INTERNeX Through the Looking Glass -Destination Colombia

“Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected
for the rest of my life.” By Michael Palin. Can his words be any truer?

Amiel here with the latest INTERNeX Destination after Wednesday’s post about Ireland. We’re back in the Americas but not quite home. We’re going further to the south where the conquistadors came to take the land many, many years ago.

 

Colombia, the gate to South America. Just pick a climate and you’ll find it there. It has deserts, jungles, coast lines or snowy peaks, you name it. And each of these areas is bursting with colors and beauty.
This piece of Latin America used to be known as a country riddled with crimes and powerful drug lords. However, it has been reinventing itself in recent years and Medellín, City of Eternal Spring, was even nominated one of the most innovative cities in 2012.
In the same year Colombia was even crowned as the happiest country in the world. Why do you think that is? Well, they have the second highest biodiversity of animal and plant life in the whole world. They have the best coffee and beautiful natural phenomena like Caño Cristales. Colombia is also pretty rich in culture with Cali, the capital of Salsa or the legend of El Dorado.
This country has so much to offer, I can’t even tell you about it without writing a book or two. That would make anyone proud of his or her country happy right?

So my suggestion? Check out Colombia for yourself! You will most certainly be blown away by what you see there.
I for one can’t wait until I get the chance to visit my Colombian friends I made during my time in Peru.

Salud y hasta luego!

INTERNeX International Exchange – PR Coordinator
work + live + learn

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INTERNeX Through the Looking Glass -Destination Ireland

“Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” By Miriam Beard
I really like this quote, because I can actually feel myself changing every time I go out to a different place. It’s an incredible feeling!

Welcome back, Amiel here. After talking about Australia and New Zealand last week, let’s dig a tunnel right through the center of the Earth back to Europe.

Ireland, the country where you can find a leprechaun’s pot of gold at the end of the rainbow or get 3 wishes if you manage to catch one. It’s a magical with lots of myths and an amazing culture. I’m sure you’ve already heard about or even might have seen Riverdance. It’s a breathtaking theatrical show with traditional Irish dance and music.
There’s also the capital city Dublin, home of the famous Guinness Brewery. Speaking of Guinness, here’s a fun fact! Did you know that the Guinness family moved to Vancouver and built the Lions Gate Bridge in 1937? And this is only one of the many connections Canada and Ireland share. Even more than 14% of the whole Canadian population are of full or partial Irish descent.
Ireland is one of my favorite countries I’ve been to in Europe. It has many beautiful coastlines and places to visit and the people are extremely friendly. You should go check it out some day and let yourself be enchanted as well.

If you want to know more about a placement in Ireland, have a look at the INTERNeX website at www.internexworld.com
Next, we’ll be going back to the Americas. More specifically, to South America, Colombia.

 
Sláinte

INTERNeX International Exchange – PR Coordinator
work + live + learn

pr@internexcanada.com – Email
www.internexworld.com – Web
www.internexcanada.com – Blog
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INTERNeX Through the Looking Glass -Destination Australia

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain, author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer really had a lot of inspirational things to say about travel.

This Sunday evening is about Australia the neighbor of New Zealand which we covered in our last destinations post.

Australia aka Down Under, a paradise for surfers. Almost 90% of the country’s population lives along the coast where you can find them Perth in the west, Darwin in the north, and Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne in the south east.

So, what is there to know about Australia? There are 6 different climate zones from equatorial to desert to temperate. Combined with the extreme changes in weather and the isolation of the continent for so many ages explains the great number of unique plants and animals that live there. Remember the Tasmanian Devil from Looney Toons? Yea he really exists! The real ones don’t look quite as crazy though.
And what about the people? Australians are seen as one of the most easy-going and down-to-earth people of the world. This lets you meet new people and make friends quite easily.
Mixing all the beautiful and interesting sights Australia has to offer with the mentality of the people makes one hell of a cocktail of fun! There is so much to see and experience.

My tip: heed Mark Twain’s words and “Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Next up? The magical island of Ireland.

Cheers!

 

INTERNeX International Exchange – PR Coordinator
work + live + learn

pr@internexcanada.com – Email
www.internexworld.com – Web
www.internexcanada.com – Blog
www.facebook.com/INTERNeX – Facebook
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INTERNeX Through the Looking Glass -Destination New Zealand

What’s up? Amiel here and well, it’s Hump Day! Time for another of INTERNeX’ destination! Last week I already talked about Germany and the USA and now we’re going to check out New Zealand.
But first a little inspiration from JRR Tolkien:

“Remember what Bilbo used to say: It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

The first time you leave home is a bit scary. The second time you’ll probably still be little nervous. And after that? It’ll be hard for you to stop trying to leave.

Sooo, New Zealand. Many call this place the most beautiful country on earth. No wonder the producers of The Lord of Rings movies decided to film here.
Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city is also where INTERNeX has its second headquarters aside from Vancouver and this is where they also offer all three programs: Practicum, Hospitality and Ranchstay.
Since I live in Germany, New Zealand has always been that country on the opposite side of the world. That’s why as a traveler it’s one of the places I yearn to go. This increased even more when the movies of The Lord of the Rings came out. Which LotR fan doesn’t want to visit The Shire or the Mountains of Mordor?
However, New Zealand has way more to offer than that. For example biodiversity! Did you know that only 4% of the island’s population is human?

It’s a paradise with much to see and do. Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance travel there yet. Nevertheless, it’s definitely a place to put on your bucket list! A short vacation is most likely not enough to see everything you want to see though which is why I think the best way is to combine it with a practicum that enables you to experience New Zealand for a longer period of time. I’m doing the same right now for my stay in Vancouver and the memories I’m making here with all the people I got and get to meet are unforgettable!

Once again we’re at the end for today. Our next destination? Australia!

Cheers!

 

INTERNeX International Exchange – PR Coordinator
work + live + learn

pr@internexcanada.com – Email
www.internexworld.com – Web
www.internexcanada.com – Blog
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INTERNeX Through the Looking Glass -Destination Germany

Amiel here. Mark Twain once said: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” So, have a taste of that “Ignorance”!
The last couple weeks you’ve been reading about the main programs INTERNeX has to offer, those being Practicum, Hospitality and Ranchstay. But that was only half the deal. What about location?!
That’s right! In the upcoming posts I will be showing you what great places you’ll be able to explore with the help of INTERNeX.

First up we’ll begin with my home country. Drumroll please….Goooo Germany!

Germany is a really great country to live in for a few weeks, months or maybe even longer? You’ll learn so much and there are many old cities and castles and villages everywhere. You only have to drive for a few minutes and you’ll encounter another village right away. Very different to the vast open spaces of Canada!
As Germans we pride ourselves on being at the top of many things. We build the best cars, brew the best beer, bake the best bread and the list keeps going on and on. But there’s also so much culture. Germany has brought forth many of the greatest artist and minds in history. Famous figures like Mozart, Beethoven and Handel in classical music or scientists and philosophers like Albert Einstein and Immanuel Kant. Still not convinced? How about this? Germany is located pretty much at the center of Europe. This means you’ll be able to travel anywhere easily in a matter of a few hours. Weekend trips to amazing cities like Paris, Prague, Rome and Barcelona are no problem at all!

So yeah, that’s all well and good, what about the people though? First of all there’s no need to learn the German language. Most people will know English, especially the younger generations since it is already taught in most primary schools. Also, I often hear of the German stereotype being kind of rude and unsocial. The thing is we really don’t like beating around the bush. We like something? We’ll tell you directly – We don’t like something? We’ll tell you as well. I won’t go as far as saying that it’s because of some principal of honesty. It just often makes dealing with people easier. German efficiency!
The unsocial part is a little more difficult to explain. In Germany there is usually a big fat lineseparating private life and work. Even if you meet someone in their off-time, it usually takes a while for most to open up and consider you a friend. But once you’re in their “circle” – let’s just say we know how to have fun. We have lots of experience in partying hard. After all, you only need to be 16 years old to legally drink beer and wine.

I could keep going on forever conveying Germany’s awesomeness, however let’s leave it at this. If you’re interested you should definitely check it out. Living in Germany for a bit will be an experience you’ll never forget. By the way, many of the INTERNeX foreign participants are actually German. Why not meet them at one of our PuB NiGHTs or other events. Check us out on www.facebook.com/INTERNeX

Stay tuned for the next destination, Canada’s loving neighbor, the USA!

Cheers!

 

INTERNeX International Exchange – PR Coordinator

work + live + learn

pr@internexcanada.com – Email
www.internexworld.com – Web
www.internexcanada.com – Blog
www.facebook.com/INTERNeX – Facebook
www.youtube.com/user/internexcanada – YouTube
www.twitter.com/INTERNeX_Canada – Twitter
www.instagram.com/internex_canada – Instagram
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