I’ve written about my experiences with studying abroad in Europe before (long and clichéd story short… it teaches you about yourself/other cultures/how to slow down and enjoy things) but this summer I’ll be tackling something new: working abroad (in Germany)! I knew that working abroad would present a host of new challenges and opportunities, so packing and preparing for my time there would have to be different than in the past. In case anyone is in the same boat, these are the ways I would suggest preparing for your exciting international work experience!
1. Familiarize yourself with workplace lingo! I’m fluent in German, but when my contract first arrived, the legalese made a language I’ve known my entire life look like nonsense. Even if you’re working at an English-speaking business, it’s helpful to know what people are talking about when they pepper their conversations and presentations with keywords in their native tongue.
2. Stick to their dress code! I already learned this rule the hard way, when I arrived in Italy at the end of last May. Having lived in Boston my whole life, I considered the upper 60s/low 70s temperatures of Genoa at this time to be real summer. Thus, I was equipped with floral sundresses, a couple light cardigans, and not much else. Little did I know, many Europeans (especially in France, Italy, and Germany), often consider anything below 85 worthy of jeans, boots, sweaters, and leather jackets. Now, normally I would advocate for just doing your thing and wearing whatever makes you happy, but when you’re working abroad, rather than studying in a program full of other American undergraduates, it might be better to be more careful. A fun (but incongruous) sundress is worth it when you’re only going to be judged by a handful of locals, but you don’t want your place of business to mistake your American sensibilities as being inappropriate!
3. Learn to balance work and play time! Anyone who has studied abroad knows that the key way to enjoy it is to work hard and play hard. Reviewing grammar in gorgeous cafes (blurring the lines between when you have to order coffee and when it’s acceptable to switch to beer), going out whichever nights of the week appeal to you, and doing your readings on beaches, in parks, and on trains as you go off to explore a new city two days before your final are what it’s all about. Working abroad shouldn’t be all work all the time, but it’s probably a good idea to maintain a better boundary between weekdays and weekends. Especially if you’re the only American in a foreign office, your bosses and coworkers will find your appreciation of the lower drinking age and the proximity of new cities to explore less endearing and more unprofessional if you let it impact your work!
4. Build a network! Working abroad will give you opportunities to make connections on a much broader scale than you can back home. Especially if, like me, you’re working at an international firm that has many American and international locations, creating and maintaining positive, lasting relationships with your coworkers and bosses could open doors for you not only in the place you’ll be this summer, but also with people and businesses all over the world.
5. Have a safety net! When you study abroad or travel with family, it’s easy to find friendly faces to rely on. But if you’re working abroad, it can be a lot harder to form those kinds of relationships. Especially if you’re in the minority of foreign interns, your coworkers and roommates who may be more familiar with the city you’re all in may be less attune to the difficulties it can present. But don’t let that discourage you! If you’re working in a European city and don’t know the language spoken there, try checking in with the head of the corresponding language department at Harvard. If there’s a Harvard program (or Harvard-affiliated) in the area, they can put you in touch with Harvard students who will be there studying the language. This is a great resource for not only finding friends, but also people who can help you get around and communicate! Or, use a service like Harvard’s own Summer Playbook to find fellow students in your area. Creating a safety net like this will make your summer more enjoyable, both in and out of the workplace!
But, most of all, really have fun! Everyone has to work while they’re college… but you get to do in somewhere new, beautiful, and exciting, with endless opportunities to soak up different cultures, sample unreal amounts of local food and drink, and travel the world. That’s an amazing thing! Just warn your friends ahead of time that if they can’t handle multiple posts a day, they should go ahead and unfollow you on Instagram now to be safe.