2016 AmCham Internship Reflections: Part 1

AmCham Summer Interns Reflect on their Experience

Each summer, AmCham Taipei’s Publications and Communications Department offers internships to several outstanding students at foreign universities to serve on the Taiwan Business TOPICS or help with the Chamber’s website and posts on social media. We asked members of the 2016 contingent to share their thoughts about the experience. 

 nina-sheridan

Nina Sheridan, Princeton University

I arrived in Taiwan in June after my freshman year at Princeton with an interest in journalism and love of the Chinese language. I was assigned an article my first day of work, and from there was given freedom to do my own research, set up interviews, and form opinions on the state of the fashion design industry in Taiwan. I made my first phone call in Chinese the second week, and by the end of the summer I felt comfortable talking to taxi drivers in the language on my way to and from interviews.

Throughout my eight weeks working on AmCham’s TOPICS magazine, I was given the opportunity to explore in depth the design and fast-food industries. I also sat in on talks about the future of virtual reality, the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact, and Taiwan’s energy sector. I transcribed interviews on subjects ranging from CrossFit to MOOCs (massive open online courses) to wind energy.

Every day at work I learned something new about Taiwan. I ate lunch at a different place almost every day with the other interns. I moved from hostel to hostel and continuously explored new neighborhoods. Working at AmCham showed me how industry, Chinese language, and journalism can intersect. I didn’t know what to expect when I came to Taiwan, but I feel truly lucky to have spent two months learning about Taiwan’s culture and economy.

 

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