Landing an internship at an embassy is a dream come true for students interested international diplomacy, trade, and development. In a three-part series we caught up with former SFU students who interned at Canadian Embassies abroad.

My first co-op position took me halfway across the globe to a rural town in India. Although there are many events that stand out in my life, none compare to this extraordinary and life-changing experience.

This is the story of how one Psychology and Criminology student went from being a diligent undergraduate at SFU to a fun-loving English teacher in South Korea.

Endless mountains of food? Check. Colleagues to play Pokemon Go with? Check. A pile of daunting audit work to get through? Check. Was it worth it? 

On my first day of work, I woke up too early, rehearsed too much, and imagined too many scenarios which didn’t end up happening. I thought, “What if the students don’t listen to me? What if they don’t like my lesson? What if they don’t like ME!?” Looking back at my experience teaching English in South Korea, it’s funny to think that I began my new life plagued with all of these worries. 

While going to university in itself is a major change, moving across the globe to study poses indescribable challenges. In a new country whether you are here for a semester or for years to come, I look back on my own experience to offer some resources that will help you navigate your time at SFU. 

From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, I share my experiences and lessons learned from when I lived and worked in the heart of Bavaria, Germany at the adidas Group global headquarters.

After finishing two co-op semesters in Canada, Health Sciences student Samantha Lui wanted to take things farther and ventured off to Japan for eight months as a Research Assistant with the Kao Corporation. Find out how she successfully transitioned into a new environment whilst exploring every part of this exciting country.     

In part two of my Brazillian co-op story, I arrive in São Paulo feeling overwhelmed. This all changes as I carry out my research, realizing something very powerful about the connection many Brazilians have to the sport of soccer.