IES Internships Cape Town Summer – Internship

My summer interning abroad with IES was an essential growing period for me. As a Ghanain-American in Cape Town, I learned so much about myself and my continent. I gained a better understanding of the legacies of colonialism, classification, and the inheritance of racism. Additionally, through my internship at the internationally renowned Groote Schuur Hospital, I was able to observe and expand my knowledge of South Africa’s healthcare system.

Cape Town was nothing like I expected. The city was completely surrounded by mountains. I climbed Lion's Head and rode a cable car in order to reach the top of Table Mountain. Both times, the views at the top left me breathless. I am not much of a hiker, but hiking up at least one of the mountains is a must! There were many cultures that came to reside in Cape Town and so many different cuisines to try. I enjoyed Cape Malay food the best, and I highly recommend going to Bo-Kaap, a former township in Cape Town. My internship placement taught me so much more about not only South African culture but also the culture of neighboring nations. South Africa is known as the Rainbow Nation, and I understood the label once I started at my internship. There were so many clients from different countries that came to South Africa with the same sole purpose of bettering their own lives and their families. I was able to learn so much through the people I met and the places I saw.

Cape Town is one of the most beautiful, diverse places I have ever visited. I love that from any given point in the city you can look up and see mountains in one direction and the ocean in the other. The people I met there, both the other students and the locals, were some of the warmest people I have ever met and I still keep in touch with many of them months later. I also had a great experience with my internship placement. I was placed in two of the public hospitals in Cape Town where I was able to shadow doctors along with medical students. They really worked with me and allowed me to see and participate in things I never thought possible.