GRIP, Internships Abroad Ciao Cape Town, See You Soon!

August 8, 2018
By Areeba Shaikh, CPHI '19

TASK Applied Science - Cape Town, South Africa

I have left a piece of my heart in Cape Town. The last two months will forever remain in my memory as some of the best few weeks of my life. I met some really amazing people, saw some of the most beautiful places in the world, and ate food I would have never tried elsewhere. Capetonians are a wonderful bunch, who welcome everyone with open arms and are always willing to help you, regardless of the situation. Not only that, but the diversity of Cape Town brings forth a lot of different cultural cuisines to try. I had the opportunity to try Ethiopian, Moroccan, Turkish/Kurdish, Tunisian, Malaysian, and African among other cuisines and loved all of them. The food in Cape Town really brings people together and I am grateful I was able to enjoy it with some really amazing people. 

No matter where you go in Cape Town, the view of the beautiful mountains and/or the beaches doesn't leave your sight (or mind honestly). It keeps you close to nature and allows you to appreciate the beauty of the world in new and different ways. Cape Town is full of cultural and historic locations, from Robben Island to District 6 Museum, every place has its own story to tell and allowed me to learn about South Africa, especially Cape Town, from an original and raw perspective. I learned things a textbook may never teach me and am forever grateful for this opportunity.

In terms of my internship, I worked in and learned from a very dedicated and professional team. TASK is one of the chief organizations in TB clinical trials and the commitment of the staff was a marvelous setting to be in. The opportunity to work hands-on with the outreach and marketing teams on various projects allowed me to gain insight into the local community and their needs and the efforts made by the organization to help them in different ways. The interconnectedness of the various departments at the company allowed me to learn about clinical trials in a novel light and garner new skills. I can confidently say that all the skills and expertise I gained while working at TASK will certainly benefit me in attaining my future career goals and I look forward to applying all the knowledge I gained in other professional settings. 

My time in Cape Town was one of the best traveling experiences I have ever had and I recommend the city to everyone! 10/10.

The Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP) provides outstanding undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to intern or conduct research abroad for 8 to 12 weeks over the summer. Participants gain career-enhancing experience and global exposure that is essential in a global workforce. Placements and funding awards are available.