MA Siu-kei, Ernest || BENG (Hons) Civil Engineering || RECOC. s.r.o, Czech Republic

Civil Engineering student Ma Siu-kei Ernest travelled a long way to the Czech Republic for his internship at a construction company. The multiethnic environment of the European country has not just broadened his horizons but transformed him into an outgoing person.

“Before the internship, my global sense was weak and I was not sociable by nature. I did not pay much attention to global issues and my social network was narrow,” says Ernest, who came across people from different cultural backgrounds during the internship arranged by IAESTE.

Assigned to work at RECOC. s.r.o., a company involved in the design of building structures, structural analysis, formwork and reinforcement plans, Ernest designed the reinforcing steel bars in concrete structures. Though English is used in the workplace, Ernest needed to overcome language barriers and took time to get used to the strong Czech accent of his colleagues. “Czech is the official language in Czech Republic. Most people in the country are not proficient in English. When travelling around Prague, I had to make use of body language and use simple English to communicate with the locals. Luckily, Czech people are very friendly by nature and they would try their best to understand what I wanted to convey,” Ernest recalls.

A world of rich social and cultural contexts

Outside work, Ernest spent much time touring around Prague and his knowledge of the Czech culture was deeply enriched. “The Czech Republic is renowned for puppetry and marionettes, and there are a number of puppet festivals throughout the country. I was amazed by their spectacular handicraft. In Hong Kong, it is very difficult to find such high-quality handicrafts as the hand-made craft industry has shrunk and diminished significantly.” Ernest says

Through the arrangements made by the IAESTE office, Ernest delved into a world of rich social contexts by spending time with trainees from European countries such as Greece, Austria, Slovakia and Tunisia. “I really admire the strong global sense that Europeans possess. They are aware of things happening around them. Their easy-going character has influenced me a lot. Now I’m more open-minded and not afraid to strangers,” Ernest remarks.

Thanks to the valuable internship experience, Ernest has matured into a liberal person and is inspired to pursue a more varied life.