How did your assignment abroad come about? And why the USA?
Working at a location abroad during my studies was something I've found very interesting since I started here at the company. I also always wanted to go to the USA because this country is simply so popular and somehow special. The fact that Messe Frankfurt is represented here and that I can spend more than just a vacation here was a great fit.
Name three things that you like better here than at home?
The weather is really great. It has rained a few times so far, but normally the sun is shining and it's at least 20, more likely 25 to 30 degrees celsius. It seems to me that nature and parks are cleaner here than at home, where you can always see garbage in the bushes or at the side of the road. I may yet find out whether this is due to people's awareness, tougher penalties or better cleaning up. And thirdly: it's practical that there are no store closing times here. The stores are open much longer and also on Sundays, so you don't have to worry about running out of anything.
Is there anything you definitely won't miss when you return?
I definitely won't miss the units of measurement and the constant conversion. It's still quite easy with miles. But I won't be making friends with inches, ounces or Fahrenheit. Nor will I long for the chlorinated tap water that is often served in restaurants when I return.
Burgers, fries, burritos & tacos: what have been your culinary highlights so far?
Mexican cuisine is already pretty widespread here and also suits my taste very well, hence burritos and tacos. Just recently, a taco Tuesday was organized here in the office to celebrate “Cinco de Mayo”. So I got my money's worth.
What has been your personal highlight so far?
So far, I would say a baseball match with the Atlanta Braves. I'm very interested in sport and it was exciting to see how different things are here in the stadium. Generally speaking, baseball was new territory for me.
And what was your biggest surprise?
You've heard that everything is bigger in the USA, but I'm always surprised by how true that really is. Whether it's portions, packaging sizes or distances, the dimensions are really different here.
The view into the stadium at the Atlanta Braves baseball match.
Do you have a tip for our employees in Frankfurt who are also drawn to Atlanta?
For our employees in particular, “The Battery” is definitely a good tip. It's a pedestrian zone in the area of the baseball stadium and therefore very close to our offices. There is a good selection of bars and restaurants. It's a great place to spend an evening.
Are there things in Atlanta in particular that you can learn there for your future professional life?
Speaking and understanding English naturally becomes easier over time during a stay like this. At an international company like Messe Frankfurt, this can certainly only be an advantage. In general, I think that taking the leap into the unknown and being on my own helped me a lot in my personal development.