Alumni Interview with Danyal Khalik

What inspired you to go abroad?

I have many inspirations for going abroad. One is from a careers point of view—knowing that I would be heading to my final year of University, any internship would provide give a cutting edge in the competitive job market after graduation. An international internship, however, would support me further in this regard. Other important reasons are connected to personal growth—I am a big believer in traveling and new experiences. Living two months in a metropolis (Tokyo) and experiencing its daily life is something nobody can take away from me.

Why did you choose CRCC Asia?

There was no specific reason as to why I chose CRCC Asia over others—quite simply, CRCC Asia visited my university for an offline event. It was there that I first became exposed to this organization and our relationship built from that point onwards quite quickly.

What was your favorite part about Tokyo, Japan?

I carried out my internship in Tokyo, Japan. One thing I particularly loved was the work culture. And yes, that does include the insane hours of working more than 12 hours at an office during a few occasions. I genuinely believe simply experiencing Japanese work culture is an achievement within itself given that it is certainly a lot more professionally driven and committed to teamwork in comparison to my previous experiences in the UK.

What made your experience abroad unique?

My experience abroad was unique in the fact that I was able to really immerse myself in Japanese society. I integrated well only because I tried to from the very beginning. To give a specific example, my contracted hours was an average 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday, but I would voluntarily stay behind and leave around 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. everyday. It was during the moments of working overtime that I saw how illustrious and hard working Japanese people really are. As cliche as it may sound, I felt humbled by it, and is a skill that I have brought back with me in the UK.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

CRCC Asia supported me from the very beginning when I first came in contact with them. For example when my family was indecisive about me interning abroad, CRCC Asia was very patient with me in accepting the offer before the deadline. Also, during my time in Tokyo, their team showed me nothing but support, kindness, love, and professional advice. As a young foreigner staying on the other side of the world, there was nothing more I could ask for.

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

I definitely feel upset that I didn’t visit many cities outside Tokyo. Kyoto, Osaka, and the many other cities and prefectures have their own unique culture that I would have really like to visit at least visited once.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

I would wake up and leave the house by 8:15 a.m. Then I would experience Tokyo rush hour and arrive for work at 9:00 a.m.  After arriving, I would work on a marketing project, data analyst, research task, etc. We had lunch around 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. After lunch, I would continue tasks and attend meetings. I would go for a coffee break at 6:00 p.m. and then continue working until 9:00 p.m. I would arrive home with dinner at 10:00 p.m. Then rest, sleep, and repeat the next day.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

During my free time I particularly enjoyed visiting Tokyo Camii Mosque. This religious institution is slowly gathering popularity among the local Japanese. It’s so fascinating to witness the similarities between religious faiths. In times of huge political and social tension, finding common grounds between different cultures and faiths is so beautiful. The fact that I made connections there from volunteers also helped. Likewise, given that this place is not insanely popular adds a magical twist to the experience, so I highly recommend a visit. They usually provide FREE tours every Sunday which mentions everything from Islamic history to traditional Japanese culture.

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

My accommodation could be described as good, but not spectacular. It lacked some basic household facilities, which was slightly disappointing. That said, the service was totally fantastic. In fact, very few occasions have I experienced such warm hospitality in a non-personal environment.

The best part about this student accommodation is the 9th floor rooftop views it offers. Given that it is situated in central Tokyo, it provides picturesque views which includes the skyline of Tokyo. Afterwork, I would come up here and simply gaze at the city and reflect upon my day at work everyday. I thoroughly found it therapeutic and it’s honestly of the biggest things I am nostalgic over.

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

Everyone should be aware that Tokyo does not have its credibility for nothing. By this I mean it is not the cheapest place to stay in the world. Just like any other major city, day-to-day living can be expensive. However, this certainly should not be off-putting for anyone as the experience in return is very satisfying and certainly rewarding. My only tip in this regard is to save and borrow money as this is exactly what I did.

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

I am still experiencing culture shock, so it’s quite difficult to say. Trying to digest my two months is taking longer than I expected. Overall though, the experience impacted me for the better. I really wish I could go back in time and repeat the entire process.

Would you recommend CRCC Asia to others? Why?

I would highly recommend pursuing an internship with CRCC Asia; their connections with companies went above expectations, so you will certainly receive your money’s worth. But also, the people who work for this company have, genuinely, been in the same positions as us students. Most have international experience themselves, so they can totally relate to any concerns, feelings, and experiences interns are going through. Most importantly, they cared about me ever since I accepted to pursue an internship with them. Whenever I had any struggles relating to work or finances, I received amazing support.