Interns Testimonials
Panayiotis Chaliotis August 2008
My name is Panayiotis Chaliotis and I was the Information Technology student intern for the month of August 2008.
During that month I learned the Content Management System application used it to manage the Consulate Website and I provided updates and new content on a daily basis. I also used a second CMS Tool, the Media Management Tool to create the Consulate's 1st official pod cast. I created and uploaded a working online Google map and integrated it onto the Consulate website. I designed a form within Microsoft Outlook to help Consulate Staff contribute content for the web. I provided technical assistance to Consulate Staff during the creation of the Consulate's first Newsletter. I supported the daily press briefing of Consul General Yee. I translated video content and coordinated with subtitling and transcribing companies in Athens for the Consulate's Komotini Film Festival. I assisted on the the revival of Thessaloniki's sister city relationship with San Francisco by locating and obtaining authorization to use multimedia content that would promote the sister city relationship.
I would like to say that, the internship at the U.S Consulate of Thessaloniki was a very interesting experience. I saw things in action and learned a lot. I would like to thank all the Consulate's staff on giving me a lot of initiatives during the internship. It was an unforgettable experience.
Zena Prodromou April-July 2008
They say that everyone has the chance to be part of a fairytale once in their lives. Well... Acting as an intern at the U.S. Consulate General in Thessaloniki from April up until July 2008 definitely was mine.
Every fairytale starts with a hero who knows little and through the various adventures gets wiser. If an internship had to do with one thing and only that would for sure be learning. A public affairs intern sharpens a wide range of skills from writing press releases and preparing reports to arranging meetings or even expressing themselves articulated in front of their colleagues. And yet the most interesting part is the insights one gets as to how a diplomatic office really works. By acting as an intern at the consulate I realized that diplomacy actually is a multilevel phenomenon not only to be exercised in big conference rooms where white collars meet behind closed doors; quite on the contrary diplomacy is and should be part of the citizens' everyday lives and therefore a successful diplomat is the one who constantly attempts to find new tools in order to reach more people. At the end of the day may be the distinction between high and low politics every single textbook would start with is incompatible with a 21st century view of what diplomacy ought to be. For a diplomat, environmental or local issues have to be considered as important as national and security ones.
Monika Metila Kosti July-September 2007
The next similarity between a fairytale and my internship was the importance of the surrounding people. A fairytale hero never makes it without a group of good will supporters, exactly as I wouldn't have made it hadn't it been for my colleagues. Whether it was the other interns or the permanent employees of the mission it was them that actually made it all that memorable and that's because no moment is important unless one has people to share it with. The employees of the consulate who at first were my colleagues, today are- I dare to say- my new good friends.
Soon after the fairytale hero has dealt with the evil, they usually start doubting about themselves. As an intern I often found myself wondering how important what I offered truly was. Was my position enough to make the difference? At the end of the day it isn't the position or the title that enables people to make the difference. It is their personality and character that determines the importance of their contribution. An intern has to be passionate and devoted; innovative yet respectful; hard working yet team spirited; they have to be fair and to be sticking to their personal ideals. Under these preconditions an intern, as any other employee regardless of their rank, can and will make the difference.
As my internship has finally come to its end, all I can do is dream of the day when the various elements of this fairytale will be nothing more than the integral parts of my everyday life.
An internship just like any other fairytale lasts too short- in our case only three months. While you are experiencing it you are afraid of the day it will be over. When it is over you do everything in your hands to prolong it, yet in vain. Deep inside you know that all goods come to an end sooner or later.
And as the fairytale hero continues their journey, they encounter the evil of course. In my case it came in the shape of parallel obligations and responsibilities. University lectures, language courses, exams of every type plus friends and family, in a nutshell the everyday life, all had to fit into the same picture and it wasn't easy, believe me. This is the point were an intern has to set their priorities. Do not judge me workaholic, but to my eyes the choice was more than obvious.
A fairytale de facto brings into life a hero's wish. So did my internship. You read about it in textbooks, you take courses on it, you keep dreaming of it and asking everyone around you, you even simulate it in student models; yet nothing feels like being introduced to and actually experiencing the intriguing world of diplomacy. And if you are lucky enough the fairytale will also bring magic into your life. If finding at the age of 20 yourself organizing events, following business trips, attending national receptions, art openings and live concerts, but most important getting a taste of your dream job is not pure magic, then what is?
When the end of the studies is near, the only concern, the only wonder, the only question of a student is: what am I going to do later on, what is my occupation going to be? Each one of us has a dream, which he or she would want to make true! My dream was and still is to coexist with people of the international environment, to work in environments where boundaries and customs connect and not divide people. My dream is to learn the exciting secrets of all the worlds around me!
To make a dream come true, to achieve a target that you put to yourself, you have to begin from somewhere, you have to learn, you have to help, if you have of course tried to show first that you are really worth it, because we are all worth it, we just need to give to our selves the opportunity to show that we deserve it. What helped me to taste with the best of ways the beginning of the achievement of my dreams was the American Consulate General of Thessaloniki, of which I am very grateful for giving me this great opportunity!
Few weeks before my studies came to an end, the director of my school, Ms. Stanino, called me to her office to inform me of the announcement that the American Consulate General of Thessaloniki had put out searching for interns. She already knew my interest to work in a similar environment and, with the best of ways, she persuaded me and encouraged me that I could easily integrate into efficiently working there and of course she made clear the fact that me working there would be the perfect way to get trained and specialized for what I loved and still love the most!
Without any further hesitations, I accepted to try this challenge and continuously to give to my self the opportunity to try, at least for a little to taste the future that expects me, or at least the future that I would like to expect me.
The procedures for me to start working in the Consulate General was to send a curriculum vitae, which by the way, would be my first, and as it was later on proved, my lucky one! After the study of the many CVs received, two of the members of the Public Affairs Department, Ms. Ioanna Koutsounanou and Xeny Kosmidou, chose two from all the CVs, one of which was mine.
The phone call for the interview came and I was very excited when this happened. There had not been any better and exciting, but at the same time anxious moment in my life until that day. I had to get ready for that moment, no mistakes were allowed, and everything had to be perfect. Nevertheless, I could not think of anything for the simple reason that I did not know what was expecting me. That interview would be a totally new and interesting experience to me and the only thing I could do was to be honest and my self. So this is what I did and in the end this made me very happy because I did not hide anything and I just showed that my interest and will to work there was everything for me at that time of my life.
I had to wait a little bit for my first day of work, but the day did come. The first day I was shaking like a fish out of water from anxiety during that morning. Nothing can be compared to that experience. From the first moment that I entered the hall of the Consulate General everyone was with a smile on their lips, everyone was very kind to me and willing to help me for everything.
Few minutes later, I had to wait a little since I had arrived half an hour earlier because of anxiety, I met Ms. Koutsounanou, who showed me my office and introduced me to the rest of the staff of the Consulate General. It was very kind of her to do so because by doing that she helped me calm down and feel comfortable to the environment where I was supposed to work for the rest three months of the summer.
Immediately after meeting all the staff of the Consulate General, I was assigned my duties. The first and most important duty for me was assist in the press office with media summaries, press releases and contacts with the press. My duties however, did not stop there. There were many other things, which might have been small but very important at the same time and vice versa. Every day was even more important than the one that passed by, especially when September was coming closer. During that period the competences of the Consulate increased every day. Except of the inside work that I was assigned everyday like translations, searching the web, filing and other small preparations, I had the opportunity to participate in outside organizations of the Consulate and consequently help in the organization. This, for me, was the most important part of my existence there. I felt very useful and creative, something that I believe is the most important motive that everyday pushes you out of bed at six o' clock in the morning and go to work with a smile on your face.
Besides the work of course, there existed a certain relationship between the employees of the Consulate. This was also a very interesting part of my practice in the American Consulate General. First of all, I met there people who had as a common goal the better cooperation between them for the best results, who were special and each one of them was a very important part of the working and the harmonic chain of the Consulate.
The acquaintances that I made during those three months that I was there taught to me, each one of them, something different and special. The ages of the employees of the Consulate varied and this made the days even more interesting. The truth is that I learned a lot of things from my short experience on this working environment, things which have to do with the specific environment and its demands but also things that are related to life itself and its own everyday demands.
Last but not least, I made some very good friends during the internship. These friends were also interns like me. Even though, some of them had different duties, it did not stop us from meeting each other. There existed no competition between us, only cooperation and most importantly honest friendship. I still keep in touch with these people and I will do my best not to lose contact with them. Each one of them had something different to give to the Consulate as interns and me as colleagues and friends.
I could not add anything more than this except of the fact that my experience to the American Consulate General in Thessaloniki was a life experience that each student should definitely not lose the chance to try.
Thank you very much for this great opportunity; I will never forget your readiness to help me and everyone that asked for your help.
Be well, Monika Metila Kosti
Besi Pano October-January 2007-8
Hello Everybody,
Studying at college and working at the same time in the American Consulate General of Thessaloniki was not an easy task to do. The job in the Consulate was both demanding and had high goals to achieve. When I recall from my memory my experience in the Consulate, there’s nothing but good things that come in my mind. To begin with, the environment was really friendly and welcoming; the consulate-stuff was polite, helpful and approachable. From the moment l start working in the Office of Public Affairs l was prompted to take initiatives, ask questions at any time and become an active member-stuff of the consulate.
At the consulate, I was given the opportunity to participate in many projects that were held during that time, meet people from the sphere of political and social life of both
Being an International Business major l could see from a very close look how the consulate was being run, all the managerial decisions, the organizational behavior that each member staff was obliged to follow, and the rules and disciplines that the consulate staff had to abide by. In addition to this, l was able to contribute my knowledge and effort in order to pull through the various projects and demands that differ every single day. My working experience in the American General Consulate of
Good Luck!!!
Engrid Braholi June-July 2007
My name is Engrid Braholli and in the summer of 2007 I did an internship for 5 weeks at the American Consulate General of Thessaloniki, Greece. At that time I had just finished my studies at New York College, Thessaloniki for Computer Science so my position in the Consulate was as assistant of the IT System Administrators.
Being at the Consulate, even though it was for a short period of time, was really a good experience for me. It was my first working experience after I had finished school and as a first experience I can say that it was really a good and strong starting point for me future career. There I was able to see and to learn a lot of useful things for myself. First of all I learned some important behavior manners and issues for such a serious environment. The people at the Consulate were really nice to me and they were ready to help me every time that I asked for their help.