Interns like me - Blog Post 1
"I'm starting to get my foot in the door!"

By Julia Kettenbach

What were your presumptions about working in a cultural institute for the first time?

One of the biggest expectations I had about working at the Goethe-Institut (GI) in London was how international the working culture and atmosphere would be. After meeting everyone in my first week, I can safely say its full of interesting employees from all backgrounds with different motivations for living abroad. Every person also has their unique reason to want to work in the cultural sector.

In the first few days, I also discovered that my presumptions about the work of the GI were not entirely correct - its mission is less about simply presenting Germany in a good light. Instead, the GI focuses more on the cultural exchange and the relationship between the two countries. I was also surprised by all the work, thought and care that goes on behind the scenes to curate and organise events, and collaborations. So, I will definitely try to attend lots of events to make the most of my time here!

What were your thoughts on the British/German relationship before starting to work with us?

In school we learned about the ‘salad bowl’ analogy, which states that Britain is a society that integrates different cultures while still allowing people to retain their individual cultural identities. With its international cuisine, markets, museums, events and diverse boroughs, there is so much that makes London a multicultural place.

The more time I spend here, I can see how the two countries are quite different in the way people live their lives. Here people have a generally different mentality and work ethic, even London’s hustle and bustle is nothing like anything I have experienced before. Before working here, considering the British-German relationship was not a daily ritual of mine – unless you count navigating through my relationship with a Brit. Jokes aside, I've mostly only known about British-German history and Brexit. So, I'm curious to learn more about their relationship and gain a more nuanced understanding of what unites and differentiates both cultures during my time at the GI.

As I love meeting and connecting with new people, I find it best to understand the relationship of two countries by talking to people and trying to get an insight into their view of the relationship. Let’s see how my perspective changes in the upcoming months!

What are you looking most forward to about working and living in London?

In 2020, I spent 10 months living in England. Since then, I have been visiting frequently. So, London isn’t new to me. But this time I’m not just a visitor - I am excited to live in this city and ready to see London through the lens of a 'Londoner'.Formularbeginn

Getting my foot in the door of the GI feels like a great opportunity to gain an insight into working in the cultural sector, which is not only in line with my studies but also something I can see myself doing after university. It is great to work in a multilingual and diverse team where I can speak English daily and get feedback on my English writing skills too.

But it’s obviously not just about work - walking to the office for the first time was certainly a pinch-me moment, coming out of the station, walking past the V&A and Natural History Museum, it all seemed so grand! I, for one, can't wait to try out all the food markets and vintage shops, and to visit the rich variety of galleries and museums.