From now until August, each week, two or three of our summer interns will be highlighted as they reflect upon their experiences and work while employed with Dwellworks.
This week, we put the spotlight on Morgan Gallogly, our Marketing intern in Cleveland, Bridget Barkume, our Corporate Housing intern in Detroit and Oskar Brugrand, our Destination Services intern in London, as they write about their own international experiences and hometowns.
How My International Experiences Benefits Me in My Role at Dwellworks
Morgan Gallogly, Marketing, Cleveland
My marketing experience has taught me that the backbone of marketing is empathy- empathy that builds upon and strengthens human relationships. Marketing nurtures these relationships, between business and consumer, and fosters their growth. As a Dwellworks marketing intern, I am finally beginning to see how this unfolds in a real-life setting. It is easy to believe the common misconception that marketing is only advertising, that it is shouting at people until they buy your product or use your service. But it is more than that. And Dwellworks, as a truly global company, realizes this. We have employees and locations all over the world. We are found in countries who are vastly different from one another, who speak different languages, and indulge in different foods. To successfully market our business, we need to be able to understand and incorporate these differences into our marketing strategies.
So far in my life, I have been lucky enough to study abroad, travel with my family, and meet friends who love to explore new places just as much as I do. My international experience is going to benefit my job here at Dwellworks in many ways, but mostly because it gives me that heightened sense of empathy. By experiencing different places, I have an expanded view of the world around me. Perspective is key. I have been able to meet and interact with people of different nations, including some of the nations that Dwellworks operates in. I have seen the various nuances that make cultures different… and I have also witnessed the similarities that thread us all together as global citizens. This concept of empathy transcends borders and divisions, and must be treated as a living, breathing thing. The more of the world we can experience, the more we will be able to understand how to not only be successful as marketers, but also as human beings. Dwellworks already creates content full of value to distribute to people globally. I can only hope that my experience here can help amplify that value.
7 Places I Would Take an International Visitor if They Visited Detroit
Bridget Barkume, Corporate Housing, Detroit
Motown, Motor City, The D, Dey-Twa.
Welcome to Detroit - a city with many names and a not-so-good reputation. If you’re from a different country, or even state, you most definitely haven’t heard anything great about this city. So, I’m here to brag about Detroit, it’s comeback and all the crazy cool things an international visitor can see or do here in a day. Off we go!
📍 Stop one: The World’s Largest Tire
Okay, okay.. I know that this isn’t exactly in the city, but it is on the way from the airport to the city. This Uniroyal tire has been standing along I-94 for nearly 20 years now. It may not be so thrilling but believe me, it is worth a drive by.
📍 Stops two & three: Caffeine kick and Bagel-icious Yumminess
Now for some personal favorites. Coffee is critical, so grab a cup from Astro in Corktown. Not only does this neighborhood tug at my heartstrings but the java at this joint is UN-REAL. Sip a little in the mural-clad storefront, then walk down a couple blocks to rock your taste buds. What’s better than a bagel with your morning coffee? Stop at Detroit Institute of Bagels where they’re pumping out delicious chewy bagel-goodness every day.
📍 Stop four: Eastern Market
Since its opening in the 1800s, Eastern Market has been a community hub. Browse through the many massive shacks to explore farm-fresh produce, baked goods, butcher stands, plants and many, many more. Try some samples, smell the smells and be surrounded by thousands of Metro-Detroiters.
📍 Stop five: The District & Midtown
Hop on the Q-line at Campus Martius and ride down to the District. This is where you’ll see Ford Field, Comerica Park and the brand new Little Caesars Arena. If you’re more into the arts than you are sports, you can also spot the The Fox Theatre and The Fillmore. Hop back onto the Q-line and zoom toward Midtown. This is the hub of Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center. Just off the main drag, you’ll find Canfield Street. This funky little area is home to Shinola (a luxury watch brand), Third Man Records (Jack White’s groovy record shop) and City Bird & Nest (a niche-y boutique full of Michigan themed goodies). This is one of my personal favorites!!
📍 Stops six & seven: Campus Martius & the Coney Islands
Lastly, head to the center of it all – Campus Martius. Walk around the mini beach and explore the pop-up shops in Cadillac Square. Don’t forget to look up to 1001 Woodward and see where the Dwellworks magic happens. Walk across Campus Martius and head down Lafayette Boulevard. Ta-da! A Detroit staple – American Coney Island & Lafayette Coney Island. Legend has it that two brothers opened the side by side Coneys nearly 100 years ago, using different hot dogs and chili. Lafayette is no longer family-owned, so technically the competition is over, but ask Detroiter’s which one they prefer, and the competition will still feel very much alive. By now, it’s dinner time so make sure you indulge in a Coney dog and cheese fries!
Honorable Mentions:
What I Learned from Moving Abroad
Oskar Brugrand, Destination Services, London
I have relocated three times, from Norway to Spain, and then to the United Kingdom and the United States. As such, I thought I had become quite good at it by now. But, as my first few weeks as a Destination Services Intern have shown, I still have a lot to learn about the mastery of relocation. Here are some of the lessons I learned the hard way and what I believe, in several instances, could have been avoided with the assistance of Dwellworks:
Let’s begin with the scary sinks of America. They howl and growl by the flip of what deceivingly looks like a light switch and will devour anything that comes their way. For example, your finger.
In the Canary Islands of Spain, you cannot drink water from the tap. It must be purchased and carried home, or so I thought for about three months. More commonly however, it can be delivered to your door from the water truck. I advise on the latter.
Do not lose your keys when your landlord does not speak English and you do not speak Spanish. The phone call will be very awkward, and you will have to stop someone on the street to translate.
"Oven" and "heater" are not the same in the United Kingdom. If you want to tell your dorm maintenance that the heater is broken, do not tell them your oven is broken, because that means kitchen stove and will cause great confusion. However, tea and dinner are the same and clarification beforehand is advised to avoid starvation or vice versa.
Local banks in Norway do not know what to do with an American check. Do not get your security deposit mailed to you as a check as you will have to return it and request a wire transfer.
Relocation isn’t all that bad, and a lot smoother with support from Dwellworks. My own relocation experiences, more than anything, have been inspiring. I met many amazing people with dreams, ideas and beliefs that were refreshingly new and different. These were people who inspired me through their friendship, wisdom, bravery and kindness. I have learned so much about my own culture through experiencing other cultures, and I have learned to appreciate the differences. Relocating has been challenging at times, but the implications of transitioning to a new place, school and society have made me grow and develop as a person. Today, I am proud to say that I am me because of my relocation experiences and that I can call these once foreign places my second home.
Miss last week's intern blog? Don't worry! Check it out here.