Global Studies Internship Program 2017 Newsletter

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FALL 2017 NEWSLETTER FROM THE STANFORD GLOBAL STUDIES INTERNSHIP PROGRAM Dear Friends, It has been another incredible year for the participants in the Global Studies Internship program. Thanks to the generous support of alumni, donors, and faculty affiliations, the program was able to secure 150 internship positions at 69 host organizations in 22 countries in 2017, including new locations in South Africa, the United Kingdom, Latvia, and Italy. Also, for the first time, the program collaborated with Stanford Arts to provide internship opportunities at Scene and Heard, a theater for inner-city children in London, and teamLab, an interdisciplinary digital art group in Tokyo.

While the internship program continues to be extremely popular, one challenge we face is keeping up with the increasing student demand. This last year, we received 411 applications from students representing 47 different majors; an increase of 97% from 2015. And while we were able to support 90 student internships this year, the program seeks the financial support to fill all 150 available positions.

As you will see in this newsletter, these internships are transformative for Stanford students. Spending time working in a different country has given them a chance to acquire confidence and critical skills that will serve them both personally and professionally.

Brazil

Japan

Estonia

We are extremely grateful to the many organizations and Stanford alumni that have contributed to the growth of the internship program over the years, providing co-curricular experiences that inspire and prepare Stanford students to lead in the world. I’d also like to say a special thanks to Program Manager Denise Chu for her incredible work administering and expanding the program over the years. This year, Denise received the Dean’s Award of Merit in recognition of her dedication and hard work; it is a well-deserved honor.

Sincerely,

China

Jeremy M. Weinstein Sakurako and William Fisher Family Director of the Stanford Global Studies Division; Professor of Political Science; Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies 1

ABOUT THE PROGRAM Since 2004, the Global Studies Internship Program has enabled Stanford students to extend knowledge beyond the classroom while engaging in immersive cultural and professional experiences around the world. The program is open to undergraduate students in all majors, including those who have not declared a major. Graduate students are also eligible to apply to some positions in Asia.

Internship positions cover a wide range of fields, including business, nonprofit, media, education, medicine, art, technology, science and government. The program also supports students for self-arranged internships. The overall stipend base is $6,000 per student. This year, the program received 411 applications, and 90 students from 26 majors were sponsored to conduct internships in 20 countries.

Internship Facts Our program spans the globe! The number of interns for each location was as follows: Argentina Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Brazil Cambodia China/Hong Kong Estonia India Ireland Italy Japan Latvia Nicaragua

The participants represented a variety of majors:

33 8 7 6 4 3 each 2 each

Undeclared Computer Science East Asian Studies International Relations Political Science Economics, History, Mechanical Engineering, Product Design African & African American Studies; Chemical Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Earth Stystems; Human Biology; Management, Science & Engineering; Mathematical and Computational Science

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Biomechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Classics, each Comparative Literature, Comparative Study of Race & Ethnicity, Material Science & Engineering, Public Policy, Symbolic Systems, Theater & Performance Studies, Urban Studies

In terms of educational standing, there were:

Rwanda South Africa

26

South Korea Switzerland Taiwan United Kingdom United States 2

freshmen

32

3 co-term

sophomores

students

5 M.A.

students

6

seniors

18

juniors

STUDENT FEEDBACK The students’ own words best illustrate the value and impact of their experience and Cardinal service: Ariadne Nichol Human Biology with a concentration in Biomedical Ethics, Class of 2018 Doctors Without Borders, Belgium This summer I had an amazing time interning in Brussels, Belgium, pursuing extremely rewarding work in the form of a self-directed qualitative research study for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) at their headquarters. This has allowed me to fulfill a lifelong dream of getting to work with MSF in a central city of Europe, rich with a strong sense of cultural history and fantastic waffles! I conducted a qualitative study in the form of 15 semi-structured interviews of healthcare workers who were involved in the 2013-2016 Ebola Virus outbreak, as a part of furthering MSF’s ongoing work on developing a set of ethical guidelines for future emerging infectious disease outbreak responses. I tackled an ambitious timeline of conducting an independent qualitative research analysis in the form of semi-structured interviews, in the

hopes of elucidating the main ethical challenges involved in allocation of limited resources from different health care workers’ perspectives at relevant organizations (MSF, WHO, London Institute of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene). In pursuit of devising a rigorous study design, I had to identify, collate, and draw insights from past literature on the related topic in order to then develop a strong methodology for data collection. After carefully selecting the semi-structured interview process, I successfully launched 15 interviews of health care workers from a variety of backgrounds. I then had to carefully analyze the content in order to elucidate the interwoven themes connecting the diverse perspectives together. This challenge taught me how to think critically and synthesize information into a deliverable, holistic picture, and it will undoubtedly serve a career in social change, where a grasp of the complex

interrelation of global forces is critical. One of the most rewarding activities outside of work was getting to meet four different Stanford alumni during my time in Belgium; I now have a sense of how strong the Stanford connection is,

This has allowed me to fulfill a lifelong dream of getting to work with MSF. beyond just the Bay Area. Stanford is a source to draw upon throughout our lives and in every place we roam, even across the Atlantic Ocean. I got to explore different parts of Belgium on the weekends, including Ghent, Antwerp, and Bruges, all of which I found to be culturally-enlightening experiences.

Getting to know the people and realizing how friendly the Belgian people are made me feel really at home within the country by the end of my internship.

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SPOTLIGHT: STUDENT ATHLETES Colin Dolese

Computer Science, Class of 2018, Track and Field Athlete Sustainable Solutions Dept at Kozo Keikaku Engineering Inc. (KKE), Japan I cannot think of a better way to have spent the summer between my Junior and Senior years at Stanford. My work this summer focused primarily on data visualization and augmented reality, both areas of computer science I am particularly interested in. I learned skills related to my major and became much more familiar with the game engine Unity, which is commonly used throughout the tech industry for various applications.

As a student athlete on the Stanford track team, I was happy to find out that there were enough gyms in my immediate vicinity that I was able to keep working out throughout the summer. On a more personal level, being around all of the “international” employees at KKE, all of them with either masters or doctoral degrees, multilingual abilities, and fascinating backgrounds, has really encouraged me to consider working abroad and committing to learning a second language. Of course, I also made many efforts to explore Japanese culture outside of work. My weekend exploits including visits to Kyoto and Osaka, surfing for the first time, whitewater rafting, a fireworks show, visits to Tokyo’s vibrant and diverse districts, and finally, a four-day trip to Hokkaido — Japan’s northernmost island famous for outdoors activities.

Colin Dolese, left

Lindy Clute

Linguistics, East Asian Studies, Class of 2018, Open-Weight Women’s Rowing Team The Seoulite, PopKorea, South Korea

Lindy Clute, right

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Before this summer, I thought that going abroad would be almost impossible for me. Being a student athlete and having mandatory practice throughout the year, there was no opportunity for me to go abroad in the fall, winter, or spring. But when I was given the opportunity to take an internship in Korea in the summer, I was so excited; I could compete during the school year and still have this amazing experience in the summer. At my internship, I learned about creating pop and news-related content for our videos and website, and became better at communicating with people through presentations, interviews, and just speaking with people in everyday life. I met so many great people during my stay, and I have gained confidence in interacting with all sorts of people. This experience has really made me want to go back and work there in the future, or be able to do work related to South Korea. Now, I’m even more determined to practice speaking Korean and learning about the culture and history. This program did wonders for my ability to speak with strangers and make friends with people I meet. I now feel comfortable in social situations where I’m by myself, and I also feel comfortable asking people questions or for help. This experience gave me even more appreciation for the language and culture of South Korea and has inspired me to learn all that I can in the future.

SPOTLIGHT: STUDENT ATHLETES Jett Hayward

International Relations with specializations in Africa and Social Development & Human Well-Being, Class of 2019, Women’s Rugby Lalela, Cape Town, South Africa Lalela is a non-profit organization that provides educational arts programs for at-risk youth in South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe and the United States. I worked primarily as a communications intern for Lalela, documenting events, taking photos, running its social media accounts, developing a social media strategy and policy, and writing success stories, but was also given the opportunity to assist with afterschool classes, organize a career event for the students, and speak at an event for Women’s Day.

I am extremely grateful to have spent time working, living, and learning in the city, as it helped me discover both my passion for working in foreign settings and the scope of my ignorance when it comes to African politics, history, and culture.

When I arrived in Cape Town, I knew very little about South African politics, history, and culture. The only part of the culture I immediately understood was rugby. As a member of the women’s rugby team at Stanford, I devote hours to a sport that many Americans know next to nothing about, whereas in South Africa, rugby is practically a religion. Talking about rugby served as a way to connect with my coworkers, Lalela students, and January 2016

Jett Hayward, left, assists with after-school classes at Lalela.

people throughout the city. Rugby was a starting point in conversations that led me to a deeper understanding of South African culture, history, and politics because, as I quickly discovered, everything is inextricably linked.

During my internship, I discovered a great deal from reading and researching, but I gained the most knowledge from listening, which is appropriate considering that Lalela means “listen” in isiZulu. I have always been more of a listener than a talker, and I learned so much from allowing myself to settle into a state of open attentiveness.

Through listening to my coworkers and observing the way they interacted with one another, the Lalela students, and other community stakeholders in times of calm and crisis, I came to a better

understanding of the ongoing tension and conflict in Cape Town, the complex world of nonprofits, and the nature of conflict and healing. There are innumerable cultures and histories interacting in Cape Town, and it has been fascinating and frustrating to try to understand it all. I am extremely grateful to have spent time working, living, and learning in the city, as it helped me discover both my passion for working in foreign settings and the scope of my ignorance when it comes to African politics, history, and culture. The immensity and complexity of studying Africa as part of my major is intimidating, but the time I spent in Cape Town served to deepen my desire to continue studying, asking questions, and listening, until I understand.

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SPOTLIGHT: LELAND SCHOLARS The Leland Scholars Program was created to facilitate the transition to college for incoming Stanford frosh who may be the first in their families to attend college or attended schools with limited curricular offering or Advanced Placement. The Global Studies Internship Program is honored to include Leland Scholars!

Sam Duke

Chemical Engineering, Class of 2020 Republic of Estonia e-Residence Program, Estonia Through this summer’s experience, I have learned that Estonia is a very unique place. It’s near 800-years of occupations has shaped it in unimaginable ways and has left its mark on the country’s people. I did conduct a lot of research on the country prior to my arrival, and after two and a half months of living there, formed my own, unique experiences and judgements about the country. Many of the stereotypes perpetuated on internet blogs were nothing more than tourist ramblings, and my time in Estonia

Besides building a stronger professional network, I feel much more empowered to seek a future career, confident that if I can survive 8 weeks in a country that most people have never heard of, I can apply myself in unimaginable ways. helped me discover the true spirit of the Estonian people. For my internship at the Republic of Estonia’s e-Residence program, I worked alongside government personnel and business owners — both in the country and the entire world — promoting the development of location-independent business 6

Sam Duke, second from right

and e-commerce. The team was extremely welcoming and made sure that I had the chance to work with them on important projects. I had the chance to participate in many exciting events and work on projects that received international coverage and recognition. Besides working in a professional capacity, I also learned to become independent. This internship was as much an experience in professional development as it was in personal development. I had encountered the struggle of adapting to a new culture, the inconveniences of life abroad, and the joy of persevering

in spite of the struggles. My time in Estonia has convinced me that I would like a future career in which I have the ability and freedom to travel often. It also taught me that I would be much more successful in a position that allows me to take on many various roles and complete a variety of tasks rather than focusing on specific projects. Besides building a stronger professional network, I feel much more empowered to seek a future career, confident that if I can survive 8 weeks in a country that most people have never heard of, I can apply myself in unimaginable ways.

SPOTLIGHT: LELAND SCHOLARS Jessica Ngo

Human Biology, Class of 2019 China Medical University, Taiwan I’ve learned more than I ever have in just eight weeks.

During my internship in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Lab, I gained insight on the use of traditional Chinese medicine in Taiwan along with use of its Western medicine. I worked in the lab and studied two herbs called Hu Zhang and Huang Qin. With these herbs, I learned quality control techniques set by Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China and spent the summer experimenting and problem solving to see if my herbs

This internship has given me more confidence in my language ability and the confidence to pursue my dream of a career in the medical field. met set quality control standards. In the lab, I was given a lot of freedom to experiment and explore which contributed greatly to my growth as a scholar. Outside of work, I grabbed dinner with my co-workers and tried my best to fully immerse myself in Taiwanese culture and society — so much so that I felt like a local by the end of the internship. I made friends with locals and other exchange students and traveled Taiwan with

Jessica Ngo at Rainbow Village with the elderly man who painted the murals at the village.

them, and I enjoyed eating Taiwanese food and going to night markets. I loved how safe Taiwan is and how friendly the people are. I also learned to play badminton and practiced every week; I learned to read traditional Chinese, improved my Mandarin, ate the most wonderful foods and drank delicious bubble tea. This internship has given me more confidence in my language ability and the confidence to pursue my dream of a career in the medical field. I also plan to spend time working in Taiwan one day, but next time as a fluent speaker. I truly enjoyed and learned so much from my time in Taiwan; it has changed my life.

Laura Mediorreal

Science, Technology and Society, Class of 2020 TechHub Riga, Latvia For my internship, I conducted marketing research for many startup companies in the area and learned about the tech culture outside of Silicon Valley. I have been honored to become immersed in a region full of dedication and enthusiasm about technology and energy. I was also able to travel to more countries than I could ever have imagined. Never in a million years would I have thought that I could visit Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Lithuania while working in Latvia. This is a gift that has encouraged me to travel even more and create my own company in the future. I learned about the national identity of Latvians, the Roma immigrants in Sweden and even about the Finnish pride in modern furniture. I have become a world traveler, marketing consultant and an explorer.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Gladis Xiloj

B.A. East Asian Studies, Class of 2017 Korean Government Scholarship Program Scholar

As a first generation college student, I didn’t really consider interning abroad financially feasible until I found out about the SGS internships. The internship I participated in challenged me in many ways, personally, academically, and professionally, which I learned to embrace and appreciate. My internship at the Asia-Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU) in South Korea exposed me to Korean working culture and taught me that I could thrive while working abroad. Working at APCEIU also encouraged me to choose my major, East Asian Studies, and to pursue a career in diplomacy. Thanks to the confidence and experiences I gained through my internship, I am now in Seoul, South Korea, starting my three-year Master’s program in International Development and Cooperation at Korea University. Both in graduate school and in my future career, I am confident that I can contribute new ideas and discourse as a result of my immersive experiences in South Korea.

A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS! The invaluable experience gained by our interns relies on the financial support of our donors, host organizations and the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education.

79%

On behalf of each participant — a heartfelt thank you!

Donors

14%

Host Organizations

7% Vice Provost for undergraduate education

Since the bulk of our funding comes from donors, we continue to seek your help to support student internships. Expendable gifts of any size are welcome and help keep this program moving forward. For opportunities to support the program, please contact: Scott Sugiura Associate Director of Development ssugiura@stanford.edu, (650) 723-1208 For more information about the program or to propose an internship opportunity, please contact: Denise Chu, Ph.D. Manager, Stanford Global Studies Internship Program denise.chu@stanford.edu global-internships.stanford.edu 8