A trip to Shanghai was unforgettable. I did not expect much from the internship. In fact, I did not expect anything as it was my first work experience. It was sort of an adventure: whatever they give me, I will try to cope thus checking my own abilities. The first day at work my boss exclaimed “This is the most exciting work ever!” Frankly speaking, I thought she was being a little theatrical but she actually meant it. It appeared to be so much fun! I was warned that work might continue beyond scheduled hours, but actually it appeared to be very exciting time rather than a routine. I managed to meet so many extraordinary people from all over the world.

Let’s be honest, what kind of ordinary person with no knowledge of Chinese would go to China for a long period of time. Yes, Chinese people are extremely friendly. No, they do not speak English (although they try really hard). Shanghai itself is a gorgeous city. As cliché as it might sound, Shanghai is a city of contrast. You see people selling traditional stuff in front of huge skyscrapers; you see ancient bicycles and motorcycles next to posh cars. Think of anything and you will most likely see it in Shanghai. It’s a perfect spot for someone interested in photography, i.e. a perfect spot for me, a photojournalism intern.

The Connect-123 team couldn’t be more helpful. They were more like friends. For instance, I could call Jimmy late at night saying that I missed the last train and now I’m in the middle of nowhere trying to get home and he’d definitely help me out, even if I woke him up! Or I could get an email from Lea asking whether everything was fine, which it always was, and she’d write that she’s happy for me. Luckily, no troubles ever happened, but if they accidently were to happen, I’d always have someone to talk to.

When I came back to Kiev after the internship, I felt like Connect-123 was just the right program because they find internships that seem to be specifically designed to get you the perfect life experience in general and work experience in particular. The experience they gave me was lifechanging, I will never forget the time spent in Shanghai. Thank you so much Connect-123!