Make It Happen
At this point, it seems like everyone is having a different experience in Cape Town. It’s so interesting to me that the interns I came with all arrived here at the same time, and we are all at such different stages in our process of integrating with the culture – or only integrating with the other students here. I don’t think this is a bad thing at all…everyone came here with different goals & what they wanted to learn and experience, and I am so grateful that I have been given the opportunities to experience above and beyond what I was hoping to.
Last weekend, I competed in an indoor cricket tournament with a few of my colleagues against the other advertising agencies in Cape Town. I also coordinated the entire tournament from our agency’s side, and seeing this entire project come together was an awesome experience. I know event planning isn’t my niche, but I got to meet some people that I never would have had the chance to, and I am glad I went through all the stress to see my hard work pay off. I’m also not much of an athlete, but the game was so easy to understand and catch on to, and I only got pelted with a ball once. This was one of the first times I had the chance to really be PART of South Africa in a small way – I have a job here, I have new friends here, and now I have co-workers here that I do things with outside of work. I feel like I’ve had a slice of what life is like when you have a real job and real responsibilities, even if it is in another country. I ended up writing a quick thank-you note to the man who REALLY coordinated the entire event for the agencies, because I felt so compelled to share my appreciation for the opportunity to be involved and a part of the team. Today he wrote me back saying that he couldn’t express how much he appreciated what I did, and that he hung up my note on his bulletin board. He told me that he could tell from the few short minutes that we spoke that I have a fantastic personality, and to never change. Wow. I don’t think I deserve that much appreciation, but his compliment put the biggest smile on my face for the rest of the day. This one person made me feel like I am doing something right, and that I really can make it happen.
Some of my favorite co-workers and me
Last week I decided to bite the bullet and ask for more work, because I hate sitting around – especially as an intern. This resulted in a pile of work over my head, but I tackled the job like any other, and now I have a grip on the seemingly never-ending jobs, however menial they may be. I also had the chance to sit on a casting set this Tuesday and Wednesday, and met some outrageous characters. I realised just how much I like the people here. Everyone seems so genuinely interested in what I have to say. To them I’m not just another student on holiday…I’m an adult with opinions and a reasonable amount of knowledge (not to say I won’t always have more to learn). On set, I also got to hang out with Sedick, my favourite photographer, and meet the quirkiest director. I have been on sets before, but I will always take the opportunity to get out of the office – especially for free food and coffee, and the chance to meet so many different people from Africa. I also decided that I want to see how the other side of the agency works. Of course I know what they do in the studio, but I want to actually DO it, so I asked my boss if I could sit in with some people and try my hand at copywriting. We’ll see how it goes!
Some days, I really feel like I belong here. I’m not the new girl, and I’m not even the newest intern at the office any more. I have been asked to coordinate the other interns for jobs, and it makes me feel like I am actually, finally, maybe… being trusted a little. I know I have a lot to offer at this job, but it’s hard to raise your hand and prove it. I’m learning so much more about life in the business world, at that. I can’t wait to get out there and conquer the world. At this point, I sometimes really feel like I could do it. It’s so inspiring to me that the people here don’t fall into a slump; every day they do their best, and they smile and genuinely put themselves out there in the world. Every day. It never fails. I wish everyone at home could feel the hospitality I have had a chance to experience. I feel like some of the people here treat me better than people I have known for years…and then I wonder why I ever put up with peoples’ crap. Some people have so much to offer but aren’t given the time of day because of others’ preconceptions or intolerance, and it amazes me that there is so much more to explore in the world – so many people to meet, so many cultures to experience, and so much good food & wine to try. I just don’t know why it took me this long to realise it.