An interview with: Amelie Ette

Would you like to briefly introduce yourself and tell us where your international adventure took you? And how long you stayed there?

My name is Amelie Ette, I’m 22 years old and currently in the second year of my apprenticeship as an industrial clerk, with an additional qualification in International Business Management with Foreign Languages. As part of my training, I had the opportunity to complete a six-week internship this summer at our Representative Office in Shanghai, China.

How did you prepare for your stay abroad? Was there anything that helped you in particular?

I got in touch with my Chinese colleagues beforehand and also spoke with coworkers from Nordrach. Their shared experiences were incredibly helpful in preparing me and showing me what I would need during my time there..

What was your first impression of the country and its culture?

The country is incredibly vast and densely populated. Residential blocks line up one after another, and more are being built at a rapid pace. Despite that, Shanghai is very clean, and I felt safe there at all times. The metro system and high-speed trains are well-developed and very comfortable—except during rush hour when everyone is heading home from work, then it gets very crowded. I also didn’t need any cash while I was there. I paid for my meals and attraction tickets online using Alipay — which was super convenient.

What did surprise you the most?

Shanghai has over a million inhabitants — I was aware of that. Still, I was overwhelmed by how many people actually live there. Since it was also summer vacation and many families were traveling within their own country, that impression was even stronger.

How did a regular day look like?

After breakfast, I walked to the office at 8:30 a.m., which was just a few minutes away from the hotel. There, I worked with my colleagues on a new topic and was given tasks related to it. For lunch, I usually ordered food to the office using an app. After work, I often went into the city or took a walk along the Suzhou River.

Did you make any new friendships?

During my time in Shanghai, I became friends with my Chinese colleagues. We often went out to eat together after work or took trips on the weekends. I’m still regularly in touch with them via WeChat.

What did you personally take away from the experience?

Be open to new things! I had a lot of respect for the country and for being there on my own — but I was pleasantly surprised. With the help of my colleagues, I was able to use the common apps and take full advantage of everything available to explore and get to know China.

Which skills were you able to develop or improve?

During my stay, I also took solo trips to other cities, which helped me strengthen my independence and self-confidence. My fear of getting lost among all the people turned out to be unfounded — and I would definitely travel there again.

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