Farewell to our Intern, Nico from Germany!

For the past 5 months we’ve had the pleasure of having Nico join the Go West family as part of his student internship abroad. Nico has been an incredible asset to Go West, working on a number of tasks throughout our operations, marketing, and reservations departments. Before he says his final goodbyes, we had a quick chat to him about his time at Go West and future travels!

Firstly, tell us a little about yourself!
Hi, I’m Nico! I’m from Germany and I’m currently interning for Go West. I love to travel and I’m a huge sports fan! Currently I am studying International Business at Zuyd University of Applied Sciences in Maastricht.

What was your favourite part about interning at Go West Tours?
Coming into my internship at Go West Tours, I honestly had no idea what to expect. I have never worked in the tourism industry before, so this was all new for me. My favourite part of this job so far has been that I’ve experienced a lot of variation. I’ve been working across all departments within the business, so almost every single day is different.

I also really enjoyed going on all the tours, although I’m not sure which was my favourite. Even though I enjoyed travelling along the Great Ocean Road, I think my favourite tour has been the Grampians Tour because of the beautiful nature. I was lucky enough to see this on a trip to Australia when I was younger, and it was amazing to see it for the second time!

What did you find different about Australia and Australians?
Australia is very different from the places I have travelled before. The scenery, nature and wildlife in Australia are so beautiful. I hope that everyone that comes here sees as much as they can during their stay. The Australians are very kind and easygoing people, nothing is ever too much to ask.

What were some of the challenges whilst working in Australia and how did you overcome this?
I definitely noticed a cultural difference. In Germany everything is very strict, and we need to do everything according to plan. However, the people here Down Under are a lot more laid back and understanding, which I like! I think that sometimes I would be too direct when talking to people, especially when I first arrived!

What do you hope to do after finishing your studies?
After I have finished my degree I am not yet certain what I would like to do. I love travelling, and I’d really like to visit South America and Africa in the near future.  I think I have decided that I will go back home to complete my masters degree, and then travel afterwards.

What advice would you give for others hoping to work in the tourism industry?
If you want to work in the tourism industry, travelling and working abroad is a must. It will change the way you look at the world and give you some life experiences that you will never forget. It’s also a great opportunity to make connections within the industry you’re working. You never know when those connections might come in handy!

What’s next for you?
When I go back I will have vacation before starting my last year of my studies in September. In my final year I have to complete a second internship as well, so who knows where the next one will take me!

We’ll miss you Nico! All the best for your studies and future travels.

From all of us here at Go West.