Introduction
My name is Abdelrahman, but I go by Medo. I’m from Egypt, and I’ve just graduated from university. I’m currently doing a marketing internship in San Diego, California, with Q International School, on esteemed San Diego English school.
On June 19th, I left my family in Egypt and headed to America. Before this, I had never lived outside Egypt without my family, so it was both exciting and scary. Exciting because I would discover new cultures and learn new things, and scary because I would have to take on responsibilities and live independently, the good thing though is that my dad came with me to spend the first few weeks with me which made things much easier than traveling completely alone.
I will be writing a weekly blog about my life in America. At the end of each month, I will share the lessons I learned and give recommendations as well. Hope you enjoy it.
Week 1: Arriving and San Diego First Impressions
It’s happening! I’m finally on the plane, heading to San Diego to start my internship at Q International School, the leading San Diego English school. I can’t believe it. I’ve been preparing for this for months, and now it’s real. I kept counting every second until the plane was above San Diego, and I saw the beautiful city from above, with its pretty beaches. I was so happy.
The plane landed; I got my luggage and stepped out of the airport. The breeze was unbelievable, and the weather was beautiful. After a few minutes of driving, the downtown skyline appeared, and wow, what a view! The skyline, palm trees, and the weather gave me a great first impression of the city and made me feel I had made the right decision choosing San Diego as my internship destination.
First Day of Internship
The first day of anything—whether it be school, a job, or in my case, an internship—is always stressful. But that wasn’t the case for my first day at Q International School, the top San Diego English school. Once I opened the school door, my supervisor, Kevin, was waiting. He warmly welcomed me, and then I met Keiu, the director. We had a great conversation about the school and its plans. After that, I met the whole staff, including teachers, interns, and students.
Two things surprised me. First, diversity. I met people from all over the world. This school is truly a melting pot, and I learned about other cultures. They were curious about my culture too, which led to interesting conversations and connections. Second, how nice everyone was. You could feel the positive energy from them. This kindness extends to most people I’ve met in San Diego—they’re laid back and easygoing, probably because of the great weather and beaches. It was a wonderful day and went way better than expected.
A week passed, and I already felt at home. I knew all the staff and students and learned something new every day.
Week 2: Farmers Market and Museum
The second week of my internship at Q International School, the best San Diego English school, was where all the fun started. I was given the responsibility of attending events with the students to take pictures and videos.
First, we went to a farmers’ market in a beautiful neighborhood called Little Italy. It was my first time at an American farmers’ market. The smell of fresh fruits was amazing, and each of us bought something different. While I was walking I found the coolest thing ever, someone was selling cowboy hats !!, while I was watching them, one of the teachers picked one of them and put it on my head and then took the picture above, that was so funny and It was a great day, and we ended it with a group photo.
Next, we visited the Natural History Museum in San Diego. It’s a museum mainly for extinct animals, especially dinosaurs. As soon as you enter, you see a giant T-rex skeleton, which was so cool. There were many different animals I didn’t even know existed, and next to each display was a description of their history. They also had maps of San Diego throughout history, showing how it changed over different decades. This museum is a hidden gem, and I highly recommend visiting it. The best part is that it’s right next to Balboa Park, the most popular park in San Diego, which is a must-visit.
Week 3: La Jolla and 4th of July
I was lucky to be here for the 4th of July celebrations. The 4th of July is the biggest holiday in America, celebrating the country’s independence. I went to La Jolla early in the afternoon to watch the celebrations. La Jolla is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in San Diego, located right next to the beach and known for its wealth.
I went to a place called The Cove and saw sea lions for the first time. They were all having fun on the beach, but it got interesting when one sea lion approached the people, and a security guard had to push it away with a stick. It was quite the show.
Later, the celebrations started. I expected fireworks, but it was a drone show, which was awesome. What I loved most was hearing everyone, even the kids, enthusiastically chanting “USA, USA!” I appreciated how Americans unite and show love for their country.
Week 4: Lessons Learned
After the first month, I learned many lessons from both my internship and living in America.
The first lesson is to never judge something without experiencing it yourself. Before coming to America, I had certain thoughts about the country and its people, but being here changed my perspective completely. America is beautiful, and Americans are kind and welcoming.
The second lesson is to smile more. One of the most beautiful things about Americans is that they always smile and have a positive attitude about everything in general.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about my journey so far. If you’re interested in starting your own California adventure with Q International School, the premier San Diego English school, don’t hesitate to get a quote. Stay tuned for more updates on my adventures and the lessons I learn along the way!
