Three months' worth.
Thursday concluded my internship saga in the ILO Library. As I would always tell my friends here, it was all two months' worth of work and one month's worth of homesickness. I actually spent my last two days finishing up my activity report, polishing my project, having coffee with the technical specialist who helped me work on my project, and cleaning up the desk and PC which I called mine for quite a long while.
I didn't do the goodbye rounds to my colleagues, as what I originally thought of doing. I just sent a Thank You email to all of them instead. To my surprise, and for the irony of it all, I became emotional. I didn't don my temporary office with picture frames and curtains, but I somehow felt attached to it, much more, to my everyday routine at work. Subconsciously, I got used to the quietness of our office hallway, with only me (and later, another intern) playing my online radio (go Magic and RX!) to break the silence a bit. "Goodbye, desk." was what I said before turning off the lights and leaving the office for the last time.
I didn't do the goodbye rounds to my colleagues, as what I originally thought of doing. I just sent a Thank You email to all of them instead. To my surprise, and for the irony of it all, I became emotional. I didn't don my temporary office with picture frames and curtains, but I somehow felt attached to it, much more, to my everyday routine at work. Subconsciously, I got used to the quietness of our office hallway, with only me (and later, another intern) playing my online radio (go Magic and RX!) to break the silence a bit. "Goodbye, desk." was what I said before turning off the lights and leaving the office for the last time.
Who I was for 3 months.
I will be back on Monday though, the day before I fly back home. I need to give back the library key (which opens all doors in the library) to the secretariat and then turn over my Swiss legitimation card to the HR. The secretary said I can keep the ILO badge as a souvenir. I never liked my mugshot in that badge, but I am keeping it just the same. Who knows, I might need it again in the future ;)
This was my first international work experience and I never felt more accomplished professionally, even though it was just a limited engagement. Truthfully, the last three months has beaten my eleven years of library experience back home. This was no doubt a professional eye-opener for me. It was the best...so far.
I am very grateful to God for this blessing which at one point, I thought of not claiming. NO REGRETS. It was all worth the claim.
This was my first international work experience and I never felt more accomplished professionally, even though it was just a limited engagement. Truthfully, the last three months has beaten my eleven years of library experience back home. This was no doubt a professional eye-opener for me. It was the best...so far.
I am very grateful to God for this blessing which at one point, I thought of not claiming. NO REGRETS. It was all worth the claim.
