Meet The 2016 Spring Interns!

This January, The International Center welcomed eight new Interns! From India to Indiana, these students and graduates will be bringing their diverse experience and skills to The Center.  One aspect of their internship experience includes posting a blog entry related to the department they work in, adding to the value of the blog!  Without further ado, let’s introduce the 2016 Spring Interns!

Global Competency Training Intern – Allison Butler

¡Hola! Ciao! Hello! I’m Allison Butler and I am the Global Competency Training Intern. I help local and foreign companies become more globally aware and culturally sensitive.

I’m currently a junior at Butler University majoring in International Studies and Spanish with a minor in Strategic Communication. My greatest passion is to travel, learn languages, and experience other cultures, which I know I will do for the rest of my life. I not only spend my time getting to know the international students at Butler, but I was lucky enough to be an exchange student myself. Last spring I studied abroad in Milan, Italy, where I fell in love with the city and became fluent in Italian. Living in Europe, where I was able to live in the moment and experience something new every day, was the happiest 5 months of my life. I was able to travel to Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, and all over Italy, but there are so many other places I would love to see. I’m definitely consumed by wanderlust! After graduating next spring, my goal is to move back overseas and eventually travel to every continent.

I’m very excited to have the opportunity to work at The International Center, where I am constantly exposed to new cultures and people from all over the world. I can’t wait to help make Indiana a more globalized state and improve Hoosiers’ cultural understanding. My time here at The International Center will teach me so much that I will use for the rest of my life, wherever my travels take me.

Relocation Services Intern – Daniel Harvey

¡Saludos! My name is Daniel Harvey and I am the new Relocation Services Intern at The International Center.  At The International Center, I have already met some amazing people who all share a passion for international relations. In the Relocation Services department I assist with relocation of clients, hotel reservations, housing accommodations, scheduling, research and analysis of client data, creation of presentations, and occasionally I have the opportunity to work with our clients personally. I enjoy this internship and would recommend it to anyone who has an international interest.

I currently live on the south side of Indianapolis and have for the majority of my life. I am bilingual in English and Spanish and major in Spanish Modern Languages at Franklin College. At an early age, my brother and I were exposed to many different cultures and I believe these experiences molded my cultural interest. In every aspect of life there is a type of culture, and by better understanding each other’s differences, people can achieve great things.

I plan to graduate in May of 2016 and pursue a career in Foreign Service for the U.S. Department of State. In the past I studied mechanical engineering, international business, and marketing. In 2014, I was able to study abroad in Murcia, Spain and this experience ignited my passion for the Hispanic culture.

China Project Intern – Daniel King

你好! (Nǐ Hǎo) My name is Daniel King and I serve as the China Project Intern. I’m from Gary, IN, and I’m a current sophomore at Butler University where I study International Business and Chinese Language and Culture. Growing up I’ve always wanted to travel the world.  This dream intensified when I started studying the Chinese Language in Middle School, and I eventually developed a passion for Chinese Language and Culture.

This past summer I was fortunate enough to study abroad at Sun-Yat Sen University in Guangzhou China, where I continued my studies in the Chinese Language.  While I was there to study the language, I was also able to study the culture through my academics and through cultural immersion. I was able to travel to different cities in China including Xi’an, Beijing, and Hong Kong, visiting many amazing Chinese historical spots. It’s safe to say that this trip was amazing and I can’t wait to go back!

As the China Project Intern, I work with my supervisor, Lei ,Wang, to conduct Market Research in China, and how that bridges to Indiana. I also assist in formulating business plans, managing projects, and maintaining client relationships. I’m excited about everything that this internship has to offer, and am ready to embrace what this semester has to hold.

Office of Protocol Intern – Andrea Middleton

Hello! My name is Andrea Middleton and I am the Office of Protocol Intern. I am currently a senior at Indiana University – Bloomington majoring in law and public policy and minoring in policy studies. I am attending law school in the fall of 2016, and I am very interested in focusing on international law. This past summer I studied abroad in Germany.  During this time in Europe I tried to travel as much as possible. I was fortunate enough not just to travel to many countries, but also to be able to visit the European Parliament, European Central Bank, and the Council of the European Union. Living with students from all over Europe was an amazing experience, and taught me so much about the importance of cultural immersion.

At The International Center I work with Peter Kirkwood to educate and increase peoples’ understanding of the proper etiquette and protocol of different countries. I am so excited to be able to increase my own cross-cultural knowledge, and to learn from everyone here at The International Center! I’ve only been an intern for a few short weeks.  However, I already always look forward to coming into The International Center and seeing what new project we will be working on that day.

My interests, outside of working at The International Center, are mostly inspired by my love of the outdoors. I enjoy hiking, backpacking, and rock climbing. I have begun section hiking the Appalachian Trail, doing a section for a week each winter break. Over the past few years I have also enjoyed traveling to Colorado, Wyoming, Kentucky, and soon Nevada to rock climb! If I am not enjoying the wonderful outdoors, you will usually find me with my two other loves, cooking and watching movies.

International Visitors Leadership Program Intern – Ji Won Park

안녕하세요! Hello! I am Ji Won Park and I have been part of The Center’s International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) as an intern and volunteer since last fall. I graduated from Tufts University (MA) last year with International Relations and Economics majors. I work with Beth Barich to facilitate the mutual exchange between foreign dignitaries to the U.S. and local professionals, by designing custom-tailored programs that meet visitors’ professional goals and objectives, providing cultural activities, and making all logistical arrangements during their stay in Indiana, all of which I am so excited to be part of.

I was born and grew up in Seoul, South Korea, but spent a year going to an international school in Malaysia, and came to the U.S. for secondary and college education in 2006. Since then, I lived in Pennsylvania for 4 years, Washington D.C. for 2 years, Boston for 3 years, and recently moved to Indianapolis (apparently, I don’t like to stay in one place for too long!). Coming from one of the most homogenous societies like Korea, I have always tried to be more culturally attentive, greatly appreciating the multicultural society of the U.S. While at the International Center, I want to improve my professional skills as well as be part of different projects and exciting cultural events undertaken by The Center. I really look forward to contributing to making this city more global!

International Visitor Leadership Program Intern – Samantha Wiemer

Hello! My name is Samantha Wiemer and I am from a very small town that is about an hour and a half northeast of Indianapolis called Redkey, Indiana. I am a senior studying Public Affairs and International Relations at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). I am very excited that I will be graduating this May, as that means I will be able to start working towards my law degree! I am interested in practicing environmental, international, and adoption law.

I am the International Visitor Leadership Program Intern this semester, working under Beth Barich, the IVLP Program Manager, and am looking forward to learning how the IVLP impacts the lives of leaders and individuals around the world. I have always been interested in the impacts that all countries have on each other, especially in our ever-increasing globalized society. Although I have been here for a short time, the IVLP does such a great job of showing leaders from other countries how Indianapolis works and how we plug in to, and impact, our globalized world. As the IVLP Intern I am thrilled that I will get the opportunity to meet with our guests and learn more about them, as well as help them understand Indianapolis through the meetings and discussions planned in their itineraries.

My hobbies include running, camping, traveling (when I can), pretty much anything outdoors, and reading. My favorite food is a grilled chicken Caesar salad and my favorite candy is dark chocolate with sea salt.

Programs and Services Intern – Swati Pradeep

Hello! My name is Swati Pradeep and I am the new Programs and Services Intern here at The International Center. I’m originally from India but have mostly grown up in various parts of the Middle East. Since my dad moved around a lot I got the opportunity to live and connect with various communities from around the world. Now at the International Center, that journey continues! Having recently graduated and hoping to pursue my interest in the field of international and global affairs, the Center stepped in to help me to further nurture my relations as well as assist me to grasp the importance of understanding different cultures on a more profound level. It has also opened my eyes to the diversity in the Hoosier state.

Apart from working at The International Center, I love spending my time playing tennis and it was something my family did together on most days. Indiana also gave me the opportunity to finally learn to ice skate! I hope to explore the mid-west sometime soon before I leave and to have the opportunity to meet more wonderful people as the ones I already work with at The Center!

 

Marketing & Communication Intern – Kelly Sorfleet

¡Hola! ¡Salut! ‘Sup? Me llamo Kelly Sorfleet, and I come from a neighborhood on the Southside of Chicago. I am a Strategic Communication (Public Relations & Advertising) and Spanish Major at Butler University. In May of 2015, I embarked on a trip to Shanghai, China to complete a six-week internship, returned home for another six weeks and left once again to spend my fall semester in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain taking classes to satisfy my Spanish major and explore as much of Europe as possible.

As you can imagine from being abroad and going on so many different adventures, the reverse culture shock was hard, but finding a diverse and globally-focused niche at The International Center has made the transition much easier. Here at The International Center, I serve as the Marketing and Communication Intern, working under Kaitlyn Neel and Billie Fouts.  So far I have assisted in the Festival Fund Open House, pulling together various marketing materials, and getting the hang of handling the social media accounts. I look forward to taking advantage of the various cross-cultural events and assisting in the different departments of The Center.

I enjoy long walks to Chipotle, where I have been working for two years now and have become quite the expert at burrito-rolling. I also enjoy, a nice bag of flavor-blasted goldfish, keeping up with new music, my Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks and trying my absolute hardest to save money for my next adventure and/or puppy.

---

The International Center accepts applications for internships on a rolling basis.  Students of all majors who are interested in various aspects of international relations and nonprofit management are welcome to apply!  The Center is continuing to accept applications for Summer 2016.  For more job descriptions and who to contact to apply, check out the employment page of the website.

 

Contributions made by each Intern
Compiled by Kelly Sorfleet, Marketing & Communication Intern