[Teigue]

How many INFPs here have ever worked, studied, or volunteered abroad? I have signed up for an internship to Bosnia and Herzegovina and I thought it would be helpful to hear other INFPs' stories on the subject!

[MSmith]

I have been on a a couple of 'internships' like the one you mention in Eastern Europe when I was in my early-twenties. I always found it to be very liberating and it made me much more outgoing as I was very curious to learn about the culture, language and environment/nature there. I remember there were times when I would get lonely but would call home often which helped. Overall the positives far outweighed the negatives and since I was new there I often found people would try to get to know me and practice their English, some of the experiences were always some of the best of my life. BTW Bosnia seems like a good INFP choice, I have also been very curious about visiting there, it seems to be a 'road less travelled'...

Good luck!

[Waldeinsamkeit]

I've never done an internship abroad but I'd love to!


I studied abroad and I enjoyed it, on the whole. It really helped me to be more outgoing too, and less afraid of talking to strangers.
Apart from learning about a new culture, you will probably learn a lot about yourself. I think it will be a very beneficial experience (especially for an INFP!) :)

[Zebedee]

I agree with those above. I became more outgoing because of it.
Being in a foreign situation forces you outside your comfort zone, so I believe this especially stretches the INFP, for the better. Usually, the things I've done that were most terrifying, also make for the most cherished moments and greatest memories.
More INFPs need to travel!
Good luck to you on your adventure!

[Unnursvana]

I really want to try it. I also just want to try to see most of the world and travel to find myself and learn about myself. My mom has told me bunch of stories about how great traveling is, going backpacking around the rest of Europe and going studying abroad and how much fun it was and how it helped her, and I really want to try it. She really think and I agree with her that traveling is one of the best things in the world because you see yourself and the world that you live in in such a new light.

She like traveled for a long time and has been to most of the countries in Europe and she has seen so much and it is really awesome and inspiring. She says that I may have gotten this big wanderlust from her and she is really pushing me forward in going abroad. The hardest part is actually just getting up and doing it because it can seem a little bit daunting but since I managed living on my own in a big town for about 6 months I think I am sort of ready to take that step in the near future.

[StrawberryDreams]

I have to admit, travelling places like that sounds amazing, and studying/living abroad for a while and experiencing a completely different lifestyle is something I really want to do at some point - I was considering travelling around quite a bit in my early 20s, but I've still got a while to decide, I guess. One thing I really want to do is go work in a Spanish primary school for my two weeks of work shadowing next year, since I'd also get to stay with a Spanish family and everything, which would be a really interesting experience, especially considering I'm not actually very good at speaking Spanish, ahaha. In those instances though, I guess you learn a lot more simply by doing things. xD

But good luck with your internship! In all honesty, the only times I've really heard Bosnia and Herzegovina mentioned is during the Eurovision Song Competition, but it does sound like an interesting place, and definitely a 'road less travelled.' I hope you learn a lot from the time you spend there~

[Berns321]

I went to Japan as a foreign exchange student in high school, and I can honestly say it was the best decision I ever made for myself. I learned so much, had so many amazing experiences. I had so many enriching moments, and times I was so happy it brought me to tears xD I met the most amazing people, and you won't believe but had the most gratifying conversations without me or the other party knowing each other's languages well at all haha.
When I look back at those years, it almost seems like was a dream...
You should definitely travel abroad, but not just as a vacation. Really live and experience the culture, and people. Stay for at least a year, and with a host family!
.....i'd really love to try teaching English abroad.

[AmazonGea]

I have! I taught english as a foreign language for 5 months in Hefei, China. It was wonderful and I recommend getting out while you can to anyone, regardless of personality type. Now I'm a single mom and the most exotic place I've been in the past 5 years is Las Vegas :/

What I wish I had done is pushed myself outside my comfort zone and made more friends while I was there. I did manage to get a boyfriend for about 2 weeks though, haha. His name was Shao Wei and our relationship consisted of a English-to-Chinese dictionary because neither of us was fluent in the others language :) I highly recommend finding a local lover ;)

[lifeisanillusion]

Yes I have done it and would do it again in a heart beat. I did a practicum in Weston super-Mare in England at a recovery centre. Some of my fondest memmories were eating suppers with the clients in the house I shared with them. This is were I got the opportunity to learn more about Great Britian and the other countries that people were from. Got to know them as men, rather than as clients. Travel is amazing and I don't feel that anyone should turn an opportunity to go to a foreign country when it arises. It was also awesome because flights are so cheap over there so I got the opportunity to explore Great Britian and Spain.

[Listener]

I taught high school social studies in El Salvador in 2006. The job was extremely stressful, but the overall experience was good.

Also, I took a three week class in Italy and Germany in 2005. That was much less stressful, though of course I didn't get paid for that.