It’s officially the last day of my international internship in London! It’s a truly bittersweet feeling. I’m excited about going back to school and seeing my family. That said, I really am going to miss the small things I’ve come to love in one of my new favorite cities. Things such as the breathtaking sunset views of the Tower Bridge on my way back to my apartment, being able to see new art exhibitions at the Tate Modern, to experiencing unique events such as the Celebration of the 350 years since the Great Fire of London.
One of my favorite moments in London was being able to see a special viewing of Sir John Soane’s Museum by candlelight. It’s a special exhibition that only allows approximately 200 people in at a time. It only happens a few times each year and lasts for a couple of hours. I was able to see some very distinct art pieces like the only painting of young Napoleon at age 26. I also got to see one of the few original copies of a book containing 20 of Shakespeare’s plays that was printed during his lifetime!
For my internship, my last tasks were to finish my research and to hand in my brief. This will be published internally for other researchers or members of the institute to use for further investigation on the topic. I also was privileged enough to attend meetings in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. I will forever be thankful for the things that the staff and other interns have taught me during my time. I will always be proud to have contributed to their amazing work and to the field of development!
So as I write this on my plane ride back home, I am able to reflect on the incredible journey that I was so lucky to have been a part of with The Intern Group. I have learned so much about myself and the world over these last 5 weeks – from the extensive knowledge I received from the great team at my internship, to my new perspective on truly appreciating the small moments in life. Even though I only stayed in London for a relatively short period of time, I know that the experiences and memories I have made along the way will stay with me for a lifetime. I know that I will always recommend this program to anyone I encounter.
Until next time, London!
Photo 1. based on London, by Pedro Szekely, CC BY -SA 2.0
Photo 2, 3 & 4 by Véronique Lahaie Luna