re here to support and help you get the most out of your internship, keeping communication open and honest with us and your host organization can ensure a positive and successful experience.
Tip: Understand that there are many occasions where people don’t feel ready. In knowing you are not alone, more options will likely feel possible. See how one of Roots interns turned their experience into a full-time role.
The Takeaway
There are a great deal of considerations when making that decision to do an internship with Roots Interns. You will have the opportunity to make a real difference working with an NGO or grassroots project while learning new skills and making new connections. It is expected to feel
nervous or even have cold feet. Part of what makes the experience memorable is how much you are exposed to in a short period of time. Handling new or even challenging situations develops your personal and professional skills.
Ultimately, even stepping out of your home each day involves some level of risk and remaining in the same routine or environment doesn’t usually support your growth. Taking that leap and understanding what you are capable of is part of what makes interning abroad worth your while. So while you sit there and contemplate your fears, also consider the positives that can come out of it and know that we are here at every step of the way.
This blog was written by Carlee Simpson.
