I can already reflect on the journey that got me here and see a big difference between the person I was sending my Saltire application and the person who stands two weeks at Precision Drilling.
Initially, when I received my offer, I was left dumbfounded at the thought that I would be spending my summer in Calgary as a corporate accounting intern. The role required me to work on large projects revolving around many intercompany needs and stuff covered in IFR 10-12, which I had gone over in university alongside other ad hoc projects. This is a familiar field where, thanks to a previous experience in finance work placements, I gained a level of technical competence that made me ready for the role. When starting the internship, I met the whole accounting team and a few interns.
On a personal side of things, everything has been great. Having a roommate is so helpful, and the apartment they gave us is perfect in its placement and interior. It’s so lovely that you feel at home as soon as you enter. AESIC arriving at the airport to meet us helped a lot with settling in, giving substantial advice on how to live in Canada, what’s different, and what to look out for. This helped a lot in settling down, and I made the adjustment to my new life very quickly. Having someone to adjust with makes it easier, and we have gone out for milkshakes and to bars and seen the beautiful sights in Banff together (making for a lot of great pictures). The personal life adjustment has been the easiest part of the experience.
It honestly does feel magical, and I am seeing so much growth in myself already; within two weeks, I already have so many stories to tell when I’m back in Scotland that my folks will get sick of me talking about Canada. This experience has given me a lot of professional and personal confidence and I want to be able to make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
