I was sitting at my desk at work when two of my coworkers walked in singing to me. I was astonished and confused. My face was bright red as everyone around me stared. When they finished singing they announced that they loved the first story I had just sent them and congratulated me. Even though it was embarrassing, I was really touched by this gesture. When I first started my internship, I was terrified and did not think things were going to go well.

On the first day, I was the last person to be dropped off at their internship because my work is the furthest away from our house. I watched everyone else get walked into their internships, one by one, as I sat in the back of the van in anticipation. When it was just me left in the van, I told Professor Chavez and the driver, James, how nervous I was to be working at a business and finance newspaper because I was terrified there would be only men working there. They told me it would be fine, but when we opened the door I was greeted by entirely men staring at me in complete silence. However, there are a handful of women who work here – most of them are other interns – who were sitting in another office when I walked in.

After having a few days to get to know my coworkers, I see I had no reason to be nervous. Everyone has been very kind to me and many people have gone out of their way to make sure I feel comfortable (and always are checking that I am eating proper meals). When I missed a day of work because I knocked my head on a tro-tro (kind of like the bus), I got emails and messages asking if I was okay. Some of the people I work with are the most hilarious people I have met and I am keeping a log of the funny things they say. Having the opportunity to work and live in a country very different from what I am used to has been a life-changing experience so far and I am excited to see what more is to come.