"Working in the Global Lounge can be challenging, but never stressful. It is also very rewarding."

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Alicja, I am 25 years old and I came to Agder from Poland, where I studied Scandinavian studies at the University of Gdansk. As you can guess, Nordic cultures are one of my interests. Apart from that, I enjoy literature, art, crochet and travel.

Why did you want to become an intern at UiA? 

My best friend was an intern at Global Lounge before. After visiting her and seeing UiA, I decided to give it a try as the position looked so interesting and fun.

What were your first impressions upon arrival? 

The Global Lounge seemed like a vibrant, welcoming space where you could always meet other international students and get help with anything you needed. This was my first experience of such a space and now I think every university should have a Global Lounge like this.

You're given a lot of creative freedom to come up with different solutions and ideas for events.

What is it like working as an intern in the Global Lounge? 

Working in the Global Lounge can be challenging, but never stressful. It is also very rewarding. You're given a lot of creative freedom to come up with different solutions and ideas for events. Tasks are varied, so you can expect something new nearly every week, which makes the internship very exciting. And you get to meet people from all around the world!

How is it like to live and work in Norway? 

The beginnings were difficult, for example because of the Kristiansand dialect. Nevertheless, working and living here is completely different from Poland. It's much calmer here, the work-life balance is respected, there is no hierarchy at work, and thanks to that we have a lot of space for development.

I think it has been a great opportunity to develop better organisational skills and to work more in a team, which I wasn’t used to before.

What has been the most surprising fact about Norwegian culture? 

The Norwegian friluftsliv - open-air-life! It's absolutely fascinating how much time Norwegians spend outdoors, in nature. It doesn't matter what the weather is like or what time of year it is, you can always see people out running, walking or cycling, which is very different from where I come from.

Do you think your experience at the Global Lounge has helped you develop your personal skill set? 

This internship has definitely helped me develop socially. Before, I was rather shy about using my English and Norwegian in a conversation, especially when it came to public speaking. Now it's no longer a problem.

I think it has also been a great opportunity to develop better organisational skills and to work more in a team, which I wasn’t used to before.

What advice would you give to other students who are considering applying to the internship? 

For the full experience, apply for a year-long internship. And make the most of every opportunity to socialise, explore, travel or practise your language skills.