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Diary of a Summer Intern - Franklin
July 9, 2012
June 3rd is a day that will go down in my history books. It is not only the day when my internship commenced, but it is also the first time I stepped outside the boundaries of my country Kenya. From the onset, I knew it was going to be one hell of an experience. My imagination ran wild not knowing what to expect in a different country (Switzerland), much less my first real work experience at an amazing company such as Google. Just like most of the interns, I had watched the videos on YouTube about life at Google so I was pretty sure I was going to enjoy myself.
At the airport, I met up with another Google intern from Kenya called Victor and we sat next to each other the entire duration of the two flights to Zurich. Just as we were about to land in Zurich airport, the aerial view of Zurich was breathtaking. Seeing how green it was and the “tiny” buildings, coupled by the very well laid out roads, I could not help but take pictures. Victor just had to whip out his video camera too.
I could feel the cold penetrating all the way to my bones despite the fact that I was dressed like a polar bear; if that was summer, I thanked God I wasn't around for winter! As I was taken to my room, for once in my lifetime I got to board an electric train. The speed at which it could go fascinated me! All the while, my eyes were fixed outside staring at everything in general because they were all new to me and was all so nice and clean. It was a rainy evening on a weekend when I arrived, one of those days when you just feel like staying in and laying around in bed. I guess that’s why there wasn’t many people in the streets as I went to my place, but then it was like that almost all subsequent days. I thought to myself... "I could get used to walking around without having to bump shoulders every now and then...”
The next day, I made sure I left as early as I could. Who would want to be late the first day at work at Google! Considering I couldn't remember the route I used to get to my place, I left 2 hours earlier so that I could allow myself some time to get lost a couple of times yet still make it to the office on time.
My first two weeks at Google were so eventful. I made sure I attended all the talks because each talk I attended made me realize how much I have to learn and conceptualize before I become a full-time Googler (my ultimate goal). I must have listened in on countless conversations by the Googlers around because there is a lot of brilliance flying around at the office and Google facilitates this by bringing employees together multiple times. All the employees are undoubtedly intelligent and knowledgeable. I remember once having sat through a conversation whereby an engineer was talking about the project he was doing, and he happened to mention about 7 concepts that I only heard of in theory. I have never been challenged that much.
It's now been about a month into my internship, and yet I still have to make inquiry to get my way around the office. It is enormous and well designed. By the time my internship comes to an end, I promised myself to have taken pictures of every corner of the office. It’s not just the office, but it’s the people in the office that impress me most. Just from the look on everyone's faces, you can be able to tell with certainty that all the employees are gratified. Everyone is cheerful and ready to say “Hi” to a fellow Googler or Noogler (new Googler).
Each and every day at Google poses exciting new challenges that I strive to overcome, while at the same time learning from. I have no doubt that by the end of my internship, I am going to have a hard time saying goodbye to Google.
-
Franklin
Fun Google Fact:
In the Google office in Zurich, you can slide all the way down to the main kitchen :-)
Posted by Jessica Safir, University Programs
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