Work

So my company were working with some other company to make a convenience store program, and I was hired to work on the frontend with them. I didn't really know what I was going to do before I came there, and I said when I applied that I only really knew java - so it kinda came as a shock when I was put to help with react and js. Fortunately one of the employees that were my mentor was also the girl who recommended me, and she worked with IAESTE, and she really helped me get going. The first two/three weeks I really only spent learning to react and js, cause I didn't know how they worked, but after that, I got to work with them. I mostly spent my time fixing bugs, but it was really fun to see how work in my field could be. I kinda wish I could stay longer, as it was only towards the end I felt I started to get how things worked. Still, it was such a nice experience to have, to work outside my country and learn relevant stuff.

Experience

I was living in a student dorm with students at the local university and IAESTE students. A lot of them were exchange students, so it was really easy to get along with them. I was one of the first IAESTE students to arrive, so the first week was kind of lonely, but I tried to get to know people by hanging out in the kitchen area and talking to the old IAESTE exchange students who had decided to stay longer than their internship (there were a lot of them haha), which worked out really nice. When the other IAESTE people finally came, we started doing a lot of stuff. We went on IAESTE weekends (Vienna weekend was amazing, I really recommend it), went visiting other cities in Austria by train, went hiking a lot (even did a weekend to Innsbruck which was soo beautiful) etc etc. There were events planned by the local committee and really, I think I did something every day after work? People were really good at inviting us out to do things, like eating dinner out, going for a bar, sightseeing in the city, to birthday parties of people you didn't know, salsa night,... Haha, I actually really miss how busy I was doing social things. During all of this, I met amazing people from all over the world, and I really miss them now that I'm back in Norway. But I have so many fun memories and pictures from this summer, it was all worth it ❤️

Discover

I hadn't really thought about my internship after I applied, but right before I left I kinda panicked. I was wondering what the hell I was doing, and were so incredibly scared of what would meet me in Austria. I have never gone to a place completely on my own before, without knowing anyone. But I got on the plane and was super anxious about what and who I would meet. And then I landed, and met all these people and gradually built a network, and it was amazing. I've always been a bit shy and bad at meeting new people, is what I've always told myself, but as it turns out I'm really good at getting to know new people. This summer I pushed myself to do so much and talk to people even on days I would rather stay in bed, and it paid off. I've never been so proud of myself before. I distinctly remember standing outside a party where I didn't know anyone and just mentally preparing to greet them, and somehow it worked? Idk. I think it really helps to be in an international environment - everybody automatically gets a bit more open to new experiences and people, and I really miss this in my day to day life back in Norway. I think I will try to seek that kind of life when I finish my studies haha. But I'm really happy to have met different cultures and people, cause it is such an eye-opener. Maybe I'll apply for IAESTE again when I finish school for a longer internship, to learn even more hehe 😁🔥