28. Apr. 2012
Rachel Nordstrom
Second year Master Student
Museum Studies
University of Gothenburg, Sweeden
Intern at CHwB – Kosovo office
(September – December 2011)
Freedom to learn by a being part of the process!
I tried to do some research before heading out to the Balkans, but Kosovo sits rather comfortably off the Internet-map. So before my plane landed in Pristina, I still had no idea what to expect. What I did know however, was that this was going to be like nothing I had ever experienced. And that much held true!
I travel a lot, for both work and fun, but Kosovo has been one of the most amazing places I’ve ever lived in. The people are wonderfully kind and generous, the food is fantastic (especially the home-cooking) and music is everywhere (and I do mean everywhere!). I was pleasantly surprised to find safe cities, an endless string of relaxing cafes and a lively nightlife. At times some cities can seem a bit unpolished, but that is all part of their charm as they never try to be something they aren’t.
I came to Kosovo as an intern wanting to learn more about cultural heritage preservation as part of post-conflict reconstruction efforts. Governments often leave cultural heritage protection off the priority list, and I wondered just how much a Swedish NGO could really do to preserve this region’s rich cultural heritage? Once I got settled, I quickly saw a solid team of passionate architects, urban planners, conservators and heritage professionals who cared greatly about protecting heritage and sharing their enthusiasm with others. I came in to the team with little understanding of built heritage and architectural conservation, but I was warmly accepted into the office and was quickly brought up to speed on various projects and initiatives.
I learned more in my several months working at CHwB than I ever could have read in books or heard in lectures. One of the most important experiences a student can have on an internship is the ability to branch out and try new things using the theoretical knowledge base they learn in their programs. An early and very challenging project I worked on here allowed me to share my (slightly obsessive) passion for museums and heritage with one of the Beledije Training Camps. I am often faced with people who think that museums are dusty and boring old institutions they were forced to go to as kids. But, the CHwB team gave me several exciting and challenging opportunities to change people’s minds and put my knowledge into practice. Most of the time it worked, and in the short time I was there I saw the impact of my efforts, but even when I felt like I had failed at something my supervisors and co-workers were quick to point out the knowledge gained from the process, and if I learned something then that’s a positive outcome. I cant think of much more an intern could ask for beyond the ability to take part in something as big as this, and given the freedom to learn by a being part of the process!
Rachel Nordstrom, UK
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Emma Carlsson
First year Master Student
Museum and Heritage Studies
Uppsala University, Sweden
Intern at CHwB – Kosovo office
(February – April 2012)
My time in Kosovo
Doing my internship with Cultural Heritage without Borders in Kosovo was one of the greatest experiences of my life. It was an experience beyond the usual. When arriving to a new country you always feel more or less nervous, and of course excited, but still nervous and you have no idea what it will be like and how you will manage.
The same thing goes for doing an internship. Suddenly you have to leave the class room and put your knowledge to the test. See if you have learned anything and if the things you’ve learned actually can be used and helpful to you. This is why it was so amazing to arrive in Kosovo. I can hardly imagine a better place than the CHwB office in Prishtina. You felt like you were welcomed into a family, a fantastic family. My time in Kosovo, which went from five weeks to six weeks to eight weeks because you don’t want to leave, was incredibly worthwhile and I learned so many things. Not only about my field but about my self, the country and dealing with problems I was not used to. I got to experience the whole of Kosovo and it’s culture and not just spend all the time in an office. The work was filled with both success and setbacks which teaches you how to deal with both, a good preparation for real life and the jobs you hopefully will get when you finish school.
One of the best experiences was that we got to take a lot of responsibilities on our own. I went from being a master student with more then a year left to graduation to become a museum expert. It was sometimes a real challenge, but it thought me so much and made me discover that I actually knew things and could put my knowledge into use. It made me trust myself and the things I knew. Which was always encouraged, and not only that, you were always motivated and pushed to keep up the good work. Also I’ve got to work very independently, but there were always someone there if you needed help or just support or bounce ideas.
The project I was working on was a restoration of an old Museum. What we, me and another museum expert, did was to draw up guidelines for the restoration and recovery of the Museum and how to maintain it when it will open again. This meant that the work has varied a lot and we were able to work quite free, as long as we managed to do all the things we should and have them ready in time. I got to take part in meetings, doing research, visit other museums, document the collection, work in the office and at the end of the project have a presentation of our work. All and all the internship has been very stimulating, fun and I’ve really learned a lot.
Doing your internship abroad is an amazing experience not only for your field of work, but for yourself as well. It will give you new perspectives, get you to think differently and you will develop as a person. For all of this I am so grateful, and if you are thinking about doing an internship I would recommend you to go abroad and especially to the CHwB office in Kosovo.
Emma Carlsson, Sweden
