Study Abroad...in Reverse!

By Yin Li, China Project Intern 
 
As an international student majoring in Communication, I am very interested in working in the diverse cultural environment, in which I can use my personal experience and improve my knowledge in communication. When I found this internship position from The Center’s website, I felt it would be a great opportunity for me.

At The International Center, I work as an intern at the China Project Office, which aims to enhance the relationships between China and Indiana in the field of business, culture and education. As a student from China, I am very excited to get involved in the process of building the bilateral relationship. Let me share with you a recent project where our office hosted a one-day career-based orientation for international students from Ball State University.

 On March 21^st, we welcomed the students to The Center and introduced our programs and services, as well as our internship program. There were 16 students from China, and three were from Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, and Uzbekistan. They were very interested in the internship positions, and some said they would definitely tell their friends to apply because they rarely have the opportunity to work off campus. After the tour of The Center, I accompanied the students on a tour of the Indiana Statehouse. We were very fortunate to have a great tour guide named Jim to show us around. With his funny and informative introduction, the students learned much about Indiana’s culture and history, such as the state flag, bird (cardinal), and flower (peony).

The highlight of this event was a visit to Global Caravan Technologies (an RV company), and a meeting with its CEO and president, Mr. Ding, who was a Chinese international student himself 18 years ago. Mr. Ding introduced his business, and shared his personal experience. He also gave valuable suggestions to the students about how to build their careers by taking advantage of study abroad opportunities. Students really appreciated this chance to talk with Mr. Ding, commenting on the value of talking face-to-face with such a successful businessman. I am glad I joined in this orientation, because it allowed me to gain a better understanding of what international students need and what we can do for them.

Working as an intern The Center, I also have had the opportunity to participate in other programs and services.  I assisted the relocation office in giving an orientation for Chinese assignees of Eli Lilly and Company to settle down in Indianapolis; attended the cross-cultural competency training; and helped to set up flags to welcome foreign dignitaries to visit Indianapolis.

All these experiences brought me more perspective of how The International Center achieves its goals and makes a contribution to Indiana’s globalization. I really appreciate the opportunity to work with such a warm and passionate team at The Center. By working in this diverse cultural environment, I become more confident in communicating with diverse audiences, which is definitely beneficial to my professional development.

China: IN view

 

When it comes to December...: Reflection of an Internship

By Yizhi "Lois" Luo, Asian Learning Center of Indiana Intern

Four months ago, when I was making my argument to a friend of mine about leaving my current job at that time and moving to Indianapolis for a 300-hour unpaid internship at The International Center, I did not know how well this would turn out. I was certainly expecting something new, something that would sharpen me, and something that would open a bigger world for me. Now that it is time to summarize all that I’ve done during this period of time at The Center, I am surprised, encouraged and assured that I made the exactly right decision to participate in this program. The International Center’s internship program met all my expectations and at times even exceeded them.

Learning about American and Asian Culture at ALCI

By Yiting Li, Asian Learning Center Intern

Growing up in a different culture, I have always wanted to learn more about American culture, especially after I came here three years ago as a High School International Exchange Student. I stayed with an American host family in Mayville, WI during my senior year of high school. Many reasons brought me to the United States. For example, I want to improve my language skills and get to know more people from different backgrounds. There was definitely a huge difference between the high school in America and the one in Beijing, my hometown. I took advantage of being an exchange student and tried out various new things. For example, I joined the Cross Country team and the school musical. During my time there,

Flags, Fun, and Feng Shui

By Maggie Dankert, Asian Learning Center Intern 

First, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Maggie Dankert and I’m an intern for the Asian Learning Center at The International Center. After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a degree in East Asian Anthropology, I headed to South Korea to teach English for two years. It was there that I fine-tuned my aspirations within the large umbrella of Globalization. My interests lie in working with international students on a university campus, and working in the Asian Language Center will let me pursue my passion. We have begun exciting work that involves partnering international universities with local colleges to increase student exchange and cultural awareness.

I have not completed my first month of my internship at The International Center, but already I feel like I have learned so many great things. The staff’s fluid cooperation between departments is mirrored in this internship, allowing me to experience several different aspects of working with International peoples.

This past week, working through both the Strategic Initiatives Department and Protocol Office, The International Center assisted the City of Indianapolis in welcoming the new Consul General of China on his first visit to Indiana. On his final day in Indianapolis, and as I reflect on the whirlwind of events he attended, I feel a sense of pride in the community of Indianapolis, The International Center, and the organizations we partnered with. Receiving the Consul General at such places as the Children’s Museum, the Indy Speedway, the International Airport, the Statehouse, The Columbia Club, and the Bankers Life Fieldhouse highlighted many great aspects of our city. My universities studies were brought to life as I attended meetings and saw how international business and diplomacy were conducted between the Chinese delegation and their American counterparts. These connections will build bridges and networks that will bring future international investments to Indiana.

During the Consul General’s visit, I assisted our Protocol Officer in various duties. Initially I was unsure of what a Protocol Officer does, but after spending the week with him, I now consider him a expert on Feng Shui—not for furniture but for people. He arranged the entire agenda in such a manner that an optimal harmonious atmosphere was produced and the best possible connections were made.

I want to share some of the lessons I learned during these three days.

• One Point of Contact: to avoid confusion, have only one person as contact. This will eliminate confusion when accepting RSVPs, avoid duplicate name badges, and minimize other problems that could arise.

• Lead, Don’t Follow: When leading people, always walk ahead. This way you can navigate doors, push elevator buttons, and meet the proper people at check points.

• Advance the Visit: Think of this as a reconnaissance mission. Check out the meeting or dinner’s setting prior to the actual appointment time so you can visualize the set-up and prevent any potential problems.

• The Importance of a Flag (and its proper set-up): We found ourselves setting up the American, Chinese, and Indiana flags all over town prior to each of the delegation’s appointments. Set-up has quite a few more steps then I originally thought. Some of the questions I now ask myself include: When displaying the flag, which direction does the American eagle point? Are the flags even or are they leaning to one side? What order are they in? Is the finial in its proper place in front of the flag? It seemed like a lot of work, but from both my time abroad and the look of comfort on the delegations’ face, I could tell that the sight of their native flag was a welcomed one.

As you can see, these two weeks have been action-packed. The knowledge I’ve picked up in just a short time span has been enlightening and rewarding. I am looking forward to the next two months!

Naturalizations & New Years

By Megan Watson, Marketing, Communications, and Stakeholder Relations Intern



On January 31, I had the honor of presenting an American flag to the eldest of the newly naturalized citizens in Marion County, Indiana. This moment was emotional, in every sense. It was endearing, it was overwhelming and most of all, it was absolutely joyous. This man, after waiting for who knows how long, was finally an American citizen and I got to give him what was now HIS flag. This was a landmark moment in my life and gave me the opportunity to realize just how great this community is. In Indianapolis, we are able to enjoy the comfort of a small city while still being graced with a multicultural setting that allows for growth and enrichment.

Broadening Horizons

By Ming Hu, Graduate Assistant/Manager of the Burmese Project

It is my third month spent with the International Center. An amazing experience so far.

Xiangyang Sister Cities Delegation

By Katherine Voskoboynik, Development Intern

One of the best parts of being an intern at The International Center is the opportunity to involve oneself in the various areas of the organization. This enables us to venture beyond the positions assigned to us that are inscribed on our email signatures, and provides a multifaceted perspective on the internship experience. While we always have plenty to keep us busy in our ‘areas of expertise’, we occasionally stray from the work that pertains to our positions and collaborate on various projects that benefit The Center as a whole. I’ll give you an example to illustrate exactly what I mean:

Last week, several of us [interns] were approached by Peter Kirkwood, Officer of Protocol. He presented the opportunity to join him and several other staff members on Friday at the Indianapolis International Airport in greeting a delegation from Xianyang, China (consisting of the Deputy Mayor and the Deputy Director of the Department of Education.) The delegation had arrived to officially forge a Sister Cities partnership with Carmel, Indiana. This project, spearheaded by Peter, the City of Carmel, and Chinese community leaders in Carmel, has been in the works for the past 18 months. It was an honor to be included in one of the moments that culminated the nearly two year-old efforts put forth by all parties, even if we were only greeting the delegation at the airport.

However, we were not merely bystanders in this situation. While our presence primarily served to provide a heartfelt welcome to the delegation upon their arrival, Peter had also given us each an assignment to enhance the experience. For example, Marielle, the intern for the Office of Protocol, was charged with coordinating the logistics of their visit. She was also given the opportunity to utilize her knowledge of Mandarin Chinese by creating a poster welcoming the delegation to our city. Peter, the Communication intern, was tasked with carrying a video camera and recording the whole affair. Peter K. had asked me to prepare a few questions to ask the delegation members upon their arrival. Little did I know that I was going to be collaborating with the Carmel Public Access television station to conduct my brief interview. What a privilege it was to not only interact with the delegation, but also to meet and work with real media professionals!

Marielle's poster welcoming the delegation
 in both English and Mandarin

If you had asked me at the beginning of this internship what I was expecting from the experience, never in my wildest dreams would I have envisioned myself appearing on public access television, submitting press releases to The Indianapolis Star and the Indianapolis Business Journal, speaking and presenting a flag at a naturalization ceremony at the Federal Courthouse, meeting the Deputy Mayor of an influential Chinese city, and many more things (the list could go on and on)… What a journey this has been so far, and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for me!