Internship

Camila Costa, student from Argentina

I am a recent graduated Argentinean architect and I did my experience with IAESTE in the city of Sao Paulo (Brazil). I was working and living there for three months and I get to know the city pretty well, despite the size of it. For a small town girl like me, arrived to Sao Paulo was a little terrifying at the first time, but really exciting at last.

My working experience was really good. I did my internship in an architecture’s Studio where, in the first period, were other three Brazilian interns and we all worked coordinated by the main architect of the Studio. The place was really nice and comfortable and the people were nice too.

In the second period a student from Montenegro join us and it was cool because we get to share a lot of different experiences about architecture in our own countries.

Basically I worked in every activity of the Studio: I drawn blueprints, made 3D models, worked with images in photoshop. I also did research about themes that we worked on such as urbanism and history of cities and I collaborated in two International architecture contest presentation which was really fascinating because that is an interesting experience in the first place, and it is even better when you share it with people from other country.

In the other hand, I had a lot of contact with foreigner architecture. My boss encouraged me to visit the most important cities in Brazil, and he also took us to important events, conferences and presentations, things that I couldn’t have done by myself. As my boss was also a professor I went to Mackenzie University and meet other architects that teach classes there and got to know the type of work that Brazilian students do during college.

I also get to know a lot of students from other countries, which is one of the most important things about IAESTE program, besides the working part which was really significant for me. We share a trip to Rio de Janeiro which was very funny and we met every Wednesday in a bar near the office. That is important to start making friendship with the other students and share experiences.

Personally, I travelled to Curitiba, Brasilia, Ouro Preto and some beaches near Sao Paulo and it was really important for me as an architect to get to know cities so different and with so many interesting sites to see.

The three months were very exciting because I met a lot of a people, get to know a lot of new places, I shre most of the time with great co-workers and experienced a big city as Sao Paulo which is more than interesting….is exciting.

I will miss that but I know I will go back there someday. I hope IAESTE developed its programs in my country and my city so I can be in contact with them.

Camila Costa