I felt like I had clicked my heels three and come to a country away from home every morning as I walked through the doors at the Embassy (大使馆) of Australia in Washington. Musical Aussie accents and Aboriginal art exhibits made me wonder if I had entered without a visa. In fact I was a temporary employee, a public affairs unpaid intern (实习生) for three months during the summer in order to engage myself in the culture of the country where I planned to study the next spring.
During the summer I read the Australian news every day. Working at the embassy allowed me to escape the U. S. for six hours per day and learn about what was going on across the planet. After reading the daily Australian and U. S. news I usually helped prepare a PowerPoint presentation for school kids who visited the embassy as part of a school activity. Depending on whether an embassy event was going on, I would attend weekly meetings to listen to planning and see what I could do to help. Usually there were smaller tasks to be done such as creating visitors guides.
The most fantastic event in which I participated was the visit of the Australian Prime Minister. As the only American among countless Australian media and staff, I felt comfortable and was kept busy taking pictures and recording door-stop interviews at famous sites such as the Capitol. As an intern, you will not be exposed to top-secret information, but you are on the inside when it comes to special events.
Government work is a useful addition to one's experience. As an embassy employee you will gain invaluable knowledge while spending your summer in a culturally diverse workplace.
