Video 1 : Georgia Tech Work Abroad Program Welcome (Program Director Debbie Gulick)
(5 minutes)
Term: August 2009 - August 2010
"I worked in Japan, just south of Tokyo. I worked on computer vision research. Since my major is not in engineering (Computational Media) it has been challenging to learn many advanced computing techniques while also advancing my language skills. As something to test my new language and technical skills, my boss enrolled me into the company technology show.
Here, I presented my research material in Japanese and answered questions both in English and Japanese. It was a great experience that taught me a lot about working internationally."
Jaime Jose Almeida
Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering
Graduated - Fall 2009
Worked abroad at Continental AG in Motala, Sweden
Georgia Tech’s Work Abroad Program with Sweden’s Contitech Hycop gave me an invaluable work experience abroad and a widespread international network of friends and professional contacts. As industrial engineers, we are trained to find the optimal solution aiming towards reducing costs or increasing efficiency -- ultimately saving money and time. We tend to forget that change always has resistance. I was able to use my technical skills to find a solution to a recurrent problem in the company’s manufacturing process and I had to develop the necessary skills in order to drive my conclusions towards implementation. This was only possible by understanding the culture and the values behind the organization and my host country.
I am especially grateful to Conti and the Division of Professional Practice because it enhanced my passion for understanding people and pursuing further learning opportunities across cultures. It also allowed me to learn about different industries and discover what I wanted to do after graduation. My time abroad and my work rotations were all very enjoyable at most times and character building experiences some other times. Nonetheless, I recommend the DoPP programs to every yellow jacket aiming to become more well-rounded and marketable in this flat world.
Name: Yan Hui Lye
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Employer: Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)
Location: Taiwan
Term: Summer 2009
I enjoyed interning at ITRI in Taiwan very much. I made a lot of new friends who were international interns as well. My colleagues and friends were all very friendly to me. It was a nice environment for me to learn skills that were applicable and helpful to my major. In addition to that, I had a chance to practice my Mandarin skills, especially in writing traditional Chinese characters. I also learned to immerse myself into the Taiwanese culture.
Name: Denise Butler
Major: Management
Employer: Platinum Partners
During my six-month internship in Cairo, Egypt, I was exposed to a completely new and dynamic work environment along with an ancient culture that has been around for hundreds of centuries. I was completely immersed into the Egyptian way of life where I learned about religion, family traditions, and social life. I worked as a business analyst intern for a consulting company that does business with multinationals around the globe. This aspect of my job gave me a great opportunity to see the impact of our work and how to interact with clients from all walks of life. I have gained an indescribable amount of experiences from my time in Egypt and I can truthfully say I have a second home in Cairo.
International Plan Student
Graduation Date: May 2010
May - December 2009
Since May of 2009, I have been based out of Limoges, France, working in the Process Group of Imerys Minerals Processing Group. My job is to research biomass/biogas combustion technologies, to inventory the ways that biomass/biogas is currently used in the group, and then to make a proposal on how Imerys Group can increase their utilization of this "green technology" in the future.
Working and living in France has been both a challenge and a pleasure. It's a rare treat to look at the world from another point of view. My company has put me up in an apartment with a lot of other interns, and it has been invaluable for helping me to make some great friendships here. Working abroad, much more than studying abroad, has really forced me to integrate further into the culture.
"While working abroad in Hitzkirch, Switzerland, I was not only able to gain more experience in my field of study, but I was also exposed to a completely new and different culture. Working abroad has opened my eyes and taught me that there is so much out there to learn and experience. It has given me memories and experiences that I will take with me when I graduate, and has given me confidence to explore new opportunities and to go into them with an open mind."
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Graduation Date: December 2008
Worked in Basel, Switzerland
June - December, 2008
"I loved my work abroad experience with Straumann, a Swiss company specializing in implant and oral tissue regeneration. I have been able to immerse myself into Swiss culture, people, and way of life. I gained invaluable experience and insight into a diverse culture of this landlocked alpine country. As the border triangle for three nations, Basel was the host city for Euro 2008 Soccer Cup and is a gateway to the Alps, as well as the German Black Forest and the vineyards in Alsace. The internship abroad was also a rare treat. My co-workers made me part of the team while they taught me about their side of the medical device industry. I will be forever thankful for this great opportunity. A friend once told me. “If many voices plead in the favour of staying at home and one voice courageously says go, then go.” These words describe very well what I have experienced in Switzerland."
Major: Biology and International Affairs and Modern Languages (German)
International Plan Student
Graduation Date: May 2010
Worked at RWTH Aachen, Institute for Environmental Research, Hollert Lab Group
February 23rd-April 30th, 2009
"Studying abroad was one thing; working abroad is another! I have learned so much in my daily interactions with people and have gotten to practice not only my German skills, but technical writing, speaking, and presentation skills as well. I have gained contacts in several countries and have narrowed my research focus for graduate school, while broadening my prospects and scholarship opportunities for the future. The take-home message: Environmental research is a global affair, and I feel like I have the skills now to fully explore it."
Erika Via
Major: Biology
IP Student
Worked at the University of Valencia from:
May 22, 2008 to September 12, 2008
Comparative Neurobiology || Verdugo Lab
Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva
Practicing biology in Spain had an immeasurable impact on my language skills. One of the major challenges I encountered while working abroad was mastering the new vocabulary; the Spanish of Biology is like learning an entirely new language! Slowly but surely, and with lots of questions, I was able to learn and utilize these myriad new words and successfully complete my research project. Working abroad improved my observation and communication skills, and I feel that I now have more confidence to take on unfamiliar tasks. As I look forward to a career in healthcare, the ability to react quickly and appropriately in unfamiliar situations will be essential.
I worked in Lima, Peru for Limenco Construction and Engineering during the summer of 2008. As an intern I was able to gain hands-on experience in my field of study while learning about another culture. During the week I was at the construction site speaking Spanish, and on the weekends I was at soccer matches, dancing salsa or trying a variety of traditional Peruvian cuisine ranging from "cuy," (guinea pig) to "anticuchos," (cow heart) with my 9 international roommates.
Click on Image to view Jameel's Video (Windows Media file)
The rare cultural, international, and professional experience during my summer internship with Invest in Germany GmbH (IIG) - the federal investment promotion agency - in Berlin gave me a truly global perspective, exposed me to the international investment framework, placed me across the table with foreign investors, challenged me to adapt to differing cultural barriers, forced me to converse in a foreign language at work, took me to industry conferences, taught me the dynamics of the 'German' work environment, and most importantly brought tremendous value to my education - value that could never be realized through, although fundamentally important, classroom learning. Life outside of work in Germany's capital consisted of city tours along the former Berlin Wall, museum vists, concerts, the European Soccer Cup, and Obama's Speech, to name a few. Perhaps the best education in today's era is a global one, an education that lies at the nexus of academics, foreign language learning and cultural immersion, and international work experience.
Photo: Nicole Rennalls (2nd from left) with other University of
My first semester working abroad was a lot like my first semester at Tech. When I first started, I made a lot of simple beginners mistakes. As I got more experience, I began to find my way. I made friends, explored more places, and the nagging sense that I should have stayed home faded away. In fact, I started to think of this new place (both
Photo: Stephanie Provow (in the red shirt) with President George W. Bush in Paris.
Meeting the President has been the highlight of this internship, but I have learned so much about the inner workings of the foreign service. My days have been spent by writing reports on current economic affairs, meeting influential people in both the French and U.S. government, and attending conferences about topics including Intellectual Property Rights, the Social Economy in France (attended by the Prime Minister of France), and the OECD Conferece at which the President spoke, as well. I have learned how the
Photo: Brian Srikanchana and Jonathan Murphy with Brian Cowen, the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of
This summer I'm working at Georgia Tech
Photo: Nobel Peace Prize Winner and current President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, and intern Stephanie Bolan
As a student double-majoring in International Affairs and Spanish, my internship this summer with the American Embassy in
"Working abroad was a fantastic experience for me, both in gaining real-world engineering experience and in the chance to learn about and live in a very different culture first-hand. I developed international contacts and relationships that could be invaluable for future work positions abroad. I experienced South African culture at a depth that I don't think I could have obtained through independent travel, or even studying there.
Working abroad provided me with more personal insight, helped to build self confidence in the workplace, and helped to broaden my views of foreign cultures. Having worked abroad I was able to publish my first paper at the 2007 Interspeech conference and soon I will enter the Master's program at the
Darren Scott Appling
Computer Science
Graduated May 2007
Bachelor's of Computer Science
Worked in
June 15th, 2006 - April 15th, 2007
NTT Communications Laboratories
"I feel that one can never truly learn to recognize and appreciate the differences of another culture until they have lived and worked within it for a long period of time. Only then, can you really begin to understand the fundamental differences and also begin to touch upon the slight nuances that are inherently disparate in any culture. This is a valuable life lesson that I will never forget."
I spent a year working at Yamatake, a Japanese company specializing in building automation. I was assigned to their R&D headquarters near Tokyo, developing a software platform to assist researchers in my section. It was a great opportunity to apply my skills to real-world problems, as well as experience working and living in another country. During my internship, my work enabled me to gain practical software development experience, while my location challenged my foreign language skills and communication ability, and gave me useful insight into Japanese work culture. That international aspect helped me improve the skills I need to think—and work—globally, and is something only the Work Abroad program could offer.
The work abroad opportunity in Ghana and Zambia presented me a valuable inside to the operations of NGOs and other humanitarian organizations in Africa. I worked with World Vision in their supply chain transformation project in Africa this summer and learned about the differences and challenges that lies in the work environment of development agencies in the field. Apart from my work experience, I really value my short exposure to the wonderful African landscape, the culture, the differences and the uniqueness that every country and even every tribe has.
Image 1 - The present community school
Image 2 - The new construction of community school under world vision project
Image 3 - Pic of me in the project site
After interning for a summer with CareerBuilder.com in Atlanta, I transferred to their brand new London office for my second 6 month work rotation. From the first day I arrived, everyone in London treated me as a full member of the team - assigning me important projects, bringing me along to client meetings and partner negotiations, and including me on all of the weekend gatherings. I not only got to watch as a US-based company decided to expand internationally, but I got to be active part of it - all while gaining real-world experience and learning about the cultural differences between Great Britain and America. Spending time abroad changed the way I look at world events and gave me a greater appreciation of the world around me. I also had a fantastic time living in and exploring London and the surrounding areas. I would highly recommend work abroad to anyone!
I decided to work abroad in Japan in order to experience foreign cultures in ways tourists never can. Working abroad gets you out of the souvenir shops and lets you experience the society in a more complete way. It broadens ones way of thinking and opens many new doors in both domestic and international companies. I recently graduated and just started work with an international consulting firm and look forward to continuing to work and travel abroad, especially in Europe and East Asia.
Image 1 - Macau Street
Image 2 - Mount Fugi
Image 3 - Top of Mount Fugi
When I worked abroad I had the opportunity to interact with very decent people who make a living and maintain their families with less than $400
