The start of my yet to experience 4 and a half month internship here at ODM has
been eye opening to say the least. It has so far been exciting, and I have already
learnt a lot about marketing and sales, and I can’t
wait to learn more as my experience and knowledge grow. Although I have
already spent quite a while in China, travelling and studying over the past few
years, this is my first time working here in China and in an
international company. Let’s just say, it’s certainly different! For starters you
need the patience of a saint with the Chinese internet.
This is also my first time coming to Zhuhai and it has not disappointed me.
The only problem is the random bad weather, but
regardless it’s beautiful here and it doesn't have the busyness like other big
cities. With the beaches and the sea, what’s not to love, I really can’t
wait for the summer again.
During my internship I am also doing a home stay through Internchina alongside
working here at ODM. I thoroughly enjoy living with a Chinese family; it is
without a doubt the best way to learn about China and the way everyday life is
lived, its fun and it’s definitely great for my Mandarin practice, I'm made
so welcome and I already feel like part of the family.
It can be tiring though, living so far away
from ODM means early and long working days and barging my way on to the busy buses in the morning; but
it is something I am adapting too quickly and after a while I am certain it
will be ‘normal’.
From travelling through China, Guangdong is definitely one
of my favourite regions and the place I have spent most of my time. To me its closest to feeling like home, its nature is beautiful, it has the best food (肠粉and早茶）(hence the food picture), environment, and it has barely any
pollution, and being accustomed to already living in China it has been a bonus for fitting straight in with Chinese life.
My exploration of Zhuhai is minimal at the moment. I'd say compared to my time studying in Hangzhou just before
this, time is not of the essence, so it can be difficult to balance my time with my friends and with the family also. But so far, I did go to the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom Park during my first week and that is certainly worth checking out on a weekend with great weather. I have yet to also travel to Macau, but that is for sure on the agenda.
All in all, this experience is worth it.
In my first week at ODM I was very busy and new to everything and I did feel quite overwhelmed. But now I feel comfortable as I get better and faster, and I love it here.
I have been so busy that I have barely contacted my family since
arriving again in China. But it’s good, it means that I will achieve something
in learning so much all of the time; I know I will learn important life skills,
become more confident, and will be well on my way to achieving something bigger
in the future. I know my experience here in ODM will be one of the greatest
experiences to date, and thank you ODM for giving me this opportunity.
