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Ugne Vaiciulyte – Madrid Internship

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Ugne in Retiro Park

Ugne in Retiro Park

Interned in accounting at a small firm in fall 2015.

I studied abroad in Madrid during my Senior Fall. Although pretty it was pretty unconventional to go fall semester of my senior year, my thought process was “When will I ever get to live somewhere for 4 months and not have to give up any responsibilities?”

Internship: I had an internship with an accountant that worked with small to mid-size companies. My internship was pretty limited: filing, alphabetizing, data entry and similar tasks. There was not much substance, and I can’t say that if I were to do this program again that I would choose to the internship program. I understand for a finance concentrator it can be pretty hard to find an adequate financial internship, especially for a foreign student for only 3 months. In Spain, it is very unusual to have such a short-term internship.

I Learned: While in Spain, I learned not to take myself too seriously in terms of my professional career (aka enjoy myself a little bit more). Over there, they place a focus on enjoying their meals, their time with their family and friends. They don’t rush through those moments and really make sure to be present. Also, in Spain, they don’t include their jobs as part of their identity. This was a huge revelation for me, as here, when we meet a new person, the small talk usually revolves around “What do you do?” “Where did you go to school?” and “What did you major in?”. In Spain, it is considered rude to ask people about their careers or studies, and a bigger emphasis is put on a persons identity being composed of their likes/dislikes, their hobbies, and their personalities. I think we sometimes forget, and it is important, to differentiate who we are as people versus who we are as professionals.

What Surprised Me: What surprised me most about my time off-campus was how interesting the classes were. I love numbers and math and finance, and the classes I was taking were literature, anthropology and cultural ones. However, I found myself really enjoying the material we covered and the essays we had to write. I thought the academic aspect would be such a drag for me, but it really wasn’t.

Hardest Part: So my hardest part of study abroad is a little different than for most people. I took a weekend trip to Paris the weekend of the attacks and actually ended up being right in the middle of all the action about 10 minutes after they happened. I was very lucky, but it was still a pretty stressful experience which made my time thereafter in Spain a little harder. I found myself really missing my family and friends. I stopped traveling. I stopped going out with my classmates, etc. Which just leads me to speak about the BEST part of this experience: my host family. I became so close with my host family, sharing with them not only my daily experiences but really opening up to them about my personal life back in the States, introducing them to my own family and friends via Skype, planning future visits, etc. Having the family there for me as a support system every day was something I was not expecting, but I am so happy with the family that I got. We still keep in touch to this day in our group chat, still sharing our little every day routine moments. This program has given me people that I became so close with that I can truly call them my second family.

Tips: Bring a comfortable cross body bag. You will need to stuff a cardigan, an umbrella, camera, water bottle, etc. almost every day and walk everywhere, so being comfortable is very important. Bring LAYERS for the crazy weather. Take care of your electronics EVERYWHERE as it seems Madrid just breeds pickpockets. Try all the food.

Jessica Chen – Sydney Summer Internship

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ICONIC_InternsInterned in marketing at THE ICONIC in Sydney in summer 2015.

Internship: I interned in the Buying Department of THE ICONIC, Australia’s leading online fashion retailer. My responsibilities included managing order information between internal inventory systems and Excel, analyzing sales data, and writing sales reports. I also sat in on my manager’s showings, where representatives from different brands would introduce next season’s line. For someone pursuing a career in fashion, this experience opened my eyes to the processes that take place behind the scenes of a retail company. On slower days, I would head to the Productions Department and help out with photo shoots. I loved my workplace because everyone was welcoming, and I was given the opportunity to observe other departments.

I Learned: I learned about the prevailing influence that the United States has abroad. American media is everywhere from magazines to movie screens. Every song you hear a bar or club is played in the States as well, so you will have no problem singing along. Australians have an impressive grasp of our pop culture and politics since everything that happens in America has a ripple effect on other countries. Ironically, working at a foreign company gave me a better understanding of the American workplace and why we are such a dominant economic power. While the Australian workplace has an easygoing “work to live” mentality, the American workplace has a much stricter “live to work” lifestyle that is more efficient but at the expense of employee happiness. Both systems have their strengths and weaknesses.

Studying abroad also challenged me to be a functioning adult in a short amount of time. Between class, work, exploring the city, and travelling across the country, I had to find time for basic tasks like laundry, grocery shopping, and cooking (if you want to try it, kangaroo steak is best prepared medium rare). While balancing all of this may seem overwhelming, it becomes second nature before you know it.

What Surprised Me: Australia has a vastly different culture from America, but after a few weeks of living there it almost felt like home. Experiences may vary, but I found it surprisingly easy to adjust to the Australian lifestyle.

Hardest Part: The hardest part was going home after two months. Packing all the cool things you’ve accumulated after two months. The lack of authentic American food (namely pizza and brand name cereal).

Best Part: The best parts were the people you meet and the places you go. Watching Australians’ eyes light up when you tell them you’re American never gets old.

My Tips: Save money and leave the apartment as much as possible. Every neighborhood in Sydney has a different atmosphere that’s worth discovering at least once. Also, don’t be afraid to explore by yourself! Australians will be impressed by the independence. As long as you practice good judgment, it’s an exhilarating learning experience to wander around a new country on your own—it’s the best way to break out of the American bubble.

Hidden Gems:

Sydney – Manly Beach and the Bondi to Coogee walk for quintessential Australian beaches; Mrs Macquarie’s Chair for the most stunning view of the Sydney Harbor; Mary’s for a good burger Newtown; Paramount Coffee Project for Instagram-worthy brunch; Emperor’s Garden for famous Chinatown cream puffs; World Bar for boozy teapots; Standard Bowl for drinks, dancing, and bowling; Pancakes on the Rocks for 24-hour breakfast food; Paddy’s Market for cheap groceries; the Glebe and Rocks Markets for all of your outdoor shopping needs.

Melbourne –
The graffiti in hidden alleyways (check out Hosier Lane); Brighton Beach bathing boxes; St. Kilda pier for wild penguins!

Maddie Dinndorf, Bocconi University in Milan

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Maddie in Vienna

Maddie in Vienna

Studied in Milan, Italy at la Universita Bocconi, the premier business and economic school in Italy in the spring of 2015.

Exchange Program: I chose a program without an internship. I instead wanted to be fully immersed in the academic culture of Italy. All my classes were taught in English, but with a variety of students from Italians to Australians.

I Learned: I learned a lot about learning hands on. In Italy (as compared to other countries in Europe), people speak more often in their home tongue. There were people I would meet that couldn’t speak English, and I couldn’t speak Italian. I learned to embrace and learn from experiences like these. It became fun to learn the Italian hand signs and find my way around. I also learned hands on through travelling. You don’t realize how dependent you are technology until you have to rely on wifi. I learned how to plan ahead for the day while I had Internet and how to maneuver and use maps. It became a fun game. I think this experience has taught me many great ways to think on my feet, which many employers will be looking for.

What Surprised Me: I was surprised by how easy and affordable it was to travel. In Milan especially, there was a train station to get to anywhere in Italy and three airports with an abundance of flights. If you think you can’t afford to travel, go to kayak.com or skyscanner, and you will see. I got a flight for $17 from Athens to Rome! I knew I wanted to travel a lot, and I wouldn’t have been able to go to as many places if I weren’t in Milan.

Hardest Part: The hardest part for me was the beginning. That first week is very much like going back to freshman year where you don’t know anyone. There was only one other BU student in my program, so it was easy to feel discouraged and nervous about finding the “friends of a lifetime” that everyone talks about when they come back. Don’t worry. You will find great people. You just need to stay open to the experience. Once my group of friends was solidified, it was all uphill from there.

Best Part: The best part of my experience was the travelling. I was able to arrange my schedule for classes only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursday, so I traveled most weekends. Some of my favorite memories from abroad are of my friends and me drinking port wine on the beaches of Portugal, jumping into the Mediterranean sea in Malta, seeing the Vienna Opera, and that is just to name a few.

My Tips: I had difficulties with the whole visa process. I didn’t sign up for a slot in time at the consulate, and it was a giant headache. Once you know you want to go, set up your meeting online. It will save you lots of time and nerves to get it out of the way. I would also suggest living in the dormitories. While some people prefer to live off campus, Bocconi has an exchange student dorm that makes finding friends very easy.

Hidden Gems: Go to Cioccolati Italiani;

it is the best gelato in Milan (and maybe Italy). If you are interested in karaoke/open mic nights, there is this small place called Barrios that has music on Tuesday nights. My friend and I went and were the first foreigners to ever sing on their stage! It was awesome.