Hello! It has been a while since my internship at Isolier Wendt ended. The past few months have been such an incredible experience for me! Not only was it my first internship abroad, but also my first time taking a practical and hands-on view into the supply chain sector. As school started recently, I found myself understanding more supply chain knowledge as I am currently taking higher-level supply chain classes because of the internship experience over the summer. I’m so grateful that I was able to have this experience even though there were some rough days, it was all worth it in the end. 

Honestly, Berlin had been on my list to travel to forever before I even learned about the IIP program, and I was able to check off the bucket through this trip. Now that I read through my blog posts, I think I was not really having it in some of the posts lol. But honestly thinking back on it now, I only remember the good days and fun I had, and not really the bad days of it. I was also browsing my camera rolls and recalled so many memories of this trip! It was indeed such an experience, filled with ups and downs. It was also such a character-building experience to be in Berlin doing a professional internship for two months. 

The work part was both challenging and rewarding. I had to adapt to a different work culture, learn the ropes of a new company, and sometimes even navigate language barriers. But it pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Plus, I got to learn so much about my field from a global perspective.

Even though it seemed like I was not doing much on my internship on my blog posts, it has helped me grow to take a more professional approach towards my career. I appreciate my supervisor Richard for being patient with me and for the guidance throughout my internship. I also miss my co-workers, they are really nice and cute people, I hope they are doing well.  

I met some incredible people during my time abroad, especially the people in my program– they all added something unique to my experience. It’s amazing how quickly you can bond with people when you’re all in the same boat, trying to figure out a new place together.

Of course, there were some hiccups along the way. Homesickness was so real im not kidding, I couldn’t wait to go home near the end of the trip. I didn’t know I could get this homesick, not even when I was already studying abroad at Pitt. But all the down days were all part of the adventure. I really miss the days in Berlin as I’m typing this. 

Oh, and let’s not forget the exploration part. My favorite highlight was the trip to Amsterdam! Amsterdam had also been on my list even longer than Berlin, and I’m so glad that I got to visit one of the most beautiful cities! It’s crazy how you can just go to a different for the weekend and come back to work the next Monday. I also loved the weekends here in Berlin. Our weekend itinerary was going to Lake Wannsee and going to flea markets on Sunday. Taking the weekend to explore the cities was one of my favorite things to do. Oh and I also visited some cute cafes for self-care days with myself in Berlin, and it was my favorite thing to do as well. Those are the memories that will stick with me forever.

All in all, this internship abroad was a crazy, unforgettable experience. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but it was worth every moment. It’s safe to say I’ve grown both professionally and personally, and I’ll forever cherish the memories and people I met in this journey.