Siemon op Curaçao

Name
Siemon

How long was your internship?
5 weeks

Short biography

My name is Siemon, I am 17 years old and live in Wierden (Overijssel). This year I completed the Manager Retail study (MBO4) and next year I will take a gap year. As a final part of my education, I had to do an internship abroad, which I did in Curaçao with De Kracht Van Sport.

If you’re hesitating to go, just do it. You will miss your family/friends, but it is definitely worth it.

How satisfied were you with the guidance in your home country?

It went well, Ruben is a great mentor and honest; he doesn’t promise things that aren’t there. He explained everything clearly and guided me well.

My Story

Internship: The internship itself was very enjoyable. You had a lot of freedom in designing the lessons. Often, you taught with two people, which was especially helpful when teaching kindergarten classes. Since it was the first year, there weren’t many projects, so there was plenty of free time.

The house: I lived with a group of fun, kind, and sociable people. When the house was full, you shared a room with three others, but you get used to that. Sometimes the house could get a bit dirty because some people didn’t clean up after themselves, but well, it’s still a student house.

Free time: I went to many beaches and often went out. The cocktails at Madero (Mambo Beach) are really tasty, those at Wet and Wild are less good. Life there is quite expensive, so make sure you bring enough money.

Advice for Future Interns/Volunteers

  • Rent a car. When you have free time, it’s very convenient to have your own car. Public transport is limited, and biking long distances in the hot weather isn’t really doable.

  • If you’re unsure about going, just do it. You will miss your family and friends, but it’s definitely worth it. I wouldn’t recommend a 4-month stay, but 4 to 5 weeks is perfect. That way, you can experience the entire island.

  • Bring plenty of money.

  • Spanish language. If you practice some Spanish or already know a bit, that’s a big advantage. Most people speak Papiamento or Spanish. Many also speak Dutch and English,