Three Months In

Three months into my traineeship today already. So I guess it's fitting to dedicate this post to the organisation responsible for such traineeships, and why you should also consider going on one yourself. This blog post was originally submitted as part of a competition, if you enjoy reading it, I would really appreciate your vote! Thanks!

Change your life forever – Go on an IAESTE Traineeship today!

The Matterhorn in the distance

That’s what I decided to do when I applied to go on a traineeship to Switzerland back in late 2012. I was nearing the end of my studies reading for a degree in Chemistry and Materials Science at the University of Malta, with no idea as to what the future would have in store for me once I finished my studies; Being faced with the feeling of not being a student any longer and suddenly having to “grow up” to face the real world of work was a terrifying prospect. I still remember my initial hesitation when I came across the job offer to spend a year in Zürich, Switzerland; “But Switzerland is such an expensive place to live, there’s no way I will be able to afford it!” or “I don’t know if I’ll manage to live on my own for an entire year without getting homesick. What if I don’t make friends and end up being miserable the whole time?” were just a few of the questions which were running around my head. Almost 3 months into my traineeship I now realize that I couldn’t have been more wrong (well the part about Switzerland being so expensive is true) and I would like to do my best to inspire you with this short blog post to help you overcome your initial fears or whatever is holding you back so that you may also get the opportunity to go out and experience for yourself the wonders of being part of this IAESTE family!

When in Switzerland...hike

For those of you who may not yet know, IAESTE is an international organisation made up of a large number of member countries (more than 85 if I am not mistaken) which exchanges traineeships around the world for technical students i.e. students studying in the areas of the physical and life sciences, engineering, IT, architecture, materials science…the list goes on! And for every student which is sent abroad, a foreign student is accepted for traineeship by the host country. Such traineeships are a great way of gaining valuable work experience in an international environment, something which is held in high regard by employers because it teaches you the principles of tolerance, acceptance and team work which are critical values to have in the work place. What’s more, these traineeships are paid! That way, you get to learn how to manage your finances in a responsible way because you need to balance rent, groceries and leisure expenses thus gaining independence along the way.

A visit to CERN

I am currently working at the Swiss Federal Labs for Material Science in Dübendorf some 8 minutes away from Zürich by train. I really feel at home because my supervisor and colleagues are really patient and helpful. My specific project deals with improving the mechanical properties of glass-fibre reinforced composites through modifying the constituents of the polymer matrix, and my duties are varied, ranging from mixing and casting of batches of different compositions into molds and curing, sample preparation for materials testing, carrying out the materials test, and analysis of the raw data, which means that I have acquired a broad range of skills which I did not acquire during my studies. There is always something to do, and work is challenging. Apart from that I am constantly learning new things every day and have had the opportunity to operate lots of different machinery which I otherwise would have not been able to do back home.

But going on an IAESTE traineeship is not just about the opportunity to work in an international environment. By going on an IAESTE traineeship you are automatically opening up to a world of whole new opportunities to meet new people and make friends, friends from different backgrounds and cultures who are also here on a traineeship just like you are, and speaking for myself I just love getting to know more about another person’s country, heritage and cultural background. Thanks to IAESTE I now have many friends from all over the world and it has also made me realize that the world is a small place; a reunion in some other country is never too far away and I’ve already visited some friends with many more still left to visit!

Despite the very high standard of living in Zürich, I found that Switzerland is a very cool place to live and this definitely helps make the experience more worthwhile. I’m also trying to start learning some German while I’m here as it will definitely come in handy in future, despite the fact that here in Zürich they speak a variant called Swiss-German, which can be really confusing! Grüezi Mitenand (That’s ‘Hello everyone’ to the non-Swiss people!)

Happy after a weekend biking around Neuchâtel

The local committees found in different cities across the world are usually made up of students or young people who dedicate their time voluntarily to organize activities for the trainees and it so happens that LC Zürich is one of the biggest and most organized LCs organizing weekends all over Switzerland giving me the chance to do what I love doing best – travel! I’ve also been doing tons of cool stuff be it bungee jumping in Ticino, hiking across Graübunden, climbing up mountains in Valais, cycling around lakes in Neuchâtel or swimming in an ice cold river! The odd party here and there never disappoints either! Now I can’t wait for the winter season to try out some outdoor winter sports for the first time.

Going on an IAESTE traineeship really has changed my life for the better.  I feel that it has helped grow as a person, becoming more independent and learning how to deal with situations without the help of parents, even it simply means doing the laundry or cooking a meal (though I must admit nothing compares to my mum’s cooking!). My IAESTE experience so far has also compelled me to join the Local Committee so that I may repay IAESTE in the little way that I can, with my time and energy.

An IAESTE traineeship is the perfect opportunity to gain vital work experience, learn new things you would never have learnt at school, meet new people and make new friends, have a great time and travel around. So go on what are you waiting for, apply to go on a traineeship today!

IAESTE! One big family