Overseas Exchanges
 Travelling
overseas can be a costly and sometimes frustrating experience,
but there are other methods to take some of the financial
sting out of heading OS. Take Miranda for instance. She signed
on with Council
Exchanges and scored a gig on the set of the most popular
educational TV show ever. Yes, we're talking Sesame Street.
This is Miranda's story:
"I participated in the USA internship program with Council
Exchanges and was an intern for Sesame Street in New York
(2000-2001). The stuff dreams are made of!
"I initially planned to stay for six weeks but ended
up staying in new York for a year and taking on more responsibilities
(and more pay!). I made some amazing friends from all over
the world and staying in New York also gave me a chance to
explore the east coast. In the space of a year, I got the
chance to visit all sorts of places ranging from Quebec to
Puerto Rico. It is great to take yourself out of the comfort
zone of home, it really challenges you to rethink your attitudes,
impressions and biases…
"As per work, all I can say is that overseas work experience
is resumé clout! It really opens up a lot of doors
for you when you get home because what you have will be so
different from most of the people employers see. In fact,
my experience at Sesame Street was so positive that I have
had a career change of sorts. I am currently working in film,
an industry I had always dreamed of working in but did not
have the confidence to dive into before my internship. Getting
your head stuck into books and going to tutorials at uni can
teach so many things but it really doesn't give you a look
into how things actually work!
"Apart from the advantages career-wise, I can -- in
all honesty -- say that making the leap to work overseas was
one of the best decisions of my life. I had many fabulous
experiences during my internship that still make me smile
just thinking about them!
"Sinking my teeth in fresh bagels at 4 am, striking
up conversation in some downtown coffee house, listening to
some kicking live bands in an underground club, ice-skating
in Central park on Christmas Day, hiking in Vermont in autumn,
a Halloween party where all hell broke loose, soaking up the
sun in Puerto Rico, a Bollywood disco party in the East Village…
"It is hard to imagine how I could have better spent
that year."
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