Reflection on my International Internship
The most rewarding part of my internship experience has been:
Throughout my International Internship I have been able to gain knowledge in the Hotel and Tourism industries. I am not normally exposed to these industries and this opportunity opened my eyes to the importance of detail within the industry but also the pieces that those in a foreign environment focus on to attract more customers. This opportunity helped me to develop skills that I previously had, but also helped me to develop new skills both digitally and face to face. I was able to work with individuals who love everything about their jobs, the environment they are in and their peers. During these three months, I was exposed to many different tasks, deadlines and expectations. I did my best to perform to a level that was beneficial for the hotel but also for my experience.
Throughout my International Internship I have been able to gain knowledge in the Hotel and Tourism industries. I am not normally exposed to these industries and this opportunity opened my eyes to the importance of detail within the industry but also the pieces that those in a foreign environment focus on to attract more customers. This opportunity helped me to develop skills that I previously had, but also helped me to develop new skills both digitally and face to face. I was able to work with individuals who love everything about their jobs, the environment they are in and their peers. During these three months, I was exposed to many different tasks, deadlines and expectations. I did my best to perform to a level that was beneficial for the hotel but also for my experience.
The most challenging part of my internship experience has been:
In developing a relationship with my supervisors and the other staff members, I found that the most difficult challenge was the language barrier. Though many of the staff members speak very good English, there were some points where the translation of what they were telling me about a task was misinterpreted on my part. At the beginning I would misinterpret and have to start over again, by the end I learned that asking plenty of questions regarding a task would help to give a clear understanding of what was expected.
In developing a relationship with my supervisors and the other staff members, I found that the most difficult challenge was the language barrier. Though many of the staff members speak very good English, there were some points where the translation of what they were telling me about a task was misinterpreted on my part. At the beginning I would misinterpret and have to start over again, by the end I learned that asking plenty of questions regarding a task would help to give a clear understanding of what was expected.
How I would like to use this experience toward my future goals:
This experience has made me take a look at all of the things I had planned for my career. I learned a significant amount of important information during my internship abroad that I think I may head in a different direction than I had originally planned. The individuals at the hotel helped to show me that a work environment can still be fun and exciting even though there is work to be done. The bound between the employees and the respect the show for each other is something that I greatly admired. They treated me as one of them and always included me the best they could. If they were speaking in Italian and I got lost during the conversation, I was always given a short synopsis of that days conversation. The support they showed me and their eagerness to learn what I knew gave me confidence that I truly do have valuable skills. In preparing for my future and the goals I would like to achieve, I would like to use this experience to bring respect, originality and happiness to my future work environment. I would also like to take from this adventure that working can be something more relaxed than we treat it in the United States.
This experience has made me take a look at all of the things I had planned for my career. I learned a significant amount of important information during my internship abroad that I think I may head in a different direction than I had originally planned. The individuals at the hotel helped to show me that a work environment can still be fun and exciting even though there is work to be done. The bound between the employees and the respect the show for each other is something that I greatly admired. They treated me as one of them and always included me the best they could. If they were speaking in Italian and I got lost during the conversation, I was always given a short synopsis of that days conversation. The support they showed me and their eagerness to learn what I knew gave me confidence that I truly do have valuable skills. In preparing for my future and the goals I would like to achieve, I would like to use this experience to bring respect, originality and happiness to my future work environment. I would also like to take from this adventure that working can be something more relaxed than we treat it in the United States.
