Meet the Global Office Summer Intern: Stefanie
Hello everyone! My name is Stefanie Kaptue, and I am delighted to introduce myself as one of the new summer 2023 interns at the Global Office.
Along with Frances, we are assisting with summer schools and admin, as well as working on the material related to the amazing international opportunities the University has to offer.
I am a Russian and Chinese Studies student entering my third year, which I will spend in Kazakhstan and Taiwan. I cannot wait to share my experiences, so look out for a post in the future!
My suitcase and I have travelled some miles – I lived in Poland and Italy for eight and six years respectively and then moved to Scotland during my high school years. I was never afraid of exploring new cultures and the unknown always excited me. This drove me to be more interested in languages as well. Discovering a culture through language is not only useful for communication, but it is also a gateway to understanding people’s history, customs, and mindset.
My most treasured experience was my scholarship to China in 2019. I have never travelled outside of Europe or lived anywhere where I did not have help within reach, however despite all my worries, I packed for my year-long adventure and boarded the nine-hour-long flight.
Everything I have ever imagined about China in my head was completely surpassed by its splendour in real life. After taking my first few Chinese classes and discovering the little gems of the city, I felt like this could become my second home. I was also learning about so many different countries thanks to my international friends: we celebrated everyone’s national holidays, learned about each other’s traditions, and picked up a few phrases from each other’s languages.
Although my adventure was cut short because of the pandemic, I hold China dear to my heart, and I hope to cherish it even more when I revisit.
Thankfully, I was able to find an international circle in St Andrews as well. Sometimes they make me feel like I am travelling again when they share stories about their homes. However, I miss the thrill of stepping out of the airport and inhaling a completely new atmosphere just waiting to be discovered. I am excited to embark on another adventure soon.
If you have any questions, need assistance, or just want to chat about going abroad, feel free to drop us an email at [email protected]. We will be more than happy to help!