Shanghai Internship

School Update

Shanghai

Internship, July 2023 During the month of July, 2023, 16 Concordian Grade 11 students were

fortunate to participate in the Internship Program with CP Group in Shanghai.

The students spent 4 weeks working at the CP Superbrand Mall, gaining invaluable practical work experience as well as a full immersion in Chinese language and culture. Below, the students reflect and share their impressions of their internship.

42 40 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 38

School Update

Xiao Long Bao, Sheng Jian Bao, crispy mushroom, and chicken

breast, what is there not to love? Besides the food, I truly enjoyed this internship. I learned how to cook with a limited budget and ingredients while simultaneously learning about almost every department in the CP Superbrand Mall. We listened to more than a dozen lectures, visited many sites and universities, worked as pop-up store and Lotus staff, and developed our presentation and editing skills. This trip not only granted me knowledge of business and economics but also gave me a clearer future. It greatly assisted me when I was solidifying my list of universities, helping me erase the bias I had against going to China for my undergraduate degree. In addition, I was able to understand my friends on a deeper level and bond with other classmates that I was not all that close to. It was truly a unique experience that I would definitely do again.

Grace

From this experience, I got to learn independence and team-

work in a shared living space. Next, I learned about financial management because I had to manage my own money for daily expenses such as food, leisure activities, snacks, and gifts. We visited different universities in China and got to experience what it was like learning in China with a room filled with Chinese kids.

This helped some of us to really make up our minds on where we are going to attend university in the future.

Matmee

This internship has expanded my perspective on China, The internship in Shanghai was a valuable experience. I enhanced my adaptability and deepened my skills for business. I left Shanghai with an unwavering enthusiasm to continue my path in the dynamic business world and embrace new opportunities.

Angie

This experience has also improved my communication skills,

especially Chinese, as not only did we have to use it in everyday life, but also when communicating to the instructors or doing the assignments. After experiencing the program myself, I would also recommend the internship to others, as it was an unforgettable learning experience.

Beam

learned a lot from living in one of the world’s busiest cities and working with skilled professionals. This internship opportunity helped me apply what I learned in school to real-life situations, allowing me to grow personally and professionally. My favorite part of this internship was when we got to see how different industries in China work. I think it is very interesting learning the behind-the-scenes since they work very differently than Thailand.

PingPing

This internship in China was a big moment in my life. Living in

another country for a month without my family was challenging, yet it taught me a lot. This was my first time living independently in a foreign country. Everyday chores like cooking, laundry, and dishwashing became important. Although in the beginning it was hard, it taught me how to live independently with such high responsibilities.

Puri 43 41

my parents and learning how to take care of myself. Doing things like washing clothes and making food were all things that I don’t regularly do at home so doing it during the trip allowed me to gain some new skills.

Miumiu

CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 38

Some things that I got from this experience were living without

School Update

The experience during the internship with CP Group in Shanghai

allowed us to gain profound insights into the Chinese work culture, which we found to be hardworking yet healthy, with an intense level of competition. Being around individuals who have clear objectives and a relentless drive for success resonated deeply with me. This experience reaffirmed my view that Shanghai, with its technological advancement and innovation, could be an ideal place for my future endeavors. One of my most memorable moments for many of us was exploring Nanjing Road, which painted a vivid picture of Shanghai's immense population, diverse activities, and eclectic cuisine. My time at the company allowed me to understand its mission of

nurturing integrity, partnership, innovation, and passion for sustainable prosperity. I recognized the importance of collaboration and innovation in the company's success and saw opportunities for further enhancements, especially in the realm of technology and renovation efficiency. Importantly, I observed the significance of healthy relationships among employees in driving the company's triumph. My internship also solidified my belief that China, with its powerful and efficient workforce, is poised to be the world's leading superpower in the coming decades. Moreover, my active participation in discussions and interactions with lecturers proved beneficial not just for my personal growth but also for my peers.

JJ

One of my favorite things about this trip was getting to see

how large companies solve problems on a day-to-day basis. It was really interesting to see how various parts of a company work together in such detail to solve complicated issues. Not only did this experience help me understand the corporate world better, but it also taught me a lot about teamwork, communication and problem solving.

Minnie

Through participating in the Shanghai Internship I was able to

gain knowledge on how big corporations work, gain experience living alone without parents, and finally learn to be a leader. I gained the ability to manage time, responsibility to take care of not only chores but also work and think creatively. The skill I was able to develop the most was however communication.

By living in a different country with a different culture I was not only able to practice communicating with real chinese people under their environment but also was able to learn their culture.

Kenji

42 44 CONCORDIAN IMPACT - ISSUE 38

School Update

The Shanghai Internship trip was an enriching experience that

left a lasting impact on both my personal and professional interests. Throughout the trip, not only did I gain some work experience and learn various things about business, such as how it operates and more, I also learned how to be independent. I had to cook my own food, do my own laundry and manage my own finances. Other than that, I was also able to immerse myself in Chinese culture during city visits.

Risa

This entire journey has given me an unforgettable experience.

It's not merely an opportunity to deepen our understanding of business; it's also a gateway to learn Chinese culture. What truly sets this trip apart is the newfound sense of independence it offers. We were tasked not only with managing our finances but also with handling our laundry and culinary needs. Additionally, our visits to various universities have proven valuable in guiding our application decisions.

BB

This trip for me was a fantastic experience, I learned many new things about how to operate a shopping mall, how to run a supermarket, etc. There were many valuable experiences to gain from this internship, including talks with leaders of various departments, and gaining valuable insights in the process. We also got to do many leisure activities such as Disneyland, the aquarium, and various city visits. We also got the opportunity to go on various university visits that were very beneficial to my college selection process as they provided me with more choices to choose from.

Jade

After I completed my Shanghai internship, I learned a lot about

how businesses work. I also had the chance to sell products at Lotus and Superbrand Mall, which helped me improve my Chinese communication skills. Living with roommates for the first time made me more independent and responsible. I also had a great time exploring different places in Shanghai and trying out various Chinese foods.

Memo

The internship part of the trip made me gain experience in how

43 45 CONCORDIAN CONCORDIAN IMPACT IMPACT -- ISSUE ISSUE 38 38

businesses such as CP operate worldwide. In addition, because I had learned Chinese for 12 years or so, this is a golden opportunity to use and apply my Chinese language skills, and after the trip I felt very satisfied and comfortable when communicating in Chinese. Having visited China when I was young, I was able to also compare how much development and change has occurred in China from this visit - their technology and systems are so advanced on a level that we always had to rely on our phones to pay and interact with services. This advancement showed me what is possible in terms of technology and the potential areas Thailand can develop too.

Chur