In an interconnected and borderless world where information moves with a speed never seen before, the long-term competitive edge belongs to those individuals harbouring special attributes in their professional vitae. Keeping these words in mind, I embarked on an exciting journey to the financial capital of China – Shanghai.

Working in the Medical Sector as an advisor to the board on matters relating to International Marketing and Business Development, I was able to hone in on the skills that I had learnt at University and apply them to real-life situations in an environment that was mentally stimulating. At the end of my Internship in Shanghai, I was offered employment back home in New Zealand owing, in great part, to the wealth of experience I had gained in a culturally distinct environment in a matter of 2 months.

None of the above, from getting on the flight to Shanghai to leaving a more confident professional, would have been possible without the guidance of CRCC Asia. They have the experience and staff necessary to ensure a comfortable stay in Shanghai along with a myriad of diverse activities that inspire professional development and instill knowledge about local culture, tradition and language. It’s not just work and no play here.

From KTV to a boat trip down the beautiful Pudong river, the list of activities that testify Shanghai’s claim to be a buzzing city is endless. I thank CRCC for their unparalleled professionalism and for ensuring my stay in Shanghai to be a comfortable and memorable one. As for those considering China as a destination for professional development, I’d say, “Go for it Mate!”. It has certainly worked for me.

I first found out about the CRCC Asia internship programme through an email forwarded to me and my classmates during my final year of university. Despite being only 20 at the time of my application, which I thought may have been too young for consideration, I jumped at the opportunity knowing that my time in the safety of university education was coming to an end. Coming from a scientific background, I was well aware of China’s status as a world leader in medical research, the direction in which I hoped to guide my future career. In my opinion, the internship in Shanghai not only offered me what I was sure would be an amazing work experience, but also a chance to travel – one which I didn’t have during my time before and while at university.

So yes, the metro really is as crowded as they say it is, there really are lots of ‘interesting’ food options, the traffic really is crazy – but the scooters are good fun – and everything really is cheap: there are a hundred other anecdotes I could use to describe my time in China, but the truth is that it’s a culture that has to be experienced to be believed.

My internship in Beijing over the past 4 weeks has been an experience I will treasure for years to come. China has taken me out of my comfort zone in nearly every aspect of my life. From zip- lining across Longqing Gorge, eating scorpion or even just playing football and basketball with the locals, it has been enlightening to see how a completely parallel culture lives. It was amazing to see in person some of the great wonders of the world and the heritage behind them. Getting pictures with the locals at The Forbidden City or seeing the sunrise while camping on the Great Wall of China are just some of the things I will never forget.

All in all CRCC Asia have created a great opportunity to learn and travel through China and become immersed in its culture. It has unquestionably gave me a different perspective of its society and the people that make up this country. I will definitely be back to China in the future.