Week #3 – Task Completion without full information  

Prompt Response:  
As my second week of the internship comes to an end, I reflect on two weeks worth of introduction, collaboration, and integration with this team. I am really enjoying my placement. The work that I am doing is hands-on and valuable as it directly impacts the community that I am living and working within for the summer. It is a good feeling to know that you are integrating into the community that is present in the place that you are visiting. I believe that my ability to understand the cultural and social environment of this city is amplified by the nature of my job, and it is very rewarding.  
The role of interns implies that we are new to the team that we are joining, and we will only be here for 8 weeks. While the people at the company that we work with are excited to have us, and welcoming towards us, we do, in some way, disrupt their day-to-day. From our perspective, our first day is a new start. However, from their perspective, we are just arriving on a regular Monday morning, amid their work. Because of these different perspectives, interns may expect to have everything that they need to know immediately outlined on the first day. But this expectation is almost impossible to achieve. Although some workplaces have strong onboarding programs, any job will require more information than can be learned in a day. This is where a lack of information, access, and overall uncertainty may arise.  
In my experience, after week two, there are a few subjects that I would like more clarity on. I have heard that I should be given access to a work computer and or phone during my time here, to better access team information and get in contact with service users, but I have not been through that process yet. It would be helpful for me to have this information as I could become more independent with my tasks. But I have been alright with not beginning the process yet as it is giving me time to learn before I do it all alone.  
When something like this is missing from your knowledge from the company, it feels like a good opportunity to advocate for yourself. This week we had an issue where I could not get in contact with one of my service users because without a work phone I, of course, cannot have their contact information. I had a responsibility to travel with one of our clients, and they were uncertain of the plan which resulted in them getting confused without a way to ask me. After this incident, I went to my supervisor to discuss the possibility of me gaining access to a work phone for situations like this. It was helpful for my supervisor to know that I was wondering about this topic, because they cannot read minds. It also felt like a good way to advocate for myself and take initiative. After I asked about this, my supervisor was super accommodating and helpful. They were glad that I noticed this area of struggle and asked for help. It is important to explain your experience so that others around you can help enhance it. The rest of this week was successful. I am pleased to be finished with two full weeks of the internship now. It is nice to feel more familiar with the program and all of the people; I feel more confident in the work that I am doing.  

Personal Journal:  
This week was enjoyable outside of work as well. During my commute to work every day, I read my books while on the bus. This activity has made the early mornings more exciting. The weather this week was surprisingly beautiful and warm, which isn’t usually the case for Ireland. After my workday on both Tuesday and Wednesday, I headed into the City Centre to go to St. Stephen’s Green, walk around, and read. I had very pleasant afternoons there on both days. On Tuesday I wandered into a bookstore that I had never been to and picked up a few new books to add to my rotation during my work week. It’s always something to look forward to when you have a new book to read. Then I met my roommate Lilly in the park, and we sat together for a while before heading back on the bus to go home. I did the same thing on Wednesday afternoon, but this time I was solo. I finished work after a meeting in town and walked down Grafton Street to find some pizza. I picked up a slice and found a spot in the park under a tree and I read my book for two hours. I had a great time. Something that I have really been enjoying about this time living in Dublin, is the amount that I am doing independently. I tend to be someone who prefers company, just out of pure enjoyment, but with busy streets and lots of people around in a city like this, I don’t feel lonely when I am doing things alone. It makes me feel the same way that I do at home, in New York City, and I really appreciate it. On a random Tuesday evening in Dublin, you can walk to the park, or into the pub by yourself and find someone willing to strike up a conversation or listen to someone playing live music on a street corner. It is welcoming and creates a sense of togetherness even when you are alone. On Thursday, my roommates and I went to a Pub nearby that we love to go to. We listened to new music and played card games; it was a great time. Friday, my friends and I met up with a friend of mine that is from Ireland and spent the night in Town. And on Saturday and Sunday I slept in and caught up on some rest before enjoying the fairly good weather that we had over the weekend. Overall, it has been such a great time so far and I can’t wait to see all that I do over the next five weeks.