Alumni Interview with Daniel Bliss

What inspired you to go abroad?

I wanted to go abroad because I knew it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity and I wanted the challenge of working in another country.

Why did you choose Global Experiences?

Global Experiences was great because they really care about putting you into the right internship. G.E. gives the perfect balance of living somewhere abroad and giving an amazing work experience. The staff was also extremely nice and cared about me every step of the way.

What was your favorite part about Stockholm?

There were a ton of different things I loved about Stockholm. I think what I loved most was the relaxed culture. Swedish people love to have a good work-life balance.

What made your experience abroad unique?

Working for a super young company made my experience unique. It was exciting to be part of something that was just starting out and seeing the company grow as I was there.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

The local G.E. staff really cared about all the interns. They were always there to help out, and they planned some great day trips. Without them, Stockholm and Sweden would have seemed a lot more intimidating, but thanks to the staff it was easy to become a part of the city.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I wish I would have planned some trips before going to Stockholm. Prior to going, I didn't think much about going anywhere outside of Sweden, but it would have been nice to take some weekend trips to other countries.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

My commute took about 25 minutes every morning. When I got to work I would scan over our website making sure everything was organized and stories were in their rightful places. Then I would move on to reading and writing summaries. 

At around 11:30 we would go to lunch, then afterward get a cappuccino from a local coffee shop. After lunch and coffee, I would focus on the facebook and keep writing summaries. We would take Fika-which is another break- at around 2 where we would eat something sweet and get another coffee. At 4:30 I would leave and go out to dinner with the other interns.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

There was a lot to do in Stockholm, but my favorite thing to do was explore the city. There were a lot of amazing museums to go to and I saw a few different concerts. It was an amazing experience going out with the other interns, discovering places to eat and  finding cafes with some of the best coffee imaginable.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

I thought our accommodation was going to be something like a small dorm room, but I was totally wrong. It was spacious and even had heated floors. I couldn't think of a better place to live. The best part was how big it was, unlike some other locations, we weren't crammed into a small place.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

Pack clothes for early winter or late spring. Summer weather in Stockholm can still be kind of cold and it'll rain sometimes.

What was the hardest part about doing an internship abroad?

The hardest part was getting used to small culture differences that you may not notice at first. Swedish people don’t really talk to strangers so you have to learn to talk to them. They’re all extremely nice, but sometimes they may not seem that way. If you start the conversation they’re more than happy to talk to you and get to know you.

What surprised you most about Stockholm?

To be honest I didn’t really know anything about Stockholm and went to the city not knowing what to expect. I had such an open mind that nothing really surprised me. I would tell all interns to go to your location with an open mind and to not rely on any preconceived notions you might have.

How difficult was it to communicate with locals?

Extremely easy. Everyone in Stockholm knows English. Sometimes it seemed like they knew English better than the majority of Americans.

What is one thing you wish you would have known before doing an internship abroad in Sweden?

The cost of living in Stockholm. Buying coffee and eating out is a little more expensive than most other places. I wish I would have set a better budget for myself and watched my money a little bit more.

If you could do an internship abroad again, where would you go?

If I could do my internship all over again I would always choose Stockholm, but if I were to do another internship abroad I would want to go somewhere that is a lot different than American culture. I think somewhere like Korea, Thailand, or somewhere in South America would be interesting to go. I would also want to go somewhere where not a lot of people go.

What do you feel the biggest benefit of doing an internship abroad is?

You learn a lot about yourself when you go abroad. It tests your abilities in ways that normal internships would not.  It also really helps your resume stick out.

Do you have any packing tips for individuals headed to Stockholm?

Pack like it will be early fall or late spring. Swedish summers can be a little cold and the weather can be a little unpredictable.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

I learned a lot about myself and I feel like I gained a ton of confidence. Before going abroad I was terrified to fail and it stopped me from taking risks.  However by going abroad I proved a lot to myself and feel like I'm ready to take on the world.

Would you recommend your program/provider to others? Why?

Absolutely! Global Experiences is the best way to go, no other staff will care about your experience more. I think it would have been easy for G.E. to find some place that needed an intern and stick me with them, but they waited until the perfect internship came up for me. G.E. cares about their interns and all of their endeavors.