From Brisbane to Munich
I was excited, nervous, and ready to escape the Australian summer heat as I boarded the plane from Brisbane to Germany. It was -5 degrees Celsius in Munich when I landed, 40-degrees and 16,000 km away from home. Packed with some Tim Tams, luggage, and exactly a 17-day Duolingo streak, I was as prepared for this adventure as I could be.
In the first few days, the other interns and I met and started to get to know each other. We had exchanged small conversations at university and met once before the trip, but now we were going to spend the next 6 months in a 5-bedroom shared apartment, eating, sleeping, and breathing design. The initial small interactions at the shops speaking German were quite daunting at first, until you learn to say the three magic phrases that ensure your survival in Germany: 'Hallo' (Hello), 'danke' (Thank you), and 'mit Karte bitte' (With card please). I was excited to meet and speak with the other interns in German. However, when I arrived at the TechOffice, I was delighted to learn that the interns came from all over the world, providing me with the amazing opportunity to learn about many different languages and cultures.
The team at the TechOffice was really welcoming; the PhD students and other student interns created an environment that felt like a home away from home. We shared and talked about our home countries and cultures extensively. Of course, Grace and I shared our stock of Vegemite, made fairy bread, and recounted encounters with the lethal drop bears.
After some 'fun' dealing with the German KVR to receive my working permit (which I strongly suggest obtaining a Germany Work/Travel visa in Australia from the Consulate General in Sydney), it was all smooth sailing. At the TechOffice, we have been spoiled with all the latest cutting-edge technology we could ask for. Primarily, we have been working with Blender and Omniverse to animate and visually communicate the AI and machine learning research conducted by the engineering interns in the office. While some of the tasks we received seemed out of our league, we were given plenty of time to hone our skills and deliver industry-standard work. As of writing, I am 3 months into the internship and have already worked on a project for Google and shared my work internally with BMW higher-ups, with more exciting projects in the pipeline. Growth is built into this program, and I have tackled several challenges I would have been reluctant to attempt without the support from the leadership team.
The internship program also provides plenty of days off, allowing you the opportunity to take weekend trips away and make the most of public holidays. Munich is only 1-2 hours away from the Alps, allowing easy day trips to some incredible locations. Salzburg is also a must-visit day trip when in Munich. Memmingen Airport is just an hour from Munich and offers Ryanair flights. If you plan strategically and pack light, you can fly to London and back for around 35 euros and experience as much of Europe as possible.
Overall, although we all miss our family and friends, the adventures we have been on are incredible. The work has been challenging and fulfilling, learning new skills, working for impactful clients, and gaining experience in visual storytelling, which is an important skill for communicating your work to clients and employers.
Darcy Duckworth
BMW Tech Office Munich Design Intern 2024
