I wake up every morning excited to go to university—not for classes, but because it’s where I work. However, much like being a student, every day feels like a learning experience. I work in a tiny office, which by Canadian standards would be a broom closet, but here we have somehow managed to fit the entire world. In our cozy office there are seven interns from all corners of the world—from the crowded streets of Manila, all the way to the Canadian Rockies.
What does a typical day in the life of an intern here look like?
Getting to know Hong Kong culture.
On a daily basis, whether it be with students or other colleagues, we get to interact with locals. Not only does it help us gain an understanding of their hard work ethic but it also gives us an insight into their work culture. Hong Kong as is busy and people are constantly on the go. The students here are so active in their academic lives and have incredibly packed schedules. The competitive environment encourages students to get involved in all sorts of activities and it often amazes me (but also genuinely inspires me) with how many extracurriculars a typical student can balance.
Getting to know the world.
Not only does our team learn from the locals but we most importantly learn from each other. I often think of my workplace as being like the United Nations, bringing together nations from all over the world for a higher purpose. Our team is made up of experienced interns from Canada, Egypt, Lithuania and the Philippines. Each one of us carries with us a unique set of skills and experiences. It is in this multicultural environment that we maximize our learning potentials, not only of other cultures but of new perspectives.
There is no typical day.
As much as we’d like to believe that we’ve gotten into a routine, there really is no typical day. While we spend most days researching, practicing and preparing for the workshops and events that we host, this represents only a fraction of what we actually do. Our job balances working both on projects and on teaching. As project assistants, we facilitate engaging workshops on business-related topics to encourage students to practice their English speaking skills. On the teaching side of things, we assist in a Business Communications class.
No two days are really alike. The only constant is that in collaborating with my international team and the locals on a daily basis it presents me with challenges and new learning opportunities that constantly keep me on my feet.
