Ann Masline, London Internship

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Ann PenguinsInterned at Whisky Mist Nightclub

Internship: I worked at Whisky Mist Nightclub in the district of Mayfair in London. I was the PR and Marketing Intern at Whisky Mist. During my time at my internship, I planned events, managed the club’s social media accounts, and emailed prospective clients, from musicians to fashion designers, to visit Whisky Mist and have their events with us.

I learned: From studying abroad, I learned that there are so many fun and exciting opportunities beyond jobs and internships in the US. Knowing this, it’s exciting to realize that if I wanted to go back to London, or any other international city, it’s possible, and I now have the independence, resources, and skills to do so.

I also learned that “please” and “thank you” go a long way, no matter what country you are in.

I was surprised by: Something that surprised me most about my time abroad was just how many young people, both American and non-American, there are travelling around the world. Everywhere I went, there were college students and young professionals making memories and exploring, just like I was. It was amazing to meet these young people who were having similar experiences to the ones I was having.

The hardest part: The hardest part about studying abroad was balancing traveling and exploring with taking time for myself to relax and reflect. It was my initial instinct to book trips across Europe for every weekend I was abroad. After a few weekends of traveling though, I realized that I needed to balance my down time, time spent exploring London, and time spent exploring the rest of the world. Initially, I wanted to do it all, but I found that it was necessary to truly evaluate how much energy, money, and time I had.

The best part: One of the best parts of my abroad experience in London was at the end of the program when I no longer felt like a tourist, but more like a local. By the end, I was confident enough to give people directions, I was a “pro” on the buses and tube, and I was establishing a real routine in my day-to-day life. This was one of the best parts of my time because I no longer felt intimidated by the city, but rather comfortable and confident. By the end, I could also truly envision myself working and living in London in the future.

My tips: 

  • Plan on traveling the most during the first half of the program, when you have classes. During the second half, when you are doing your internship, you won’t have three-day weekends, and everyone will be exhausted from working all week.
  • If you have to choose between shopping at Harrods and buying plane tickets, don’t shop! You will always remember the fun and excitement you had traveling more than the new shoes that you bought.
  • Go to the markets! They are amazing.
  • Try to meet as many locals as possible; not only will you meet great people and learn more about London, but you’ll have a couch to crash on if you ever want to visit again!

Casey Marshella, Padua

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Casey Group DinnerInterned at Sit La Precisa.

I studied in Padua, Italy during the Spring of 2014. I interned at the headquarters of an Italian manufacturing company called Sit Group (or “Sit La Precisa”) that makes gas valves and related components.  At the start of my internship, the company had just acquired a new information system, SAP.  As a change management intern, I worked closely with the controlling and finance departments to help implement this system.  At the time, the headquarters was the only company within the group that had access to enter the master data into the system, such as supplier and vendor information and orders.  The other companies within the group would send their master data requests to the headquarters and we would input the data for them to keep the data entry consistent as we learned how to use the new system. I spent my time learning how to use SAP by inputting the master data that the controlling department gave to me.  Towards the end of my internship (when I was fairly comfortable with the system), I wrote the procedure for entering the master customer data for the other Sit companies to use.  Although for much of my internship we spoke Italian, the company had me write the procedure in English since I was the only native speaker presently at the company, which was pretty cool.

I learned: I learned a lot about international business, both from my internship experience and through my host family.  You can learn all about how business is different overseas, but experiencing it first hand through a full-immersion program teaches you things that being in a classroom or reading a textbook can’t.  In my international HR course, we learned about several business and cultural differences among countries, but everything made so much more sense each time I had an “a-ha!” moment once I was in the field.

On a sillier note, I was surprised how much I learned from the Italian friends that I made.  For example, I realized that everyone could tell that I was American before I even said anything.  When I asked my friends how people know, they told me to watch the people around me next time I was walking through town.  Soon enough, I figured it out: the shoes! Italians can tell if you’re American, German, French, etc. based off the shoes you’re wearing! At first I still didn’t really get how they did it, but after living there for 5 months, I found myself staring at people’s feet when walking in town.  It became a game among my friends and me, and I got pretty good at it!

I was surprised by: I went to Padua without knowing a word of Italian.  I’d spoken Spanish since I was 8 years old, but hadn’t even taken a Spanish class since high school.  But after living in Padua for 3 months, I became pretty good at the language!  I’d only taken an Italian language course for a couple of months, but among my host family, my friends, the BU Padua staff, and living in a non-touristy area of Italy, I was really pushed to learn and use Italian whenever I could.  The full-immersion program made the transition so much easier and faster than I anticipated!

The hardest part: The hardest part for me was adjusting to the Italian school system.  Coming from SMG, I’m very used to working on group projects, writing papers, and working with other students from across the globe.  After a couple of months, we learned that our Italian classmates weren’t used to this sort of classroom structure of working with others and writing papers, which posed a challenge to me when it came to our group projects.  The Italians were very focused on the exams, which were structured differently than the exams that I’m used to taking at BU.  However, we learned a lot from each other. The adjustment was just a challenge.

The best part: I can’t explain the difference that having a host family makes.  It’s like having your very own personal resources, tour guides, and a supportive family figure there with you while you’re away from home for 5 months.  I feel like I got so much more out of the program because of my host family, and I got a very good feel of what it’s like to live in Padua, or Italy in general.  I would come home from school and watch a word game on TV with my host mom (which helped improve my vocabulary) as she made dinner.  The last few weeks she was having me cook, instead, as she taught me how to make a few simple dishes.  I felt like a part of the family, and I could tell they were as excited to host me as I was to be there.

My tips: The school system at the university is much different from a typical American school system.  The other Italian students in your classes are your best resources.  They understand the grading system, how tests are normally structured, and the best ways to prepare for exams, which account for a fairly large chunk of your overall grades.  Get to know them, sit with them at class, practice your Italian speaking skills, let them help you improve, and most importantly, form study groups with them.  It will make exam periods much less stressful, not to mention they’re fun people to hang out with during down time or on weekends!

Many people who study abroad try to go to as many countries as they can in a short period of time, sometimes a country each weekend.  I stayed mostly in Italy, making only 2 international trips (London and Vienna), and I couldn’t be more content with my decision.  There is so much to see in Italy itself, from Juliet’s balcony in Verona to the beaches and old-fashioned fishing nets in Sottomarina.  Don’t forget where you are– find those “mom and pop,” off-the-map type places for lunch, take advantage of your host family and let them take you around to surrounding areas with friends, make friends with the other Italian students, and don’t forget to stay in Padua from time to time to do some exploring of your own. Get to know Italy really well.  Who knows if you’ll get to live in Italy again for five months under these circumstances?  Other destinations will always be there.

Reserve Bank of India – Week 3, Courtney

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India-RBI-centre-parcs-Week three of our internship passed in a blur of work, curries, and another interesting field trip. On Wednesday afternoon we began our 700km round trip to Ratnagiri, a successful district in Maharashtra. After a six hour drive we arrived at what we would describe as the Indian equivalent of Centre Parcs, a quiet set up of guesthouses subtly placed into the landscape.

We were welcomed by a traditional Ratnagiri dinner, including an interesting pink drink, apparently consumed to aid digestion. After a few games of cards, we settled down for the night. The next morning we awoke to luscious rolling hills and views to die for, enticing us into an early morning stroll and breakfast served amongst waterfalls and the chirping of birds. After breakfast we drove to meet Mr. Radhakrishnan, the district collector of Ratnagiri, a very important man who is instrumental in the smooth running of Ratnagiri. Masala tea, nuts, and biscuits were followed by an in-depth talk on the many roles that they fulfill at what in England we would call their ‘council.’ It was interesting and eye-opening to realize how much work is involved to ensure their district remains a thriving hub of activity. They are involved in almost all aspects of Ratnagiri, including tax collection, the education system, and the police force, as well as the development of Ratnagiri to adapt to tourism.

After a tour of their extensive archives, we hopped back onto our trusty minibus for lunch at the seaside. We had neglected to consider that perhaps during monsoon season, the beach wouldn’t be quite what we expected. Lunch consisted of more curry, and a taste of their famous Alfonzo mangoes, before saying goodbye and beginning our long journey home.

With our deadline fast approaching, the rest of the week consisted of meeting with our mentors and cracking on with our projects. At the weekend, we visited the legendary German Bakery, infamously the site of a terrorist bomb in 2010, which killed 17 people.  The mystery illness struck again on Sunday morning, after a quiet Saturday night, and we took the opportunity to relax and recuperate for the next half of our internship. We are looking forward to what the next 3 weeks bring, and continue to throw ourselves into the unique culture of India.

Jen Bernier, Dublin Management Internship

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Jen Cliffs of MoherInterned at Bentley Systems International.

I studied in Dublin, Ireland during the Spring 2014 semester with the Dublin Management Internship Program. I attended University College Dublin and took classes in the Lochlann Quinn School of Business. I worked on the Campaign Management/User Engagement team at Bentley Systems International. Bentley makes software for infrastructure (civil engineering projects, for example). My projects included the scheduling, promotion, moderation of webinars, and updating social media platforms with upcoming events.

I learned: I learned the value of navigating an international business environment. From the outside, it doesn’t really seem different until one is immersed in a new culture. I’ve improved my communication and collaboration skills by acclimating to new standards, procedures, and work ethics. More specific to the content of my projects, I learned new digital marketing tactics that will be invaluable to me in my academic and professional field.

I was surprised by: I was constantly taken aback by how friendly the Irish are. They are outgoing, always looking to have fun and willing to help out strangers. I will definitely miss the people more than anything!

The hardest part: I’d say the hardest part was still living on campus after the semester was over. The Irish students had all moved home, so campus was very quiet, and I was also adjusting to my internship at the same time.  While I was busy every day, it was still a different dynamic.

The best part: The best part of my experience was being so close to other cultures. The physical distance wasn’t very far, but it still felt like an entirely different world when I visited another country. It was nice to travel and then feel like I was going “home” to Dublin. I missed it when I was away!

My tips: Be SURE to see Ireland. Dublin is wonderful and there is so much to do in the city, but make time to visit other parts of the country as well. Northern Ireland, Galway, Cork, Howth, and many more, are beautiful places that offer different vibes and experiences. Take advantage of any international student groups that plan weekend trips – they’re all-inclusive, affordable, and a great way to spend the weekend with your friends and meet other study abroad students!

Self-Employed Women’s Association 2014 – Week 4

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Rather than the usual Monday morning, this week we were treated to a trip to the Calico Museum of Textiles, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ahmedabad, and considered essential to our work (I was informed that my supervisors would not allow me to leave the city without paying the museum a visit).

The museum was based on a carved wooden house, traditional to Gujurat, which was over 200 years old and could be broken down and transported, which is a very interesting detail.

Once inside the museum, we were bombarded with textiles on every wall, floor and ceiling. The early sections boasted fabrics and cloths from the 15th Century. As our guide pointed out, some of the shapes were not the most flattering, but “they did their best.” As we moved deeper into the museum, we learned more and more about different embroidery and decorative techniques, from the very small and neat cobblers’ stitch (developed by cobblers using hooks to sew leather shoes), to the precision of the Punjabi embroidery style, whereby the embroidery would count the threads the stitch would cover to create perfect geometric designs.

The traditional techniques of people in Gujurat and other Indian states were all on show in the museum. One large hall was completely covered in an intricate canvas tent from the Mughal period, along with modesty screens, which they used to allow women to observe without being seen.

Each room in the museum had a different theme and so we were able to walk from a room of quilted, 3D designs to one in which everything was covered in tiny beads, painstakingly sewn together in complex designs and patterns. In some of the later rooms we learnt more about styles such as tie dye and weaving. One technique involved the weaver dyeing every single thread individually in multiple colors so that once they were all woven together a design was created. The artisans creating such pieces would have no written instructions, but would translate designs from their mind’s eye to the loom. Other hand-embroidered pieces would take two artisans up to three years to complete, with each embroiderer starting from opposite ends and working towards the middle, creating a symmetrical design. Each stage in designs such as this were passed on through song, with the artisan creating the design, singing the instructions to their partner at the other end.

I think we were all thoroughly impressed by the meticulous skills of these artisans, and their patience!

On Tuesday night we decided to go out for dinner to celebrate the return of our very own prodigal sons (also known as the EDI boys). The plan was to meet at the beautiful Kankaria Lake; however, some of us got a little side-tracked, staging a daring rescue of an injured bird with the help of our trusted rickshaw driver, Manglesh. Instead of going to the lake, we instead went to a veterinary clinic that accepted injured animals off the street (for the cynical amongst you, they had a huge enclosure full of pigeons so I’m confident that they didn’t just put our little bird down). There we encountered an adorable little dog, locked in a cage with a bandaged leg, yapping inconsolably. When we asked why no one had changed his bloody bandage, we were informed that it was in fact rabid. Oh.

On Thursday I was lucky enough to visit Jamie’s work place, known as Gitanjili. Here I had the chance to meet some of the waste pickers who had joined SEWA and now worked making recycled stationary. I was immediately impressed by all the Gujurati Jamie had learned, as she was able to hold a pretty decent conversation with the women there. I, however, had absolutely no clue what was going on, but managed to make friends whilst learning their special paper counting technique (which was actually much harder than it looked!) Overall, Jamie and I had a lovely time, with Jamie conducting interviews with some of the workers whilst I struggled to get the right paper flicking technique. That was until The Rain became ridiculous. Yes, I have deliberately capitalized and italicized The Rain in line with my new found respect for the beast.

At around 4 o’clock, one of the ladies came upstairs to ask how Jamie and I were planning to get home. We were confused by the question until we looked down the stairs and saw the water level standing at lower shin depth on the street outside, despite the fact that the road was sloped.

Initially Jamie’s supervisor Neelimaben was going to come to our rescue, offering to take us in her car to a point where the water wasn’t so bad so our rickshaw driver could collect us. This plan was quickly scrapped, however, when we saw the parade of broken rickshaws outside the gate, including one which had been washed onto its side. Eventually we decided that we would have to brave it and walk to meet our rickshaw on higher ground.

As we made our way through the gate we were met by our very soggy rickshaw driver sans rickshaw (he had, however, brought along his trusty radio wrapped in a plastic bag). He informed us we would have to walk through knee deep water to get to the rickshaw. He lied. Jamie and I are not the tallest people in the world anyway, but by the time we made it to “the puddle,” things had become somewhat worse. The water was up to the tops of our thighs and we had to wade a good 100 meters through it. Never have I tried harder to put mind over matter. I still refuse to think about what must have been in that dark brown water…

Nevertheless, Jamie and I survived the ordeal and lived to see another day (meaning a hot shower involving epic amounts of hand sanitizer and soap!)

So yes, just another quiet week in India…

Entrepreneurship Development Institute Internship 2014 – Fourth Week, Jordan

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On his return from a tiresome field trip spent conducting research, Jordan updates us on his first week back in the EDI centre…

Clip clop came the sound of Alex’s and my footsteps as we reached our adopted home – Ahmedabad. The previous sixteen hours had been a typical Indian train journey consisting of around twelve hours’ sleep and four hours of eating. Upon arrival at EDI, Alex and I headed to bed to gain some post-fieldwork recuperation.

Wednesday was a good day. After being advised to rest, Alex and I decided to have a relaxing day in Ahmedabad’s city centre for the first time. A typically eventful auto rickshaw ride saw us arrive at the exclusive Alpha mall, allowing for some retail therapy and, of course, McDonalds.

Thursday through Saturday was a return to reality, and we documented all of our fieldwork research in a structured fashion. Solidifying a detailed outline of each document was the main priority for the Thursday, with Friday and Saturday being used to get the bulk of our first draft of the process documentation and the business plan done.

Sunday arrived quickly, as work had made the days fly by, and an early start was the order of the day as a heritage walk had been organised with everyone from Boston and Newcastle, along with some EDI students in the city centre, for 9:00 am. Waterproofs at the ready, the auto rickshaw journey to Ahmedabad centre began. The tour included a variety of interesting aspects about the city, from the wide array of secret passageways throughout the city, to the Jain temples (somewhat of an area of expertise for Alex and me post-Chanderi). Needless to say, after the appetite-inducing walk, the group headed to Alpha mall to indulge in Pizza Hut and Subway. Following on from this, the group wanted a taste of the real India, and so we naturally headed to the Western-style amusement arcade within the mall, fairground rides included.

Overall, Week four was a good one. We made big strides towards the completion of our internship project, along with enjoying a bit of relaxation that was the goal set on the train back to Ahmedabad.

 

MJ Vasquez, London Internship

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IMG_6731Interned at Union Investment Management in Spring 2014.

Internship: I worked for a small investment management firm called Union Investment Management located right in the center of London. At my internship, my main project I worked on was the creation of the firm-wide compliance manual offered to first time employees. In addition, I worked on creating summaries for client portfolios. The raw data was provided to me and the other interns, and it was our job to create an easy to read one page summary of what the data was showing. I greatly enjoyed my experience at the firm, not only because of the work we were assigned, but because I was really able to experience what working for an international company was like.

I Learned: Studying abroad taught me that there are so many beautiful places in the world that are just waiting for young students, like myself, to go explore and that aren’t necessarily the tourist “hot spots.” I have always loved traveling within the US, but having the opportunity to be out of my comfort zone and visit cities I had never even heard of before, truly brought a different meaning to the word ” exploring.” Because traveling around Europe is very accessible from London, picking my travel destination was always a challenge!

In addition, studying abroad also taught me the value of creating international friendships. For one of my weekend trips I decided to fly out to Skopje, Macedonia and then take a 4 hour bus ride to Ohrid. On the way back from Ohrid to Skopje, I sat next to a young girl, who helped me figure out the ticketing procedure on the bus after she saw my confused face when the bus driver spoke nothing but Macedonian to me. For the whole bus ride, she and I spoke about the differences in culture between Ohrid and the rest of the world, along with our travel experiences and school life. She and I still keep in touch via Facebook, and I am extremely glad she was able to help me with my challenge that day! I was able to develop plenty of other friendships from similar situations throughout my whole study abroad experience.

I Was Surprised By: What surprised me most about my time abroad was the amount of free time I had. Without having to attend club meetings, office hours, or work, I suddenly found myself with a lot of free time on my hands. After a while, I made sure I took advantage of all my free time. I started exploring all the different places that London had to offer!

The Hardest Part: The hardest part of my experience was finding time to keep in touch with friends and family from home. With the time change and with the different activities I was doing, it was difficult to find a time to update my family on everything I was doing. After a while I was able to balance my activities with my down time, and I ultimately always found a couple of minutes each day to catch up with my parents.

The Best Part: The best part of my experience was meeting wonderful English friends with whom I still keep in touch. During my time abroad I was able to develop a friendship with them that I know will last a lifetime. We did a variety of events such as cooking a “Sunday Roast” together, as well as having picnics at Hyde Park filled with typical English biscuits and snacks. My favorite activities included just hanging out at our flat with them and learning about the differences between American and British culture.

My Tips: 

  •  Don’t stay inside! Enjoy every single day by doing something outside your flat. You’ll thank yourself when the time comes for you to go home.
  • If your internship is close enough to campus, walk. It will save you a lot of money, and you’ll get to explore parts of London you normally wouldn’t have a chance to explore.
  • Enjoy all the food London has to offer. There are plenty of places to eat delicious food – you just have to find them.

Andrew Kwong, Copenhagen

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1558516_10152236701588638_46364588_nLego, Hamlet, Vikings, The Little Mermaid, Cheese Danishes, and Obama’s selfie: BC (Before Copenhagen), these were the first words that popped into my mind when I thought of Denmark.

I studied abroad in Copenhagen during the 2014 Spring Semester. I lived in the Kathrine Kollegiet dorm.  It was my first time to Scandinavia.

Living in a country where the primary language is not English can be daunting. The Danish language itself can be very tricky as some words are pronounced much differently than they appear. That being said, I never felt lost in translation anywhere in Denmark. English is spoken by almost everyone (in some cases better than Americans) and the Danes are a very friendly people. The first day I bought my bike, I actually ended up getting lost on my ride home. Feeling extremely scared and alone, I asked a fellow cyclist how to get back to my dorm in the suburb of Frederiksberg. He laughed and said that I was in northern suburb Nørrebro. After this, we pulled off of the bike path where he gave me turn-by-turn directions that got me back on the right path.

Before coming to Copenhagen, I was nervous about riding a bike everywhere. I rarely ride a bike in Boston, and always look to walk or take public transport over anything. Thankfully, Copenhagen is one of the most bike friendly cities in the world. In a city where over half of the residents use bikes to commute to and from work, or even to the clubs on weekends, I never felt nervous on my bike. The bike lanes are smooth and wide. Cyclists are assertive but also courteous. As long as you can control your bike and know when and how to signal, you will be fine.

If I can leave you with one pearl of wisdom, it is to spend time as much time with the locals as possible. I found that my favorite nightlife stories came from bars popular with locals, not those with cheap drink specials that cater to international students. Furthermore, one of my most fun nights was spent at a Danish house party, where I found myself to be the only American.

After Denmark (AD), I can look back and honestly feel overjoyed that I chose to study abroad in the “happiest country on earth.” Now, when I think of København (as the Danes call it), I think of hygge.

I enjoyed every day of my time there and am always in the mood to talk about Copenhagen and Denmark in general.  If you have any questions or concerns about studying abroad, CBS classes, Copenhagen or Denmark in general, I would love to help you out. Feel free to email me at Aykwong@bu.edu

My top 5 experiences of Copenhagen:

  1. Eating at the reigning number one restaurant in the world “Noma”
  2. Learning the true meaning of “hygge”
  3. Spending time with students from all around the world
  4. Exploring the city by bike
  5. Sampling every type of Danish pastry at least once

Skål!

Luisa Colon, Madrid Management Internship

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At a Flamenco Show in GranadaInterned at The Music Word of Mouth Company.

This past spring (Spring 2015) I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain, through the Madrid Management Internship Program. I am a native Spanish speaker, and I have always dreamed of studying abroad in Spain, where I knew I could assimilate very easily and strengthen my Spanish-speaking skills. I had done extensive research on Madrid (I bookmarked places to see/things to do months before arriving), so I had an idea of what my time there would be like. After 4.5 months of living, working, and studying in Madrid, my experience exceeded all of my expectations, and I truly felt like I belonged there. I became a Madrileña. Madrid is a beautiful city filled with vibrant people, a deep history, astounding architecture, a great transportation system, awesome nightlife… it has everything! Plus, it’s not that expensive, as opposed to other study abroad locations.

Internship: I was the marketing intern for a small music company called The Music Word of Mouth (MUWOM), which is located in the trendy neighborhood of Chueca. MUWOM works to unite artists and brands through content generation and the use of the Internet and social media. I helped manage the social media accounts of MUWOM’s music artists. I conducted research and prepared reports on MUWOM’s competitors to improve the company’s strategy in generating content and experiences through music. I also contributed to the company’s blog by reporting on current news within the media, music and marketing fields. Overall, I had a pleasant time at my internship, and I was introduced to a couple of well-known and underground Spanish musicians.

I Learned: I gained a better understanding of the financial crisis and how it has affected Europe, and in particular, Spain. From my International Business class, I learned how to view situations from different angles and not just from an American viewpoint. My time abroad solidified my plans to concentrate in International Management and someday work for an international company.

I was Surprised: I was really surprised by how little clothing I actually needed throughout the months. I packed two suitcases, and I thought I had packed too little. However, I learned that I didn’t need all of it. I even donated some of my own clothing before returning to the US, which gave me more space for souvenirs and things I purchased along the way.

I was also surprised by the metro and bus systems in Madrid. They’re awesome: fast, convenient, clean, and reliable – nothing like the MTA or the MBTA.

The Hardest Part: The hardest part of my experience was dealing with a family loss a couple of weeks into the start of the program. I decided not to travel back home because I knew it would be harder to go, then leave my family and return to Madrid, than to just not go home. My family was very understanding, and they, alongside my host family and friends, supported me and helped me through that difficult time. Although I lost someone very special to me, I knew that he would want me to fully enjoy my time in Madrid.

The Best Part: The absolute best part was living with my host family. I lived with a married couple and their sweet and funny twin 15-year old boys. They welcomed me into their home with the biggest hugs and kisses (and a huge plate of paella). I had my own room and bathroom, and I always felt comfortable with them. Plus, my host mom is one of the best cooks ever – she was considerate of the things I did and didn’t like, and always had something new for me to taste.

My tips: 

  • Arrive with an open mind, and embrace the cultural differences.
  • Befriend locals: madrileños are awesome, and they know how to have fun!
  • Plan your travels ahead of time so you can save money.
  • Take advantage of the cultural reimbursements and explore Spain.
  • Enjoy all the tapas, beer and wine your heart desires, ¿vale?

I loved, loved, loved my time in Madrid, and I hope to return very soon. As they say, “de Madrid al cielo, y desde el cielo, un agujerito para verlo.”

Thank you for reading! Contact me at luisamc@bu.edu if have any questions or concerns about studying abroad in Madrid.

Emily Knecht, Auckland Management Internship

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RSCN0875Interned for the Auckland Writers Festival in Spring 2014.

Internship: The Auckland Writers Festival is a five-day event held in May that brings the very best local and international writers of fiction and non-fiction, scientists, economists, poets, journalists, and public intellectuals together with audiences to explore ideas and share stories. I helped the organization with their marketing efforts, the development of their new website, and various small projects in preparation for the festival. I also worked on the production team during the five days of the festival.

I learned: I learned the most about myself. My internship helped teach me about what I want to do with my life. The people I met in New Zealand helped teach me about the type of person I aspire to be. And New Zealand itself taught me how take advantage of every opportunity that life presents and to appreciate all the natural beauties of the world.

I was surprised by: I was most surprised by the person I became: the adventurous, independent, always optimistic, spontaneous Emily Knecht.

The Hardest Part: Honestly, the hardest part of my experience was getting on that plane and having to leave New Zealand, a place that became a second home to me.

The Best Part: There are too many amazing parts from my experience abroad. I loved everything about New Zealand: the activities I participated in, the people I was fortunate enough to meet, and the beautiful country I was able to travel.

My Tips: Push yourself as far outside of your comfort zone as possible, and take the time to meet the people of New Zealand.