Week five has been all about taking stock of my skills, my growth, and the moments that have shaped them. Between belting out songs with Anastacia at Gröna Lund, exploring the gritty charm of Berlin, and continuing to learn on the job at GreenIron, I’ve realized just how much this experience is sharpening both my personal and professional toolkit.
This week began with something completely unrelated to work but still surprisingly connected to one of the “soft” skills I’ve been developing: engagement and connection. I went to a concert at Gröna Lund, Stockholm’s famous amusement park, to see Anastacia perform live. I’ve been to plenty of concerts before, but what stood out to me this time was how genuine she was with the audience. Anastacia completely broke that “LA facade” that so often exists between celebrities and fans, speaking to us in a down-to-earth, almost intimate way. She wasn’t just performing at us—she was performing with us. Watching her connect so naturally reminded me of how powerful authentic communication can be, no matter the setting.
At work, that same principle has been one of my biggest growth areas. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been honing my soft skills—especially communication, adaptability, and cultural awareness. Working in Sweden has required me to adjust my conversational style to better fit the local norms, which are more understated than what I’m used to. It’s pushed me to be more intentional with my words, to listen actively, and to recognize that connection doesn’t always come from constant banter but from building trust slowly and steadily.
In terms of hard skills, my internship has recently introduced me to something completely new: maintenance engineering. Before this week, I honestly didn’t even know that was a distinct branch of engineering, so stepping into this space has been both exciting and challenging. My current task involves understanding how maintenance processes are planned, tracked, and optimized to keep operations running smoothly. It’s a steep learning curve, especially since I’m starting from scratch in this area, but it’s also opened my eyes to just how much behind-the-scenes work goes into keeping a facility efficient and reliable. It challenged me to pay attention to detail, think critically about processes, and make suggestions for improvement. These technical skills are something I can carry forward into future roles, regardless of the sector.
One of the most valuable skills I’ve been building alongside this new technical knowledge is problem-solving in a cross-cultural context. Learning the ropes of maintenance engineering has required me to ask more questions, collaborate closely with colleagues, and navigate unfamiliar systems—all in a workplace culture that’s different from my own. There have been moments, both in meetings and on the floor, where communication styles could have led to misunderstandings, but my growing ability to adapt and read the situation has helped bridge those gaps.
The weekend brought an entirely different kind of cultural learning experience—my friends and I took a trip to Berlin. I had heard so much about the city, but it still managed to exceed expectations. Berlin has a style all its own—edgy, eclectic, and unapologetically unique. It’s a city where layers of history exist alongside cutting-edge art and design, and somehow it all works together beautifully.
We visited many iconic landmarks, including the Berlin Wall and the Holocaust Memorial. The Holocaust Memorial, in particular, left a deep impression on me. Walking through the rows of concrete slabs, which vary in height and seem to shift as you move through them, was both disorienting and sobering. It’s a powerful reminder of the weight of history and the importance of remembrance. It also made me think about empathy as a global competency, not just in the workplace, but in life. Traveling to new places often means confronting perspectives, histories, and experiences that are very different from your own, and it’s important to approach them with openness and humility.
The Berlin Wall was another highlight. Standing in front of it, seeing the murals and graffiti that now cover parts of it, I was struck by how something that once symbolized division has become a canvas for expression and unity. It was a reminder that the meanings we attach to places—and the skills we carry forward from experiences—can evolve over time.
Berlin also gave me a chance to practice adaptability in a less formal setting. We had a packed itinerary and wanted to make the most of our time, which meant navigating public transport in a foreign language, adjusting plans, and finding hidden gems when our original restaurant choices were booked. These moments might seem small, but they all contribute to a broader skill set: flexibility, quick thinking, and collaboration under changing circumstances.
Looking back on this week, I can see how my soft skills—communication, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity—are becoming more refined, while my hard skills—technical knowledge, attention to process, and problem-solving—are steadily building. More importantly, my global competencies are becoming second nature. I’m quicker to read the room, to sense when cultural adjustments are needed, and to find common ground even when there’s no shared background.
This combination of skills will serve me long after my time in Sweden is over. Whether I’m working with an international team, traveling for business, or simply meeting someone from a different cultural background, I’ll have the tools to connect meaningfully and work effectively. And that, I think, is the true value of an experience like this—it’s not just about the memories (though I’ll treasure those too), but about the person you become along the way.
From a night of singing along with Anastacia to walking the streets of Berlin, week five reminded me that growth can happen in the most unexpected places—on stage, in the office, or halfway across Europe. The trick is to stay open, engaged, and ready to adapt, no matter where you are.