Yesterday was the final day of my 8-week internship. While there were definitely times at work when I had a lack of things to do, overall it was a great learning experience. Here’s a list (that is by no means comprehensive) of some things I learned.
• Audio books are a godsend during long daily commutes on overcrowded metro cars.
• Wearing comfortable shoes like flip-flops to and from work and changing into work-appropriate footwear while at the office is definitely the way to go! (Especially during Shanghai’s rainy season…)
• Sometimes technology can be a pain, but Google is an AMAZING resource for Exel, Powerpoint, etc. “How To’s”
• Offices seem to be chronically over air conditioned, so always have a cardigan/sweater/pashmina scarf to bundle up.
• Don’t drink coffee in the afternoon. Just don’t do it.
• Making friends with co-workers makes going to work every day MUCH more enjoyable! Bonus points for making office friends who work in a different department, thereby maintaining some distance between personal and professional spheres. (Extra bonus points if they're cute Swiss guys.)
• Like everything else in life, taking personal initiative will really always pay off.
• Loving one’s job is truly, truly key! Imagine how awful it would be to work all day, every day in a career that doesn’t inspire and engage!
My badge (which I had to hand in Friday)For lunch, the head of HR took the whole department (still less than 10 people total…) out for a farewell lunch. Everyone wrote very sweet notes in a card for me (the entire department is women, and they’re all very cute). I also was given a nicely gift-wrapped box. Imagine my shock when I opened it and it was a brand new PSP (personal play station). I think that they’re fairly expensive, so I was awfully surprised to get one. They’re really popular here, though – like ipods in the US. I always see loads of people using them on the subway to watch movies, play games, etc.
On my way home from work, I stopped at a shopping center in Shanghai to buy a dress that I saw on sale. The mall was huge and (like most everything in Shanghai) overwhelmingly crowded. While waiting in line for a fitting room, I overheard the Chinese girl behind me telling her friend that she liked the dress I had and wanted to try it on, so I offered to show her where it was and we chatted for a while. It was really fun to be able to use Mandarin in this instance. Mostly I’ve been using it when ordering food, asking directions, etc., so it was nice to see that I know enough to even carry on random conversations that aren’t about something I learned about specifically in class. (Another random observation: I’ve noticed that I have much more difficulty understanding Mandarin when I can’t see the person’s face. Seeing them form the words is helpful, as are facial expressions.)
In the spirit of bringing things full circle, I went back to Mr. & Mrs. Bund with Henry and some of our other friends again, just like when I first arrived in Shanghai. Once again the food was great, although this night it was a bit balmy to enjoy the outdoor patio. We ate really late (11pm!), and stayed there until the wee morning hours (around 2:30am!) before going home to rest up for Saturday.
The Bund (street view)
Panpan and I on the patio at Mr. & Mrs. Bund. (Note the qipao I got from the fabric market)
Truffle risotto and delicious fresh tomato salad. YUM
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