- Name
- Anna
- Study Programme
- WPS
- Semester
- 5th Semester
- Institution
- Wieland North America, Inc.
- Location
- Louisville, USA
- Period
- March to September 2022
Funding
Self-funded
What was your main motivation to go abroad?
My main motivation was to get to know another (working) culture first hand.
What were your biggest concerns?
I was the only intern Wieland had ever sent to the subsidiary in the USA, so I had to fight my way through the entire visa application process on my own. I was also accommodated alone in a small flat and didn't know anyone (except for my work colleagues via FaceTime call). However, I was well distracted by all the preparations and could only really deal with it when I was sitting on the plane - and it was virtually already too late for "second guessing". :) On site, it helped me a lot that everyone was super hospitable and I made friends with my colleagues much faster than I thought.
[...] just do it! Everything will fall into place - you just have to be open to new experiences.
Would you recommend a stay abroad? Why?
Definitely yes! You get out of your comfort zone and can gain valuable cultural impressions and experiences. This broadens your horizons and contributes a lot to your personal development.
What did you learn from your stay abroad?
What I definitely took away was that cultural differences can be incredibly diverse and exciting and that one often has a stereotypical image of foreign cultures. That first has to dissolve. In addition, I have become more open-minded and much more relaxed through my stay abroad and through overcoming all the challenges, such as the preparation or the small stumbling blocks on site. :)
Were your expectations met?
My expectations were not only met, but exceeded. I made dear friends, expanded my cultural competences and got to know a completely new working environment. I am very grateful for that!
Is there anything you would like to highlight about your experience abroad?
Although I had thought a lot about the internship abroad beforehand, everything turned out differently (and therefore much better!) than I had planned. So just go for it! Everything will work out - you just have to be open to new experiences.
Fun Fact
On my first day, I was shopping in the supermarket and told the cashier that I would like to buy a bag. He reacted totally perplexed and finally, after asking several times, gave me a plastic bag, half annoyed, half curious. After paying, he then packed my entire purchase in plastic bags - as is customary in the USA. Embarrassed, I gave him back the bag and cleared up the misunderstanding.
Impressions from the USA
