Alina Freund: Hospitality internship programme review and rating.

Alina Freund: Hospitality internship programme mid programme update.

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In , Alina (from Germany) completed a 8 week internship programme with Bridging Gaps in the amazing city of Cape Town, South Africa. The primary career area of Alina's internship programme was Hospitality.

Alina's mid stay check in!

SUMMARY

Overview of Alina's internship programme:

Year:
Duration:
8
weeks
Location:
South Africa
Prog Choice:
CareerFocus:
Open
Nationality:
Status:
Post Graduate
Institute:
Heildelberg University
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KEY INSIGHT

Alina's detailed ratings

See a breakdown

Here's how Alina rated the different aspects of her Hospitality internship programme.

Overall Rating: /10
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Alina's detailed review of her experience.

01
Placement & programme experience
02
Location experience
03
Bridging Gaps' services & support experience
Placement & Programme
What were your reasons for wanting to complete a Hospitality internship programme in South Africa?

So in my case, I had to do an internship as part of my studies. I had to do an internship in an English speaking country and I chose Cape town because of cultural reasons and of course for the mountains and ocean. Cape Town is very beautiful!

What kind of internship experience were you initially looking for?

I wanted to do something in translation because I studied translation. I also wanted to be working somewhere, where I was trying different and new things often.

How did your actual internship placement compare to your ideal internship experience? ?

It was even better than I thought it would be! I did loads of different things; like I was a tour guide so I was able to join on many tours. I was also a translator for foreign guests. It was amazing, I had so many different opportunities!

Did you receive sufficient levels of supervision and guidance from your colleagues at your host organisation?

Well, my colleagues actually changed very early on in my internship, so there were times early on when I was given a lot of responsibility. But I thought this was really cool, it was a good experience and I learned a lot!

Were you given adequate responsibilities during your internship?

Yes, loads of responsibility!

Did taking part in your internship challenge you and help develop your skills?

It definitely did! My office suite skills, my translation skills, and working with people on a daily bases were skills I greatly improved. It helped me in many ways.

Do you feel that you were given the opportunity to make a valuable contribution to your local host organisation?

Yes, I think so. Being German and being able to translate for new customers made a big difference.

Overall, was this international internship a worthwhile experience that will help you achieve your career goals?

Definitely! Cape Town is an amazing city.

Location
What fears did you have before coming to with Bridging Gaps?

Of course, before I came to Cape Town, everyone was telling me how dangerous it is, so there was a fear of being robbed and I was worried about people being dangerous.

What do you think about those fears now?

I feel like it was so exaggerated by everyone. There are a few obvious rules we follow like you should not walk around at night as a girl, but its way less dangerous than people actually made it out to be. You just have to take certain precautions and then everything's perfectly fine.

After spending some time in the city, what is your impression of Cape Town?

The city is very diverse! There are certain parts of the city that are so different from each other. There are some parts where I feel like I’m in England and then there are other parts where I feel like I’m actually in Africa. Then some streets feel very American, it's so different. I love it, there are so many things to see!

Would you recommend Cape Town as a worthwhile and enjoyable place to visit?

Yes definitely.

Service & Support
Did Bridging Gaps help you prepare for your trip sufficiently? E.g. placement search, communications, mentoring?

Yes, you definitely did! You got the internship for me. You picked me up at the airport and took me to my accommodation. The orientation was good and helpful. The information you gave me was very accurate and helpful.

How was your experience of Bridging Gaps while you were on the ground in ?

It was amazing! You were always available when I had questions. You were very helpful and I loved the excursions and dinners!

What was the best feature of the Bridging Gaps Bootstrap internship programme?

Definitely the social events you organised for us and having this community of people doing things together! You made it effortless to meet new people and make friends. I loved the dinner meetups that you organized for all the interns!!

Did Bridging Gaps help you prepare for your trip sufficiently? E.g. placement search, communications, mentoring?

Yes, you definitely did! You got the internship for me. You picked me up at the airport and took me to my accommodation. The orientation was good and helpful. The information you gave me was very accurate and helpful.

Would you recommend pursuing a Hospitality internship programme in Cape Town with us to others?

Yes, I definitely would!

In what ways could our internship programmes be improved?

I don’t know.

Before you applied, how did you feel about the programme fees?

I initially thought it was a little expensive but after coming here and having this experience, it was definitely worth it!

Having completed your placement and had the experiences you've have, what do you think about the fees now?

It was definitely worth it because of the service provided to us. The social events like the dinners and the outings were great and the sense of community you provide is excellent.

What would you say to someone that is considering an internship here but is concerned about the fees?

I would tell them its a good idea especially if you are coming alone.

Anything else you would like to add?

Check out our Hospitality & Tourism programme

Click below to see more a more detailed description of our programme to see if it can give you the career boost you're looking for.

Hospitality & Tourism Internship Programmes

Intern at a dynamic and vibrant company in one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world! Our hospitality and tourism internships allow you to discover where your passions and strengths lie whilst gaining exciting hands on work experience in an establishment of your choice. We collaborate with backpackers, hotels, guest houses, travel companies and tour operators in the incredible city of Cape Town.

Internship Focus Options:

Tour operators

Food and Beverage

Hotel management and operations

Guiding

Hospitality & Tourism Internship Programmes
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