Welcome to our Intern, Mats from the Netherlands!
This week we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming Mats into the Go West family as part of his student internship abroad. While he’s spent his first week at Go West aboard a number of our Day Tour experiences, Mats will be jumping in head first, working on a number of tasks throughout our operations, marketing, and reservations departments.
We sat down with Mats to pick his brain about his first impressions of Melbourne/Australians, and what he hopes to gain from his time spent at Go West Tours.
First of all, tell us a little bit about yourself!
Hey, I’m Mats! I’m from the Netherlands and I love to play sports and video games. I also study International Business at Zuyd University of applied sciences in Maastricht. It is my first time visiting Australia and I am already in love with the country!
How did you find yourself in Australia Interning for Go West?
Part of my studies required me to do an internship abroad so I took the opportunity to come to Australia! I have always wanted to visit, so things worked out perfectly. I got in contact with Go West through my university and I immediately knew that this was the company where I wanted to do my internship.
What do you hope to gain from your internship with Go West?
I hope to gain an unforgettable experience that will influence my life and my future in a positive way. I intend to learn from all the people who I will be working with, as well as from all the different guests who are taking part in these astounding tours.
Which is your favourite Go West tour and why?
It is very difficult to choose between all the amazing tours Go West has to offer. Every tour is spectacular in its own unique way, but if I had to choose one I would say the Phillip Island tour. The opportunity to see and pet some of the most amazing animals that call Australia home was an incredible experience.
So far, what do you love about Melbourne?
Melbourne is a great city. I love the general atmosphere of Melbourne, everyone is very open-minded and friendly. Furthermore, the city is absolutely beautiful, from the amazing historical architecture to all the beautiful parks.
From your experience, what is your most important advice for guests visiting Melbourne for the first time?
I think the most important thing when you are planning to visit Melbourne is to be open to try new things out. Melbourne is a very culture rich city in which there will always be a different activity to do that you haven’t tried out before.
What have you found different about Australia/Australians to your home country?
I found that Australians seem to be a bit more relaxed than Dutch people. In the Netherlands, everyone is always on a tight schedule while Australians tend to be more relaxed and ready to make changes in their everyday lives.
What is your favourite native Australian animal and why?
Australia has so many amazing animals that are native to the country. If I would have to choose one animal, in particular, I would choose the wombat. They are one of the toughest and versatile animals on the planet. They are great diggers, can run really fast and have skin that is as protective as plate armour.
Do you think you’ll be returning to Australia?
I’m 100% sure that I will be returning to Australia. The country is too beautiful not to come back and I definitely intend to spend more time in Australia after I have finished my studies.
Welcome to the team Mats! We’re all looking forward to working with you over the next 5 months.
