Success Stories

Mark Sdao in Denmark: An Internship with IAESTE

I gained overseas experience through the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) by doing a placement in Denmark. The main advantage of programs such as IAESTE is that the organization secures your lodging (often with a local resident) before you arrive in the host country, arranges for you to have a career-related placement, and provides you with contacts with program alumni.

My friendship with colleagues was a great way to learn about the city: I was invited to parties, soccer matches, concerts, a world-famous jazz festival, and more. Despite a small country population (5 million), Denmark is rich in culture and has made many important contributions to the arts, science, sport and engineering. This was my opportunity to experience the day-to-day way of life, but in another culture: from cyclo-commuting, to an emphasis on public transit and protection of the environment, to social justice, and from opening a bank account in a foreign country to enjoying a beer at work on Friday afternoons.

The experience of working in a cross-cultural environment has helped me communicate across cultural lines in a professional setting. Overall, this has been a very rewarding experience, both personally and professionally, as it has allowed me to be more open to new ways of living and working.