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I have had truly wonderful days over these three weeks, with many fun and memorable moments. I am glad I decided to come to Ireland. Initially, I thought I would work on improving my social skills here, but in reality, I didn't even need to do that. The people here are so kind and open-hearted. Perhaps I still need to reflect on the entire experience over the weeks, but I know that I have learned many new and positive things.

The past few days, or more accurately, the entire week, have been the best I've had in a long time. I've gotten used to this (mostly) dreadful weather, and now I can effortlessly walk from home to school half-asleep. I've also learned the right bus routes, so you could say I've settled in quite well here. The only thing I haven't gotten used to yet is how incredibly polite the drivers are. The Germans could definitely learn a thing or two from them.

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It took me a few days, maybe even a week, to adjust to the business environment and mindset, but the last week has been a breeze. I even notice a certain improvement in my English, which I hope to continue developing. Although I've never really been interested in prestigious professions or high-ranking office jobs, I still had a great time here. And I don't just mean the time after school :-)

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To end the evening, Jule, Tina, and I headed to a place called the Glass Beach. I'm not entirely sure if that's its official name, but I was told that Jule's family refers to it as such. Allegedly, there used to be a glass factory there until the late 1930s, and its shards are still revealed by the tide today. In fact, we found a significant amount of sea glass (and, of course, took some with us).

The way there turned out to be not entirely legal, though we only realized it on our way back when we faced a huge barbed wire fence. As a trade-off for the sea glass, the sea decided to take my camera lens protector - not a fair exchange.

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The aim of today's and final proper lesson was to "hunt" for an individually suitable job. In this case, the search for the job advertisement proved to be more challenging than writing the cover letter. I tried to focus on things that bring me joy and that exist as professions out there in some form. Ultimately, I, or rather you, Michael :), stumbled upon the website of an organization for people with disabilities. To be honest, I was impressed by how quickly one can find a job...

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Summary of some notes during the last lessons: 

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Summary of some notes during the last lessons: 

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R eady yourself.

E xplore each other's needs.

S ignal for movement.

P robe with proposals.

E xchange concessions.

C lose the deal.

T ie up loose ends.

Pros and Cons:

Face to Face:

Immediate reaction of people.

Communication is clearer.

No need for technical devices.

Lack of confidence in some individuals.

Might require travel.

Remote:

Problems/issues with technical devices.

Email:

Someone can write anytime, everywhere.

More thinking time.

Requires a long time for an answer.

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On that day, many of us were very exhausted, which is why the day ended early.

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On that day, many of us were very exhausted, which is why the day ended early.

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Don't post interpretative content on social media.

Dress appropriately, considering both the company culture and your own style.

Gather information about the company you're applying to.

Be yourself and don't pretend to be someone you're not; they should like you for who you are.

Reread your application to ensure you know exactly what you wrote.

Practice your handshake.

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The aim of a cover letter is to secure an interview.

Clearly state the reason for writing the cover letter.

Express your genuine interest in the position/company.

Highlight the ways in which you can contribute as an asset to the company.

Provide an explanation of how you learned about the job opportunity.

How to write one:

Use bullet points to highlight key words and phrases.

Demonstrate how your skills, interests, and experience align with the requirements of the job.

Emphasize the alignment between your values and those of the company.

Persuasively present your qualities and strengths to captivate the reader's attention.

Detail your previous work achievements to showcase your track record of success.

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Today's project on the agenda was simulating a meeting involving different countries, with some technical (and communicative (!!!)) issues. Initially, there was a severe typhoon in China, cutting off communication with Italy and Australia. Additionally, in Bob (Leader/Sydney), a certain aggression brewed, which later (unjustifiably!!!) surfaced. -A side note: This conflict continues to accompany communication with "Bob" and me even today, more than a week later.-
While in China, the storm, the sheep, and the screaming woman had long since quieted down, Gao Shan (who, by the way, was me) was unreasonably shouted at for every sound he made (and even for those he didn't make) and was on the verge of being fired by his boss. Perhaps it was a good thing that the second part of the day was dedicated to "Negotiation." That truly added the final straw to the day.

On that day, we probably used the "Useful language for remote meetings" a bit less. However, there was a small progress: We ended up shouting at each other in English :)

hehe ;-)

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The goal for today was not only to create a logo for the "Follow the Sun" concept but, more importantly, to effectively collaborate with different teams. This project involved employees from Singapore, Dublin, and San Francisco. With email communication, we shared our progress with each other, allocating just 10 minutes for updates, as the day started for the respective country on the other side.

By employing this method, many companies can operate 24 hours a day, making the most out of time, money, and efforts effectively. However, several challenges emerged during this project. Time constraints were pressing, communication sometimes became confusing, and the initial results were less than satisfactory. Nevertheless, after several iterations, we gradually found our rhythm and managed to design a logo that left us all content and pleased.

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I had imagined things differently. I thought we would be in a class with students from other countries, but even so, I am convinced that the upcoming weeks could be very enjoyable. Of course, we introduced ourselves briefly for a while, and the coming days were planned and presented. In the second part of the day, we gradually delved into the world of business, more precisely into that of a "Job Hunter" - the first step into the topics of the following course contents.

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The criticisms that Tina wrote about my navigation skills in her portfolio, I can only partially support even after today's wildly adventurous day. This morning, I had chosen a wonderful route to a waterfall using Google Maps. Admittedly, it was based on somewhat obscure footpaths seen on Google Maps (Satellite view), but in theory, the plan was really (!) good. However, the execution didn't quite go as planned.

The paths started off beautifully but ended up getting lost in 2-meter-high ferns. Ultimately, due to our numerous "shortcuts," we didn't even manage to cover half the distance to the waterfall. Instead, we found ourselves desperate and exhausted, settling near a small stream (which, with much imagination, looked somewhat like a waterfall). Honestly, despite the shifting moods, I haven't had such a great and amusing time on a hike in a long while.

Life can truly be beautiful.

22.07.2023

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I have never stood before a work of art by Van Gogh in my life before. (Once again, the thought of how incredible that is.) Each artist of these paintings once sat in front of a blank canvas and painted. Every single brushstroke coming from the hand of someone who has long long passed away. This journey into the world of world-renowned artists was both fascinating and frustrating. One cannot fully devote their attention to each of these paintings, as each one demands to be seen, and eventually, we find ourselves merely passing by many of them.

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Before coming to Ireland, I had only experienced the sea in southern countries. What immediately caught my attention is how much calmer the sea is here, with hardly any waves crashing. I captured this image during the outing, and I love how it reflects the character of the North.

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To be completely honest, I'm not quite sure what the purpose of this tour was, and to be frank, I have very little interest in new office buildings. Even though the lady who led the tour was incredibly nice, I didn't retain much from the historical part of Dublin's business district. What I found far more intriguing was the "visit" to Dublin's shortest museum.

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Today, I believe, was the first day I fell in love with the Irish nature. Not only is the landscape wonderfully photogenic in its own unique way, but it often resembles a work of art. On one side, Ireland is rugged and cool, and on the other side, it's all lush green, with vibrant pink flowers scattered around.
Tina and I hiked up Bray Head, and at the top of the mountain, I was literally blown away. The view was breathtaking – Bray to the right, a beautiful sea in front, and endless meadows stretching behind.
We sat for a while, gazing in every direction, before making our way back down towards sea level. It truly was a very, very beautiful evening.

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I'm not entirely sure if the true purpose of this tour was orientation because even after a few days, I hardly knew my way around Dublin. Nevertheless, the first visit to Dublin was remarkably beautiful. We learned about Oscar Wilde, the Great Famine in the mid-19th century, and were guided through a lovely park. We were given a brief 30-minute break to grab a bite to eat before continuing our journey.

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The initial impression of Ireland was primarily – to be honest – the left-hand traffic. The bus ride from Dublin to Bray was truly surreal – every oncoming vehicle momentarily felt like a ghost driver. Surprisingly, we all arrived safely in Bray, and one by one, we were picked up by our host families. (Of course, I nearly tried to get into the driver's seat – a side effect of the left-hand traffic). Not much happened that evening. I was given a tour of the house and settled my belongings.

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I've never been fond of farewells. However, once you're seated in the car, the mood slowly but surely shifts to excitement.
Around 1:00 PM, we all gathered at Munich Airport. We waited, checked-in, waited some more, boarded the plane, and waited again until we finally took off. The first breath of Irish air was a blessing – pleasantly cool and crisp. The day started at 35 degrees and ended at 17 degrees.