What inspired you to go abroad?
I've always wanted to discover the world and China stroke my interest because of the professional opportunities this country offers and the culture that I wanted to experience for myself.
Why did you choose Internships China?
The adaptability and flexibility of the Internships China team, customized experience, reliability, and the expertise of the team.
A few months ago in Bangkok, backpacking SouthEast Asia.
What was your favorite part about Shanghai?
Shanghai is a mind-blowing city. It is so diverse that there is a way for anyone to have fun. Nightlife, food, activities - there is a taste for everyone and Shanghai truly is a city where you can do anything. More generally, Shanghai is on top of the country's development and offer great professional opportunities in various fields.
What made your experience abroad unique?
China is pretty unique, Shanghai is unique. I got to work for a company I love and to develop a concept I'm passionate about. I was welcomed by a team at Internships China that showed me around, and got me to love China through their lens.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
The team was supporting and present, flexible and available whether there was a logistic issue or for concerns related to my internship, anything really. China is a country you need to be able to navigate your way around and these guys are here to show you how to do just that.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
Spend more time learning Mandarin before coming to China in order to be able to practice once in the country.
Describe a typical day in the life of your program.
Wake up, shower, and eat a fresh fruit breakfast. I would take a Metro ride followed by bike ride on my way to work in the French Concession area, and would arrive around 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. and get going on whatever I was doing that day. I would eat lunch at a Chinese restaurant with my coworkers. I appreciated that we really took time out of our day to enjoy our lunch and have a chat.
Then back to work until around 6:00 p.m., and then back home. I would go to dinner at one of the many restaurants of my neighborhood in People Square or somewhere else with my lovely flatmates, and possibly going out for a drink or three. This might sound basic but it's a pretty unusual day, to be honest, and I probably didn't have many of these. There is always something happening and you never know what you'll end up doing and where the day will take you in Shanghai!
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
Visiting and sightseeing, testing out restaurants, running around the city in parks and along the river, going for drinks with my friends, checking out different bars and clubs, museums, and shopping, etc.
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
My accommodation was really nice, functional, and spacious. Great central location.
Bar Rouge
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
It will be intense, that's exactly what's so great about it.
What was the hardest part about interning abroad?
I didn't struggle to adapt and I didn't experience a massive culture shock to be honest. Not being able to follow up the projects I worked on is what upset me. I wanted to stay longer to witness my work unfold.
What surprised you most about Shanghai?
How business is made simple and informal. Knowledge and information is flowing. People like to help each other by sharing what they know. Another thing is technology. Widely used and adopted by all layers of population, it's a central part of the day to day life in Shanghai.
How difficult was it to communicate with locals?
Communicating with locals was quite hard as Mandarin Chinese is a challenging language. A major part of the public you communicate with is also constituted of expats though, which I consider part of the local population of Shanghai.
What is one thing you wish you would have known before interning abroad in Shanghai?
Plan your weeks/months and be aware that time will go by extremely fast. If there is something you want to do, do it as soon as possible because the departure date is going to be here before you know it.
If you could intern abroad again, where would you go?
I would love to go back to China in order to get to know this country better. HK would be a good choice as well. Maybe Scandinavia as I want to specialize in Sustainability and I think there are great opportunities over there in that field.
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
I have a new perspective on many things, and I try to live by what I learned in China. I have to say that, writing this review, I feel a bit nostalgic about my time in Shanghai. I feel like I am more proactive and I feel like anything can happen.
Would you recommend Internships China to others? Why?
Of course I would! It doesn't matter what field you want to work in, China and Shanghai are worth experiencing. The Internships China team has your back and will take good care of you.
