My first week of work surprisingly did not feel too long (probably because I only had a three-day work week.) My supervisor, Peggy, was unable to meet up on Tuesday due to an illness and since my work is remote, I didn’t have anything I could do for the company. Instead, I took some time to read up on the work they have been doing recently including the projects I could potentially be working on for the next seven weeks. I also looked into some European Union policy EIWH has been tasked with helping to develop and research.
On Wednesday, I was able to have a zoom meeting with Peggy to go over my tasks for the rest of the week. The European Institute of Women’s Health is currently focused on a policy project on expanding maternal healthcare across the European Union. I was primarily finding umbrella organizations that exist on the same European level as the EU council. It is especially focused on how some demographics are more strongly affected by a lack of protection from existing maternity healthcare policy. This includes groups such as women who are disabled, a person of color, a migrant, or hold a low socioeconomic status.
Finding relevant organizations helped me to become familiar with the problems facing women in Europe and what is being done to create substantial change.
It has been an adjustment to be almost entirely self-guided, but I was able to get into the swing of things and finish my work easily. This position is teaching me how to manage my time and work under minimal supervision and direction. I mostly stayed in my apartment during the workday while I became adjusted to the internship. This coming week, I’m planning on venturing out across campus and to some coffee shops to keep my environment fresh.
I kept in contact with Peggy throughout the week over email. I made sure to send her daily updates of my progress where I was able to get helpful feedback in response for how to widen my search and expand my list. She made helpful suggestions for where to look for more organizations. I ended up building my make-shift database by building off of organizations I already found to find new connections they have also cited in their work or directly worked with.
By Friday, I was ready for a variation to the same task I’d been doing for a few days. I took the initiative to expand the focus of groups being impacted to be more inclusive than what the EU policy currently states. I felt this opportunity allowed me to showcase the knowledge I have on underserved communities and expand my own worldview independently. I added factors such as religion, LGBTQ+ identity, and substance use that impact maternal health and/or the care they are adequately provided. I am looking forward to this coming week where I can meet the rest of the team at EIWH and share the work I had completed in my first week.
Once the work week was over, we were ready to make the most of the weekend. On Saturday, we journeyed up to Howth again for a Puffin boat tour. The Puffins are an iconic part of Ireland when they make their home here in the spring and summer. Our guide told us there were only about twenty Puffins in the area and it was a low visibility day, so we weren’t sure if we could see any. Fortunately, there were several in the water and flying at a close distance. It was really special to be able to see this endangered species and appreciate them despite their rarity. Another highlight was visiting the National Gallery of Ireland where I could appreciate a large collection of Irish and European art spanning several centuries. For two hours a week, the gallery has on display The Meeting on the Turret Stairs which happens to be one of my favorite paintings. It has a limited opening to protect the watercolor from damaging light exposure. Despite the large crowd gathering, I was able to see it up close for a moment I won’t forget. I was also able to see a temporary exhibit on William Blake, a Romantic painter known for his expressiveness and creating his own mythologies in his art. I’ve always loved visiting art museums, so I’m happy I had this opportunity to see some of my favorite works.
After a memorable weekend, I feel recharged for my first full week at work.
See you next week!
