Life lessons? – No courses available, please modify your search

Interning every other term is a real eye-opener as an undergad. I’m always meeting new people, from experienced colleagues to worldly friends, and each one of them has taught me something new and insightful about life outside of school.

From all of these new friends and faces, the connection between schooling and the rest of life is made rarely. School was some life stage for them that happened some time ago, forgotten as they settled into the days and weeks and years of routines.

Wake up, dress, work, run errands, go home, housekeep/feed kids/love family. sleep (optional). Repeat (and await days off).

So life ain’t all the problem solving that the fun diagram above makes it out to be. There’s so much more to living, certainlywork and problem-solving and memorizing things aren’t all that there is to life. I’m looking for a calling, some sense of purpose that guides my critical reasoning and decisions. You could say I was always looking for it. Don’t you think the looking itself the fun part? I think that’s why internships are so exciting. I get to look in so many different places and with so many different people along the way! ^_^

I’m in London!

I am also leaving London. Photos are coming soon, given I find time.

Favourite places in London so far:

1. Yum Chaa
2. Kaffeine
3. Oxford Street
4. Covent Garden

An Intern’s 5 Awkward Ways to Say Goodbye

1. The non-committal hug

When you’re saying bye and realize you never actually touched him (or her) before! Maybe you did – maybe you accidentally grazed their boob once or went for the same spoon and touched their hand. But it won’t stop your intended warm embrace from turning into an enormously awkward getting-only-so-close that you can smell their hair and touch their left shoulder blade. Avoid standing there after and exchanging complements and things you say you’ll miss (but not really) – the awkwardness doesn’t get better.

2. The side hug

Get grabbed at the waist and kindly accept the “It’s been nice knowing you, kiddo!” Yeah you too, bud! I should never have told you my age. (-_-)

3. The wave

The last memory you’ll have of them is seeing them 3 feet away and waving as they walk away. You think you knew them well enough that they deserve more than that, but there’s no official in-between for “not close enough to hug” and ” friendlier enough to not shake hands.” I wish I had enough nerd-to-the-max gutsy humour to bring out my Star Trek alter ego. Live long and prosper!

4. Hug overkill

When you’re looking for ways to get off the hugger that started rocking you side-to-side with overwhelming happiness and vigor! Agree with everything they exclaim loudly into your ear whilst they hug you, they’ll let go eventually. As you escape, quickly switch your attention to someone else before they decide they miss you already! 

5. See ya

It doesn’t get much worse then receiving just, “see ya.” You might never have been sure if they really liked you at all or not, the kind of person whose social invitations you declined because you think they expected you to. Thanks for being nice about it though! If you don’t mind, I kind of hope I don’t, “see ya,” … I’ve run out of excuses for avoiding you. O_O