As Global Traveler‘s intern, I have had the unique opportunity of experiencing firsthand the world of publishing. Today, as I start my fourth week with the company, it seems like the perfect opportunity to reflect on my time here thus far. As some of you might know, we moved global headquarters yesterday. As the intern, I packed all the boxes and organized all the old issues of the magazines. Needless to say, my arms are looking very toned. In addition to getting ready for the move, I have been able to interact with many of the important people who help Global Traveler run smoothly. Every one of them has embraced me with open arms and made my time at GT a pleasure. As the new and inexperienced intern, their kindness and willingness to help have made my first few weeks here memorable and pain free.

Besides all of my intern tasks and handling advertising orders, I sometimes sneak upstairs and compare my travels with the articles from the archives. Last semester, I studied abroad in Rome and traveled all around Europe. When my travels match those deemed worthy by GT, you can only imagine the pride I feel. Perhaps I am destined to be a global traveler?

The truly comedic part of my internship came yesterday. There is nothing quite as funny as having people of varying ages and physical abilities working together to move an office. Numerous times throughout the day, I nearly dropped the boxes I was carrying because Kim made me laugh.  In order to move the boxes as productively as possible, we created an assembly line. The people in the front would “weigh” the boxes with their imagination and give us an update on how heavy the boxes were. Generally, they were completely off, but at least we had some sort of gauge of the strength needed, and it provided some humor. To help with the move, Fran hired a few very strong local guys. As I struggled with two boxes, one of the guys walked by me carrying a file cabinet. Then the other two walked by with a huge wooden desk. I guess there is something to be said for picking your own battles.

Now today, as I work from Kim’s desk (my new desk has not yet arrived), I reflect on the bruises on my legs and the soreness in my arms.  All around me are boxes that need to be unpacked and things that need to be organized. To some, this might be intimidating, but to me . . . it’s just another day in the life of the Global Traveler intern.

— Mary Carpenter, intern