KOO On-ying Joanna || BSc (Hons) Enterprise Information Systems || Hong Kong conomic and Trade Office(Canada), Vancouver
Valuable meetings in Vancouver 
Also interned in the HKETO in Canada, Joanna was based in the liaison office in Vanconver. On top of the tasks of the daily routine and clerical support, she was an assistant event co-ordinator. To gain and learn the most from the promotional activities, she conducted research into the background of the organisers, the event objectives and VIPs being invited. “I also paid visits to academies, Government offices, community organisations and media groups, which all formed valuable experience for me,” she says.
Joanna benefited from evaluation and feedback given in review sessions with her supervisor. “We discussed my strengths and weaknesses. I took the comments on board to improve my performance and event organising skills,” she says.
What’s more, Joanna was happy that she had the chance to meet two dignitaries which gave extra prestige to her internship. In early July, the Vancouver office arranged a luncheon when Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Lam Sui-lung Stephen, paid a visit to Canada. “My colleagues and I worked on the pre-set action plan for the event day. We set up the venue, designed the rundown and received guests and VIPs at the front door.
She continues, “I never  expected that I would meet a senior official faraway from Hong Kong. I learnt a lot from Mr Lam’s speech on the economic ties between Hong Kong and Canada. It was really inspiring and impressive.”
Another memorable experience came when she met PolyU President Professor Timothy Tong at a dinner organised by the PolyU overseas alumni association to welcome the new President. “I enjoyed listening to stories of my senior fellows and the interaction with Prof. Tong,” she says. “I was far from home, yet I still had ties with PolyU.” Joanna also met her secondary school teacher again in Canada when visiting the Chinese Culture Center in Vancouver. “He is now a manager there and I volunteered to help out with some activities there. This experience was also very rewarding,” says Joanna.
The internship experience has given Joanna a good chance to reflect on her competence and career interest. “I now pay more attention to the world’s current issues because I know employers look for all-rounded people,” she says. She also appreciates the care she received from the PolyU alumni. “They were the guiding angels in my whole journey. One of the board members helped me find a home stay and took care of my daily life; others treated me to meals and took me sightseeing. I want to take every opportunity I can to say thank you to them!”
VN:F [1.7.5_995] Rating: 4.5/5 (10 votes cast)
CHEUNG Plaisir || BSc (Hons) Enterprise Engineering with Management || Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office(Canada), Toronto
 When Plaisir Cheung, Koo On-ying Joanna and Yau Chi-wai Billy interned in the offices of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Toronto, Vancouver and Chengdu respectively last July, they found their placements unexpectedly challenging and memorable and were proud to make contributions to the Government and Hong Kong.
Promoting Hong Kong
In the Toronto office of the HKETO, Plaisir worked on the promotion campaigns of the East-Asian Games and other events and provided general administrative support in the office. She also utilised skills learnt from the classroom in the revamp of the HKETO database management system, a Government department aiming to foster economic and trade ties between Hong Kong and Canada, as well as to promote Hong Kong’s interests across Canada.
In the Toronto Dragon Boat Festival, an event to promote Hong Kong culture, Plaisir assisted in setting up booths and distributing souvenirs. She also promoted the East-Asian Games to be hosted by Hong Kong in December 2009 to visitors of the festival. “I hope people were impressed by our marketing and will visit Hong Kong later this year. I gained a lot and got to know my home city better,” she says.
Plaisir was very grateful to her supervisors who organised a series of workshops and talks on topics such as presentation skills, press release writing skills and job interview techniques as well as on current issues such as Government administration services, the HK-Canada trade connection and Hong Kong people immigrating to Canada. “Such training and exposure allowed us to acquire knowledge and information not available through curriculum studies. All these opportunities expanded my knowledge about international affairs and enhanced my global outlook and cultural awareness,” she says.
The first year student is thankful for the internship opportunity. “I believe the experience puts me in an advantageous position when I pursue my future career. The on-the-job training helped me explore my genuine interest and think about how I should plan for my career goal,” says Plaisir, who wishes to be able to contribute back to the Government and to work for the benefit of the next generation.
VN:F [1.7.5_995] Rating: 4.0/5 (14 votes cast)
MOK Wong-ning Daniel || BSc (Hons) Surveying || Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, Canada
 Mok Wong-ning Daniel spent a busy and fruitful summer internship at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto in Canada. The placement at the non-profit making organisation was not just a beneficial career exposure for the final year Surveying undergraduate, it was an intriguing exploration in a multicultural world.
The largest Chinese cultural centre in Toronto, Canada
Being an assistant surveyor at the centre which acts as a bridge between the Chinese Canadian community and other communities in the Canadian city, Daniel assisted in the management of a theatre facility, sorting out defects and drafting a maintenance checklist manual. Daniel thinks the placement provided him a precious learning opportunity to incorporate his knowledge into practical experience. After working at the centre for two months, Daniel realised that his problem solving, time management and communication skills were significantly improved.
Experiencing cultural diversity
Outside the workplace, Daniel took great pleasure in the multi-cultural environment of the city which is divided into a range of cultural areas such as Chinatown, Greektown, Little Italy, Little India, Korea town, Portugal Village and Little Poland. He was amazed by how people of different ethnic backgrounds dwell together amicably in the city.
“You can hop from one cultural festival to another, you will surely discover how people appreciate each others’ culture. The Toronto International Food Festival was one of my favorites because one minute I was enjoying Portuguese cuisine and the next moment I was savouring Korean kimchi.”
Besides experiencing the cosmopolitan surroundings through various cultural festivals, Daniel also took part in a  Filipino birthday party, feeling the mixed culture. He recalls, “That was the first time I joined a Filipino-style party. Now I understand why people say Canada is a cultural mosaic where mixed ethnic groups, languages and cultures co-exist within one society. I’m so impressed with Canada’s immigration policies.”
To fully enjoy and gain the most out of an internship opportunity, Daniel thinks keeping an open mind is essential. He says, “Be open-minded. Don’t be afraid to try new things and meet new people. Above all that, have fun!”
Taking the initiative brings results
Daniel did not just limit his learning and adventures within the organisation. With advice from the SAO and his academic department in Hong Kong, he penned a letter to a leading real estate firm in Canada, DTZ Barnicke, hoping to solicit an opportunity to visit the company and meet some local professionals.
“I was so grateful to visit DTZ Barnicke to learn more about the commercial leasing market in Canada,” says Daniel. “Colin Ross, the Senior Vice President and Manager of office leasing, spared a precious hour to meet me. He showed me the full picture of the industry and talked about how the property market in Canada could withstand the adverse hit from the global economic downturn.”
VN:F [1.7.5_995] Rating: 4.2/5 (9 votes cast)
Shiga OMURO || BA (Hons) Social Policy & Administration || Multilingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities (MOSAIC), Canada
 Vancouver is renowned for its quality of living and recognised as one of the best places to live in the world. However, like many big cities, the significant wealth gap between the rich and the poor has been a social issue for the city. Shiga Omuro, a social policy and administration student, embarked on a seven-week internship at MOSAIC Canada, a non-profit multicultural organisation providing services for refugees and new immigrants in the city, which inspired her to take on a lifelong journey of making a difference in the world.
To Shiga, the placement at MOSAIC, which assists new immigrants and refugees through a wide range of multilingual services, such as English lessons, accommodation settlement and assistance in application for financial assistance has been the most meaningful experience ever. Shiga was assigned to conduct research about social welfare in British Columbia. Knowing that fieldwork experience is very important, Shiga summoned up her courage to make a visit to a slum district where the homeless, refugees and low-income immigrants gathered.
“Even the local people regard the area as dangerous. My parents had also warned me beforehand,” says Shiga. Yet, Shiga thinks there is no better way to understand the needs of others than face-to-face interactions, firsthand observation and experience.
A good lesson from research 
Learning from the experience, Shiga thinks she should be more proactive and aggressive when doing fieldwork. “At first, I just sat by them, listened and observed. Fortunately, I did gather some useful information,” she says. She thinks that poverty and reliance on Government assistance seems to be an inherited disease. “It passes from one generation to the next if no one takes the initiative to secure a job and take ownership of one’s destiny. This could become a heavier and heavier burden on the Government,” says Shiga.
Taking a hands-on approach during the internship resulted in a fulfilling experience that opened Shiga’s eyes. “I’m now more motivated, both in my studies and towards future career. The knowledge and skills I gained will definitely be a valuable reference and enhance my employability. I enjoy working overseas as it offered me opportunities to interact with different ethnic groups and explore the world firsthand.”
Inspired by the internship experience, Shiga is determined to put her efforts into helping the minority ethnic groups to integrate into local communities after graduation. “Take Hong Kong as an example. Various ethnic groups are living in one tiny city. Nevertheless, there are very few organisations that provide assistance and welfare for minorities.” I hope that I can further give them a helping hand after graduation,” Shiga says.
VN:F [1.7.5_995] Rating: 4.2/5 (5 votes cast)
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