Not Quite Ready to Say my Goodbyes…So Farewell INTERNeX!!

So I started at INTERNeX back at the end of November 2009 and I was taken on as the PR/Communications Intern. I had been looking for several months for opportunities within the work force but within my field of study, which is Communications. I was in my fourth year up at Simon Fraser University and had had little experience besides from survival jobs such as being a server at Joey’s on Broadway, cashier at Urban Outfitters, and so on. After years of working within the service industry I was ready to take on a new challenge and I had always been interested in doing an internship. After months and months of research with little to show for it I came across INTERNeX. They were offering an opportunity that just seemed to be exactly what I was looking for! After several interviews I was accepted and started work at their office the following week.

The first time I stepped into the office I was super nervous and everybody seemed to be quite involved in their own work. Tempted to just sit in front of my computer and get down to it, I recognized how important it was for me to get to know my coworkers because we would be working together for close to 6 months. So I realized how important it was for me to take myself out of my comfort zone and show the INTERNeX staff that I was there to be a part of their team. The first week was quite overwhelming because I had to get acquainted with all of systems and procedures in place within their social media networking tools and the company in general. But as the weeks went by i began to feel more and more comfortable in the office setting and actually started to feel like a member of the INTERNeX family.

(me sitting in the office @ my desk)

Everyday at the office was something new… and this aspect of my placement was very exciting for me and i welcomed this new change. Throughout a significant portion of my placement i was attending school as well, so i had to juggle a heavy course load and three days a week at the office. I was unsure as to whether i would be able to handle everything on my plate, but i actually began to look forward to my days at the office because it broke up my same old boring school schedule that i was getting tired of. I was learning about all these new social networking tools, such as twitter, facebook, twaitter, wordpress, flickr, etc and part of my job was planning events and trips! Cannot get much better than that!

(me at PuB NiGHT with some of the candidates)

As my placement progressed i was given more responsibility and was able to take on bigger projects. My placement lasted for a total of 6 months and in such a short amount of time i was able to learn so much from each and everyone in the office. Tomorrow is my last day and i can honestly say that i will miss INTERNeX terribly! I cannot begin to express how lucky i feel to have been given the chance to become  part of this company and meet such an amazing group of people from all over the world. Thank god i’ll still be able to drop by the office whenever i want and hopefully i can organize a great relationship between the cellar and INTERNeX so then i’ll never really have to say goodbye.

I just want to personally thank all of the members of the INTERNeX family; Patrick, Laura, Tim, Mina, Marien, Mayuko, Martina and of course Simon (the dungeon troll) and all the others who i never got the chance to meet, for making this an unforgettably life changing experience! So now its time to say ciao for now/L-boogie

For more information about all of the programs offered by INTERNeX please do not hesitate to contact us at the office:
INTERNeX International Exchange

Suite 200 – 211 Columbia Street
Vancouver BC -V6A 2R5-
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Phone: +1 (604) 662 8149
Email: pr@internexcanada.com

Easter Long Weekend!

So the four-day-long weekend is approaching and I’m sure you guys are looking forward to a little time off…I am at least. I will be using this time to catch up on all my school work but my calender is filled with so many fun events I might just have to take at least one night off from work…maybe two. But I was browsing through our ECal and saw a few events around Canada that I thought might be of interest to you guys.

First I have the 13th Annual Showcase Showdown presented by Burton this Saturday April 3rd 2010. Held up in our very own Whistler up on Blackcomb Mountain. If you like to party up in the Nintendo Terrain Park then this is the event for you guys! This Showcase Showdown features a VANS Off the Wall Waffle Breakfast, Samsung Best Trick Contest, a Bar-B-Que on the Hill and the Showcase 20 year Anniversary Afterparty!! If you are interested in this event or want to find more events up in Whistler then visit their website

Secondly, the city of Calgary the CBI Health Hustle for Hunger 2010. Hosted this Sunday, April 4th 2010 at the Eau Claire Market. You can still participate or just watch this run/walk and all the proceeds raised from this event will be going to the Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank. All participants will get a free technical t-shirt with entry along with goodies from our sponsors. See their website for registration and/or event details

These are just some of the events occuring all around Canada. If you want to find an event in your area keep checking our ECal and/or facebook page and for more information on INTERNeX related events you can also feel free to contact us at the office

INTERNeX International Exchange
Suite 200 – 211 Columbia Street
Vancouver BC -V6A 2R5-
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Phone: +1 (604) 662 8149
Email: pr@internexcanada.com

Vancouver Welcomes CLUB 560

I’ve been in Vancouver for over 8years now so I think I know Vancouver’s nightscene quite well. Vancouver nightclubs tend to be one-trick ponies, as so cleverly quoted by one of my friends. They all seem to have one room/space, one DJ and one theme that runs throughout. So my friends I are looking for something new, something that’ll liven up Vancouver’s scene a little and I think I might have found it…

A friend of mine, on her way home from work, came across “Five Sixty” located at 560 Seymour Street. Previously home to the old A&B Sound Store this place is much MUCH larger then most local nightclubs-it 28,000 sq. ft spread out over 4 FLOORS! This is something that reminds me of the clubs I used to visit back in Europe. This space can allow up to 500 people to walk around freely and choose between THREE DIFFERENT & SEPARATE mini-clubs each with its own DJ. I mean what more could you ask for?! It took over a year and close to $4million to convert this retail building to a nightclub and the end result will not disappoint.

One of the most amazing parts of this spot is the basement, which has been turned into a unisex bathroom with its own bar, DJ and dance floor. So when you are taking your timeout on the loo you can still enjoy yourself and not miss out on any of the action! Haha I love the sound of this place already. If you would rather chill there is a long thin lounge on the main floor just off the main dance room. So really there is something for EVERYONE!

So you can be sure that I will be checking this place out with all my friends…come join us! Maybe next INTERNeX PuB & CLUB NiGHT location?! Let me know what you think, contact us at the office

INTERNeX International Exchange
Suite 200 – 211 Columbia Street
Vancouver BC -V6A 2R5-
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Phone: +1 (604) 662 8149
Email: pr@internexcanada.com

Hi from Houtan!

So you might be wondering who this fine young gentleman is?! Well this is Houtan and some of you  might not have met him before because has been out of the office for a little while. Currently, Houtan is working out of Toronto but will be back in the office in the next few months so here is a quick introduction to a new face (for some of you at least) and check out baby Nala in the picture…too cute!

What is your name?
Houtan

Where are you from?
Tehran, Iran

What languages do you speak fluently other than English?
Russian. I can also communicate in Ukrainian and Arabic and a bit of German, and of course Persian my mother tongue

What position do you hold at INTERNeX? and for how long?
Good question, I have no idea what one would call my position or anyone else’s position for that matter at INTERNeX International Exchange..funny thing is that part of our job is to try and envision what working in a Canadian company would be like to most people who are about to work within a Canadian organization through one of our programs. Yet we work in a company that demonstrates and represents a Canadian organization based on employees from different parts of the world who wear different hats on a daily basis to provide excellence in service. That is why I can’t really tell you what my position is. (does this make sense?) I think Im just blabbing on again, but hey that’s me!! Lol And I have been working at INTERNeX just over 2 years and they have been  full of excitement

What made you want to get involved with INTERNeX in the first place?
Like minded people, think alike…well, I’ve had quite a background in travelling from A to B (never enough though), learning about visas, after finishing up school and getting involved with Canadian Resorts and the hospitality industry, it all seemed like a good match with what INTERNeX had to offer, so there I was getting started and here I am still rocking it

In what ways do you think INTERNeX is unique from other international placement agencies? What does INTERNeX offer that no other company can?
Aside from the fact of how thorough our service is and its not even comparable to any other agency, it’s also that we don’t think our programs are for everyone. The participant needs to understand the purpose of the program before being forced to be a part of it. Our honesty in delivering the service is a key in managing expectations

What changes have you personally noticed within INTERNeX?
I have noticed a number of little programs come and go, but the city placement program was a great success and it still is both in Vancouver and recently in Toronto. We also now have more representatives abroad, an official office in New Zealand, and a more so active presence in Toronto, ON

Where would you like to see INTERNeX in the next 10 years? Do you have any New Year’s goals for the company?
I truly believe that the possibilities are endless. Obviously I, along with the rest of the team, would like to see a world wide network of services provided by INTERNeX offices across the world. Now the services provided by INTERNeX within the next 10 years is what I would like to see continue on its journey to completion and perfection so that one day we’d be a tool for anyone from anywhere in the world that would like to take a trip to any part of the world for the purpose of work experience and/or self development

Tell us one interesting thing about yourself that not a lot of people know?
As a kid I always wanted to become a vet

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?
It is really hard to answer this question, I love travelling and I don’t think I can settle anywhere for too long. I like what Toronto has to offer as a city, yet Vancouver’s geographical location is much more attractive than Toronto. On the other hand, Kiev Ukraine is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever lived in due to its historical background and remarkable architecture. But again, the grass is always greener on the other side, so we’ll keep on moving

If you have any more questions or queries about our programs please do not hesitate to contact us at the office:
INTERNeX International Exchange

Suite 200 – 211 Columbia Street
Vancouver BC -V6A 2R5-
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Phone: +1 (604) 662 8149
Email: info@internexcanada.com

Sleep-less in Seattle

So I just came back from a weekend in Seattle and I had an amazing time! I swiped the plastic quite a bit and wracked myself up a nice little bit of debt but it was totally worth it. The shopping in Seattle is well worth the 2 1/2-3 hour drive because there is so much choice for quite a reasonable price. I bought two pairs of gorgeous shoes, some jeans, shorts, and a bunch of tops and definitely got a great deal. For those of you who don’t own a car and might have some difficulties in trying to arrange all the necessary steps towards taking a road trip to the states I think i might have an option for you. One of  our partner companies, West Trek, offers a Budget Shopping/Sightseeing tour in and around Seattle. You have two options:

1) A Budget Shopping Tour which includes; a) round trip school bus transportation, b) 4-5 hours of shopping (duty free too) and c) a friendly Canadian guide

or…2) A Deluxe Shopping or Sightseeing Tour which includes; a) round trip deluxe bus transportation, b) 4-5hrs of shopping with a discounted coupon book or a guided sightseeing tour with discounted attractions

These trips will be offered generally at least one a month so if you are at all interested or would like to find out more information about the trip itinerary itself, prices, etc please do not hesitate to email me at pr@internexcanada.com

For more info on other trips, activities etc offered by INTERNeX contact us at:
INTERNeX International Exchange
Suite 200 – 211 Columbia Street
Vancouver BC -V6A 2R5-
Web: http://www.internexcanada.com
Phone: +1 (604) 662 8149
Email: pr@internexcanada.com