Interning 14,870 Kilometers From Home

For the last two months I have been interning at ReachOut Australia far, far away from everything I knew. This was my experience.

When I first arrived in Australia I was very lost.

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I didn't quite know where I was going or why the two dollar coin was smaller than the one dollar. (Seriously though, why is that?)

When it came time to start my internship, I was ready to go.

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Since I had been waiting forever (about 5 months) to get going at ReachOut, I was so excited the day was finally here.

My first day was memorable. Mostly because of my mocha 'stache.

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I ended up walking around the office, meeting people for the first time while sporting a mocha moustache. I rocked it until noon when I finally looked in a mirror.

My first staff meeting was a bit of challenge.

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So much knowledge was being thrown at me and I was still trying to remember everyone's names. (Not to mention all of the acronyms that ReachOut uses.)

Eventually I got the hang of it and learned everyone's name

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...despite some taking a *little* bit longer. (I'M SORRY DRE.)

There were many successes along the way

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Like when I saw a campaign from beginning to end.

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And a victorious one at that.

Or when I sent my first electronic direct mail and was like

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Honestly. You can ask Doug.

Or that time I ate a kilo burrito in under six minutes.

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(context: There was an office challenge which ended in success... and severe indigestion)

Out of of all my victories though, the greatest was figuring myself out.

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Being this far from home did not come easy to me. I was away from from friends and family. I was also in a foreign country living alone for the first time. While it was challenging at times to be alone, it gave me a lot of time to do some self reflection. I was able to sort many things out, some that I had been putting off for sometime.

The thought of this trip at first gave me a lot of anxiety...

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but I've come to learn that sometimes the things that scare you the most, are the ones that are most rewarding.

So thank you, Australia

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for being my home for the last two months.

And thank you, ReachOut Australia

for being my family.

This may be goodbye for now but don't be mistaken...

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I'll be back soon.