One experience that helped to characterize my perception of my study abroad experience was interning at a non-profit called the Freedom Hub that helps survivors of modern slavery in Australia rebuild their lives. At the start of my internship, I realized that the Australian workplace is far more relaxed and hands-off than the US. While my internship was in-person, they frequently reminded me that I could work from home if I needed to and were very flexible with my schedule when I became overwhelmed with schoolwork at one point. This also extended to the work itself, as I was assigned a project to revamp the procurement plan for the café that the organization runs. This was difficult, however, as I did not feel that I had the supply chain background to effectively complete the job. On top of that, this was the only project I was given, while other interns were assigned far more.
I began to worry that this was because I could have left a bad first impression or that I had failed to adequately explain my skill set. While they emphasized the egalitarian nature of the company and explained that they wanted us to be involved and respected in the same way as salaried employees, I was uncomfortable speaking up at first since I was not familiar with the norms of working in Australia. Ultimately, I decided to discuss my concerns with my supervisor, explaining that I needed more of a collaborative environment and was not confident with the instructions I was given. My supervisor was extremely receptive to these concerns and allowed me to pivot and work on a research project that I was more comfortable completing independently. Eventually, when it came time to go back to the procurement plan, he brainstormed with me and helped to set me on the right path so that I could tackle the project with confidence.
People from my host culture are taught in this independent way from a young age, with schools requiring a lot of accountability from students. Teachers do not give frequent reminders about assignments and deadlines are strict. Thus, people that grew up learning in that culture expect that style and employ it as managers. They may feel that I was overreacting or that I lacked the discipline to complete the tasks on my own. While I was eventually able to shift into that self-guided mentality, it was a notable shift that I had to make mentally; it also greatly improved my organization and motivation overall.
This exercise helped me process the lessons I learned through my internship beyond just the content I was exploring. I now feel far more comfortable expressing to managers where I am coming from so that they can guide me as I adapt to new management styles. In an increasingly interconnected world, I will undoubtedly have to work in collaboration with people who have a myriad of different working styles. Working in Australia, especially directly after spending 6 weeks in Spain, allowed me to become increasingly confident and excited to work with those whose backgrounds differ from my own.
