Meet Charlotte in New Jersey!

'There's always something to discover, always a plan to make, and people to meet!"

Why did you chose to go abroad?

I knew that doing my internship abroad would greatly improve the perception and quality of my professional life, and I’ve also always loved traveling and experiencing other cultures, so it was simply the perfect option.

How does the US culture differ from your culture and what has impressed you most so far?

The feeling of safety in the city is very high; I feel like I can go anywhere without any problems. The people are very welcoming towards me and genuinely interested in aspects of my culture. They are very kind and understanding when there's something I don't understand in everyday life because it's specific to this place, and they explain it to me. 

Could you take us for a day in your life? What is your routine?

I get up at 7:15 am, get ready, and head out to the subway to go to Penn Station and catch my train (I live in New York and work in New Jersey). If I arrive a little early, I buy to myself bubble tea for breakfast. I take the train to Garwood and walk 15 minutes to get to work. I chat a bit with Angelika (my coworker and direct supervisor) about what we have to do today, if I have anything in progress, or if there's a new project for me. We work, have lunch, and sometimes a client will come in who speaks Spanish but not English, so she always communicates with me and I help her translate her questions for Angelika. Occasionally, we have team meetings with the company owners and their partners to review what we can implement. I really appreciate that they are very interested in our ideas and that they actually implement them; it makes me feel heard. Our workday ends at 6pm. I wait for the train, I usually call my mom to tell her a little about the day, I take the trains back to New York and I meet up with my sister, we think about what to have for dinner or if we want to do something. On weekends, my sister and I almost always make plans with her friends, her partner, or just the two of us. We really enjoy exploring entertainment venues and restaurants (mostly restaurants), as well as shopping for things we need and organizing a bit so our space looks cleaner during the week. 

How has this experience abroad helped you to grow personally?

It makes me feel more independent and that whether I do something or not will really affect me. Also, having responsibilities in a serious company, and knowing that if you don't pay attention to detail in the designs it can affect someone, makes you think more deeply about your designs and take your work seriously. 

Why would you recommend others to do a program abroad?

Because it's a wonderful experience to be able to live day-to-day life in another country. Here in New York, it's very different to come as a tourist than to be here doing a long internship. You enjoy everything so much; there's always something to discover, always a plan to make, and people to meet. Also, when you tell your friends back home what you do every day or share anecdotes, it's a lot of fun. 

If you could express your experience in three words, what would these be?

Real, amazing, learning!