Interning abroad in one of the fastest-growing economies in the world – Colombia – will make a huge difference to your future career. Whether you’re simply looking to complement your university studies with an international internship, or perhaps you’re a recent graduate and want to explore an international work environment through an internship program, Colombia is the place to be - we’ve highlighted 6 reasons why you should intern in Colombia.
Emerging Economy
Colombia is one of the fastest-growing economies in the region, with huge amounts of development and economic growth, representing a fantastic opportunity to gain experience in an emerging economy through a summer internship program. The IMF’s economic growth prediction for Colombia is 3.5% for 2019 and 3.6% in 2020, one of the highest in Latin America, despite slowing global expansion and growth.
The cultural experience and adaptability gained through an international internship in an emerging economy can be a massive asset to any company aiming to be competitive globally.
Locals
Colombia might not have an Empire State Building, Eiffel Tower or even a Great Wall, but they do have the Colombian people – which you might not know yet, is just as good!
Ask anyone who has been to Colombia what they enjoyed most about their experience and they will almost always say – the people! They are some of the friendliest, positive, and most outgoing people you are ever likely to meet.
Perfect Spanish
Colombian Spanish is generally one of the easiest accents to understand throughout the Spanish-speaking world. In major cities such as Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, and Cali it is very similar. A lot of Colombians will also be very curious to know why you are in Colombia and are happy to have a friendly conversation with a foreigner – so your Spanish skills will really improve!
Easy and cheap to get around
When interning abroad in Colombia, budgeting for your expenses is simple as the cost of living is low compared to the rest of the world. Colombia now has various ‘budget’ airlines operating national flights - VivaAir Colombia, Wingo, and also Avianca’s SuperPromo deals - making it easier than ever before to explore cities such as, Cartagena, Bogotá, Medellín, Santa Marta, Cali and anywhere else that you might wish to visit during your internship program in Colombia.
Buses are also a very economic option. They take a lot longer due to the mountainous terrain of Colombia, but perfect if you can sleep while traveling as overnight buses frequently operate.
Biodiversity
Colombia has it all – literally. Snow-capped mountains, deserts, the amazon jungle, Caribbean beaches, stunning wildlife, dazzling plants, exotic fruits, all-year-round perfect weather metropolis’ and 19 Natural National Parks, all sprawled across a land mass the size of Spain, Portugal and France combined. No surprise then, Colombia is the second most bio-diverse country in the world.
As a bonus, Colombia is less burdened by mass tourism than other South American countries, Colombia is home to some spectacular untouched, authentic, raw, rustic, and beautiful small towns, villages, beaches, valleys, mountains and even cities, making it a thrilling experience to discover and explore this dazzling country!
Gastronomy & Fruit
Colombia is a mecca for food lovers given its rich culture and extraordinary geography. With Colombia you get five countries for the price of one: the Andes, the Pacific coast, the eastern plains, the Amazon, and the Caribbean – each with its own culinary traditions and native ingredients. On every street corner, you find stalls selling arepas, empanadas, fresh fruit juice and other food delights depending on whereabouts in the country you are located during your internship in Colombia.
More notable are Colombia’s exotic fruits. Head to a local market with one of our local experts and sample the colourful exuberant fruits: from gorgeous guanabana, heavenly maracuya, tasty dragon fruit to the luxurious lulo fruit. If you’re from Europe or North America, you're guaranteed to discover fruits you have never seen before in your entire life – getting your five-a-day has never been so easy!
If you would like to know more about life in Colombia or how to apply for a summer internship in Colombia, please contact a member of our team. To learn more about our new virtual internships for students, please click here.
This article was written & published by Intern Colombia on 19 March 2019
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