As of the 1st of May the English language and e-learning departments of Smart Business Communications have joined the ICB group. Smart has 15 years experience in the development and delivery of Business English training predominantly for the banking and financial sectors in Paris with a team of highly experienced trainers, administrators and IT specialists.
Ever since I can remember, I’ve dreamed of being able to live in Paris. So, when my French teacher told our class about an internship where I could live and work in Paris for six weeks, I immediately set my heart on it. I worked very hard on an application, essay, and interview (all three entirely in French). And then I waited. When I found out that it was I who had received the internship, I was ecstatic! It was a dream come true for me.
As soon as I found out, I began the long process of applying for a working visa. This was the first time that I had ever had to figure out how to navigate the ins and outs of French (or any other country’s, for that matter) bureaucracy. As it turned out, I didn’t need the visa after all, but even that experience impressed on me the independence that awaited me in Paris.
From the second I stepped off the plane (well, right after I took a nap), I jumped right into Parisian culture. I found lunch at a small bistro that day, had a café au lait at a small corner café, and bought a baguette that I carried home on the metro under my arm, pulling off little bites for myself the entire way.
Since I had visited Paris before with my family, I decided to forgo the more touristy attractions and dive into the heart of Paris. Since I was alone, I could do whatever, whenever I wanted. Armed with a book, I jumped from neighborhood to neighborhood finding cafes where I could people watch and read. On the weekends, instead of café hopping, I would spend my day at different markets finding artesian cheeses, breads, and jams for the week at the food market or spend 30 minutes sorting through a meter-high pile of two-euro scarves at the flea market. And of course, the perfect addition to any day was a lost tourist asking me for directions, thinking I was Parisian (it was even better when I knew how to help them).
At the office, I also had a wonderful experience. Even though the work itself wasn’t always exciting, every one was always smiling and friendly. Being my first real job, it was a bit nerve-wracking to know that something as small and a misplaced excel cell could be potentially disastrous, but it was a learning experience and I know that it will serve me well in future jobs. It also made me realize how hard I can work at something when I put my mind to it.
By the end of my six weeks, my childhood dream of living in Paris had become reality – I realized just how much I love not only the city, but the entire country, culture, language, and, of course, food. It’s a truly life-changing experience to be able to live alone in a foreign country at 18 years old and I cannot thank Mr. Wrobley enough for his incredible generosity and all that this internship has taught me.
Miranda STARR
ICB Europe summer intern 2011