I admit it, I’m way too excited about my upcoming trip back to the US. This isn’t a trip I’ve been planning for a long time — it’s only come together in the past few weeks.
In just over a week I’ll head back to Orlando. It’s not a vacation — unless you count working every day. It’ll be fun, though!
I’m going to spend two weeks working with my new summer intern, and she’s going to help me give you more of the great content and advice you’re looking for.
My intern is my talented youngest daughter. She’s just wrapping up a semester abroad, and her school requires an internship during the summer between junior and senior years.
Back in January she spoke to me, worried that she wouldn’t be able to find a suitable internship. That’s because her semester overseas would run from March 1 – July 1 and all the usual opportunities would be filled with students who finished their semester in late May or early June.
Knowing that I could use some help, I told her if she couldn’t find anything else I’d be delighted to have her intern with me. Her school said ok, so we’re off and running.
We’ll spend a couple weeks working hard to get her rocking and rolling with lots of face time, then she’ll head back to the Northeast and I’ll return home to Panama.
How will this affect Future Expats Forum?
If You’re in the Orlando Area
If you’re on my email list, you got a letter from me last week outlining the trip. Several of you emailed back to ask if we could get together while I’m in the area.
I hadn’t originally planned on this, but I’d be delighted.
If you’re in the greater Orlando area and would like to join an informal meetup with other Future Expats, please email me right away so I can get an idea of how many people we need to accommodate. Also, give me an idea whether you’d prefer a place where you can get a meal, or just drinks/snacks.
Once I have numbers, I’ll put together a place and a time — it will be one evening between July 15-19. It will be totally informal — no speeches, no planned presentation, just a chance to say hello and answer your questions.
I’m looking forward to seeing you there!
Other Benefits from the Internship
My goal is to give you more of the information you’re looking for. My intern can help me do that.
For starters I’ll have her write some articles about a part of the world that Americans rarely get to see, with photos she took.
But her biggest task will be to help me get organized. She’s really good at putting plans and processes in place, and I’ve been so busy cranking out work that I just haven’t had time to do that. Even though I know it’ll help in the long run.
One More Thing. . .
While I’m traveling I’ll be focusing on behind-the-scenes work, not writing. So during that time I’ll be pulling some of my favorite articles out of the archives for you to enjoy. Once I’m back in Panama at the end of July you’ll start seeing new material again.
I think this sounds like a terrific opportunity for both of you. The meet-up is a wonderful outgrowth of people connecting online, and I’ve spoken in-person or via Skype with several people I’ve ‘met’ first online. Here’s a suggestion: while there, give a quick 1 minute introduction of your daughter, and then have her talk briefly (3-5 minutes tops) about what she hoped to get out of the internship experience and what she’s learned as a result of it. Not only do interns often learn valuable lessons other than what they initially expected (and which are good for employers – even parental ones – to hear), she can then include ‘gave short presentation to a meeting of website constituents about the valuable benefits of this internship opportunity’ on her resume. Students these days can never get enough speaking opportunities, and this one will be in a supportive environment. Just a thought…
Excellent suggestion, Linda! I was certainly planning on introducing her, but hadn’t thought through the ramifications from that point of view. Thanks. 🙂